Though determined to build a rapport with Ji Ya, Bai Sha waited for Cen Yuehuai to emerge before the three headed downstairs together.
"I wonder when the competition for the main team spots will start," Cen Yuehuai said, brimming with excitement.
She had changed into a sleek blue-gray training outfit, paired with black fingerless gloves. Once training camp began, students were no longer required to wear uniforms, and many opted for their preferred casual gear—mostly lightweight and practical designs.
Cen Yuehuai's hands were slender and pale, contrasting sharply with her black gloves. Like most of the Cen family, her refined features carried an air of scholarly elegance, making her seem more suited to being a mech engineer than a mech pilot.
"This military exercise includes just over two hundred first-year mech pilots," Ji Ya said, clenching her fist and resting it against her chin thoughtfully. "To be named chief, you'd need to rank in the top four. But the mech engineer department has it tougher… Ninety students vying for a single spot."
To meet the demands of the five-person team competition, each grade had to select four mech pilots and one mech engineer as main team members.
Initially, qualifying for the military exercise team was harder for mech pilots due to their larger numbers, resulting in a higher elimination rate compared to the smaller mech engineer department.
Now, the tables had turned. Mech pilots at least had four slots to aim for, while mech engineers faced a true one-in-a-hundred gauntlet—only the absolute best could secure the main team spot.
"Is this team setup even reasonable? Four pilots to one engineer. If something goes wrong, can the engineer keep up?" Cen Yuehuai asked curiously.
"And here's the kicker," Bai Sha added. "Students who secure a main team spot get a chance to receive a new mech designed by a top-tier team. With multiple master designers involved, it's at least an Exceptional-grade mech. Repairing something crafted by those masters would require at least a senior mech engineer, right? Otherwise, they wouldn't even know where to start."
If a teammate's mech broke down and the engineer couldn't fix it—or worse, made it worse—that'd be mortifying.
"A senior mech engineer?" Cen Yuehuai gasped. "Third-years might manage, but do any first- or second-years actually qualify for that level of certification?"
Ji Ya: "From what I know, such students are rare, but they do exist."
The training camp divided roughly fifty students per site, with multiple training zones. The three walked together for a bit before parting ways.
"I'm off to meet some friends from my school," Ji Ya said, smiling at Bai Sha. "See you later, Your Highness."
Bai Sha's tone carried a faint trace of reluctance. "Ah, see you."
Cen Yuehuai raised an eyebrow, her gaze flickering between Bai Sha's face and Ji Ya's retreating figure. "Your Highness, since when did you and Ji Ya get so close? You're actually reluctant to see her go?"
"I've known her for a while and still haven't touched her mental entity," Bai Sha said wistfully. "It's kind of a shame."
Cen Yuehuai was momentarily speechless. After a pause, she said, "Your Highness, that comment really does sound a bit creepy… Ugh, stop staring at her! If you want, you can pet my mental entity!"
Bai Sha: "Hers is a big cat."
Cen Yuehuai scoffed. "What's so special about big cats?" Spotting Xino and Yu Yan in the crowd, she quickened her pace, strode over, and clapped Xino on the shoulder. "Come on, Xino, hurry up and summon your mental entity for Her Highness to pet."
Xino's eyes widened. "Are you insane? Just walking up and acting like a thug?"
Cen Yuehuai: "It's not for me to pet."
Xino hissed. "Does it matter who's petting?"
"Didn't peg you for a traditionalist," Cen Yuehuai said, sizing Xino up in a way that made him feel like livestock at a market. "So, are you in or not? It's not like we're living centuries ago when only partners could touch mental entities. Besides, this is Her Highness's wish. Are you going to let her down?"
—Shut up, that line sounds like it was ripped straight from some shady "force-the-innocent-into-vice" script!
Xino Us's eye twitched, his mind locked in a fierce internal debate.
He glanced over and saw Bai Sha approaching. After a few seconds of wavering, Bai Sha immediately crossed her arms in an "X" gesture, her expression tinged with exhaustion. "Hold up. I never made any such request."
Xino's brow twitched as he shot Cen Yuehuai a look of disdain.
"Hey, Xino, what's with that garbage-stare?" Cen Yuehuai sidled up to Bai Sha, whining softly. "Didn't you say you wanted a feline mental entity? A lion's a feline, isn't it?"
Bai Sha opened her mouth, paused, then said, "We're too close. I can't bring myself to do it."
Cen Yuehuai: "…"
What, so you only pet strangers' mental entities?
"What about Yu Yan?" Cen Yuehuai mused. "Bear fur's probably nice to touch too."
Bai Sha: "No, you don't have to be this enthusiastic. You're starting to sound like…" Like a pimp.
Cen Yuehuai finally dropped it.
The group stood in the crowd, chatting. A few minutes later, the training instructor stepped forward, and the crowd instantly fell silent.
"Greetings, everyone. I'm Colonel Kong Zhen from the Empire's First Legion," said a young woman with black hair and green eyes, dressed in a crisp military uniform. Her commanding presence was softened by a slight smile as she scanned the students. Pointing to the stern, silver-haired male officer beside her, she continued, "This is Major Gis Grez. Today, we'll be overseeing your training objectives."
"Let's address the question on everyone's minds," Kong Zhen said with a smile. "The competition for main team spots begins in two weeks. Use this time to hone your skills. Who knows? A miracle might happen." Her smile widened. "Though, scientifically speaking, the odds of that are negligible."
The students: "…"
Kong Zhen continued leisurely, "Even if you're not aiming for a main team spot, brace yourselves—because I will not go easy on you."
She then boarded her mech, directing the students to line up and face her one by one.
Despite the numbers, she dispatched them effortlessly. Both she and Major Gis Grez were the type who could take on ten opponents single-handedly. Students marched to their doom in waves, beaten to the point of wailing. After each round, they had to stand and listen to the instructors' critiques, with the system logging their weaknesses for targeted practice later.
When it was time for Bai Sha's group of four, Kong Zhen gave them a pointed look. "You four, hang back. I'll deal with you separately."
Cen Yuehuai sucked in a breath. "We're getting a private beating later? This instructor hits way harder than Professor Tisiya! Can I even survive this?"
Kong Zhen piloted a lightweight mech, excelling in blitz attacks. Her mastery of sensory tracking rounds was almost supernatural.
Cen Yuehuai had heard of such prodigies—people with senses so sharp that even smart tracking systems paled in comparison. On the battlefield, they were cerebral powerhouses.
Cen Yuehuai's speed and heightened senses likely wouldn't hold up against Kong Zhen.
At times like these, she envied Yu Yan—his heavy mech was tough and could take a beating.
"Don't panic yet. You might not be assigned to Kong Zhen," Yu Yan said, his gaze drifting to the side. "There's another instructor, after all."
Gis Grez piloted a beast-type mech, moving with swift precision. His wolf-like fangs were razor-sharp, and any lapse in attention meant getting caught—and left with lasting psychological scars.
"And that instructor seems even more versed in brutal teaching methods," Bai Sha noted.
The difference was stark. Students beaten by Kong Zhen retained some spirit, even showing eagerness for the next round. But those "educated" by Gis Grez emerged like wilted vegetables, radiating vibes of "I'm worthless," "my life is over," or "I just want to be a mushroom and burrow into the ground."
Cen Yuehuai's eyelid twitched, her voice trembling slightly. "I'd rather take my chances with Colonel Kong Zhen."
As for Bai Sha? Having observed both instructors' fights, she remained unfazed.
Could she win? Not necessarily.
But she wouldn't lose too disgracefully.
As for being beaten into despair? Impossible. She'd already endured training under her uncle, Uriel, and Ji Lun. No matter how intimidating these instructors were, could they top that trio?
Bai Sha glanced at Xino, noticing he was equally unmoved. As the heir to a marquess family, Xino had likely faced similar trials growing up.
Their group was held back, initially watching from the sidelines, waiting for Kong Zhen to call them out.
Suddenly, after finishing a round, Gis Grez's beast-type mech leaped from the platform, landing on all fours. His gaze flicked toward a spot outside the arena.
"—Bai Sha. Step up and try."
"Whoa, I know he's from the Grez family, but calling Her Highness by her first name without her title?" Cen Yuehuai sneered. "That's pretty rude."
Or, one might say, audaciously bold.
Bai Sha didn't react much. She was about to enter her mech's cockpit when Gis added, "Use the camp's standard mech."
Bai Sha paused, turning to give him a lazy glance. "You're using your personal mech, but I'm stuck with a standard one? Isn't that a bit unfair?"
"My mech is Exceptional-grade," Gis Grez said. "The camp's standard mechs include Exceptional-grade models too. Your 'Thunderflow' is a Legendary-grade mech. In the hands of a student like you, it's like a master blade wielded by a child. At this stage, it won't help you grow."
Bai Sha: "…"
"I won't give you special treatment because you're royalty, nor will I go excessively hard on you. This is standard protocol. You have no grounds to refuse," Gis Grez said coolly. Meanwhile, his massive wolf-shaped mech fixed its eyes on Bai Sha, its silver-blue metal shell gleaming with an intimidating sheen.
The air seemed to freeze. Many held their breath, watching the exchange, a silent vacuum forming around the two.
After a moment, Bai Sha touched her earlobe and said nonchalantly, "Fine."
"…Just don't regret it."
If Bai Sha had used her own mech, a loss could be excused by the gap in mech grades.
But now, forced to use a standard mech—if she lost, how humiliating would that be?