Chapter 42: Giving the Newcomer a Lesson

"But you're quite capable too; after a weekend, you've changed a lot. I won't worry about other things, but you must take the team matters seriously. Don't forget the team match at seven tonight." As she said this, she sighed lightly.

"What's wrong?"

"It's about the training match opponents. Without good opponents, there's no way to test the team, let alone find a suitable style." Zhou Naiyi was also a team leader for the first time. At the beginning, she was very excited, but after forming the team, she realized this was an honor and also a very difficult task. She had to admit, she felt Gao Yunfeng wasn't that bad after all.

"Oh, is that so? Let me ask a friend of mine; their level should be decent."

Zhou Naiyi nodded, not taking it to heart. She still needed to talk seriously with the Marco Polo Second Team, even if it meant paying a training match fee.

The afternoon was for the comprehensive tactics class. Professor Meng Ye was an expert in mecha and also an advocate for the USE mecha style. He did not believe the current disadvantage was a problem with the direction of mecha development.

The USE had always followed a balanced style. As the birthplace of mecha, balance was the core. It was just that the results of the last two years had put a lot of pressure on all sides, but Meng Ye still firmly believed that there was no problem with the style; the problem lay with the pilots themselves.

The current mainstream USE mecha were the Dragon God Series that had replaced the Armor Series: Dragon God E (Medium Type), Dragon God T (Heavy Type), and Dragon God C (Light Type). They all had a certain degree of improvement in mecha performance and maintained a smooth transition; the mainstream usage effects were all very fluid.

As for the NUP, they focused on light types and continuously expanded performance based on light mecha, such as the recently developed fighter jets with stealth mimicry capabilities. Although these functions made the mecha appear a bit fragile in the eyes of some experts, they were still very effective when used well.

The ROM mainly used beast-type mecha, but their research and development direction was the comprehensive link between the neural system and the mecha to achieve "Man-Machine Integration" in the true sense. They could bring multi-functional mecha to the extreme. Humans themselves were perfect god-like creatures, possessing powerful compatibility and expansion capabilities, as long as humans were given enough space. Of course, this kind of research also encountered some moral and ethical opposition, but the Martians didn't care.

The TAS strengthened their advantage in power, concentrating their efforts on developing heavy armor mecha. At the same time, they also began appropriate modifications to the pilots' bodies. It wasn't genetic adjustment; current genetic adjustment was already optimization within a safe range. The TAS used the unique natural environment and ecological elements of Titan to strengthen physical power.

Meng Ye spoke eloquently on the podium. It had to be said that the failure of S10 did not diminish Meng Ye's enthusiasm in the slightest. "Let's not even mention Titan; what kind of technical content is there in such external enhancements? The Moon and Mars are taking shortcuts. We are maintaining things very well. They will achieve results at a certain stage, but in the long run, our way is the righteous path."

Listening to Meng Ye's class was very encouraging. He wasn't the type to boast randomly, but rather genuinely optimistic about the USE's balanced strategy.

"I know, especially the freshmen, you're still not convinced in your hearts. The poor performance in the S Tournament has also caused self-doubt. I'll give an example, although it's not typical, an interesting player recently appeared on the EMP. I don't know if everyone has noticed, called Puppet," Meng Ye said. "I watched his first clear of Kepler Survival and discovered an interesting thing: this person has only been using Armor Series mecha recently."

Suddenly, the whole class became interested. This was one of the few heartening things recently.

"Has everyone noticed? The Armor Series, which we scoff at and even feel is a drag, is being used in his hands with the feel of a Super Mecha. Why is this? Is it the reason for the mecha, or has our thinking gone wrong? You can pay attention to this person when you have time. I'm not advertising, oh." Meng Ye ended the afternoon class with a smile.

The crowd discussed it for a while, but didn't take it too seriously. Some had heard of it, and some were hearing it for the first time. After all, he was just a minor internet celebrity; even getting an S-rank first clear only attracted attention within a certain range. Only the S Tournament could truly receive comprehensive attention.

"This Puppet is not simple. The Class Monitor and I have watched some of his matches; he is quite comprehensive," Wuzang said.

"Is he that amazing?" Zuo Xiaotang didn't take it to heart. Ever since he got the news that Arths was going to hold a concert, he was clearly a bit distracted.

"Very amazing. His foundation is quite solid, and his agility is extremely high. Some of the decisive handlings he makes in actual combat are, upon later analysis, the most correct choices. This is the most amazing part," Wuzang nodded. "If I could face someone like this, it would definitely be a very satisfying thing."

"Let's go, we still have a team match in a while, let's hurry."

The three of them finished eating quickly and arrived at the training ground. Zhou Naiyi was on the Skycom; judging by her expression, the other party had agreed.

Not long after, Ye Tong, Xue Gang, and Tang Yu also arrived. Their training match opponent was the Marco Polo Academy's Second Team. The final condition reached was that if they won, they could waive the training fee, but if they lost, they had to pay one thousand. This was only because Ye Tong was among them; otherwise, the other party wouldn't have been willing at all.

Although it was only the Second Team, the level of Marco Polo Academy was very high, and they were a proper team that had been established for many years, while their team was still newly formed, and they didn't even know if they could keep it.

Zhou Naiyi was still a bit excited. "Let's start. We'll use combat to train, first find the problems and ideas. For the first match, we'll play 22335. Zuo Xiaotang, you go up. Li Hao and Tang Yu, you watch."

Tianjing Second Team: 22335

Wuzang: Dragon God E

Xue Gang: Dragon God C

Zhou Naiyi: Dragon God E

Ye Tong: Gale Zero

Zuo Xiaotang: Gray Reaper

Dragon God C: Light Type Mecha USE

Configuration: Light fighter 60 tons

Nuclear Fission Drive, dual Short-range Laser Guns, dual Titanium Blades

Marco Polo Second Team: 12355

Anduluo: Dragon God T

Aike: Dragon God C

Huoya: Gale Zero

Suofeiya: Eagle Eye Fighter

Dibabaluo: Eagle Eye Fighter

Dragon God T

Heavy Armor Mecha 120 tons USE

Dual-Engine Nuclear Fission Drive, shoulder-mounted automatic laser, Titanium Overlord Spear, Titanium Battle Axe optional

Both sides entered the city battlefield. The air-drop positions were roughly random. They advanced toward the center area simultaneously. Anduluo, as the main heavy armor vanguard, did not lag behind in speed. This was also the heavy armor's ability to adapt to the battlefield; the physical quality was top-notch.

Tianjing was actually full of confidence. Zhou Naiyi was indeed meticulous and relatively conservative, but the team had Ye Tong. Ye Tong was a newcomer, but her combat strength had been verified; what she lacked was experience.

The internal voice chat of the Marco Polo Second Team was relatively relaxed. "Brothers, show the newcomer some color, welcome this young lady to the adult world!"

"Alright, we've got this one thousand in the bag."

"Anduluo, it's up to you, drag them out. Aike, the opposing sniper has no experience, looks like a nerd. As long as you find the position, take them out first. Suofeiya and Dibabaluo, control the field. I'll try the level of the Nangong Family young lady."

Everyone roared in agreement, and the mecha launched a full-scale attack. Although Tianjing was a top-tier academy in the Asia region, it could only be considered first-class in the overall USE range, not top-tier. Zhou Naiyi's performance in S10 was also relatively average. Although their Second Team didn't have the qualification to participate, they were indeed the main sparring partners for the Marco Polo First Team, accompanying them all the way to the S Tournament. Moreover, there were promotions and demotions between the members of the first and second teams, so this level was at least eighty percent of the highest level.

The match began. Marco Polo played in a grand and open manner, directly letting the heavy armor advance without the slightest hesitation. Zuo Xiaotang made his move; this damn meat delivered to the door couldn't be ignored.

Zuo Xiaotang was also a Gray Reaper enthusiast, with very precise attacks, but the Dragon God T was already prepared. The large shield blocked the sniping, and the overall center of gravity didn't have any fluctuation. After taking one hit, it quickly found cover and changed direction to continue moving forward.

Huoya jumped out directly for a jump-shot, firing wildly, and initiated a challenge to Ye Tong on the public channel.

Who was Ye Tong? She had never known what it meant to be a coward.

The moment the mecha of both sides met, there was a barrage of bombing, lasers roaring. Zhou Naiyi calmed her heart; she was the team leader and had to be calm. "Wuzang, Xue Gang, find their sniper!"

Zhou Naiyi looked at the battlefield, feeling that something was wrong. Huoya was shouting loudly but kept maintaining distance. Wuzang was entangled by the heavy armor. Xue Gang could use his mobility to break free, but just as he appeared, he was hit by a sniper's peek. His body control was a bit messy, his movements were too large, and another shot rang out, directly resulting in a headshot.

The Marco Polo dual-sniper combination tactic.

And just as Xue Gang fell, an explosion sounded on the other side. Zuo Xiaotang was taken out. He was truly accurate, and shooting moving targets was also good, but this wasn't shooting targets. Although he changed positions after the first shot, he was still accurately predicted by the opponent. The Dragon God C harvested Zuo Xiaotang without encountering almost any resistance.

Ye Tong was also depressed on her side, disgusted to death. She had fought many duels, but team battles were not part of the preparatory class curriculum. In such a team battle world, the opponent had plenty of ways to flank. It was impossible for Ye Tong to exert pressure, and Huoya was no rookie.

The more anxious her mindset was, the less effective she was. On the other side, Wuzang was performing well against the opponent's heavy armor. The medium fighter was suppressing the heavy armor with fierce attacks, but it was useless. The opponent's heavy armor was clearly extremely good at defense. Most importantly, they were full of patience, not chaotic in the slightest, steady and solid, and if it really didn't work, they relied on the terrain for defense.

"Brothers, that's enough, give the newcomer a lesson!"

Following Huoya's order, the Sniper began coordinating with the frontline battle, and in less than a minute, Ye Tong fell; there was truly no way around it, as the opponents' coordination was quite tacit, with the Sniper firing at a lead, while Ye Tong was forced into position by a desperate strike from an opponent, leaving no options and no mental preparation.

It was the same for Wuzang; facing the life-swapping tactics of Longshen T, he had to either dodge or perish together, and in this situation, the latter was unlikely, while Wuzang's dodging was met with the combined strikes of two Snipers.

He was blown away directly.

The remaining Zhou Naiyi clearly had no room for maneuvering and was pincered and killed by Huoya and Aike.

This sudden total wipeout, a 0-for-5, left the entire training hall in dead silence.

This was truly a heavy blow to the ambitious Zhou Naiyi and Ye Tong.