Chapter 43: The Dispute Between the First and Second Teams

In the following two matches, Zhou Naiyi tried changing the lineup, but the result was exactly the same. Even with the skill levels of Ye Tong and Wuzang, they couldn't secure a single kill. A mature team switches between advancing and retreating with great fluidity; they concede when they should, and never hesitate when it's time to risk it all. The strength shown in the first battle clearly made Zhou Naiyi and the others a bit restricted, leading to hesitation when judging the situation. Especially in the third match, where the random landing spot was excellent, they still let the opponent crush their inherent geographical advantage. The opponent's proficient team-fighting skills truly achieved perfect team coordination.

The individual skill levels of Wuzang, Zhou Naiyi, and Ye Tong are balanced, but the problem is that when the opponent is not bad, tactical arrangement becomes exceptionally important. Furthermore, they grasped the psychology very well. When Ye Tong wanted to rely on individual technique for a solo kill, she was often either delayed by the opponent or encountered a pincer attack. Moreover, the opponent also knew Ye Tong's situation and often targeted her mentality rather than necessarily trying to determine who was superior in technique.

Frankly speaking, Xue Gang's individual level is still a notch behind. Zuo Xiaotang shoots quite accurately, but on the battlefield, accuracy alone is far from enough, not to mention that his accuracy is of a relative kind.

The Marco Polo Second Team is a real team, while the currently pieced-together Tianjing Second Team is more like a pile of loose sand. They have ambition, but also many problems. The three-to-zero score also reflects the current state of the Tianjing Second Team. After the match, Huoya couldn't even be bothered with pleasantries; he took the money and left, clearly having no interest in the Tianjing Second Team.

Bullying the weak is something only amateurs enjoy. Although they are a second team, everyone has a chance to be promoted to the first team. As a mecha student, who doesn't have a dream of entering the S Tournament? Standing on that stage is everyone's wish. Regardless of success or failure, being able to represent one's academy, or even represent the USE in battle, is a tremendous Glory.

Of course, salted fish are an exception.

Li Hao and Tang Yu watched the three matches, and Zhou Naiyi completely forgot about these two. This "forgetting" wasn't because she couldn't see them, but because she saw them and didn't think about substituting them at all. Every time, she felt they could push a little harder and there would be a chance, but the result was even more miserable.

The atmosphere of the entire team was a bit cold; this was no longer just failure, but devastation.

No one summarized the match, and to summarize, one needs to be convincing. This time, Ye Tong didn't speak either; the little girl was in a very low mood. Although her teammates had problems, she had problems too. She didn't even secure a single defeat, and instead, because of her impatience, she was caught by the opponent.

Everyone looked at each other, staring blankly. Zhou Naiyi spoke first, "Although I expected to lose, I didn't expect to lose so miserably. Let's strengthen our training; we can definitely fight back."

That's what she said, but even Zhou Naiyi didn't quite believe it. Although she knew that individual battles and team battles were different, she didn't expect the gap to be so large. Only after becoming the Team Leader did she understand the difficulty of the role, and she had no experience in this regard.

"Why not hire a coach?" Looking at everyone's dejected appearance, Li Hao suddenly said, "I think our team's individual strength is commendable, it's just that we are fighting a bit chaotically. There were a few opportunities that were just missed by a hair."

Everyone looked at Li Hao, only then realizing there was still such a Substitute.

Zhou Naiyi felt a bit embarrassed, "Li Hao, I forgot. Actually, I should have substituted you in."

Li Hao waved his hand, "That's not what I meant. These top teams all have excellent coaches or even coaching staffs to study opponents and formulate tactics. New teams like ours actually need this especially. The opponent doesn't know how long they've been training, while we've just started and haven't even formally coordinated. So, the gap just now isn't the true situation. I suggest we hire a coach. Doesn't that Gao Yunfeng have one over there?"

Wuzang also perked up, feeling a sense of sudden enlightenment, "I think so too. Actually, when we were exchanging blows, I felt the opponent wasn't that strong. If it were one-on-one, I would be confident, but I was heavily constrained by their tactics. I wanted to fight solo, but also wanted to coordinate, and ended up in a mess."

"Where can we find a coach?" Zhou Naiyi asked.

"When you encounter difficulties, find the leadership. Principal Long must have a way. Since ancient times, the crying child gets the milk. Class Monitor, you and Ye Tong go together, act a little spoiled, and I guarantee you'll have results," Li Hao laughed.

Zhou Naiyi and Ye Tong looked at each other. Although they didn't do this kind of thing, they indeed needed tactical guidance given the current situation.

"Alright then, let's stop here for today. It can be considered a gain. Leave the rest to me," Zhou Naiyi took the initiative to take responsibility.

Li Hao was feeling great; he just loved people who took responsibility.

"Wuzang, Xiaotang, let's go to the EMP. Wuzang, don't just practice your body all the time; go bully some noobs and find your feel," Li Hao laughed.

"Let's go too. I hope everyone plays more team matches later to accumulate the feeling of multi-person combat," Zhou Naiyi suggested.

Freshmen actually focus mostly on solo battles because the mecha pool needs to be expanded and mastered; solo battles are more suitable for understanding performance. Generally, after the sophomore year, they start to increase the proportion of team battles, and by the junior and senior years, team battles become the focus. Of course, this is for the average student.

The group headed to the EMP in a grand procession, and coincidentally, they ran into Gao Yunfeng's team just as they were finishing and coming out.

"Naiyi, Ye Tong, you're here too. I heard you scheduled a match with the Marco Polo Second Team. The team leader of the first team told me about it. I told them we're all friends, so give you some convenience. How was it? Did you gain anything?" Gao Yunfeng smiled, still harboring a bit of fantasy—only after hitting a wall would they remember the kindness of their senior.

"Looking at their expressions, they must have gained a lot. Their spirits are quite high, but I don't know if they have the skill. They really think they are the favored children of heaven!" Zhao Zhihan mocked, "Don't tell me you got wiped out."

"Zhao Zhihan, can you speak like a human? You're the one who's wiped out!" Xue Gang roared.

"Yo, isn't this the Xue Gang we didn't want? Besides barking, what else can you do? I could wipe you out with my eyes closed."

"Alright, Zhihan, we're all our own people. Naiyi, Ye Tong, I'll say it again: the opponents are very strong, and we need to be united. I value your strength very much; the first team welcomes you at any time."

"No need," Zhou Naiyi said indifferently, her eyes clearly showing decisiveness.

Gao Yunfeng smiled nonchalantly, maintaining his usual refined demeanor, and gave Zhou Naiyi a meaningful look before leading his people away.

"Damn, that's really infuriating!" Xue Gang said indignantly. He used to be a Substitute, and this time he followed Zhou Naiyi.

"This person seems okay, why do you have such a big opinion of him?" Ye Tong asked. Having reached this point, her mood had recovered; she wasn't so easily discouraged. During the one-on-one, she was able to grasp the opponent's level, but she still needed to adapt. She had never participated in team battles and had always done individual combat. After all, she was just a freshman. Although she lost these three matches, she found her feel. Perhaps she didn't need to play the Number 2 Position, but should be the more proactive Number 2 Position.

Xue Gang and Tang Yu looked at Zhou Naiyi, "All along, all male team members have had to pay team dues; those who don't are expelled. Moreover, Gao Yunfeng looks like a gentleman but acts like a Casanova. He loves having junior girls accompany him. Just those who have had abortions for him are quite a few. During last year's S Tournament, he was always chasing the Team Leader, but the Team Leader ignored him."

"Why not tell the Principal about this kind of person?" Zuo Xiaotang was dumbfounded; this was a level he hadn't been exposed to before.

"There's no evidence. The money collection is all done by Zhao Zhihan. As for the girls, how should I put it? He would say it was voluntary. Besides, the entire team has been formed for a long time, and there are problems from top to bottom. If we replace everyone, who would take their place? Would Tianjing still participate in the S Tournament? Look, our match today tells us that a mature team is not easy to form, and experience is especially important. Even we know this, wouldn't the Principal know?" Tang Yu said helplessly.

"Tch, then I should join, find an opportunity to cut him down," Ye Tong said viciously. She loved it when people came to find trouble with her, so she wouldn't have to hold back when she took action.

As the eldest daughter of the Nangong Family, she certainly wasn't afraid. Moreover, Gao Yunfeng would 100% act with great grace; this kind of person is best at being two-faced. The other side would never be revealed in front of Ye Tong, and even if it were Ye Tong, she couldn't just hack him to death.

"Class Monitor, I think Principal Long must be aware of these things, which is why the second team exists. With Principal Long's vision, she must think we have the strength. So, when you encounter problems, find her. Who knows, she might even take the field herself," Li Hao laughed.

Suddenly, Ye Tong and the others looked at Li Hao. Ye Tong gave a cold smile, "Principal Long is a famous expert, but you're thinking of the Principal as too idle."

"Where there's a will, there's a way. If you don't try, who knows?" Li Hao shrugged and laughed.

Ye Tong wrinkled her little nose, not wanting to pay attention to Li Hao, harboring a little temper in her heart.

"Alright, alright, let's all go train. There will be results eventually."

They scattered to find their training rooms. Zuo Xiaotang leaned over, "What's wrong with Ye Tong? It feels like she's targeting you?"

"God knows, I didn't provoke her. A woman's heart is like autumn clouds. Don't mind her. Little Zuo, you need to perform."

"How can I? I'm really not good at it. I'm good at shooting targets quietly, but once this kind of battle starts, I get all tense, especially when I think someone is going to ambush me, I feel uncomfortable all over," Zuo Xiaotang said helplessly, "You know, I'm not good at fighting. Besides, even experts like Wuzang can't do anything, so I can't count on myself even more."

"Haha, Wuzang and Ye Tong didn't use their full strength," Li Hao laughed.

"What? They lost like this and didn't use their full strength? That's too unserious," Zuo Xiaotang was stunned.

"That's not what I meant. They were serious, and they were executing tactics. But in one-on-one, that's not their true level. Even if they rely on their power to kill one, it doesn't actually mean much; that's not an overall improvement."

Li Hao left Zuo Xiaotang looking confused. Aren't being serious and using full strength the same thing?

"Practice more and you'll be fine. Let me tell you, experts are all bullied into existence. If you get killed a few more times, your heart will become as still as water. Really, don't believe me? Try it," Li Hao laughed.

Zuo Xiaotang was between laughter and tears, "I don't have a masochistic tendency. I'll try my best."