Li Hao didn't rush to open and enter the cockpit. He sat in the driver's seat as the automatic door closed.
"bleem Mission 127: Six months, EMP 3000 points."
Anyone else would have deleted such a junk email immediately. Whoever could say something like that was either insane or forgot to take their medication.
Li Hao didn't pay too much attention to it. It seemed like he was more interested in the email itself. But when he wanted to retrieve it, just like before, the email in Tianxun disappeared. Not deleted, but completely vanished, leaving no trace.
Li Hao didn't know who the sender was. It could be a person, a ghost, or some kind of supernatural entity. All he knew was its codename: bleem.
The first time it happened was on Li Hao's fifth birthday. Something had taken control of his dreams, taking him to indescribable worlds and subjecting him to all sorts of bizarre training. He was in a coma for an entire month, with his life hanging by a thread in the hospital. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong, and they had even informed the orphanage to prepare for the worst. But when he woke up, Li Hao miraculously recovered, his body healthy and unusually robust. The only difference was the scar in the shape of a ring near his heart. If it weren't for the orphanage director's intervention, the hospital would have conducted extensive research on him.
This kind of life continued for more than ten years, and Li Hao had grown accustomed to the presence of the sender. In general, it seemed like the sender was training him for some purpose and had no ill intentions towards him. Li Hao had made various speculations and even suspected that he was being experimented on by some evil force like the ones in TV shows. However, as he grew older, he discarded that idea because the sender's methods surpassed the current technological level he knew of. Moreover, if it were some faction, it wouldn't go to such great lengths for him, an orphan with no value except for his insignificant life.
It wasn't until he turned twelve that the orphanage director gave him a Tianxun device, and that's when the emails started coming. "bleem missions" with peculiar tasks ranging from finding a stray cat to assassination. Li Hao considered the targets to be the kind that could die multiple times without consequence.
Overall, he and bleem maintained a peaceful coexistence, but Li Hao wanted to test the waters. Once, he intentionally failed to complete a mission, and his heart stopped beating. When he woke up, he received an email, finally obtaining some information about the sender: Complete mission 200, and you will receive the answer. If you fail again, you will be destroyed.
Destroyed... who do they think they're looking down upon?
Although it was somewhat dangerous, as his own power grew, Li Hao repeatedly tested the limits on the edge of failure. In the end, he gained some insights, and the intensity and urgency of the bleem missions diminished.
The 126th mission was a year ago, urging him to enter Tianjing. Ironically, life before entering Tianjing's Mech Military was more exciting and eventful. This past year had been the most leisurely for him.
As Li Hao opened his eyes and took a deep breath, a faint smile appeared on his lips. The dormant bleem became active again, and he was prepared.
His records appeared in the EMP system.
ID: Puppet
Total Score: 853
Win Rate: 100%
Total Matches: 4900 matches
Next to the ID, there is a full-color pentagram representing Survival, Damage Output, Team Battles, Individual Battles, and Mech Arsenal.
At first, Li Hao just wanted to have some fun, but things escalated quickly. However, before bleem gave him a mission, he had to control his score and not attract too much attention. He had caused trouble in the past by being too high-profile, almost ruining a major mission. It was a mission that required top ten rankings.
Controlling the score was a technical task, and believe it or not, he found a bug.
That bug was the Virtual Mode. Whether it was a one-on-one or multiplayer battle, as long as one person chose Virtual Mode, the entire score calculation would be based on the Virtual Mode. So Li Hao fought almost exclusively in Virtual Mode while using the Real Mode himself.
Therefore, Li Hao said that he wasn't using Virtual Mode, yet he was using Virtual Mode.
He controlled his score just right, a little over 800, not eye-catching, but still passing.
Li Hao chose the Battle Mode and entered the random team matchmaking.
Soon, an opponent appeared, and the opponent had also hidden their personal information. ID: Eternal Starlight.
Li Hao didn't mind the opponent as both sides entered the countdown for mech selection. Li Hao chose Random.
Puppet vs. Eternal Starlight
Armored Dragon Mk. III (USE)
Configuration: Medium-class Mech, 80 tons
Equipped with Fusion-driven Standard Laser Gun, Titanium Gold Blade
Silver Knight Mk. V (NUP)
Configuration: Light-class Mech, 65 tons
Equipped with Fusion-driven Silver Laser Gun, Photon Sword
Both mechs entered the arena, facing each other, as a three-second countdown began.
3... 2... 1...
The battle began.
The Silver Knight mech initiated the attack, moving with remarkable agility, indicating that the pilot had no difficulty handling this level of stress. The mech was fast and had room to spare.
The distance between the two sides instantly closed to twenty meters. The Silver Knight mech suddenly increased its speed, causing the mech's shoulders to sway. This movement wasn't a sign of instability but rather an attempt to confuse the opponent's judgment.
It was evident that the opponent was quite cautious.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
As the distance narrowed to ten meters, the Armored Dragon mech remained motionless, while the Silver Knight mech leaped into the air, its photon sword unsheathed and ready to strike with full force.
At this moment, it was already too late for the Armored Dragon mech to evade. Mech combat differed greatly from human combat, where anticipation and timing were crucial. The entire Solar System Mech Tournament had demonstrated the importance of seizing the initiative, with NUP excelling in this aspect.
The pilot of the Silver Knight mech showed no mercy. The assassination speed of the photon sword increased even further. However, just at that moment, the Armored Dragon mech let out a muffled roar. The mech trembled and suddenly lunged forward, just half a step. Its left arm blocked the incoming strike from the enemy's photon sword, and its body shifted, delivering a powerful upper elbow strike at a 45-degree angle.
Boom...
The Silver Knight mech violently recoiled. Although the pilot exerted full control, the mech still fell to the ground, its engine roaring as it prepared to skim the ground and create distance. However, in the next second, a figure streaked past.
Boom...
Explosion.
Puppet (Armored Dragon Mk. III) wins!
The match ended, and Li Hao felt a bit dissatisfied. According to logic, the Real Mode should be stronger, but why was it so weak? It was probably because his score was too low, just a little over 800. It would get better later. Li Hao casually kicked his opponent and began a new matchmaking session.
Meanwhile, at Tianxing Academy on the moon...
Boom...
"Damn it! How dare they kick me? Can't they handle it?" Fei Man angrily pounded on the door. "I let my guard down, and they stole the victory."
"Haha! Fei Man, are you joking with me? There are only a few experts, and even if you haven't encountered them personally, you must have heard of them. Puppet is obviously a newcomer. Oh my god, hahaha! You got taken out by a rookie who didn't even use their weapons!"
Alz, a tall and slender figure with sexy blonde curls, laughed so hard that tears streamed down their face. They sat on the ground without any grace or dignity.
"Alz, what just happened doesn't count! I want to have another match!" Fei Man couldn't be bothered with Alz's inflated ego and quickly sent an invitation.
"Puppet kid, dare you have another round? I was careless earlier. This time, I'll take you on with just one hand!"
System prompt: The opponent has set a mute and your message cannot be delivered.
Fei Man was so furious that he pounded his thigh. Without him realizing it, Alz had already stood beside him. Seeing this, Alz laughed even harder, rolling on the floor. "Oh dear, our esteemed Fei Man from Tianxing Mech Military has fallen flat on his face. Tsk tsk, what did the captain say? Don't let victory blind your eyes. It seems like you had a truly delightful vacation."
"Fei Man, Alz, what's so funny? Let me in on the fun too." A clear voice tinged with decisiveness came from behind. Alz immediately stood up from the ground, and Fei Man stepped out of the cockpit.
"Captain!"
Both of them stood at attention, their admiration for the commanding and heroic girl before them evident, along with a bit of hidden affection buried deep within their hearts.
Tianxing Mech Military Academy, an A-grade institution and one of the top ten military academies in NUP, had produced a pilot who earned the title of "Ace" in the Solar System Mech Tournament. The captain of Tianxing Mech Military, Tita Ventis, stood before them.
Though NUP seemed to have achieved great victories, every battle had been extremely challenging, with several close calls where defeat was narrowly avoided. It was the leadership of their captain that had led the team to their current glory.
"Tidy up your clothes; we have guests." Tita Ventis held high prestige at Tianxing Mech Military and was a star-level figure, embodying beauty, intelligence, and strength. The goddess now had a doting smile, causing the two astonished boys to momentarily lose their focus. This...
"Arths, come out. These two may be a bit clueless, but they still have some potential."
A figure in sportswear, donning large sunglasses and keeping their head lowered, sneaked in through the door. As they lifted their head, Fei Man and Alz were stunned, on the verge of bursting with excitement. Tita let out a cold snort, prompting the two to cover their mouths, but they couldn't contain their enthusiasm. "Arths, I've been your devoted fan for ten years. Can you please give me an autograph?"
"Get lost! Arths has only been active for seven years, three months, and eighteen days. Arths is His Highness. I'm Alz, the sniper of the Tianjing Mech Military team. It's an honor... Hey, Captain, why did you kick me?"
Arths, with their fair and beautiful face, wore a sweet smile. "Sis, you can't treat my fans so roughly."
Both Fei Man and Alz felt their hearts melting. Even through Tianxun, Arths' voice was enchanting. To hear it in person was truly refreshing.
...Sis?
If they have a good relationship, they should call each other "sister," right?
Could there be a blood relation?... They do resemble each other a bit. Wow, what kind of lineage is this? It's incredible. The captain has hidden it so well.
"Arths is my cousin. You two know that, and that's enough. If a third person shows up, you should seriously consider the consequences. She wants to witness your fighting skills," Tita said. She knew she couldn't keep it a secret anymore. These two fellows were too curious.
Instantly, both men were ignited like a fire. "I'll go! Graceful as the wind, a single strike to take a life. The reliance of Tianxing Mech Military, the Gun God Alz, is at your service."
"What's so impressive about a long-range shot? Watch mine. A real man goes head-on with real weapons. Arths, I'm a vanguard. Let me show you!" Fei Man couldn't be cowardly in front of his idol. Opportunities like this didn't come often. Besides, after the battle, he could shake her hand and get an autograph. It would be a year-long bragging right.
"Give it up, Five-Second Man. Don't you know who got taken out by a newbie earlier?"
"Get lost! It was just a fluke earlier. I was careless..."
"Fei Man, bring up the replay of the previous match," Tita said coldly, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.
Fei Man and Alz immediately sobered up. Although Tita was a girl, the word "gentle" had absolutely nothing to do with the captain. Her dedication and strictness in training were beyond imagination. Losing? Being careless?
It was not allowed.
Although unwilling, Fei Man brought up the replay of his previous match, and Arths also watched with curiosity the "real life" of the mechs.
As the match replayed, the Silver Knight rushed toward the opponent, took to the air, and completely seized the initiative. Arths, who had studied many matches due to the Solar System Mech Tournament, had some perception from playing in the virtual mode. It was clear that the Silver Knight had the advantage.
However, what happened next took everyone by surprise. In the blink of an eye, the Silver Knight was done for.
"Captain, I admit that I was careless. The opponent doesn't play fair; they fought and ran. Give me another chance..."
"Fei Man."
"Yes, Captain."
"With that attitude, if we were to fight again, you would die a more miserable death," Tita said. "USE lost, but it was mostly due to their arrogance. The next competition will be the true test. The three consecutive championships will go down in history."
Fei Man and Alz were stunned, looking at each other in disbelief.
"Performance-wise, the Armored Dragon Mk. III is inferior to the Silver Knight Mk. V. It's three times slower. When you launched your attack, the opponent didn't move, but if you look closely, their line of sight was magnified tenfold. See that? Their head made a slight movement. They didn't strike because they believed they could see through your moves," Tita explained.
The Silver Knight made its move, and the Armored Dragon lunged forward half a step.
"Being able to execute such an explosive lunge indicates strong control of the range," Arths suddenly commented. This meant that the opponent was definitely not a rookie.
The next moments were crucial. Strong control in the lunge, locking the position, the Armored Dragon's left arm blocking the enemy's photon sword near the hand. This meant that most of Fei Man's attacks lost their force application point. The resulting strike directly knocked over the Silver Knight. To directly take down a mech, one needed control of force and angle. Fei Man's reaction was quick. He wanted to maintain control and balance, then use the jet propulsion to create distance. It was a textbook-worthy maneuver in a crisis.
However, it seemed that the opponent had completely anticipated it. The small amount of distance Fei Man created left his vulnerability exposed. The opponent's premeditated movement was slightly faster but precisely timed. They delivered a kick, and in slow motion, it was precisely in the moment when the mech was in a state of zero gravity, effectively presenting its head to the opponent.
The head of the Silver Knight was directly kicked off. Even in a low-level match, this kind of move carried a humiliating impact.
The entire sequence of actions was fierce and decisive, from anticipation to execution, seamless and perfect. It was as if the Silver Knight was being beaten while being suspended.
Fei Man and Alz stopped fooling around. Cold sweat broke out. They were both experts, and at this moment, they realized the problem. But Fei Man still carried his anger because this kind of attack was like a nutmeg in football—it was no longer just about winning or losing.
Arths could understand some aspects, but the internal workings were not clear. He looked at Tita with a puzzled expression.
Tita was very doting towards her cousin, Arths. Who wouldn't like Arths?
"Arths, the Silver Knight has good defense. Fei Man is a vanguard, and his defense and endurance are very strong. Even if he was careless, he wouldn't be thrown off balance by a single elbow strike from the opponent. His response was also correct. Normally, it's impossible to kick off a mech's head with a single strike, but in that situation just now, the mech was completely out of balance, and Fei Man chose to create distance. The mech itself was in a state of losing control. Look!" Tita played the footage in reverse and showed the kick again.
"After the elbow strike, the Armored Dragon made a premeditated movement, a fast side kick, capitalizing on the loss of control, forming a side kick beheading move. Fei Man, the opponent isn't insulting you; they're insulting our Tianxing Mech Military. We must reclaim our reputation in this arena!" Tita declared.
Fei Man clenched his teeth tightly. "Yes, Captain. It was my mistake, and I'm willing to accept punishment."
Tita nodded. As the captain, she had to be strict and decisive. "Later, you'll go and receive your punishment. Five times the gravity, ten kilometers. Arths, look up information on this person."
Arths shrugged helplessly. "Captain, I just checked a moment ago. He has hidden his personal information. All I can see is his ID, which is 'Puppet.' I haven't heard of someone like him in the past two years, and he kicked Fei Man immediately after the match. It feels intentional."
In EMP, some people use their real names while others use IDs. Of course, many hide their information. But when they reach a certain score, it's impossible to remain completely unknown. There will always be traces. Besides, what's the point of being young if you're not a little arrogant?
"Fei Man, continue challenging him. We must reclaim the reputation of Tianxing Mech Military. Arths, search for skilled pilots who specialize in using the Armored Dragon. There will be traces, hmph. Earthlings like to use these sneaky tricks."
Top-notch experts generally have proficiency in various mechs, at least understanding their basic performance. Even if they don't use them personally, they may face them in the future. They have a few mechs they excel at. To operate them effectively, it's not just about range accuracy and swift attacks. The pilot and mech must complement each other, achieving a certain level of synergy. Someone who can handle the Armored Dragon so well is most likely from USE, and there won't be many of them.
"Yes, Captain, but it's a bit strange... Captain, he didn't prohibit spectators..." Arths also found it perplexing.
The other three present exchanged puzzled glances. He had hidden his personal information but allowed spectators. What kind of trick was this?
"Open it and release."