Yue An gazed in wonder at the vast expanse of stars and celestial bodies surrounding him. The virtual training room could simulate any environment, including the weightlessness of space and the vacuum of the cosmos—though today, the vacuum feature remained inactive.

The sensation of zero gravity was a novel experience for Yue An. Following the instructions Ji Xiuyun had given him earlier, he attempted to adjust to the weightlessness, gradually stabilizing his body that had been drifting aimlessly in the simulated gravitational field. With a mix of curiosity and determination, he even managed to master the art of tumbling gracefully in the vacuum environment.

In the distance, a brilliant star radiated intense light. Without the protection of an atmosphere, Yue An's cat-like pupils constricted to thin lines, his eyes reflecting a mesmerizing azure hue. Intrigued, he floated closer to the mecha that loomed not far from him.

Tentatively, Yue An extended a paw, gently tapping the immense mechanical behemoth before him. The silver-bodied mecha stood dormant amidst the cosmic tableau, its sleek, perfectly proportioned form adorned with intricate black lines that seemed to flow across its surface. From what Yue An could discern, the mecha's exterior was seamless, showing no signs of individual components or assembly.

As Yue An's paw traced the dark lines, he discovered that their texture was indistinguishable from the rest of the outer shell—likely just a design element of the paint job. Curiosity piqued, he clambered up the mecha's arm, eventually perching atop its head. Leaning forward, he peered into the large screen that served as the mecha's eyes, pressing his tiny paws against the smooth surface. Try as he might, he couldn't glimpse anything within.

Undeterred, Yue An pressed his entire feline face against the screen, his whiskers twitching as he attempted to discern any details from the opaque surface.

Inside the mecha, Ji Xiuyun had just entered the cockpit when he looked up to see a small, inquisitive head bobbing above the viewscreen. Two front paws, their pink paw pads forming adorable plum blossom shapes against the glass, supported the curious cat as he swayed back and forth.

The Marshal observed the endearing sight for a moment, appreciating the cuteness of his feline companion. Then, placing his hand on the sensor panel before him, he activated the mecha and chose to enter symbiosis mode.

This was a state of perfect unity between pilot and machine, a fusion of mind and body down to the last nerve ending. In this mode, the pilot could control every aspect of the mecha as if it were an extension of their own body. However, this intimate connection came at a price—any damage to the mecha would be felt by the pilot as real, unmitigated pain.

As the mode confirmation completed, the surrounding control panels retracted, providing Ji Xiuyun with ample space to move. Several key sensor devices adhered to the Marshal's body, their presence barely noticeable.

Suddenly, the viewscreen beneath Yue An's paws illuminated with a deep red glow, bathing the small white cat in its crimson light.

"Meow!" Startled by the sudden change, Yue An leaped back, only to find himself gently caught by the mecha's extended arm. Ji Xiuyun carefully cradled the diminutive feline in his mecha's palm, bringing him down from the top of the machine.

The Marshal looked down at Yue An, who sat obediently in the mecha's open hand. Retracting his fingers, Ji Xiuyun observed with mild surprise as the cat maintained his balance perfectly in the zero-gravity environment. His pet was proving to be more adaptable than he had anticipated.

Unable to resist, Ji Xiuyun extended a single metal finger, gently poking the tiny cat who was barely larger than one of the mecha's digits. The playful gesture sent Yue An spinning through the vacuum, and when he finally stabilized himself, he swatted at the enormous metal figure with his delicate paws, clearly annoyed but utterly adorable.

As Ji Xiuyun admired the charming display, he flexed his body, confirming that the mecha responded flawlessly to even his smallest movements. With a beckoning gesture of his finger, he announced through the mecha's speakers, his voice slightly distorted but clear, "Let's begin."

No sooner had the words left his lips than Yue An vanished from sight. In less than a second, he reappeared, his snow-white fur now emanating a soft, ethereal glow. To the astonishment of the onlookers, the small cat was hurtling towards the mecha at an incredible speed, his fragile hind legs on a collision course with the unyielding alloy exterior.

The three military observers held their breath, certain that the impact would force Yue An out of the training simulation. However, against all expectations, Ji Xiuyun's mecha moved at the last possible moment, avoiding the collision.

Before anyone could process what had happened, the palm of Ji Xiuyun's mecha opened to reveal a concealed weapon port, aimed directly at the surprised Yue An. Without hesitation, the Marshal fired.

Yue An's heart skipped a beat as his hunting instincts kicked in. Despite his lack of combat experience, his natural reflexes allowed him to dodge the attack, retreating to a safe distance.

The three military leaders watching the encounter were slack-jawed with disbelief.

"Did you see that clearly?" one asked.

"No, it was too fast," another replied.

"He dodged an SG-94 superluminal laser cannon fired at point-blank range?" the third exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.

As they exchanged glances, their attitudes shifted from casual observation to intense focus. Clearly, the Marshal's evasive maneuver had been justified.

"Meow!" Yue An's indignant cry filled the air. This wasn't the strength test he had been promised! How could he measure his abilities if his opponent kept dodging?

Ji Xiuyun, sensing Yue An's frustration, explained, "Let's change this to a comprehensive test. Try to defeat me."

Yue An's ears perked up at these words. Before entering the virtual room, Ji Xiuyun had explained the mechanisms at play—they could fight without holding back, experiencing pain and difficulties as in real combat, but without the risk of actual death.

For Yue An, this meant one thing: a chance to avenge his lost ninth tail!

Excitement surged through the small cat's body. His tail stopped swishing as he unsheathed his claws, launching himself like a furry projectile towards the mecha.

The observing military leaders watched in stunned silence as their expressions morphed from solemn to utterly shocked. They realized that Yue An's ability to outpace the supposedly "instant-kill" laser was just the beginning.

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To their astonishment, the small ball of fur extended its claws and tore through the outer shell of Ji Xiuyun's mecha arm with ease. This was Silver Blade, the pinnacle of military technology, its exterior crafted from krypton alloy—a material second only to energy crystals in hardness. And it had just been shredded like paper by a cat's claws.

The leader of the Second Military Division cupped his face in his hands, a silent scream frozen on his features.

But the surprises didn't end there. This small creature—no, this extraordinary cat—was evading the vast majority of attacks from the Marshal in symbiosis mode.

The reason Yue An couldn't dodge all the attacks was twofold: primarily, he was deliberately trading blows, and secondarily, the Marshal employed some clever combat tricks to confuse Yue An's senses, successfully landing hits.

The three military leaders watched in astonishment as the mecha and the cat's battle transitioned from open space into a treacherous asteroid field, infamous for being a warrior's graveyard. Yet, these two extraordinary beings, with their superior physical attributes, reflexes, and combat instincts, danced through the deadly field with breathtaking agility.

As the fight progressed, it became clear that Ji Xiuyun was gaining the upper hand. The reason was apparent not only to the Marshal but also to the observing military leaders: Yue An's experience was limited to hunting, with minimal actual combat knowledge. Once the Marshal had discerned the cat's predictable patterns, even the watching leaders felt confident they could subdue the small creature.

Deciding the exercise had run its course, the Marshal hefted a cannon from the mecha's weapons arsenal. With a series of precise shots, he methodically closed off Yue An's escape routes, deftly maneuvering the cat out of the asteroid field. Once clear, a few feints were all it took for Ji Xiuyun to capture the now battle-worn feline in his mecha's hand.

The mecha itself hadn't escaped unscathed. Its surface was littered with areas shredded or outright torn apart by Yue An's claws. The main energy compartment was in shambles, and eight of the cockpit's twelve protective layers had been forcibly stripped away. The overall appearance was one of devastation.

Operating in symbiosis mode meant that Ji Xiuyun felt every bit of damage inflicted on the mecha. Sweat beaded on his brow from the phantom pain coursing through his body. Despite this, he considered the outcome satisfactory.

"You've lost," the Marshal declared, preparing to reset the virtual training room's data and alleviate both his and Yue An's pain. However, the cat was far from ready to concede.

"Meow!" Yue An protested vehemently, his fur standing on end as he perched in the mecha's palm.

The military leaders, who had been about to approach for a discussion, halted in their tracks as they witnessed an astonishing sight. The small bundle of fur in the Marshal's grasp suddenly began to radiate an intense light.

A deafening thunderclap reverberated through the virtual training room. Lightning bolts materialized from thin air, crackling with raw energy. Before anyone could react, a torrent of sparks and electricity surged forth, engulfing the entire world in a blinding, white-hot brilliance that momentarily robbed everyone of their vision.

As the light dissipated, the military leaders, protected by the observation system, looked back into the battle arena. To their shock, only the small white cat remained, his injuries miraculously healed, standing proudly with his tail held high.

The Second Military Commander, the first to recover, hastily checked the Marshal's account status. The indicator light was gray. Further investigation revealed that Ji Xiuyun's previously unblemished record now showed a single defeat.

The three military leaders exchanged bewildered glances. Had their invincible Marshal just... lost?

Without a moment's hesitation, they pulled up their communication panels. This was news that needed to be shared with their four colleagues immediately!

Ji Xiuyun, forcibly ejected from the simulation, found himself momentarily disoriented. Had he really lost? Upon reflection, he realized it wasn't entirely unexpected. He hadn't explicitly forbidden Yue An from using his special abilities—he had simply underestimated their potency, his perception still colored by Yue An's fish-zapping antics.

Glancing at Yue An, still curled up inside the helmet, Ji Xiuyun made a decision. He donned the helmet once more and re-entered the virtual training room.

Upon entry, he was met with the barely contained expressions of his three military leaders. The Marshal, however, remained composed. "I lost," he stated simply.

The Second Military Commander couldn't believe it. "Are all cats this formidable?"

"Yue An is... unique," the Marshal explained, turning to watch as Yue An approached.

Yue An, brimming with pride, leaped to the Marshal's side and hugged his arm, letting out triumphant meows.

Ji Xiuyun, far from annoyed, rubbed Yue An's belly before saying, "Do that again."

"Wait, you can communicate with him?" the military leaders asked, their curiosity piqued.

"Yue An is very intelligent," the Marshal explained briefly, before repeating his request to Yue An.

The military leaders rubbed their hands in excitement, eager to witness once more the devastating attack that rivaled a flagship's main cannon.

Yue An, however, hesitated. He released his grip on the Marshal and turned away, his posture a clear refusal. As much as he wanted to oblige, he had expended all the spiritual energy he had accumulated over years in that one, impulsive attack. Where was he supposed to find more energy to perform such a feat again?

Disappointed but understanding, Ji Xiuyun gently stroked Yue An's fur. He shook his head at the expectant military leaders and pulled up the battle assessment.

Yue An's agility, speed, strength, and destructive power were all rated A or above. Only his combat technique received a pitiful D rating—the mark of a complete novice.

The military leaders weren't surprised by the low combat rating. "He's a novice when it comes to fighting humans," the Second Military Commander noted.

"According to records, many ancient Earth humans kept cats as pets. Cats are naturally affectionate towards humans, so they wouldn't typically engage in combat with them," the Fourth Military Commander added. "However, his hunting techniques are quite evident."

The Fifth Military Commander began the routine post-battle analysis, reviewing the video footage.

As the Marshal listened to his subordinates' discussion, he felt Yue An's paw on his hand. Looking down, he saw the cat had poked his head out of the pocket, ears perked high as he intently listened to the analysis. Yue An even swatted away the Marshal's hand when he tried to pet his head, completely absorbed in the conversation.

However, the discussion largely centered around Ji Xiuyun's techniques and judgment. There wasn't much to say about Yue An's combat skills, after all.

"Meow!" Yue An cried out indignantly, his soft paw pads patting the Marshal's palm. How could they not praise him when he had won?

The military leaders turned at the sound. Ji Xiuyun scratched under Yue An's chin, not quite understanding the meow but clearly perceiving the cat's discontent.

After a moment's thought, the Marshal said, "He's probably upset that you're critiquing his lack of technique, despite his victory."

Yue An's expression seemed to say, "That's not it at all!" But the Marshal was confident in his interpretation.

"Well then," Ji Xiuyun said, turning to Yue An, "how about you spar with them to learn some techniques?"

Yue An retreated into the Marshal's pocket. He was just a small cat wanting to grow his tails and enjoy life. Why should he fight these humans? He wasn't foolish enough to agree to that.

"I was just about to get this month's fifty..." the Marshal paused, noticing Yue An's head popping out again at the mention of his favorite treat. "...of that thing we don't have at home."

Ji Xiuyun deliberately avoided mentioning energy crystals. If word got out that Yue An could consume them like snacks, someone might try to snatch him away and harvest his teeth.

"Besides, you really should learn these techniques," the Marshal added. "This era is more dangerous than you imagine."

Yue An's sense of crisis was indeed acute—it was why he had risked using the clan's teleportation array with only five tails. After careful consideration, he finally swished his tail in agreement, much to the military leaders' delight.

After instructing Yue An not to use his special abilities, Ji Xiuyun exited the virtual training room. He removed his helmet and watched Yue An, curled up beneath the armor, for a moment before heading towards the door.

What the Marshal didn't expect was to be ambushed by his other four military leaders the moment he stepped out of the training room.

The Seventh Military Commander, the youngest and most recent addition to the team—and frequent victim of Ji Xiuyun's peculiar sense of humor—could barely contain his excitement. After years of being on the receiving end of the Marshal's teasing, they had finally caught him slipping up!

With barely contained glee, he looked up at Ji Xiuyun, who stood a head taller. "Marshal! We heard you lost a battle!"

At last, someone had managed to humble the invincible Marshal. This was indeed monumental news!