stonecrandall Chapter 56: Rising to Prominence
Chapter 56: Rising to Prominence
Chengdu, Jinjiang District
Third Key High School
Trial Grounds
A dark green afterimage sped back and forth across the training field, its sharp bone claws carving four deep furrows in the alloy floor.
In the center of the training ground, a middle-aged man put down his tactical board upon seeing this.
"Lin Dong, your 'Green Demon Mech' combined with the S-rank 'Heart-Eating Piercing' martial art has reached its maximum in terms of mobility and destructive power. Now, you are invincible in the entire Three Highs."
The middle-aged mentor changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "But the Hundred Schools Competition isn't just child's play within a school. All the top experts in Chengdu will gather here. How do you know your opponent isn't hiding something even deeper?"
He is the coach of the third key high school and also Lin Dong's practical mentor.
"Teacher, my strength is not limited to our school."
The boy named Lin Dong removed the Green Goblin mech from his exoskeleton and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
A pair of bright eyes radiated confidence.
"A few days ago, I was matched with Zhang Kuang, the ace player from Jinjiang No. 4 High School, known as 'Iron Wall,' in the Beidou Universe. We fought fiercely for three hundred rounds, and I finally won. I am now invincible in Jinjiang District, and my goal for this competition is to win the championship."
"With the competition just around the corner, how do you know if he's deliberately hiding something and not revealing his hand?" The middle-aged instructor shook his head.
"Teacher, have you forgotten that I don't easily reveal my trump cards?"
Lin Dong's lips curled up, and a confident glint flashed in his eyes:
"In that case, let's compare our trump cards then. My Green Goblin mech's trump cards might not be at a disadvantage!"
.........
Chengdu, Jinniu District
Beneath a private villa worth tens of millions lies a nearly 1,000-square-meter alloy training ground.
"boom--!"
A dark red heavy mech flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the alloy wall with a deafening roar.
"Zhao Tiangang, is this what you call 'ready'?"
A strong, critical voice came from the mouth of a middle-aged man.
Immediately, a man with a towering, iron-tower-like physique stepped out. He wore dark gray loungewear, and a grotesque scar ran from his brow bone to his jaw on his left cheek, exuding an aura of battle-hardened iron and blood.
"Dad, I was just..."
In the center of the training field, the dark red "Ironclad War Dragon" mech, carrying a double-barreled heavy cannon on its shoulder, slowly retracted... and then transformed into a young man with a buzz cut who looked to be in his teens.
The boy was gritting his teeth, his face full of resentment.
"Just what? Just careless? Just didn't give it your all?"
Zhao's father interrupted him with a cold laugh, his eyes sharp as blades, "On the battlefield, the enemy won't give you any excuses! Your [Ironclad Dragon Mech] follows a fire-attribute burst damage route, but your mentality is like lukewarm water. You can't even withstand one punch from me. What makes you think you can compete for the top three in the Hundred Schools Competition?"
Zhao Tiangang lowered his head, his fists clenched tightly.
"Although you have achieved the top position in Jinniu District, Jinniu District is not the entirety of Chengdu."
Zhao's father's voice was deep and thunderous, "In the Hundred Schools Competition, you will encounter top experts from various districts of Chengdu, and they may have some incredible trump cards up their sleeves."
"If you're still in this state, you might as well give up now and not embarrass the Zhao family!"
…………
Chengdu, Wuhou District
Inside the principal's office at St. Dee Private School
"Principal, I must reiterate, my goal is not just to make it into the top three, it's to take the top spot!"
The boy who was speaking stood in front of the desk, his back straight, his eyes fixed on the principal opposite him.
His name is Zhou Yuan, and he is recognized as the strongest high school student in Wuhou District. His mecha is the "Thor" mecha, a heavily modified humanoid mecha specializing in lightning-attribute attacks.
His Qi and Blood level has reached 8.4, and his Mecha level has even reached 8.9, making him one of the few high school students in Rongcheng who have touched the threshold of level nine.
Zhou Yuan continued, "I've studied all the top contenders in Rongcheng this year. Wang Taishi from Rongcheng No. 1 High School, with his Raging Stone Mech, is a power type with strong explosive power but weak in endurance battles... Shen Qingyi from No. 7 High School is a speed type with her Azure Phoenix Mech, possessing extremely strong aerial combat capabilities but weak defense... What surprised me was Wang Xing from No. 2 High School. I heard from a rumor that he actually defeated Bai Lingxue and won first place. As far as I know, his Fierce Tiger Mech has no obvious weaknesses but also no obvious strengths; it's extremely mediocre."
"Hehehe..."
The principal, who was over 60 years old but still very energetic, leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands over his abdomen, and chuckled softly.
"You don't have any obvious strengths, are you sure?"
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly.
"His mech level is only 7.5, and his health is 7.7, placing him in the lower-middle range among the seeded players. Although his combat ability is very strong, but—"
"But you've already lost, child."
The principal sat up straight. "You've already started to underestimate him. You need to understand that the greatest strength of someone is the absence of obvious weaknesses. Because you can't see his flaws, but he can see yours."
Zhou Yuan fell silent.
"The grand competition among 100 schools is a gathering of top talents. Wang Taishi from Qingyang District has inherited the legacy of the Azure Mecha Cup champions, making him a force to be reckoned with. Shen Qingyi from No. 7 Middle School, her Azure Phoenix Mecha is the most successful wingsuit mecha modification case in Rongcheng in the past three years. And Wang Xing from No. 2 High School..."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "He didn't have many opportunities to show his face before, which is why no one knows much about him. But he can achieve the effect of an 8.5 level mech on a 7.5 level mech. This isn't because he 'has no obvious strengths,' but because his strength is impeccable."
Zhou Yuan lowered his head and clenched his fists.
"Prepare well."
The principal walked back behind his desk and sat down again. "I hope to see you in the finals."
…………
Chengdu, Qingyang District
Rongcheng No.1 High School, Exclusive Training Ground
"Bang!"
With a deafening roar, a rock-crushing mech was stomped on by a dark gray mech, its alloy floor deformed by the pressure.
Wang Taishi leaped out of the Angry Stone mech, his eyes as cold as ice: "Get up."
Wang Tai'an scrambled to his feet, but showed no anger. Instead, his eyes were filled with fervent admiration: "Brother, your 'Stone-Shattering Strength' has improved again... You'll definitely win first place in this year's Hundred Schools Competition."
Wang Taishi kicked out again, hitting his younger brother squarely in the chest.
"How many times have I told you, arrogance is the greatest graveyard for a mecha pilot! Half the reason you lost to Wang Xing at the Second High was because of your arrogance!"
"Brother, I know, I just..." His voice was muffled, "I just want you to have more confidence."
"You and I are twins. Your failure is my failure. My confidence does not require you to exchange it for failure."
The younger brother, Wang Tai'an, remained silent and lowered his head.
Wang Taishi, the elder brother, took a deep breath, and the dark gray mecha on his body slowly dissipated: "Our mechas, Rockbreaker and Wrathful Rock, are not in the normal mecha sequence; they are extremely rare. In the entire Star Alliance, there are very few people who can guide our Stone Faction mechas."
"Senior Shi Lei, who graduated from the Shanghai Mecha University, has integrated the martial art 'Tai Chi Collapse' into 'Stone-Shattering Force' to create his own unique style. He once won the championship in the Azure Mecha War Cup... It is our honor that he has made the Shi-style mecha training method public. We must seize this hard-won opportunity."
"We must aspire to enter the Shanghai Mecha University and follow in the footsteps of Senior Shi Lei... Our ultimate goal will be to cultivate the 'Holy Stone Body' in the future."
He turned to look at Wang Tai'an, his tone heavy: "As for Wang Xing from Rongcheng No. 2 High School, it was no accident that he could achieve such a record with such a basic mecha."
"We are brothers, we must not underestimate anyone... especially him."
...............
Devil
Shanghai Mecha University, Combat Command Center
The office lights were still on late at night.
Professor Chen Xuanzhou had just finished a remote meeting about the global rankings of the "Azure Mech Cup" and rubbed his throbbing temples.
"I heard about the meeting just now; the topics were very important."
The gentle wife handed him a glass of hot milk.
"Preparations for the new Azure Mech Cup are in the final countdown, but this year's prospective students from Shanghai Mech University... aren't quite ideal..."
Chen Xuanzhou took the milk, sighed, and said, "The student ranked first withdrew from the competition two weeks ago and chose to join a secret military project. The remaining contestants are lacking in both ability and mentality."
"London Mech University has recruited the 'Son of the Frost Giant' from Northern Europe this year... 'Wings of Freedom' from Harvard... and the Frunze Military Mech Academy is participating in the Azure Mech Cup for the first time as a military academy... and has sent the 'Crimson Guard'."
"The competition from these top universities is too intense. Our Shanghai Mech University's record of three championships in five years will probably be significantly diminished this year."
"No one can be number one forever. Three championships in five years is already legendary. The chances aren't great this year, so just treat it as a transition. You can also take a break. Look how tired you are..."
His wife placed her hand on Chen Xuanzhou's shoulder, a look of heartache flashing in her eyes.
"But precisely because we are legendary, our heritage doesn't allow us to fall out of the top three."
Chen Xuanzhou patted his wife's hand, which was resting on her shoulder, and said with a smile, "The school has already stipulated that all participating team members must enter the 'Abyss Simulation Pod' for closed-door special training. It's none of my business anymore, so I can definitely take a break and spend more time with you and the kids."
"Come with me?"
His wife laughed: "Come on, do you think I don't know you? If you're not training the students, you're definitely off scouting for new talent in some city... Especially now that major competitions are starting in all the major cities, how could you possibly be absent?"
"Ring ring—"
Before Chen Xuanzhou could say anything more, the wrist terminal suddenly beeped.
The caller ID showed it was from my old friend Li Zhengyuan.
"Old Li, why aren't you resting so late?" Chen Xuanzhou answered the phone.
On the other end of the terminal, Li Zhengyuan's laughter came through: "Old Chen, the Chengdu University Hundred Schools Competition is about to begin. Who will your Magic Machine University send to watch the competition this year?"
"Needless to say, who else could it be but me?" Chen Xuanzhou said calmly. "It just so happens that good talent has been hard to find these past few years, and I was also thinking of going to the front lines to see for myself. What? You don't welcome me?"
"Haha, how could that be! I've been looking forward to your arrival so you can see for yourself."
Li Zhengyuan sounded extremely happy, "You absolutely must come! It'll be a good opportunity to see for yourself how much my precious niece, Bai Lingxue, has improved."
Chen Xuanzhou raised an eyebrow: "Ever since I mentioned to Lingxue the method of 'combining movement and stillness' in cultivating the 'White Tiger Seven Kills,' she has made rapid progress. Although she cultivates in the Big Dipper Universe, I have never seen her in actual combat. This is a good opportunity to conduct a field investigation..."
"But I heard from Jingshan that Lingxue lost in your school's practical assessment?"
"Well, we did lose, that's exactly what I wanted to tell you."
Li Zhengyuan lowered his voice, his tone mysterious, "Old Chen, this time when you come to Rongcheng, don't just focus on those established geniuses. I have a surprise up my sleeve. If you miss it, I'm afraid you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
"surprise?"
Chen Xuanzhou laughed. As a practical instructor at Magic Machine University, what kind of geniuses hadn't he seen?
"The surprise you're talking about, is it Wang Xing who defeated your niece...?"
"Just you wait and see, Old Chen, this kid will definitely not disappoint you."
Chen Xuanzhou closed the terminal, having begun to develop some interest in the young man named Wang Xing.
He knew Bai Lingxue's level best. The fact that he could defeat Bai Lingxue without the power of Void Yuan was enough to show that she was no ordinary person.
"Wang Xing... I'm actually kind of looking forward to it."