Chapter 1 The Puppet

Li Hao didn't rush to open it. He entered the machine room, sat in the cockpit, and the automatic door closed.

"Bleem Task 127: Six months, EMP 3000 points."

Anyone else would delete such spam directly. Only a madman or someone who forgot to take their medicine would say something like that.

Li Hao didn't pay much attention. It was as if he was focused on the email itself. When he tried to retrieve it, just like before, the email in his Skylink had disappeared. Not deleted, but vanished, without a trace.

Li Hao didn't know who the other party was – a person, a ghost, or some surreal entity. He only knew its code name: bleem.

The first time was on the night of Li Hao's fifth birthday. Something had controlled his dreams, taking him into indescribable worlds and subjecting him to all sorts of bizarre training. The most serious time, he was "unconscious" for a month, in critical condition at the hospital. The hospital couldn't find anything wrong, and they had notified the orphanage to prepare for the worst. However, when he woke up, Li Hao was miraculously cured. His body was not only healthy, but unusually healthy. Only a ring-shaped scar remained near his heart. If the director hadn't stopped them, the hospital would have wanted to study him thoroughly.

This kind of life continued for more than ten years. Li Hao had grown used to the other party's existence. In general, the other party was training him with some purpose, but without malice. He had made all sorts of guesses. The other party knew him well. He began to suspect whether some evil organization from TV was experimenting on him. But as he grew older, he ruled out this idea because the other party's methods exceeded the technological level he knew. Moreover, if it really was some organization, there was no need to go to such lengths. And as an orphan, he had nothing of value except his worthless life.

Until he was twelve years old, when the director gave him a Skylink, the email arrived, "Bleem Task." The task content was very strange, from finding a cat or dog to assassination, he did everything. Fortunately, in Li Hao's opinion, the targets were the kind who deserved to die several times over.

In general, he and bleem got along peacefully. However, Li Hao wanted to test it. Once, he deliberately failed to complete the task, and then his heart stopped suddenly. When he woke up, he received an email, the first time he obtained information about the other party: Complete Task 200 and you will receive the answer. If you fail again, you will be destroyed.

Destroyed… Who do you think you're looking down on?

Although it was a bit dangerous, as his own strength increased, Li Hao repeatedly tested the edge of failure. Eventually, he mastered some things, and Bleem's tasks became less frequent and urgent.

Task 126 was a year ago, telling him to enter Tianjing. In fact, life before entering Tianjing Mech Academy was more exciting and fulfilling. This year had been the most leisurely he had ever spent.

Opening his eyes, he took a deep breath. A smile appeared on the corner of Li Hao's mouth. Bleem, who had been silent for a while, was active again, and he was ready.

Li Hao's record box appeared in the EMP system.

ID: Mu Ou (Puppet)
Total Score: 853
Win Rate: 100%

Matches: 4900

Next to the ID was a full-color pentagram, representing Survival, Output, Team Fight, Individual Fight, and Mecha Pool.

At first, Li Hao just wanted to have some fun. Who knew he would become addicted? But before bleem gave him a task, he had to control his score, so he couldn't be too eye-catching. He had screwed things up before because of being high-profile, and almost ruined a big task, a task worth ten normal ones.

Score control was a technical skill. And he really found a bug.

That was the virtual mode. Whether it was a one-on-one fight or a multi-person battle, as long as one person chose the virtual mode, the score for the entire match would be calculated according to the virtual mode. Therefore, Li Hao's battles were almost all in virtual mode, while he himself used real mode.

So Li Hao said that he wasn't using virtual mode, and yet he was using virtual mode.

The score was controlled just right, eight hundred and something, inconspicuous, but also passing.

Li Hao selected battle mode and arena, and entered random team matchmaking.

Soon his opponent appeared. The other party also hid their personal information. ID: Eternal Starlight.

Li Hao didn't care about his opponent. Both sides entered the mecha selection countdown. Li Hao went random.

Mu Ou vs Eternal Starlight

Kailong Fighter III (USE)

Configuration: Medium Fighter, 80 tons

Nuclear Fission Drive, Standard Laser Gun, Titanium Alloy Knife

Silver Knight V (NUP)

Configuration: Light Fighter, 65 tons

Nuclear Fission Drive, Silver Laser Gun, Laser Sword

Both mobile suits entered the arena, the two mechs facing each other. A three-second countdown appeared.

3…2…1

Battle Start.

The Silver Fighter attacked first. Its steps were quite light, indicating that the pilot was under no pressure from this level of load, fast, and with room to spare.

The distance between the two sides instantly closed to twenty meters, and this was the Silver Fighter. The speed suddenly accelerated, and the mech's shoulders were shaking. This shaking was not instability, but an attempt to confuse the opponent's judgment.

Obviously, this opponent was quite cautious.

The distance entered ten meters, and the Kailong Fighter still didn't move, while the Silver Fighter had already taken off, slashing down with its laser sword at full strength in mid-air.

At this time, it was completely too late for the Kailong Fighter to dodge. Mech battles were vastly different from human ones. Prediction and anticipation were crucial. The entire Solar System Mech Competition demonstrated the importance of seizing the initiative to control the rhythm, and the NUP did the best in this regard.

The Silver Fighter's pilot didn't show any mercy. The laser sword's assassination speed was even faster, but at this moment, the Kailong Fighter let out a muffled roar. The mech trembled and suddenly made a lunge, only half a step. Its left arm propped up the opponent's laser sword near the handle, its body cut in, and its right arm suddenly delivered a forty-five-degree upward elbow smash.

Bang…

The Silver Fighter recoiled violently. Although the pilot tried his best to control it, the mech still fell to the ground. The engine roared, preparing to pull away while close to the ground, but a figure flashed past in the next second.

Bang…

Explosion.

Mu Ou (Kailong Fighter III) Wins!

The match ended. Li Hao was a little unhappy. Logically speaking, the level in real mode should be better, how could he be so weak? Probably because his score was too low, only eight hundred something. It would get better later. Li Hao casually kicked his opponent and started a new match.

At this time, far away at the Lunar Celestial Star Academy.

Bang…

"TMD, he actually kicked me, can't afford to lose!" Feynman angrily hammered the door. "I was careless, he snuck an attack."

"Ha, haha, Great God Feynman, are you kidding me? There are only so many experts, even if I haven't met them, I've heard of them. Mu Ou, he looks like a newbie. Holy crap, hahaha, killed by a newbie, and he didn't even use a weapon."

The tall Alz with her sexy, flaxen, curly hair laughed until tears came out, sitting on the ground without any decorum.

"Alz, that didn't count just now, I want to play another round!" Feynman was too lazy to pay attention to the gloating Alz and quickly sent an invitation.

"Little Mu Ou, do you dare to play another round? I was careless just now, this time I'll give you a handicap!"

System prompt: The other party has set a mute, your message cannot be delivered.

Feynman was so angry that he hammered his thigh. Alz had already stood next to Feynman at some point, and seeing this, she laughed even harder, "Oh my, our Celestial Star Mech Academy's Great God Feynman has capsized, tsk tsk, what did the captain say? Don't let victory cloud your eyes. It seems you had a really good vacation."

"Feynman, Alz, what's so funny? Let me be happy too." A crisp voice with a decisive tone came. The Alz on the ground immediately stood up, and Feynman also immediately walked out of the cockpit.

"Captain!"

The two stood at attention and saluted. The two looked at the valiant girl in front of them with admiration and a bit of hidden affection in their hearts.

Celestial Star Mech Academy is an A-level academy, one of the top ten military academies in the NUP. This time, the Celestial Star Mech Academy also had someone win the "Ace" pilot title in the Solar System Competition. The captain of the Celestial Star Mech Academy, who is also Tita Mantis in front of them.

Seemingly a great victory for the NUP, but every battle was very difficult, and there were many times when they almost lost, but their captain led the team forward constantly to achieve the current glory.

"Tidy up your clothes, we have guests." Tita Mantis had a very high prestige in the Celestial Star Mech Academy, and she was also a celebrity figure, a being with beauty, wisdom, and strength. At this time, the goddess revealed a doting smile, which made the two macho men stunned and a little lost. This…

"Arths, come out, these two guys are a bit stupid, but they still have some strength."

A figure in sportswear sneaked in at the door, wearing large sunglasses and bowing his head. When he looked up, Feynman and Alz were stunned. They were about to jump up, but Tita snorted coldly, and the two covered their mouths, but still rushed up, "Arths, I've been a fan of yours for ten years, please sign my name."

"Get lost, Arths debuted seven years, three months, and eighteen days ago. Princess Arths, my name is Alz, the sniper of the Tianjing Mech Team, I'm honored… Ouch, Captain, why are you kicking me?"

Arths's fair and jade-like face revealed a sweet smile, "Sister, you can't treat my fans so rudely."

Feynman and Alz's hearts were melting. Hearing her voice through the Skylink was beautiful, but hearing her say this in person was simply refreshing.

…Sister?

If they had a good relationship, they should call her sister, right?

Did they have a blood relationship? … The two really looked a bit alike. Wow, what kind of bloodline was this? So awesome, the captain hid it so well.

"Arths is my cousin, you two just need to know that. If a third person finds out, you can seriously consider the consequences. She wants to see your battles." Tita said. She knew she couldn't hide it, these two guys were too gossipy.

Instantly, the two men were like they were on fire. "I'll do it, dashing like the wind, one-hit kill, the reliance of the Celestial Star Mech Academy – Gun God Alz, is willing to serve you."

"What's so good about shooting cold shots? Watch me, a real man has to go head-to-head with real guns, Arths, I'm a pioneer, let me perform for you!" How could Feynman back down? The opportunity to show off in front of his idol had come. Putting aside everything else, shaking her little hand and getting an autograph after the fight would be something to brag about for a year.

"Stop it, five-second man, I don't know who was killed by a newbie just now."

"Get lost, that was an accident, I was careless…"

"Feynman, bring up the match just now." Tita said coldly. The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped a few degrees.

Feynman and Alz immediately sobered up. Although she was a girl, the word gentle was definitely not associated with the captain. Her seriousness and strictness in training were beyond imagination. Lose? Careless?

Not allowed.

Although reluctant, Feynman still brought up his match just now. Arths also curiously watched the mobile suit's "real life."

Match replay, the Silver Knight charged towards the opponent, and took off, completely taking the initiative. Arths, who had also crammed a lot of matches because of the Mech Competition and played the virtual mode herself, had some vision. The Silver Knight had already gained an advantage.

However, the next scene surprised everyone. The Silver Knight was finished in the blink of an eye.

"Captain, I admit I was careless, the other party didn't have any martial ethics, he ran away after the fight, give me another…"

"Feynman."

"Yes, Captain."

"If you have this attitude, you'll die even worse if you fight again." Tita said, "The USE lost, but more because of their arrogance. The next competition is the real test. A three-peat will be written into the history books."

Feynman and Alz were stunned and looked at each other.

"In terms of performance, the Kailong III is not as good as the Silver V. At three times slower speed, the other party didn't move when you attacked, but look at his line of sight, enlarge it ten times, see? His head had a slight movement. He didn't attack because he thought he could completely see through you," Tita said.

The Silver Knight attacked, and the Kailong lunged half a step.

"Being able to make such an explosive lunge is within the range of strong control," Arths suddenly said. This meant that the opponent was definitely not a newbie.

Next was the key. Strong control lunge, locking the position, the Kailong Fighter's left arm blocked the laser sword's near hand, which meant that most of Feynman's attack force lost its point of leverage. The connecting attack directly knocked the Silver Fighter over. To directly knock down a mech, one needed to control the force and angle. Feynman's reaction was fast. He wanted to use strong control to maintain balance and then use kinetic ejection to pull away. This was a textbook-level crisis operation.

However, it seemed to be completely within the opponent's prediction. The distance he pulled away exposed his weakness, and the opponent's pre-emptive movement was just a little faster, but just right, he kicked out, and under slow motion, it was exactly the gap when the mech was in a weightless state, which was equivalent to sending his head in front of the opponent.

The Silver Knight's head was directly kicked off. Even in low-end games, this kind of operation was a humiliating disparity blow.

The entire set of movements was ruthless and decisive. From prediction to attack, it was done in one go. It was simply hanging the Silver Knight up and beating him.

Feynman and Alz weren't joking anymore, and cold sweat was coming out. They were all experts. At this moment, they had realized the problem, but Feynman was still angry. This kind of attack was like a nutmeg, it wasn't a matter of winning or losing anymore.

Arths could understand some of it, but she didn't understand the core, and looked at Tita with a puzzled expression.

Tita was also very fond of her cousin. Who wouldn't like Arths?

"Arths, the Silver Knight's defense is good. Feynman is a pioneer, his defense and tolerance are very strong. Even if he was careless, he shouldn't have been directly knocked off balance by an elbow strike. His handling was also correct. Under normal circumstances, it's impossible to kick a mech's head off with one kick, but in that situation, the mech completely lost its balance, and Feynman chose to pull away to get rid of it. The mech itself was in an out-of-control state, look!" Tita reversed the footage and brought up the kick just now.

"After the elbow strike, the Kailong directly made a pre-emptive movement prediction, a quick small side kick, seized this opportunity of loss of control, and formed a side kick guillotine. Feynman, the opponent is not insulting you, but insulting our Celestial Star Mech Academy. This place must be recovered!"

Feynman clenched his teeth tightly, "Yes, Captain, it's my fault, I'm willing to accept the punishment."

Tita nodded. As a captain, she had to be decisive, "Go and receive your punishment later, five times gravity, ten kilometers. Alz, check this person out."

Alz shrugged helplessly, "Captain, I've already checked, he hid his personal information, I can only see his ID, called Mu Ou. I haven't heard of such a person in the past two years. And he kicked Feynman after the match, it feels like he did it on purpose."

In the EMP, some people use their real names and some use IDs. Of course, many people hide their information, but when they reach a certain score, it's impossible to be unknown. They will always show traces. Besides, what's the point of not being young and arrogant?

"Feynman, continue to challenge him. The Celestial Star Mech Academy's place must be recovered. Alz, check for masters who are good at using the Kailong, there must be traces. Hmph, Earthlings like to use this kind of sneaky tricks."

Top experts generally are familiar with all kinds of mechs, at least they must master the basic performance. Even if they don't use them themselves, they may face them in the future. And they will be good at a few. To operate well, it's not just simple range accuracy and fierce attacks. People and mechs must match each other and achieve a certain tacit understanding. Being able to use the Kailong like this, there's a high probability that he's from the USE, and there won't be many of them.

"Yes, Captain, but it's a bit strange… Captain, he didn't prohibit spectators…" Alz was also a little confused.

The other three people in the room also looked at each other, hiding personal information but opening up for spectators, what kind of crazy operation was this?

"Open it, project it."

(Dear readers, please give this old but new writer a little attention!)