Approximately ten minutes later, all Mechanical Department students competing today, along with their mentors, gathered at the arena. Beyond the mentorship matches between seniors and freshmen, this also marked the first high-stakes duel of the new academic year among upperclassmen.
The opening match pitted commoner student Ouyang Tao against Deya Zakoin—Augustus College’s current strongest Mechanical Department student.
No one believed Ouyang Tao would win. Not even Ouyang Tao himself.
For spectators in the stands, the only question was how long he’d last. Bored seniors had already started betting pools on his defeat time.
"Contestants, enter the arena."
Following the announcement, Ouyang Tao and Deya entered from opposite ends. One hundred meters apart, Ouyang Tao’s face was grave, as if facing a formidable enemy. Deya radiated confidence.
"Mana infusion! Ten-second countdown!"
Ten seconds before the match, both channeled mana into nearby material piles to enable instant construction at the start. Energy shields rose around the arena, protecting the audience.
"Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one—begin!"
The electronic timer activated. Deya struck first. Four humanoid Mechs materialized before her. Their left arms planted heavy rectangular shields into the ground, forming a barrier. Right-arm autocannons roared to life, spitting fire. Explosions erupted around Ouyang Tao, swallowing him in smoke and debris.
The stands erupted in chatter.
"Whoa, she’s not holding back."
"Guess the young lady means business."
"He won’t last a minute."
This wasn’t empty boasting. Many had suffered Deya’s opening barrage firsthand—crushed instantly or stripped of initiative. Her custom mana-enhanced shells combined armor-piercing and explosive power, rivaling heavy artillery. Paired with her lightning-fast Mech deployment, surviving this initial assault alone was a feat.
Her doctrine was simple: dominate with overwhelming firepower, then counter preemptively. A brutal, experience-driven strategy.
Yet high in the stands, Lu Yun saw a flicker of hope.
Deya maintained relentless fire for thirty seconds. The timer kept running—proof Ouyang Tao had weathered her first storm.
But why no counterattack?
Suspicious, Deya halted bombardment. She deployed fans to clear the smoke, retreating behind her shield wall to observe. What was that commoner freshman scheming?
As dust settled, a hexagonal-paneled barrier stood intact before her. Unfamiliar. Unconventional.
"Hmph." Deya scoffed, instantly deciphering his tactic. "Hiding behind defense to stall? Naïve! Weapon swap!"
Her Mechs exchanged autocannons for massive howitzers, bracing with auxiliary supports.
Bombardment resumed—ten times fiercer. Armor-piercing shells hammered the barrier. Yet after forty seconds, Ouyang Tao remained standing. His hexagonal wall still held firm.
Interest rippled through the stands. Though Deya used only standard Rank 1 "Recruit" Mechs, surviving over a minute under her fire was remarkable.
Deya’s pulse quickened. She’d vowed victory within three minutes. Half the time was gone. Her shells hadn’t even dented that barrier. Could his alloy truly be this resilient?
Battle instinct steadied her. He’d ceded initiative. While maintaining fire, she scrutinized his defense.
The barrier stayed intact—but his material pile shrank rapidly. He was building something continuously. Why?
"Impossible..." A wild theory struck her. She deployed a high-speed scanner. Thirty seconds later, data confirmed it.
Each hexagonal module was disposable reactive armor, self-destructing to neutralize impacts. Ouyang Tao was mass-producing replacements to maintain the wall.
But the mana cost must be catastrophic. Unsustainable.
He was stalling. Deliberately.
"Fine. Let’s see how much mana you have left!" With one minute remaining, Deya maxed her Mech count to six. Shields retracted. Dual howitzers blazed—tripling firepower.
"*Damn it... ears ringing... when will this end... huff... huff...*" Behind the barrier, Ouyang Tao gritted his teeth. Sweat soaked his uniform. Maintaining the mana sphere demanded absolute focus. Being pummeled chipped away at his fear, sharpening his resolve.
His mana reserves plummeted. Under intensified fire, his knees buckled. *Can I really hold on?*
He glanced at the timer: 2:15 remaining. Three minutes was almost up. Teeth clenched, he pushed back against the ground. "*Huff... huff... almost... just a little longer... I’ll see this through to the bitter end!*"
In the stands, Lu Yun allowed himself a barely perceptible smile. A total rookie surviving three minutes of relentless assault through sheer will? Beyond his expectations.
Professor Kolon—Deya’s current mentor—shouted from the sidelines: "Deya! What are you doing? Three minutes are up!"
*Three minutes?!* Deya’s eyes snapped to the timer. Less than two minutes remained.
No Augustus College student had ever lasted three minutes against her in combat. Least of all a commoner freshman.
Unacceptable. Her pride burned.
The entire arena leaned forward. No one had ever pushed her this far.
*Could I be forced into a draw?* The thought horrified her. No. Everyone was watching. Even if she’d lost strategically, she *had* to win visibly.
Deya’s eyes hardened. With under two minutes left, she’d crush this opponent utterly.
