Chapter 10: Special Trainees

"Take a good look, everyone! Let me introduce these beauties to you. These are first-generation training mechs, known as 'Ironhead.' Each one costs several million Federal Credits. They're incredibly expensive, so when you're training, handle them with care and don't be rough!"

Mr. Tang proudly explained to the students, his tone brimming with enthusiasm.

"Millions of Federal Credits? Are you kidding, sir? These mechs look so old and worn out, like second-hand scrap. How could they possibly cost that much?"

Chen Tong and a few others expressed their doubts, skeptical of Mr. Tang's claims.

"What do you know? Mechs are inherently expensive. They're complex to manufacture, and production has never been able to keep up with demand. Honestly, these are a bargain. Alright, enough chatter. We're on a tight schedule, so let's get started. Everyone will take turns."

Mr. Tang coughed lightly, his tone turning serious.

"Got it!"

The students responded eagerly, their excitement palpable.

"Mingke, Chen Tong, you'll go first. Don't be nervous—just operate them like you would in the simulation pods. There's not much difference."

Mr. Tang called on the class monitor, Mingke, and a few of the top-performing students to demonstrate. Their competence could serve as a model for the rest of the class.

"Yes, sir!"

The five students replied excitedly, practically rushing toward the mechs.

---

Meanwhile, the commotion in the training area caught the attention of a group on the observation deck. Several figures stepped out of the lounge and leaned against the railing to watch.

"Everyone, look! Up there on the observation deck!"

Yellow Hair excitedly pointed out to the other students.

Su Ming and the others instinctively looked up, and their expressions froze momentarily.

Standing on the observation deck was Lin Chuyu, wearing her school uniform and gazing calmly at the group below. Beside her stood three boys and another girl.

While Su Ming didn't recognize all of them, his classmates certainly did.

"Oh my gosh, that's Li Fubai!"

A group of girls squealed excitedly, their eyes fixated on a tall, slim boy with pale skin, glasses, and a subtle, mischievous glint in his eyes.

Following their gazes, Su Ming locked eyes on Li Fubai—the same person Yellow Hair had warned him about, someone who allegedly wanted to cause him trouble.

"Wow, this is getting interesting. It's never been this lively here before," commented a boy leaning lazily against the railing. He had an average appearance but carried himself with a casual, indifferent demeanor.

"Zhou Wei, have you lost your mind? What's so interesting about this? Since when did the real training grounds become a free-for-all?"

Zhang Tai snapped irritably, his mood instantly souring when he noticed Su Ming among the students below. The sight of him was nauseating.

"Why don't you go down there and kick them out if you've got such a problem?" Zhou Wei shot back, unfazed by Zhang Tai's temper.

"You—"

Zhang Tai clenched his fists in frustration, but before he could retort, the quiet girl beside him intervened.

"Calm down, Zhang Tai. Don't let it get to you," she said softly, adjusting her black-rimmed glasses. Her demeanor was composed and intellectual.

"She's right. Let's not argue," Lin Chuyu added in a calm tone.

"Hmph."

Zhang Tai swallowed his anger, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of Lin Chuyu.

---

Meanwhile, Mr. Tang also noticed Lin Chuyu's group on the observation deck, his expression turning complicated. The students he was currently teaching were painfully average; not a single one had been selected for the special training program.

Despite this, he still had high hopes for them. But seeing the disparity between his students and the elite trainees above left him deeply frustrated.

"Enough!" Mr. Tang barked, his voice stern. "Why are you all chattering like this? Focus your energy on the training!"

The class fell silent immediately, intimidated by their teacher's rare outburst.

"Move to the sidelines, all of you," Mr. Tang instructed firmly.

"Yes, sir!"

The students, including Su Ming, hurriedly stepped back.

Mr. Tang turned his attention to the five volunteers. "Listen carefully. Step onto the marked lift platforms in front of each mech to reach the cockpit. And remember, operate the controls carefully—don't be rough!"

"Understood!"

The five students nodded eagerly and made their way to the training mechs.

They climbed onto the marked metal platforms, which rose with a crisp mechanical click, lifting them up to the cockpit level.

The trainees opened the mech's abdominal cockpit, climbed inside, and sealed the hatches.

Moments later, the circular heads of the mechs lit up, their cross-shaped display systems glowing with a bright red dot.

As the mechs powered up, a deafening hum filled the air.

"They're starting up! You can do it!"

The students on the sidelines cheered enthusiastically.

The mechs began to move, their massive legs shifting into motion. But as they did, their frames wobbled unsteadily, their balance visibly off-kilter.

"Steady! Don't panic!" Mr. Tang shouted, his heart in his throat.

The five students scrambled to adjust the control levers, their movements jerky and uncoordinated. The mechs swayed dangerously, resembling clumsy toddlers trying to stand.

"They're going to fall!" Yellow Hair exclaimed in alarm.

With a series of thunderous crashes, four of the mechs toppled to the ground one after another. Even Chen Tong couldn't keep his mech upright. Only Mingke managed to stay standing, though his mech teetered precariously.

"Ha! This is hilarious. I came to see some impressive moves, and they can't even stand up straight!" Zhou Wei burst into laughter, tears streaming from his eyes.

In truth, operating a real mech was vastly different from using a simulation pod. The academy's pods were far from the highest grade, offering only 80% realism. The tactile feedback and sensory input were completely different, making it challenging for first-time pilots to adapt.

Add in the inevitable nerves of handling a real mech for the first time, and the frequent tumbles were entirely predictable.

"Zhou Wei, that's enough," Lin Chuyu said softly, her tone calm but firm.

"Alright, alright. Sorry, I couldn't help it," Zhou Wei replied, stifling his laughter.

Meanwhile, Mingke's mech swayed violently, and Mr. Tang's heart sank further.

But just as the mech was about to fall, Mingke yanked the control lever with all his strength, managing to stabilize it at the last second.

"Nice save, Mingke!" A group of girls clapped and cheered, their admiration evident.

Mr. Tang exhaled a sigh of relief.

The fallen mechs began to rise shakily, but some toppled again almost immediately with loud clanging crashes.

Watching this, Mr. Tang felt his heart ache. Though the training mechs were built to be durable, they weren't indestructible. If the damage exceeded the school's maintenance budget, he'd be forced to pay for repairs out of pocket.

Despite his concern, he didn't stop the training.