Chapter 11

Ajax, inside the mech, observed Charles as he pulled away and couldn't help but grin.

He knew he was inferior to Charles in terms of raw power and mech strength, making a direct confrontation a certain defeat.

Yesterday, he had pointed out the flaws in Charles's mecha, suggesting it was not fast enough and could be easily crippled. However, Charles dismissed his advice and thought of them as nonsensical rambling.

Choosing a faster Knight-Class mech from the beginning, Ajax aimed to prove his theory, turning the Parallax-Class mech into a moving target for the Knight-Class mech.

With everything going according to plan, it was time to conclude the match. In a decisive moment, Ajax made a firm decision. He stopped his mech, opened the left shoulder armor, and shot an armor-piercing projectile toward Charles with a light blue tail flame.

Killing Charles's mech with sniper bullets was challenging; the game's outcome depended on more powerful armor-piercing projectiles available to higher-class mechs.

Sensing the imminent threat, Charles subconsciously tried to stand up, but his mech's knee was severely damaged, and the weight of his mech was too much for the other knee to lift by itself, forcing him to roll on the spot to narrowly dodge the armor-piercing bullet.

However, Ajax continued the assault with several sniper bullets. Charles had no choice but to endure, and his mech's shell made "bang" sounds under the relentless barrage.

Unfazed, Ajax maintained the pressure, not leaving any breathing room for Charles. The commentators and the audience watched in disbelief as Ajax forced Charles to roll on the ground over and over again.

It was an unexpected turn of events, as no one could have predicted the game unfolding this way. Forcing the student recognized as the strongest by Apollo Academy to retreat in such an exaggerated manner.

Half a minute later, Ajax landed at least 20 shots on Charles. Unable to withstand the onslaught, Charles's other leg was crippled, rendering him completely immobile since without the help of the one leg, the weight was too much for the arms to bear and keep rolling.

Ajax then unleashed all the armor-piercing bullets from the missile slots on his shoulders, locking onto Charles. Unable to evade, Charles, lying on the ground, was engulfed in explosions.

The spectators in the auditorium exclaimed and stood up as the gunpowder smoke dissipated. Alana, shocked by the swift and unexpected conclusion, watched as Charles's mecha lay in a distorted posture, fragments of it were strewn all over the arena.

Embarrassed and disoriented, Charles crawled out of the mecha and gazed at Ajax resentfully. He couldn't find words to express his feelings at the moment.

Ajax, unfazed by Charles's thoughts, signaled the referee, and walked down the stage, leaving Charles awkwardly alone.

The referee, still recovering from the unusual match, eventually announced Ajax's victory. The commentators exchanged embarrassed glances, realizing their attempt to hype Charles had backfired.

Ajax, having won against all odds, was approached by Alana and her team members, who were among the few rooting for him.

"Are you sure you're not a pilot?" Chuxue asked as Ajax exited the mecha.

"Do you think I can afford a mecha?" Ajax grinned with a tinge of sadness, acknowledging his financial constraints.

"But you beat the student at the top of our Academy's fourth-level rankings withease," the short-haired team member interjected.

The other team members, recognizing Charles's strength, became admirers of Ajax.

"Meh. If it happens again, I may not win if he changes his tactics," Ajax humbly deflected the praise.

Alana, holding the trophy, changed the subject, "You helped us a lot today. I promised to reward you. What do you want?"

"As I said, I don't want anything. I just want to thank you for helping me out yesterday, and besides, I've already got what I want."

*TN: I'm disappointed in you Chen Ha- I mean Ajax. You need eddies man, get yo money up not yo funny up yafeelme?*

Alana, determined to express her gratitude, suggested treating Ajax to a meal. Ajax, broke and hungry, decided not to turn the offer down.

Leaving the arena surrounded by a group of girls, Ajax attracted gazes from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Charles, dejected and gloomy, walked out of the arena alone. Ignoring his team members, he reached a quiet spot, took out Tianxun, and contacted a middle-aged man named Tanaka with scars on his face.

*TN: Tianxun, which I'm guessing is a device, will now be known as a Vox*

"Get me some people and find information on someone for me. I want all his details, including his address, connections, friends, family, fuck, even his pet's name. I want everything on this fucker. I want it in a day at the latest," Charles ordered with resentment in his eyes.

Back at the restaurant, Ajax, now surrounded by a group of girls, devoured the food in a private room as if the food was going to run away. The awkward scene left the girls staring at Ajax as he downed everything, his stomach seeming like a bottomless pit, without a care in the world.