The Unexpected Support

Zhou Zhi intentionally paused, showing her admiration for the fifth special recruit, successfully arousing the hostility of many male classmates. Now everyone was looking forward to this "even more outstanding student."

"Student Alex, Aerospace AP High School, the fifth student!" At this point, Zhou Zhi even revealed a rare expression of genuine fondness and admiration.

This ignited others, especially the seniors, who sometimes fought desperately to seize a prominent position. Now, someone was trying to steal the spotlight even before entering the school. How could others continue like this? Clearly, Zhou Zhi had achieved her goal.

"Alex's characteristics are difficult to describe. To be precise, it's hard to find any flaws. Whether in theoretical foundations or practical combat, he is the most outstanding. That's why our Aaron has made this decision!"

As Zhou Zhi's voice fell, the auditorium quieted down, all eyes focused on Alex walking towards the platform... Was this person really that amazing?

Many doubted, many were not convinced, but for a moment, no one dared to say anything. After all, words spoken by Teacher Zhou Zhi were not to be taken lightly.

But this person looked ordinary, yet looks could be deceiving, and no one wanted to be cannon fodder.

The murmurs around intensified... What did the beautiful teacher mean? Alex's abilities were well known; perhaps he was strong in physical training, but... his grades, especially in mathematics, were abysmal!

Aerospace AP? Odd... Some familiar faces had never heard of this school apart from Tang Ling, let alone any other geniuses. Logically, the reputation of such a genius should be widely known, but it seemed no one in the audience had heard of him!

Sosha wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but the people around him kept pulling him back. "Ah, Sosha, you're from Aerospace, right? You should know Alex on stage. Is he really that amazing?"

Cold... At times like this, brothers had to stand up; they had to stand together, even if it meant facing death.

"Strong, extremely strong. Many of Miss Tang's ideas were guided by him. He's just low-key, so others don't know!" Sosha said with an unusually sincere and convincing expression, enough to move even a kindergarten sister.

"Oh, I see. True talents don't show off!"

The journalism students nodded one after another.

But most people didn't know that even after Alex took the stage, many still expressed doubt. How could such a genius remain unknown all this time? And what Zhou Zhi said was so mysterious. If he was strong in theory, why hadn't anyone heard of any relevant papers? And if he was strong in physical training, his physique didn't seem to match. Look at Salsa beside him; he didn't look like a muscular man either.

Male voices, female voices, whispers, all filled the air. It was all about him, her, and Zhou Zhi. What did it have to do with me?

But from the moment Alex stepped onto the stage, Salsa's gaze never wavered. He and Alex locked eyes for a moment, but it was like falling into an ice cave instantly. This kind of person wasn't the first one he'd seen; his father had that aura, the aura that came from surviving countless battles on the battlefield!

"Teacher, how come we haven't heard of Alex's strength before?"

"Yeah, being a genius isn't just talk. Do you have any evidence? Unlike other students who at least receive recognition in various aspects, we've never heard of Alex!"

"Yeah, why don't you share it with everyone to see!"

Zhou Zhi was a bit embarrassed. "Well..."

The beautiful teacher's hesitation only fueled the students' enthusiasm. They became even more lively, and while Zhou Zhi feigned a hesitant expression on her face, she was secretly delighted. Alex, enjoying the lips of a beauty, had to pay a price!

She was a bit annoyed, which was why she acted like this. She used to be a troublemaker in school, and becoming a teacher didn't necessarily mean she had toned down.

Alex remained silent, not even moving. It seemed like there was nothing worth showing off about him. His grades... aside from being abysmal, there wasn't much to say.

At this moment, Tang Ling suddenly walked to the front of the microphone. "I recently published an analysis of the possible transformations of mobile warriors. The most crucial proposal regarding the distributed power system was provided by student Alex. There are many similar suggestions, but they belong to confidential information, so I can't disclose them here. Please understand."

For a moment, the auditorium fell silent. It's worth noting that Tang Ling's recent analysis report on mobile warrior transformations shook both UA and MN. Transformation wasn't just about being cool; once it became feasible, all-weather combat mechs would emerge, heralding a revolutionary leap for mobile warriors. Especially the proposal for the decentralized core power system left countless scientists in awe. Although it was just a proposal, people saw the potential direction for the future.

Now, Tang Ling claimed that this proposal came from Alex, leaving everyone amazed. Additionally, Alex seemed to have a close relationship with GAD's heiress. This made his anonymity understandable; it was likely GAD's attempt to monopolize him. Instantly, Alex's image became enigmatic. To offer suggestions to Tai'an required being a super genius. People still found it hard to believe.

Zhou Zhi was also stunned. She didn't understand why Tang Ling was defending Alex. It seemed like their relationship had faded. She had been busy with military affairs recently and wasn't aware of the situation. Plus, she knew Alex's exam scores were abysmal. Seeing his clueless appearance while studying, she couldn't believe he could come up with such profound theories.

Unfortunately, at this moment, Sosha, who had been silent, shifted his gaze away from Alex. Stepping forward, "He's powerful. I want to challenge him."

A teacher quickly intervened, "Sosha, fighting is prohibited in school, especially something so dangerous."

Despite Sosha's considerable reputation, his record wasn't pristine. There were dozens of incidents where he caused injuries during training. Born into a military family, he inherited a strong sense of discipline. His special admission had sparked controversy among the teachers. However, Barbara believed in his talent, considering a few injuries as normal for a warrior. Plus, they occurred during legitimate training, not fights.

Ignoring the teacher's attempt to stop him, Sosha kept his eyes on Alex. "I sense danger from you. Fight me, any way you want."

It was like one beast challenging another. Surprisingly, Alex showed a response. "Okay."

With Alex's agreement, Sosha didn't waste any time. He cleanly returned to his position. A powerful person wasn't foolish; Sosha didn't intend to defend Alex. By proposing now, Alex wouldn't refuse!

The teacher's attempt to intervene was ignored, but she still wanted to say something. Sosha's icy glance silenced her. "He's one of the few strong ones I've encountered. If this fight doesn't happen, I'll drop out!"

The principal, Barbara, stepped forward with a smile, "Students, please calm down. You're all elites of the school. Private fights are strictly forbidden, but public sparring, with the teacher's permission, is allowed. I approve of Sosha and Alex's match. Do you two want to compete in physical training or mech battles?"

"Together!"

"Fine."

In fact, Alex didn't mind either way. Sosha was one of the few people in reality who interested him. A spar would be good, although Zhou Zhi was strong, she was still a woman and a teacher. Alex couldn't go all out against her. Reality was different from illusions; Alex remained calm. It had been a long time since he had a real fight. Sosha was a good choice.

Alex and Sosha walked out together. "You surprised me. You've even learned my seven-point strength. Poor Tang Ling won't be able to escape your grasp."

"Stop talking nonsense; Tang Ling and I are just friends."

"Really? Anyway, Zhou Zhi seems to have a grudge against you. Did you offend her somewhere? Today's events seem targeted at you."

"Don't worry; I can handle it. Let's go back and get ready. We can talk later."

Feeling someone following behind, Alex separated from Sosha. After a while, he stopped. The person behind him didn't hide their presence, it was Sosha.

"Sosha, are you so eager to fight?"

Sosha carefully observed Alex. He felt something strange about him. Sometimes, he seemed like a seasoned warrior, and other times like an ordinary student. This contrast kept disturbing him; it was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

"No, I need to prepare," Alex said.

"Does Sosha have anything else to do?"

"No," Sosha replied curtly.

"What about you?"

"I'm heading back to the dormitory. Besides, we're in the same building."

Alex realized he had been overly suspicious. Sosha wasn't actually following him. Special admission students lived in single dorms, as did some elites. They had the freedom to choose standard dorms or higher-end ones. Alex valued his privacy, especially regarding his training and being a Blade Warrior. It wouldn't be convenient with more people around. Sosha also seemed to be a loner who preferred not to share space with others.

The two walked towards the dormitory in this peculiar manner, one in front and the other behind, not speaking, maintaining a rhythm. It was a strange feeling; both were actively adjusting, trying to assert some control. Only people at their level could sense this. To ordinary people, these two were just weird.

The dormitory seemed overly lavish. This wasn't surprising given the rise in the status of military academies in the age of interstellar navigation. The school had experts in various fields among its faculty, and with the success of students and donations from corporations, it had top-notch facilities. This was enviable to other institutions. By emphasizing talent recruitment, they increased privileges for outstanding individuals, fostering competition.

Alex placed his student card on the door. "Welcome, Alex," a voice chimed. The door opened automatically and closed after Alex entered. If bringing guests, registration was necessary. Everyone had to swipe their cards, or use palm prints if they forgot their cards. For high-security matters, iris scanning was required, or even higher levels of encryption.

Upon entering his room, Alex was taken aback. Was this really a dorm? It was quite luxurious. At 230 square meters, it even had a gravity chamber and a top-notch virtual gaming room. Every aspect was well-equipped. It truly lived up to being a top military academy; the hardware facilities were unparalleled.

Alex collapsed onto the bed. Boom... Was this an assassination attempt? Thankfully, Alex reacted quickly, or he could have broken something. It looked soft, but beneath the surface lay steel plates. The school was still a school, not a resort. While the facilities were comprehensive, luxury was hard to come by. In some ways, it wasn't as good as regular students. Adhering to the rules was essential upon entering; whether you became a commander or a warrior, having a strong body and strong will was fundamental.

The room was on the 18th floor, offering a nice view of the campus. The dormitory was co-ed. In this era, the school didn't oppose campus romance. Due to the declining birth rate, increased space migration, and the need for manpower in various areas, elite genetics were highly sought after. So, it was encouraged at top military academies. However, even if the school encouraged it, it didn't matter. Nowadays, people pursued their dreams, sparing little thought for this. If a woman was willing to have a child with a man, it was almost a proof of love to the extreme.

Alex's luggage consisted of only a bag with a few changes of clothes and some necessary items. He casually took out a small device from the bag and walked around the room. After a while, he nodded in satisfaction. This indicated there were no surveillance devices in the room. Although it was unlikely the school would do such a thing, Devil Gold's training experience had taught him to trust but verify. Some things, once doubted, had to be resolved. Any relaxation could become a fatal flaw.

Once confirmed, Alex breathed a sigh of relief. While the room was large, the gravity chamber took up a significant portion. To increase gravity, the chamber needed space. Having such a large gravity chamber all to himself, with a maximum of six times normal gravity, was beneficial. Although not as large as an A-class fitness center, it was sufficient. Moreover, he could switch it up occasionally without attracting too much attention. Privacy was good here, and the room was large.

Opening the storage cabinet in the gravity chamber, Alex was pleasantly surprised. Conventional equipment, military gear, and even simulated laser guns were present. It truly lived up to being a military academy. This was different from the ordinary. Alex suddenly felt grateful to Zhou Zhi. If not for her, he wouldn't have made it here.

Thinking of the woman, Alex felt a strange excitement. Meeting Tang Ling gave him a warm feeling, but that belonged to the old Alex. After undergoing special training, both physically and mentally, he had transcended to a new stage. Now, he was interested in dangerous and charming women like Zhou Zhi. This was a realm Little Gold couldn't touch, nor understand. In fact, such dangerous experiments were inappropriate given Little Gold's damaged state. One wrong move could lead to a split personality. Fortunately, his training goals aligned with his own, and Alex was a strange person with innate resilience. Despite the circumstances, he hadn't gone mad.

After a cold shower, Alex felt rejuvenated. Now, he needed to challenge someone in the virtual battles. Hopefully, he would encounter an opponent who excited him. Before formally engaging with mechs, he could only train himself this way. It was said that military academies and units had simulation mechs almost identical to real ones. These were internal networks, not publicly accessible. When students reached a certain level of ability, they also had the chance to interact with real mechs.

That was Alex's goal: to own his own mech.

Connecting to the online battle network...

"Player Blade Warrior, welcome back. During your offline period, you received a total of 131,620 challenges and other invitations. According to your authorization, we've filtered out the irrelevant requests, leaving 653. Among them, 56 are worthy of special attention. We wish you a pleasant gaming experience."

Alex quickly scanned through the 56 challenging requests. Only masters were necessary. Soon, his eyes lit up. Finally, a strong opponent couldn't resist!