It was the fourth year since I had entered the military department. On this day, we received the announcement that all students would participate in a twenty-four-hour field survival exercise on Planet 65, a vast and dense tropical rainforest.
This was declared as a planet-wide temporary mission, framed on the surface as a rehearsal for the ultimate test that awaited us near the fifth-year graduation. Yet the true purpose behind it remained unknown. The exercise involved a series of challenges requiring a perfect combination of mecha operation, teamwork, and individual strategy.
A week before the exercise began, Teacher Song Ran and Teacher Man Li gave us a detailed briefing:
Geography of Planet 65: Covered in tropical rainforest, hot and humid climate, minimal temperature difference between day and night, terrain complicated with valleys, rivers, and mud everywhere.
Potential Camping Areas: Avoid low-lying areas prone to flooding. Choose ventilated and safe spots in the forest.
Team Cooperation: Tasks were not for individual effort. Close coordination with students from the mechanical department was necessary for gathering resources, scouting terrain, and marking safe points.
A month prior, we began concentrated training. I joined intensive workouts with the mechanical department students to strengthen our bodies and adapt to the humid heat. Sometimes I felt dizzy, and my nose would bleed without warning. I suspected it was due to lack of sleep or poor nutrition, but occasional nosebleeds were minor, so I didn't pay them much attention. We also ran team exercises in simulators, facing scenarios such as getting lost, sudden floods, and encounters with wild animals. On top of that, we practiced communication and coordination drills between squads to ensure rapid responses in crisis situations.
Before the activity, I had a brief conversation with Wang Mian. He would represent his planet in the exercise, and we discussed survival strategies. He reminded me to be careful of the slippery, muddy terrain of the rainforest and emphasized the importance of teamwork.
He half-joked, "Your small frame might be more agile than mine in the rainforest, but don't underestimate me."
I felt a quiet thrill inside. This was not only survival training but also a confrontation of strategy and mecha skills.
Before leaving Planet 173, I first went to the village weapons shop to return the parts the shop owner had asked me to repair. Over the past three years, I no longer hid my true self. I had changed from someone who pretended to be a master mechanic at the junkyard into a person capable of repairing these parts with my own hands.
The shop owner watched as I neatly placed the parts back on the shelves and gave a familiar, satisfied smile. He shook his head and said, "You kid, you've done it yourself again?" I shrugged, silently relieved, and settled the payment for the mecha modifications. There was a newfound trust and understanding in his eyes.
After returning the parts, I stopped by the underground duel arena and picked up a few essential tools in case of emergencies or sudden adjustments during the field exercise. The tools were few but carefully selected and familiar: a miniature welding torch, a portable screwdriver set, a few spare cables, and a lightweight multifunction folding knife. Though compact, these tools could prove lifesaving at a critical moment.
Once my backpack was organized, I confirmed that the mecha system had completed a full self-check. Portable rations, water purification tablets, first aid kit, rope, a mini toolbox, and my carefully prepared spare parts and modification materials were all neatly packed. The excitement and nervousness of traveling alone for the first time made my chest feel warm.
As I prepared to leave Planet 173, my mind was a mixture of excitement and tension. Every essential item was in my backpack: rations, water purification tablets, first aid kit, rope, a mini toolbox, and my spare mecha modification materials. The mecha system had been fully checked to ensure it would not fail during the long journey.
At the spaceport, I boarded the interstellar ship for the first time. The cabin doors closed slowly. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and metal. Seats were compact, each with a personal display and a small life-support module. Crew members carefully checked each student's seatbelt and emergency airbag.
The vibrations from the ship's launch traveled from my feet to my entire body. I gripped the handrail as the soft whoosh of wind and the roar of thrusters filled my ears. Outside the window, Planet 173 shrank gradually. Its blue-green surface floated like a jewel in the vastness of space.
During the long flight, I occasionally glanced out the window, silently plotting strategies. How could I use the terrain, my mecha, and my weapons to excel in the rainforest challenges of Planet 65? The mix of excitement and nervousness made my chest flutter.
The ship landed smoothly on a wide, open beach on Planet 65. Sunlight filtered through the light mist onto the wet sand. The air carried the unique scent of rainforest plants and humidity. All the students gathered on the beach, their equipment neatly arranged, mecha quietly parked nearby.
The head of the planet's education department, the S-rank director of the Combat Department, Tiansuo, stood on a high platform, holding a projection controller as he explained the rules:
Survival Objectives: Ensure food, water, and shelter while safely navigating natural and artificial challenges over the next twenty-four hours.
Task Challenges: Capture-the-flag, resource contests, and team coordination missions.
Scoring Criteria: Survival ability, teamwork, task completion, and strategic execution.
I listened carefully and noticed some students whispering. "I heard we might see the legendary 3S-rank student today, the one with golden hair and blue eyes, from the Leadership Division."
"Turns out there are 3S-rank students in addition to S-rank ones." I murmured.
I instinctively looked toward the edge of the forest. Among the shifting shadows, a flash of gold appeared. Sunlight hit his hair, and his blue eyes fixed straight on the gathering point. At that moment, my gaze was almost irresistibly drawn to him. A strange, indescribable shock filled me.
I couldn't take my eyes off him. His hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and I imagined it would look even more striking if it seemed to catch fire. Then I noticed he was staring back at me. Across the crowd, our gazes met, and his expression held a hint of curiosity, as if silently asking, "What are you doing here?" Flustered, I quickly looked away. I don't even know him, I thought, trying to steady myself.