Time flew by, and before I realized it, the final stage of our fifth year had arrived.
The S-rank mecha gifted to me by Instructor Song Ran had long since been dismantled and rebuilt countless times under my hands. Through endless testing, its agility had risen to 120 percent, attack power to 130 percent, and defense had surged to an astonishing 150 percent. Even Song Ran, rarely one to praise, gave a rare nod, acknowledging that its performance now rivaled a 2S unit. It was not just recognition of my craftsmanship, but also of the five years I had poured into this path.
And now, the ultimate test of it all was finally here.
The graduation exam would be held on Planet 175, in the form of a brutal battle royale.
This year, 1,904 students signed up. Only the top one hundred would earn the favor of elite academies, enter their special training programs, and receive privileges others could only dream of. This exam was not just competition—it was a gamble, a grand spectacle where every military academy would fight to secure the brightest stars.
My battle spirit, long dormant, burned once more.
This was the stage to test everything I had built.This was my chance to prove myself.
Before departure, I made a small bet with Bai Tou: whoever ranked higher, the loser would have to call the other "Boss."
…
The starship pierced layers of light and slowly descended onto Planet 175.
When the hatch finally opened, the students filed out one after another. The ground shimmered faintly red beneath our feet, the air heavy with the scent of metal and dust. Ahead stood a massive suspended dueling platform. Dozens of armored examiners lined up in formation, and at the center, a commander in a black military uniform stepped forward. His voice, steady and powerful, rolled across the field through amplifiers.
"The final examination begins now."
The field fell silent. Even the wind seemed suppressed.
"This time, you will be deployed across the wastelands, canyons, and ruins of Planet 175. The format: battle royale."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the crowd. Many students stiffened, holding their breath.
"The so-called battle royale does not mean killing each other. The core is a capture-the-flag point system. Across Planet 175, five hundred signal flags will be placed at random. Each flag carries a different value: ten points for standard flags, twenty points for advanced flags. Rankings will be determined not only by points, but also by movement patterns, energy usage, and tactical records."
Students exchanged looks, nerves sparking with excitement.
"Take note—" The commander's voice hardened. "This is a survival exam, not a slaughterhouse. Using weapons or abilities to deliver lethal attacks on your classmates is strictly forbidden. Your mechs are equipped with protection modules. If malicious lethal force is detected, you will be disqualified and forcibly removed immediately."
He let the warning sink in before continuing coldly. "But you may seize flags from others. Through tactical suppression, energy clashes, mech blocking, or mental interference, you may force your opponent to drop their flag. That is the true competition."
The crowd erupted in chatter.
"What? We can actually steal them?"
"Ha! Now that's what I call a battle royale."
"So no killing… it all comes down to mech control and mental strength."
"Perfect. That's just my kind of fight."
I stood quietly among them, listening, feeling the familiar fire in my chest.
This was my arena.
The commander raised his hand, voice cutting through the air:
"Remember, your goal is simple, survive, and finish in the top one hundred!"
A massive virtual star map unfurled above, revealing the terrain of Planet 15—the storm belts, traps, and danger zones marked in vivid detail.
The exam had begun.
As the star map faded, deployment pods suspended overhead powered on one by one. The commander's final words echoed across the sky:
"Countdown—three, two, one!"
Boom!
The platform beneath my feet dropped, gravity vanished, and in the next instant, both I and my mech were swallowed by light.
A wave of dizziness lasted only a second. When I opened my eyes, I stood on barren desert ground. The sun scorched the earth, winds whipped sand into the air, and faint violet clouds loomed overhead. The silence was broken only by distant echoes—metal scraping, beasts howling.
[Position confirmed. Current zone: Western Wasteland. Signal flags detected within twenty-kilometer radius: six.]
The mech's system voice buzzed in my ear.
I drew in a deep breath, quickly checking my energy reserves and weapon systems.
The battle royale had begun.
…
Elsewhere, other students were scattered across the map:
One landed in the center of a canyon, cliffs towering on all sides, a single narrow path leading out. Gritting his teeth, he activated his shields immediately.Another found himself in the ruins of a city, surrounded by broken steel and rubble. The moment he touched down, the growl of a mechanical beast echoed close by, making cold sweat run down his back.Yet another crashed into a swampy jungle, splashed with mud as he landed, only to spot a flag planted right beside him. He burst into laughter. "Hah! Jackpot!"
Different scenes, same cruel game board.
…
I raised my gaze toward the far end of the wasteland, where light shimmered faintly. A flag swayed in the hot wind.
Another student spotted it too. At the same instant, we both surged forward.
The air grew taut.
But I remained calm.
Rushing headlong would only end in both of us losing.
The real strategy was to let others clash first, then strike.
The corner of my mouth lifted. I guided my mech into the shadows of a dune, waiting.
The exam had only just begun.