SCOM - Chapter 82
Chapter 82
The stares from those around him felt odd, but Ji Yuezhi brushed them off. He didn't think much of it until he ran into Ding Wuming on the way. They had participated in the practice match together and were more familiar with each other than with other students.
“Senior Ji,” Ding Wuming greeted him first, then hesitated.
Ji Yuezhi noticed and asked, “Is there something you want to say?”
Ding Wuming scratched his head, embarrassed. “I saw people on the forum saying that you and Classmate Zuo are together. They said everyone in the Alpha building heard Jiang Hong say so today.”
Ji Yuezhi didn't know what had happened to make Jiang Hong say that, but he nodded in confirmation. “We are indeed together.”
Before Ding Wuming could react, the eavesdroppers who had slowed down nearby gasped. Seeing Ji Yuezhi look over, they quickly hurried away, their fingers flying across their optical computers, clearly posting something.
Soon, another post appeared on the Federal First Military Academy’s anonymous forum.
[Shocking! I heard Ji Yuezhi himself say he's with Zuo Luohuan!]
[Holy crap, the other party involved has also appeared!]
[Unbelievable! Our school has lost both its strongest Alpha and most outstanding Omega in one day.]
[I still can't imagine how these two got together. Do the Zuo and Ji families approve?]
Regardless of the uproar at the academy, Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi went about their business as usual, waiting for classes to start.
On the first day of the official start of term, the entire school learned that they would be training with Skeletal Armor. Freshmen had three classes per week, but sophomores had a much more intensive schedule, with combat students’ free time almost entirely filled.
Boxes of Skeletal Armor were delivered to the academy. At the same time, the sophomores received news that they would be attending classes alongside the juniors and seniors. This year's situation was unique. It was the first time the Skeletal Armor training program was being implemented, and a significant portion of the juniors and seniors had already had contact with it last semester. After deliberation, the school administration made this decision.
“We’re in the same class as Guan Yuan?” Guan Xue asked Jiang Hong, her face grim.
The Skeletal Armor course was an addition, so the classes were reassigned, with the most outstanding sophomores grouped together.
“Guan Yuan, Xiang Chengping, and the like,” Jiang Hong said listlessly. “I guess being in the same class is just for show. The real deal is the squad training and combat exercises.”
Although Guan Xue and Guan Yuan shared the same surname, they weren't from the same family. Guan Yuan's family was backed by the Twenty-sixth Army, which held significantly more power than Guan Xue's family, and the two didn't get along.
About 100 sophomores were selected for this class. Juniors, also numbering around 100, stood beside them. Everyone stood on the training grounds, waiting for the instructor to arrive.
Ji Yuezhi initially intended to stand behind Zuo Luohuan, content to look at her back, but she turned around and pulled him to stand beside her.
The students who witnessed their interaction thought, “The rumors are true!” In the past, they would have instinctively assumed the two were about to fight. Now… hmph, lovey-dovey couple!
“The instructor is Kang Guang,” Ji Yuezhi murmured to Zuo Luohuan. “He was one of the first to test the Skeletal Armor.”
Kang Guang was known for his ruthless teaching methods. As long as a student wasn't dead, he'd train them to the brink of it.
Apart from Zuo Luohuan pulling Ji Yuezhi to stand beside her, the two didn't interact further, behaving no differently from the other students.
However, Zuo Luohuan's mind wasn't on the training. She lowered her head and sent Ji Yuezhi a message on her optical computer: [Going back this weekend?] It was only Wednesday.
His optical computer vibrated. Ji Yuezhi glanced down, saved the message, and replied: [Yes, they’re all free this weekend. We’re having dinner at home.]
Since he was going home, he wouldn't be going to her place. Zuo Luohuan felt a twinge of regret. She hadn't thought much of it before, but now she realized that the apartment felt a bit empty when she was alone. It was better to have someone to train with.
Just then, Kang Guang approached from afar, holding a graphite-colored sphere. He stopped between the sophomore and junior formations and scanned the crowd. “Long time no see, everyone. Many of you are my students, so you’re all familiar with me.”
Not only did the sophomores’ faces pale, but the juniors also looked green. Kang Guang had too many ways to torment them.
“You’re quite lucky,” Kang Guang said, tossing the sphere in his hand. “Although the Federation has launched the Skeletal Armor program, the number of units is limited. Those Gashro dogs have now come up with some kind of self-destruct mechanism, preventing us from obtaining the materials from the robot dogs. However, Xijiang Exile Star can now mine Silver-Green, so in the near future, this predicament will be resolved.”
“Due to the excellent adaptability of the Skeletal Armor, most students currently share units. However, you can temporarily have your own set of Skeletal Armor,” Kang Guang continued. “There will be an assessment at the end of the semester. Those who fail will lose the right to possess Skeletal Armor.”
After everyone received a graphite-colored sphere, Kang Guang carefully explained the precautions for handling the Skeletal Armor. About fifteen minutes later, he instructed everyone to put it on and run twenty laps around the training grounds.
The juniors, who were now capable of fighting in Skeletal Armor, didn't react at all to the twenty laps. It was no problem for them. However, the sophomores, who had just put on the Skeletal Armor, were barely able to stand steady.
“Don’t rush to run yet,” Kang Guang said, glancing at the eager juniors. “I recently learned a trick from a certain student. She likes to add weight belts. I think this is a good method. Now, all juniors, come here and get your weight belts.”
The juniors: “…”
They each received four belts, one for each limb, although they were much lighter than Zuo Luohuan’s, totaling only 100 kilograms.
“I’m doing this for your comrades,” Kang Guang said with a grin. “If your comrades fall in the future, you’ll need to carry them. They’ll be wearing Skeletal Armor, so you can’t just leave them behind, right?”
With the added weight of the Skeletal Armor and the belts, the juniors were instantly transported back to their earlier struggles, and they began to run alongside the sophomores.
Thuds began to echo across the training grounds as many students, top-heavy, tumbled headfirst.
Guan Yuan ran ahead, glancing disdainfully at those behind him. These people were too weak. He felt a surge of pride; he was stronger than all of them. However, before he could finish his internal gloating, a figure swiftly overtook him.
Guan Yuan had trained with Xiang Chengping before and recognized him in Skeletal Armor. This person wasn't him, and their speed was even faster than Xiang Chengping’s.
“Hurry up, Senior Guan, can’t keep up?” Guan Xue called out as she passed him.
She carried a cannon all day, so this weight wasn't particularly challenging.
Guan Yuan's face darkened. The person in the lead should be that Zuo Luohuan. His pride instantly turned to anxiety. He had almost forgotten about those few exceptional sophomores.
Sure enough, more people started catching up: Ji Yuezhi, Jiang Hong…
Guan Yuan gritted his teeth and pushed himself, but that Zuo Luohuan seemed like a freak, lapping him again and again. He wasn't used to this kind of blow.
In the capital's social circles, Zuo Luohuan was well-known, but not just for her early differentiation and high rank. It was because she constantly skipped classes to go out and have fun. Because of her frequent absences, those in the capital hadn't felt much pressure from her.
Guan Yuan's expression was ugly. Zuo Luohuan had embarrassed him the moment she entered the academy, kicking him off the rankings. He hadn't yet avenged that, and now, by some twist of fate, they were in the same class.
“Put these on.” Kang Guang tossed the weight belts to Zuo Luohuan after she easily completed ten laps.
Zuo Luohuan stopped, attaching the weight belts to her armor. She already had weight belts underneath, but they didn't hinder her movement.
Kang Guang watched Zuo Luohuan run off, frowning. Her progress was different from the others. This basic training was probably useless for her. He needed to contact the school administration and have them start working on weapon allocation.
By the time Zuo Luohuan finished her twenty laps, most people hadn't even finished ten. She glanced back at the training grounds. Ji Yuezhi was on his sixteenth lap.
“Instructor, I’m going to buy some water,” Zuo Luohuan said, removing her Skeletal Armor and walking over to Kang Guang.
“Did you deliberately lose to me in the first class?” Kang Guang asked. With her strength, she shouldn't have lost.
“No,” Zuo Luohuan denied.
Kang Guang didn't believe her. He was convinced she was hiding her true abilities.
“Instructor, I’ll go buy the water now,” Zuo Luohuan said.
“Go ahead.” Kang Guang didn't give her a hard time. In fact, after watching the video of Zuo Luohuan on Xijiang Exile Star, he had a clear understanding of her strength.
Actually, during the Gashro night raid, the instructors had already gained a new understanding of Zuo Luohuan's abilities, but at that time, there was no surveillance video, so they didn't have a direct visual representation.
By the time Zuo Luohuan returned with a bag of water, Ji Yuezhi had finished running. Guan Xue, Jiang Hong, and a few juniors had also finished one after another.
Zuo Luohuan handed a bottle of water to Ji Yuezhi and tossed the bag to Guan Xue.
“Thanks,” Guan Xue said, taking out a bottle of iced water and distributing it to Jiang Hong and Xiang Chengping, deliberately bypassing Guan Yuan.
After finishing his water, Ji Yuezhi looked at Zuo Luohuan seriously. “You’re not suited for training with us.”
“I know,” Zuo Luohuan said, her gaze falling on Kang Guang, who had his back to them. “The instructor is applying for weapon allocation from the school administration.”
“I heard you two are together?” Guan Yuan walked over, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Skipping class to be all lovey-dovey already?”
Honestly, Guan Yuan was the least likely to believe the news of them being together. Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi? He guessed it was forced by the Zuo and Ji families, a strategic marriage alliance. After all, their Twenty-sixth Army Group was growing stronger day by day, almost stealing the limelight from the Seventeenth Army in the capital.
Zuo Luohuan's eyes flashed with coldness, but a smile played on her lips. “What’s your name again? Guan… something?”
Guan Yuan was taken aback. “What did you say?”
Zuo Luohuan pulled out a tissue and handed it to Ji Yuezhi to wipe his sweat, saying casually, “None of your damn business.”
“Damn it!” Guan Yuan’s face darkened. “Zuo Luohuan, don’t think you’re so great just because your father is a council member.”
“He is pretty great,” Zuo Luohuan said slowly. “Your father can’t compare to mine, and neither can you.”
Guan Yuan pressed the button on his sphere, about to charge at Zuo Luohuan, but before he could, she kicked him to the ground.
“Seriously, with your level, as my opponent…” Zuo Luohuan shook her head. “I’m a little disgusted.”
“Instructor! Guan Yuan is attacking someone!” Guan Xue shouted, turning to tattle the moment Guan Yuan fell.
Kang Guang hung up his call and looked at Guan Yuan on the ground, then at the group standing calmly nearby: “…”
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