First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Start of Battle

Zhao Zhuoluo found it quite infuriating when he thought about it.

He had specifically asked his roommate to help her earn points, but she might not have cared at all, spending points even more lavishly than they did. Initially, he thought she was studious and perceptive, but it turned out to be just a passing curiosity. All his concern had been wasted.

But upon further reflection, he felt a bit ridiculous himself. Why was he so fixated on this matter with an elementary school kid?

Ye Buqing noticed his odd expression when he came out and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Zhuoluo recounted the flashy move of Piaoqi Great General setting up an arena.

Seeing Zhao Zhuoluo's dejected look, Fang Jianchen suddenly felt balanced and waved his hand. "Ah, she's only eight years old. You can't apply your logic to her. Don't take it to heart. What's the point of earning points? Happiness! What's the most fun? The arena!"

Their points in the early stages had been earned through arena battles.

The so-called arena was using current achievements to exchange for a better way to advance.

They worked hard to earn points, set up arenas, starting from zero. When the arena collapsed, they set up another, starting from zero again.

Losing continuously, then winning continuously, accumulating year after year, slowly building a reputation, then being invited to major competitions, jumping to a better platform. Finally, with the advantage of high points, they entered Alliance University and topped the military academy league.

On the surface, it seemed they had struggled less for several years, luckily gaining opportunities others didn't have. But long before others were prepared, they had already worked hard for over a decade.

"Isn't it always like this? Who hasn't stepped on a few shoulders back in the day?" Fang Jianchen said, putting an arm around his shoulder. "Back then, we climbed over others to rise. Now it's finally our turn to become the stepping stones for the next generation. Lovely excellence, the time has come to release your light and heat!"

Zhao Zhuoluo: "..."

Comrade Zhao Zhuoluo, resolved to radiate light and heat, went to find Lian Sheng again, asking if she still wanted to earn points. If she said yes, he would sternly criticize and warn her, correcting her incorrect thinking early.

But Lian Sheng said, "Oh, no need, thanks. I've been very busy lately."

Zhao Zhuoluo: "..."

Sure enough, the initial enthusiasm had faded.

Lian Sheng had indeed been very busy recently.

With additional guidance from the sports department coach, she had been training her physique.

Besides endurance, she also needed flexibility. Her preferred weapon had always been the sword, and swordsmanship required a blend of softness and strength—both agile adaptability and powerful bursts.

The coach designed a high-intensity training regimen tailored to her whole body based on her requirements. But since Lian Sheng wasn't a student of the department, this was already going above and beyond for him. He wouldn't spend extra effort to supervise her; it was all up to her self-discipline.

Based on his past experience, he deliberately increased the training load, thinking Lian Sheng couldn't possibly meet it, just to give her some numerical pressure.

Unexpectedly, she arrived earlier than the department students every training session. Initially, she couldn't keep up with the tasks on the schedule, but within a week, she matched their pace.

She followed every instruction without complaint, never uttering a word of dissent.

The coach was deeply impressed and wanted to recruit her into the sports department. Such obedient students were rare these days! He was starting to change his view of the Military Academy!

After each training session, Lian Sheng could clearly feel every muscle in her body screaming. In such a state, she wasn't fit for matches, so she squeezed out all her free time.

She only logged onto Sanyao for a fixed hour each day, maintaining a routine of one match per day.

Fortunately, the early applicants were mostly novices joining the fun, generally of low skill. Unfortunately, her physically disabled-like condition still cost her two losses.

But with her painfully slow arena progress, online interest gradually waned. No one had ever seen someone as sluggish as her in battles, truly.

Zhao Zhuoluo and the others never saw her online, and her points hovered between single and double digits, so they stopped paying attention.

Though it was a pity, it wasn't their concern.

Thanks to the previous combat exercise, her endurance had greatly improved. This intensive training had a significant impact on Lian Sheng, whose foundation was originally weak.

After over half a month, Lian Sheng began to adapt to the training intensity and could feel the strength in her limbs.

That evening, Lian Sheng logged in promptly at 7 p.m. and officially started arena battles.

After several opponents were either offline or unavailable, the match finally started with the 22nd candidate.

Only a handful of spectators were present.

Few would wait around just to watch a match lasting mere minutes. Most only paused briefly if they happened to pass by. Indeed, Lian Sheng's style was swift and decisive—life or death. After all, the initial mech configuration was pitifully low.

The few spectators seemed to have become her fans, looking familiar. Knowing she logged in at this fixed time for matches, they waved enthusiastically and called her name.

Lian Sheng found it a bit cringey and averted her gaze.

Her opponent this round was a lightly equipped mech, Fengyi (Wind Wing). Its characteristics were speed, ample energy, and relatively weak attack power—a mech primarily for reconnaissance.

She had lost to this model before. It seemed to counter her; as long as it dodged her heavy cannon once, it could maintain distance with its speed advantage and easily secure victory.

A few passersby crossed their arms, glanced over, and remarked, "Fengyi vs. starter mech? Is there even a contest?"

His companion said, "Who in their right mind uses a starter mech for arena battles these days?"

A spectator in front turned around, wagging a finger. "It's quite entertaining. I love watching the Great General fight. There's a unique flavor to it."

He crooked that finger and beckoned them with a lecherous grin. "Come on, come on. Five minutes won't cost you much, but you'll get to watch a whole match~"

The passersby: "..."

This time, the map was again the Gobi Desert.

After loading in, the Fengyi pilot drew a heart toward her with his hands, as if thanking her for the free points.

Lian Sheng raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She started walking, then jogging, and suddenly broke into a sprint.

The Fengyi swiftly retreated.

Lian Sheng didn't fire immediately but kept chasing from various angles. The opponent, while retreating, continuously shot wind blasts at the ground.

The terrain was mostly gravel. Even if the wind blasts weren't powerful, they kicked up yellow dust, obstructing Lian Sheng's view.

The spectators sensed something unusual.

"Has Piaoqi Great General gotten faster?"

"So fast!"

"Damn, can she actually catch up to Fengyi?"

"Every time I watch her fight, I feel like she's hacking."

While mechs had speed limits, most people couldn't reach those extremes. Initial values played a role, but under sensor control, physical fitness mattered more.

The Fengyi was now forced into a rocky area. Having to watch for Lian Sheng's cannon and the terrain ahead, its speed naturally dropped.

Lian Sheng, however, seemed to effortlessly evade every attack while maintaining her pace.

Her relentless pursuit put immense pressure on the speed-focused Fengyi.

The shift from active to passive could happen in an instant.

Her movements flowed seamlessly, without a single hitch, a delight to watch. Spectators called friends over to join the crowd.

"Her moves are so smooth."

"Holy crap, this fluidity—this is a starter mech?!"

"Speed alone isn't enough. The starter mech's energy is limited. She's probably about to run out."

Lian Sheng heard the warning beep—energy was running low. She glanced down, drew her cannon, and fired head-on.

Finally attacking. The Fengyi pilot tensed, eyes locked on her cannon.

A spectator gasped. "Did she miss?"

Those familiar with Lian Sheng knew her long-range attacks were as fearsome as her close combat. She only had one disposable cannon, and so far, she'd never wasted a shot.

The heavy blast grazed the Fengyi and struck a nearby rock. The boulder collapsed, tumbling forward.

The Fengyi pilot cursed, slammed the brakes, and swerved—only to see a long sword flying toward him.

The Fengyi froze, realizing his opponent had thrown her last weapon at him.

His movement was already hindered. Though it might have been just a second, that second decided his fate.

Looking up, Piaoqi Great General had already closed in. Using her last energy reserves, she rammed him into the rocks behind. Her fist aimed at his cockpit, denting the mech's abdomen.

Another one-hit kill!

A spectator snapped out of his daze, shook his head, and exclaimed,

"What? It's over already?"

"Can't you see the arena's up?"

"Wasn't that too risky? She threw away her weapon."

"That's Piaoqi Great General's style. Life or death, especially when she's out of energy."

"She's pretty good, isn't she?"

"Who knows? She's only fought a few matches, one per day."

Lian Sheng swapped to another mech, then smiled and drew a heart toward her opponent. The guy's cockpit was wrecked, pretty much totaling his mech. He looked at her, wanting to say something, then walked off the stage gloomily.

Starter mechs were free to replace, but those bought with points required repairs—also costing points.

Spectators about to leave noticed she'd changed mechs again and stopped in surprise. "Huh? Two matches today?"

"Amazing!"

"Come on, keep going! Great General, I'll rally support for you! Don't stop!"

Within moments, the second contestant teleported to the arena.

Seeing Lian Sheng, he laughed heartily. "Hahaha, the guy before me wasn't around, so it's my turn! Just 10 points shy of a new mech—thanks, Great General!"

"You're welcome," Lian Sheng replied amiably. "The guy before you thought the same."

He grinned, rubbing his hands. "Really? Thanks for being so understanding. Comrades like you are rare."

Six minutes later, the match ended, and both were teleported out.

Lian Sheng walked up to him, still pleasant. "Now you're 11 points short."

Him: "..."

Lian Sheng switched to a new mech, brandishing her long sword. "Thanks for being so understanding. Comrades like you are rare."

"Stop!" The guy covered his mouth, indignant. "Keep talking, and I'll cry!"

Then he turned and dramatically ran off the stage.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Next was the third match of the session.

Spectators cheered, "Whoa—! Go, Great General!"

"What's going on today? Three matches in a row?"

"Finished homework early?"

"Not vacation yet. How old is she, really?"

"Great General, mighty! If you fought efficiently like this, you'd be famous! Stop dragging it out one match at a time!"

"L-O-V-E! I love you, Great General!"

"Holy crap..."

Idols had it easy these days. In this vast world, no matter how odd you were, one or two would inevitably fall for you.

As their cheers grew louder, more onlookers gathered.

Fourth match, fifth match...

Lian Sheng seemed to have time tonight, battling nonstop.

The arena, once deserted, was now packed.

Since she piloted a starter mech, her combat style stood out starkly. Each match was extremely brief, an anomaly in mech arena history. Yet the climactic bursts and lethal strikes held an addictive charm.

Tension, thrill, surprise... the spectators' adrenaline surged under her influence.

Previously, one match per day couldn't sustain interest, but today's consecutive battles finally let her shine.

The crowd below began vying for fan status.

When tired, she'd spin in circles alone on stage, resting and bantering with the comrades below before the next match.

When Zhao Zhuoluo logged in, it was past 10 p.m. He checked his friends list and saw Piaoqi Great General online.

After nearly half a month apart, seeing her again, his first reaction was a toothache. His second was to check her profile.

After looking, his hand trembled slightly, thinking he'd misread.

He occasionally checked her points, which usually increased by ones or twos. Today, however, a "1" seemed to have appeared before the tens digit.

Zhao Zhuoluo clicked her name and asked, "You... earned over a hundred points in one night?"

"Mhm, not bad. Lost a few matches, though. Not too happy about that," Lian Sheng replied promptly, calm. "I'll try for two hundred tomorrow. Want to upgrade my mech."

Zhao Zhuoluo exclaimed, "What?!"

Lian Sheng: "Zhao Zhuoluo."

Zhao Zhuoluo felt something was off, frowning slightly. He guessed his mother must have told her his name. "Don't call me by name. It's only polite to call me 'brother.'"

Lian Sheng: "Brother?"

"Mhm." Zhao Zhuoluo fired off questions. "How'd you get the points? Arena battles? Have you piloted mechs before? Where are you from?"

"Zhao Zhuoluo," Lian Sheng said. "I'm Lian Sheng."

Silence followed. When Lian Sheng checked, he had logged off.

---

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