Chapter 2

Today is April 1st, the time for the preliminary rounds of the High School Mecha League has already begun, and Yun Fan was the first to arrive to participate in the preliminaries.

The High School Mecha League features A-class mechas, and the preliminary process is simple: one just needs to defeat an A-class mecha operated by a beginner-level pilot to pass.

After registering, Yun Fan entered the mecha combat room.

The mecha combat room is where mecha warriors undergo real combat training. Although every student at the mecha high school is issued an A-class mecha, Yun Fan rarely came here.

Mecha combat can cause wear and even damage to the mecha, and repairs can be quite expensive.

While the mecha high school provides A-class mechas for free, the school does not cover the costs of repairs and maintenance. Yun Fan, a student from an ordinary background, did not have the money to repair his mecha, so to improve his combat skills, he could only participate in simulated battles in "Mecha Wars."

Thud, thud, thud...

Heavy footsteps approached from a distance. In front of Yun Fan, a mecha came into view.

The K-105 model mecha, a power-type mecha, is a heavy mecha with a weight class of '2'.

Each level of mecha is divided into four types: H-type for defense, K-type for power, Z-type for speed, and X-type for all-around performance!

Among them, X-type and Z-type are light mechas, while K-type and H-type are heavy mechas.

The weight differences among the four types are as follows: X-type mechas are twice as heavy as Z-type mechas, K-type mechas are twice as heavy as X-type mechas, and H-type mechas are twice as heavy as K-type mechas.

For example, an A-class Z-type mecha weighs '0.5' tons, an X-type mecha weighs '1' ton, a K-type mecha weighs '2' tons, and an H-type mecha weighs '4' tons.

Even the lightest Z-type mecha weighs 500 pounds. Although mechas have weight-reduction systems, only those who practice ancient martial arts can operate them.

The K-105 walked up to Yun Fan and stopped. The visor opened, revealing a face that Yun Fan recognized well.

Yun Fan's eyebrows raised. The person inside was the class president, Cui Yushi, a scion of a noble family who practiced advanced martial arts and had reached the middle stage of the Transformation Realm.

In terms of physical strength and power, Cui Yushi far surpassed Yun Fan.

Yun Fan asked, "Why is it you?"

Cui Yushi smirked and said, "I also registered for the High School Mecha League and have already passed the preliminaries. I knew you would come today, so I asked the school to let me test you. Heh heh... If you can defeat me, you'll pass the preliminary round. If you can't, don't embarrass yourself. Just scram!"

Yun Fan's brows furrowed. "You are at the middle stage of the Transformation Realm. The preliminary examiner should be at the early stage."

Cui Yushi laughed. "What? Are you scared? You were so impressive in the mecha battles, even defeating me. Now, you're afraid of a real fight?"

"Indeed, I defeated him in the mecha battles! If I can't even beat Cui Yushi in a real fight, what chance do I have of winning the High School Mecha League? Without the championship, I won't have enough prize money to treat Xiao Xuan, nor will I get the B-class mecha reward. What's the point of participating then?"

Yun Fan's thoughts raced, but his expression quickly calmed.

His goal was to win the High School Mecha League. To achieve that, he would eventually have to face Cui Yushi, who had already passed the preliminaries!

So, why not face him now?

Yun Fan's expression turned serious. "Let's do it!"

As he spoke, Yun Fan raised his left arm. On his left wrist was a mechanical bracelet.

This was his mecha bracelet. Humans had long mastered various spatial technologies, such as wormhole travel, spatial compression, and spatial separation, among others.

The mecha bracelet uses spatial compression technology, allowing the heavy mecha to be carried conveniently.

Yun Fan pressed the button in the center of the mecha bracelet.

Click, click, click...

Heavy metal plates appeared and encased Yun Fan's body. In just a breath, a layer of metal armor covered him.

Mecha model: X-101.

Speed-type mechas have less power, power-type mechas are slower, and all-around mechas are relatively balanced. They are not as powerful as power-type mechas but are lighter and faster. They are not as fast as speed-type mechas but have more power.

Yun Fan's X-101 was visibly smaller than Cui Yushi's K-105, with only half the weight, making the power difference quite significant.

Yun Fan moved, and with his peak Dark Force cultivation, operating the A-class X-type mecha was effortless.

Cui Yushi sneered, closed his visor, and his voice came from the mecha. "I'll show you the difference between mecha battles and real combat. Students from ordinary backgrounds are already lucky to enter the mecha high school. In the future, you'll just be cannon fodder. The mecha league is absolutely out of reach for you!"

Thud, thud, thud...

As he finished speaking, the K-105 charged forward at high speed.

Although the K-105 weighed '2' tons, or 4,000 pounds, the weight-reduction system made it manageable for Cui Yushi, who was at the middle stage of the Transformation Realm.

Yun Fan's expression tightened, and he focused his mind. He observed his opponent's attack calmly, as he would in a simulated battle, looking for the best opportunity to counter.

In just a few steps, the K-105 was in front of the X-101, its right hand forming a fist and delivering a powerful punch aimed at the X-101's head.

A two-ton mecha, with the momentum of a running charge, could deliver a terrifying punch. Even a steel wall would be shattered by the K-105's punch.

Yun Fan had experienced thousands of battles in "Mecha Wars" and was experienced. Although the K-105's punch was powerful, it was not without weaknesses.

The X-101 took a step back with its left leg, crouched down, and sidestepped.

The entire movement was fluid and quick, evading the punch in a split second.

The K-105's punch missed, and before it could retract, the X-101's left hand grabbed the K-105's wrist, and its right hand struck the K-105's armpit. Using the momentum of the punch, the X-101 turned, bent over, and performed a back throw!

The throw used the K-105's forward momentum, causing it to lose balance, and its legs left the ground as the X-101 threw it into the air.

If the throw had landed, the K-105 would have been flipped onto its back.

This throw was a highly technical move known as the "Lei Yang Over-the-Shoulder Throw," a signature move of a top mecha battle expert, used to turn the tables on a stronger opponent.

Cui Yushi was shocked. He never expected Yun Fan's judgment to be so precise, and his evasion and counterattack were flawless.

At the same time, Yun Fan was also surprised. Although he had thrown the K-105 off the ground, he immediately felt the immense weight of the K-105.

The K-105 weighed two tons, or 4,000 pounds, much heavier than in the mecha battles.

In the mecha battles, Yun Fan could easily flip the K-105 with the X-101, but in real combat, he found it incredibly difficult. His strength was not enough!

The K-105, mid-air, suddenly slowed, pausing for a moment.

Cui Yushi seized the opportunity, pushing Yun Fan's X-101 from behind with his left hand before Yun Fan could muster another move.

The force of the push was immense, and the X-101 was pushed forward, unable to resist. Before Yun Fan could use his second burst of strength, the K-105 had already landed.

"Damn—!"

Yun Fan was alarmed. In terms of power, the X-101 was far inferior to the K-105. Being so close without a hold on the opponent was a dangerous situation.

The X-101 immediately released the K-105's arm and moved to the side, trying to distance itself from the K-105.

"Trying to run? No chance!"

Cui Yushi's voice came from the K-105, filled with contempt.

Before the X-101 could escape the K-105's range, it was grabbed by the shoulder, and the K-105's other arm delivered a powerful punch.

Bang—

The iron fist struck the X-101's back, and the terrifying force sent the X-101 crashing to the ground.

Inside the X-101, Yun Fan felt a massive force from behind, even with the mecha's cushioning, causing his body to shake.

"Defeated—!" Yun Fan's heart ached.

He had dominated in the mecha battles, but in real combat, the result was completely different. Without strong personal strength, operating a mecha was also at a disadvantage.

Cui Yushi was right; the strong only get stronger!

Bang—

Just as Yun Fan was feeling dejected, another heavy blow struck his back, causing him to spit blood.

The K-105, after knocking the X-101 to the ground, did not stop. It pounced and delivered another punch to the X-101's back.

This punch, with the weight of the K-105, was even more powerful, leaving a fist mark on the X-101's back. No wonder Yun Fan spat blood even through the mecha's protection.

Blood stained Yun Fan's chest, and an oval crystal pendant around his neck was also soaked in blood.

Then, the crystal pendant glowed, absorbing the blood.

"A commoner dares to register for the High School Mecha League? Hmph—overestimating yourself!"

"Let me tell you, dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, and rats dig holes! The offspring of rats are still rats. We, the scions of noble families, are born dragons and phoenixes. You, the offspring of ordinary families, are born rats. Do you think you can compete with us? You—deserve it—!"

Thud, thud, thud...

Cui Yushi said a few more words of contempt and left.

Yun Fan, with blood on his lips, retracted the X-101 into his mecha bracelet. His eyes were filled with frustration.

Cui Yushi's words did not register in his mind. His only thought was: What about Xiao Xuan's genetic virus?

Failing the preliminaries meant he didn't even have the chance to participate in the mecha league, let alone win the championship and the million federal credits. Without the money, he couldn't treat Xiao Xuan's genetic virus.

While a million federal credits were a small sum for noble families, for Yun Fan's family, it was an astronomical amount.

Yun Fan's parents were ordinary people with ordinary jobs and incomes. Yun Fan's enrollment in the mecha high school for nearly three years had already strained their finances, almost depleting their savings.

Now, the entire family relied on Yun Fan to become a mecha warrior and improve their lives, but they were so tight on money that they couldn't afford to treat Xiao Xuan.

Thinking of his sister Xiao Xuan, who had become a genetic monster, Yun Fan's heart ached. He couldn't bear to imagine it!

He couldn't just watch his only sister suffer!

Yun Fan felt a surge of resentment. He rushed out of the mecha combat room and headed to the back mountain of the mecha high school, shouting into the wilderness:

"Why?"

"Why do the noble families hide so many martial arts secrets?"

"Why can ordinary people only practice the most basic martial arts?"

"Why, despite my talent and skills, which far surpass the incompetent scions of noble families, can I not learn advanced martial arts or enter the mecha league?"

"Without entering the mecha league and winning the championship, how can I save Xiao Xuan? How can I save Xiao Xuan...?"

Yun Fan's voice grew more and more sorrowful, his eyes filled with frustration, and tears streamed down his face.

They say a man does not shed tears lightly, but only when he is truly heartbroken. If he couldn't save his sister Xiao Xuan, Yun Fan felt his life would be dark, and every moment would be filled with pain and suffering.

If he hadn't enrolled in the mecha high school, using up the family's savings, and if his parents had saved more and borrowed from friends, or if he had worked part-time for the past three years, he might have been able to gather enough money to treat Xiao Xuan!

Thinking of this, Yun Fan felt deeply guilty!

The family had sacrificed so much for him, while his sister Xiao Xuan, who was also academically excellent and had martial arts talent, attended the cheapest middle school in a dangerous area near the city's edge.

If Xiao Xuan had attended a better middle school, would she have been attacked by a genetic monster?

Yun Fan had taken all the family's advantages, and as a result, his sister had become a genetic monster. The day she became a genetic monster was the day she would be eliminated by humans. What was the point of becoming a mecha warrior if he couldn't protect his own family?

Yun Fan's eyes were filled with despair, and his heart was heavy.

At that moment, a clear child's voice said, "Who says you can't learn advanced martial arts?"

Yun Fan looked around but found no one. He was startled. "Who? Who's speaking?"

The clear child's voice said, "Don't look for me. I'm on you, on your chest."

On his chest?

Yun Fan reached out and lifted the pendant around his neck. The crystal pendant had changed, glowing faintly with star-like points inside, as if a universe was rotating within, looking very peculiar.

This was too strange!

Yun Fan looked at the pendant, surprised. "Are you the one speaking?"

The clear child's voice came from the crystal pendant. "Yes."

Yun Fan examined the crystal pendant carefully, turning it over several times. "How can a crystal pendant speak? Is it an electronic device? It doesn't look like one."

"Electronic device, hah...!"

The crystal pendant's voice was dismissive. "I am made of temporal crystal, a divine artifact!"

Yun Fan was astonished. "A divine artifact? What is that? Are you a legendary treasure? Isn't this a family heirloom? Does my family have a legendary immortal ancestor?"

Temporal Crystal: "It's something very, very advanced, beyond your current imagination and understanding. Activating me is your good fortune. Yun Zhongzi left me behind, and after such a long time, you are the first to break my seal. You want to learn advanced martial arts? That's not a problem!"

Yun Fan's attention was immediately drawn to the advanced martial arts. "Can you teach me advanced martial arts?"

Temporal Crystal: "I can't teach you, but I can send you to a place where you can learn advanced martial arts. The ancient martial arts on Earth are just child's play. The true martial arts world has truly advanced martial arts."

There was a place to learn advanced martial arts, and Yun Fan's heart, which had been in despair, came back to life, his eyes shining.

Yun Fan excitedly said, "Where can I learn advanced martial arts? Take me there, take me there!"

The Temporal Crystal glowed brilliantly, enveloping Yun Fan, and with a whoosh, he disappeared.