TCFGBH Chapter 83

The Holographic World was renowned as the second real world.

It featured shops, skyscrapers, gourmet food, and schools—essentially, anything found in the real world was replicated here. Among its countless attractions, the most popular by far was the Mecha Battle Tournament.

Controlled by the wealthiest conglomerate of the era and utilizing real mecha data, the holographic world allowed participants to train with mecha configurations as if they were piloting them in reality.

The tournament had ten tiers in total.

After registering, participants started from the first tier. Each victory awarded points based on the opponent’s strength and ranking. To advance from Tier 1 to Tier 2 required 1,000 points. However, progressing from Tier 2 to Tier 3 demanded a daunting 5,000 points.

The higher the tier, the more points were needed.

At its peak—the tenth tier—rumor had it that most participants were S-rank, including active-duty generals, retired soldiers, and other elite warriors. In short, it was a league of the best of the best.

Qimian was an ordinary C-rank fighter who had clawed his way to Tier 2 and was just a step away from Tier 3.

However, in a moment of recklessness, he bet all his points against an opponent and lost. As a result, the system unceremoniously kicked him back down to Tier 1, leaving him with a pitiful 100 starting points.

Qimian: “…”

Months of effort gone in an instant—back to square one.

But complaining was no use; it was his fault for lacking the skill to win. With a heavy sigh, he resigned himself to starting again from beginner-level matches.

“Contestant 89651, [Safety First]’ please proceed to Arena 26 for your match.” The AI’s cold, mechanical voice echoed through the waiting room.

Qimian pressed the acknowledgment button and waited for the announcement to finish before quickly climbing into his mecha. The system promptly teleported him to the designated arena.

Tier 1 participants came in all shapes and sizes. There were:

– Ordinary folks passing time.
– Students with rudimentary knowledge of mecha operation, here for the experience.
– And, rarely, high-ranking veterans who had just created new accounts to level up.

Of course, the last type was a rarity.

After all, even top-tier players started as beginners once. But why would anyone climb to the top, only to create a new account to bully rookies? That’d be absurd.

Qimian snorted at the thought, chuckling to himself.

When his mecha teleported into Arena 26, he was greeted by the sight of a silver mecha. It stumbled forward, its movements clumsy and awkward, like a child struggling to coordinate its limbs.

“???”

What the heck? Was this… was this mecha being piloted by a twelve-year-old who’d just discovered their mental strength?

Mechas were supposed to be cold, imposing instruments of destruction. But this one, thanks to its operator’s inept control, looked inexplicably silly and even a little cute. This is a combat match, not a contest for adorable antics!

Still fuming from his demotion to Tier 1, Qimian clicked his tongue in irritation. The system had matched him with a total rookie. His mood soured even further, and he couldn’t resist taunting.

“Where’d this noob come from? Go back home and drink your milk.”

The silver mecha tilted its head slightly, radiating a visible aura of confusion.

Qimian: “Kid, the children’s mech training program next door would suit you better.” At least learn the basics of movement! You can’t even walk straight—what’s the point of fighting?

Xia Yan, who was ridiculed: “…”

Seriously? A grown man over 1.8 meters tall competing with kids—how is that fair?

Having prepared himself for a loss, Xia Yan calmly searched through the original owner’s memories and followed the mech operation procedures. Surprisingly, it turned out to be much easier than he had expected.

Qimian, on the other hand, sighed and resigned himself to humor this “little kid.”

With a mischievous mindset, he refrained from finishing off Xia Yan immediately. Instead, he toyed with him, hoping to teach the naive rookie a harsh lesson.

But as the fight dragged on, Qimian noticed something was off.

The silver mecha’s movements became increasingly fluid, its progress visibly rapid. The once-clumsy novice had transformed into a skilled pilot in just five or six minutes.

“???”

A sudden sense of danger surged through Qimian, and a voice in his head screamed: Defeat him! Quickly! Or you’re going to lose!!!

His heart pounded, and he abandoned all restraint. Activating his mecha’s weapons, he aimed a cold, deadly laser cannon directly at the silver mech.

In the holographic world, injuries didn’t affect physical health, though they could leave a player mentally drained for days.

This allowed for thrilling, no-holds-barred battles.

Since this was a public exhibition match, there were spectators. Onlookers in the stands snacked casually, watching with indifference as the match seemed headed for its inevitable conclusion.

“[I Need Points] is going to lose.”

“Well, he’s a newbie. [Safety First] was one step away from Tier 3—it’s no surprise. But [I Need Points] has been improving at a terrifying rate.”

“Judging by his mental strength, he’s probably no higher than a B—”

Before the last words could be uttered, the tide of the battle shifted in an instant.

The laser cannon fired, leaving cracks in the sturdy arena platform, and a cloud of dust rose, obscuring the view. In that brief moment of Qimian’s lapse in focus, the silver mecha darted forward like lightning. Its compact dagger struck at an odd angle, plunging into the red mecha’s neck.

“Bzzzt… Damage to mecha: 20%… critical system failure: 30% damage…”

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Qimian was unable to react in time. Though his years of combat experience gave him a solid foundation, a C-rank warrior could hardly match the reflexes of an S-rank.

Unknowingly, Xia Yan had fully immersed himself in the battle. Every one of Qimian’s movements appeared to him as if slowed down by half a beat.

Before Qimian could recover, Xia Yan seamlessly switched from the dagger to a firearm and fired a direct shot at the red mecha’s cockpit.

The close-range blast unleashed devastating power. Sparks and electricity erupted from the red mecha as it collapsed, paralyzed.

The system announced coldly, “Contestant [Safety First] is unable to continue. The winner of this match is [I Need Points.] Congratulations to [I Need Points] for earning 50 points.”

Qimian: “???”

The stunned spectators: “???”

He lost?

Lost to someone who could barely walk straight at the start?

“You—” Qimian began, wanting to ask a question. But before he could finish, the silver mecha blinked and promptly exited the arena.

Ignored. Completely ignored.

Fuming, Qimian clenched his teeth and quickly left the arena as well. Back in the waiting room, he immediately searched for Xia Yan’s match ID and angrily added him to his watchlist.

He had to see how far this so-called newbie could go!

After waiting about two minutes, he saw [I Need Points] enter another match. Without hesitation, Qimian purchased a ticket to spectate.

Tickets for Tier 1 matches cost only 20 interstellar credits, which is about the price of a cup of milk tea.

However, people generally prefer to spend their money watching established players. For Xia Yan, a complete newcomer, there were fewer than ten spectators in the entire viewing area—a pitiful turnout.

Qimian sat dead center in the viewing area, his gaze fixed on the now-steady steps of the familiar silver mech. Its performance was worlds apart from their earlier match.

“…”

Can someone improve this quickly? Or… was it all an act from the start?

Qimian was plunged into doubt.

Ten minutes later, he watched as [I Need Points] cheerfully walked off the stage after another victory. Without pause, the silver mecha immediately queued for its next match.

Five minutes later, the third match ended.
Four minutes later, the fourth match concluded.
Three minutes later, the fifth match was over.

…

Eight consecutive wins.

And the further the silver mecha advanced, the faster it dispatched its opponents. It was practically a one-hit knockout.

The opponents: “???” Wait! Is the match over already?

Qimian… Qimian was absolutely dumbfounded.

If this guy’s a rookie, I’ll eat my mecha! Where on earth did this pro player come from? This is just shameless. Pretending to be weak just to toy with people? Really?

Furious, he opened the Empire’s largest mech forum and, brimming with anger, posted a new thread.

【Met a pro player in the mech exhibition matches today. Pretended to be weak for laughs…】

He detailed the entire story, accusing this kind of behavior of being unethical and unsportsmanlike.

The forum, as usual, was bustling with activity, and replies rolled in quickly.

【You can’t understand how pros think. We, mere mortals, aren’t on their level!】

【LOL. Dude, you and that ‘pro’ are two sides of the same coin. Didn’t you try to toy with him when you thought he was a rookie?】

【Winning a few matches in Tier 1 makes you a pro now? Central Military Academy students could wipe the floor with Tier 10 players in their sleep.】

【But let’s be real… Central Military Academy students are born elites. Every one of them is a genius just for being admitted.】

…

The thread quickly derailed, with users gushing over the military academy.

【My husband is already in his third year. Isn’t this year’s final exam going to include live combat? I’m so worried he’ll get hurt!】

【Top 50 graduates from the third-year final exams can get early internships at border zones over the summer. It’s great for earning merit for their future military careers.】

【AAAAHHHH! Live combat final exams! Does that mean we might see Lord Xia Yan? I want to see those golden eyes!】

【Why does someone like him even exist? Born with a diamond spoon in his mouth, blessed with S-rank mental strength, and insanely good-looking. He’s the man of my dreams! I’d happily be his tenth wife!】

【Bro, your pants just fell off.】

【Simp alert.】

…

Despite Xia Yan Gardner’s poor reputation within the Central Military Academy, the general public adored him.

They admired his elegant and noble demeanor, his naturally striking golden eyes, and the aura of being the top student in his grade.

To the public, he was a symbol of hope, a future emperor they dreamed of ascending the throne to lead the Empire into a new era.

—

Whether it was the original owner’s experience, the innate strength of S-rank mental power, or a combination of both, Xia Yan piloted the mech like a fish in water. His movements were smooth and seamless, with not a single hiccup.

He completed eight matches in one go.

Despite being matched with increasingly stronger opponents due to his winning streak, Xia Yan’s matches ended faster and faster, earning him substantial points.

[Name: I Need Points.
Matches: 10/10 — Wins/Games Played.
Points: 1650.
Tier: Tenth Tier.
(350 points away from Ninth Tier.)]

If it weren’t for the protagonist shou messaging him, Xia Yan would have played two more matches to push his rank higher. Reluctantly, he exited the mech interface.

Right now, though, Ian Hyde took priority.

Xia Yan walked out of the arena, heading to a secluded corner. After ensuring no one was around, he carefully removed the plain white mask from his face. The mask, costing a mere ten-star credits, was so common that no one would give it a second glance.

Cough, cough. The original owner had worn this mask during his matches. Since he had climbed to the highest Tenth Tier, his smurf account was already somewhat famous online. If he hadn’t worn the mask, his alternate account would’ve been immediately recognized at the start of every match.

—

Liude Street, one of the most famous food streets in the holographic world.

Stalls of all shapes and sizes displayed their food offerings, allowing customers to pick and choose freely. Those who avoided indulging in reality for fear of gaining weight could feast to their heart’s content here.

Today, two particularly striking visitors attracted the crowd’s attention.

People couldn’t help but steal glances.

A young man, around 1.8 meters tall, stood out in a luxurious high-end brand suit. His features were delicate and handsome, and his hair smoothly fell across his forehead. His posture was elegant and noble.

He seemed like someone who belonged in upscale venues, not amidst the bustling crowd of a food street, indulging in cheap junk food.

Yet, this refined young man was being tugged along by a teenager. His stiff posture betrayed his discomfort as he followed the boy to an open-air fried chicken stall.

“Wow! Fried chicken! I never got to eat this when I was little. I only had nutrient fluids to get by…” The boy’s emerald green eyes sparkled as he spoke, then widened pleadingly as he looked at Xia Yan.

Xia Yan: “…”

Truth be told, Xia Yan had no idea how things had ended up like this.

After finishing his mech matches, he arrived at the agreed meeting spot with the protagonist shou. Before he could figure out what to say, the protagonist shou had already spoken up, suggesting they try dating for a day.

If it went well, they’d officially start a relationship.

What was this? A surprise from the heavens?

Xia Yan agreed without hesitation, only to be hurriedly dragged away by the protagonist shou. The boy’s hand was wide and scorching hot, like a steel clamp gripping Xia Yan’s five fingers tightly, as if afraid he might slip away.

This didn’t feel like the intimate contact shared between lovers. Instead, it felt more like… a warden cornering a prisoner trying to escape, determined to extract every last ounce of value from them.

Stop overthinking!

Xia Yan quickly shut down his wild imagination. The original owner had not yet revealed his true face. At the moment, he and the protagonist shou were on good terms as friends.

There was no reason for the protagonist shou to harbor ill intentions toward him!

Reassuring himself, Xia Yan couldn’t help but glance down at the boy.

Noticing the gaze, Ian tilted his head slightly. His fiery red curls, bright and vibrant, added a sense of liveliness to him. His delicate, doll-like face broke into a big, sunny smile, free of any shadow of malice—a stark contrast to his reputation as a notorious space pirate.

In the holographic world, appearances and even height could be modified. For example, it was entirely possible for someone to look like a slime.

This was why the streets were often filled with all sorts of unusual human appearances.

Even so, this face might not be Ian’s real one.

Xia Yan calmly retracted his gaze and raised his wrist communicator toward the stall owner. “One order of fried chicken, please.”

“Got it! That’ll be 38 star credits. What flavor would you like?”

Xia Yan paused, glancing down at the red-haired boy. Ian blinked innocently, his voice soft. “I want sweet and spicy, but I also want to try the cheese flavor. And honey mustard sounds so good too. I can’t decide. What should I do?”

Xia Yan, despite having been forced into two relationships with the protagonist shou, hadn’t picked up a single romantic skill along the way.

Faced with his first real choice in this “relationship,” he thought for a moment before blurting out, in true straight-man fashion, “We’ll have sweet and spicy today and cheese tomorrow.”

Ian’s lips twitched imperceptibly. “…”

Does this guy even know how to date?

“But I really want to try all of them today,” Ian said, feigning innocence. “We could order three servings. I’ll eat one, and you can have two.”

“…”

“As a soldier, your appetite must be huge, right, Yan Yan?” Ian’s lips curled into a seemingly sweet smile, but there was a hint of mockery in his eyes.

The fake name used by the original owner was Xu Yan.

The holographic world was designed to mimic the real world in every detail.

A silent breeze swept gently through, lifting the young man’s short hair and revealing his smooth forehead. His pitch-black eyes, unusually bright and clearer than before, gleamed with a new light.

Ian froze for a moment, his fingers unconsciously loosening their grip.

The young man took the opportunity to withdraw his hand, pretending to adjust the position of the wrist communicator. He then smoothly responded to Ian’s earlier words, requesting three servings of fried chicken from the vendor.

Xia Yan: “Alright, which one do you want to eat first?”

Ian instinctively answered, “… Sweet and spicy.”

“Okay, here you go.” Xia Yan handed one portion to him, glanced at the crowded street, and instinctively frowned. “Should we keep walking?”

“Yeah.”

Xia Yan: “…” Fine. No pain, no gain.

Compared to the previous two worlds, this world’s protagonist shou was clearly much livelier. Perhaps it was because he had spent much of his childhood trapped on a spaceship, forced to be a tool for others, that he now particularly enjoyed bustling places.

Xia Yan followed Ian around the food street, their hands gradually filling with snacks.

He no longer had social anxiety, but due to his usual personality, he preferred quieter places over lively crowds.

Beside him, Ian chirped on like a little sparrow.

Xia Yan subtly observed him. The protagonist shou was slightly shorter than him, standing at about 178 cm. His face was youthful and soft with a hint of baby fat, making him look only around seventeen or eighteen.

“Yan Yan.”

“…”

“Yan Yan!” Ian raised his voice. “Why do you keep staring at me? Do you want some takoyaki? Here! Ahhh, I’ll feed you!”

Xia Yan came back to his senses. “No need.”

“Just one bite.”

“No.”

“C’mon, just one bite!” The boy pouted. “I want to share this delicious food with you. Or could it be…” He paused briefly before asking hesitantly, “… Do you think street food is beneath you, Yan Yan?”

“…”

“I knew it. We’re from two different worlds. I’m just an ordinary person, and you’re a noble. How could I ever be worthy of you?” The boy lowered his head in disappointment, covering his face with one hand as if wiping away tears.

However, his face remained completely calm, his eyes tinged with a mischievous mockery.

Ian didn’t know why this strange noble young master was trying so hard to approach him, suppressing his distaste just to confess. But that didn’t stop him from playing along and teasing the man in return.

No matter how well they pretended, arrogant nobles like this one could never hide their innate sense of superiority. It was nauseating.

For a moment, Ian thought today might be different, but in the end… the façade couldn’t hold under a little pressure.

Disheartened and ready to reveal his true colors, he prepared to end things with “Xu Yan” for good.

Suddenly, he felt his right hand gently squeezed, and a warm breath brushed against his skin. Startled, he looked up, only to be met with the young man’s sharp, refined side profile.

His nose was high and straight, his deep-set eyes framed by long, curling lashes that trembled slightly, resembling butterfly wings. They exuded a fragile beauty that struck a chord deep within.

Full lips parted slightly, and the tip of his tongue darted out to coil around the takoyaki skewer. With a small tug, the octopus ball slid into his mouth, causing a tiny bulge to appear on the right side of his cheek—adorable and captivating.

Ian stared, dumbfounded. His heart skipped a beat before racing uncontrollably.

A strange, inexplicable heat surged within him, leaving him at a loss for what to do.