TCFGBH Chapter 92

At first glance, the Zerg seemed like magnified versions of Earth’s insects in the interstellar era.

Their cold yellow vertical pupils, dark limbs gleaming with a metallic sheen, and tall, grotesque bodies exuded a sinister and repulsive aura. Even from hundreds of meters away, Xia Yan felt like he could smell their foul stench.

This was a completely different kind of pressure compared to the virtual world, one that made people tremble with unease.

The five students in the arena instinctively stepped back, their movements slightly panicked at first. However, as elite soldiers carefully nurtured by the Empire, they quickly regained their composure.

Two heavy-armed mechas took the lead to draw the Zerg’s attention, while the other two soldiers provided fire support. The remaining B-rank members moved along the flanks, ready to assist as needed.

The open battlefield left the Zerg with no opportunities to ambush but also deprived the students of tactical cover, forcing them into direct combat.

Having been imprisoned and starved for so long, the Zerg burst forth with heightened ferocity.

Team One struggled under the relentless assault. At one point, a Zerg’s forelimb kicked one of them, sending the soldier crashing into the protective barrier with a resounding bang that sounded painful even to the spectators.

The injured student spent several seconds recalibrating his mecha before gritting his teeth and rejoining the fight.

Ten minutes later, the five students adjusted to one another’s rhythms and grew more coordinated. After an additional six minutes of grueling battle, they finally decapitated the last Zerg, completing their first live combat mission.

The five climbed out of their mechas and stored them in their spatial buttons.

Four of them had only minor injuries, but the youth who had been kicked earlier suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of his organs, staining his pristine uniform red.

His teammate quickly supported him. “Hey… are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Not dead yet.” The youth waved them off, declining the stretcher offered by the medical team. “I just need a few hours in the treatment pod.”

“I’ll take you there.”

“No need, I can walk by myself.”

“Alright, suit yourself.”

…

Once the robots had cleaned up the arena, Team Two entered for their turn.

The school clearly allocated opponents based on team strength—the stronger the team, the more formidable the Zerg they faced, resulting in even more intense battles.

Zerg blood splattered everywhere, white brain matter oozed out, mechas sustained severe damage, and occasionally even human limbs were left behind.

All of it starkly demonstrated the brutality of war.

Sitting in the waiting area, Xia Yan watched pale-faced as a familiar classmate retrieved his severed arm from where a Zerg had sliced it off. The student remained expressionless as the medical team injected a hemostatic agent and sent him to a medical pod for recovery.

AAAAAAHHH! This is so terrifying!!!

Even with the original owner’s memories, seeing it firsthand was overwhelming for Xia Yan, someone from a peaceful era. While distressing, it was tolerable.

The system quickly interjected: [Host, would you like to activate the mosaic filter?]

Xia Yan hesitated for a moment, glanced at the battlefield, and decided not to make things harder for himself.

He nodded. [Yes.]

The moment he finished speaking, the severed limbs on the ground turned into pixelated blocks, resembling a scattered Lego set. The scene became far less intimidating, almost playful.

Thank goodness.

Xia Yan let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the original owner was destined to die early as cannon fodder, so he wouldn’t have to go to war.

“What’s wrong?” Ludwig, sitting next to Xia Yan as a teammate, had been sneaking glances at the youth and noticed his emotional fluctuation.

“Hmm?” Xia Yan made a faint sound, glanced briefly at Ludwig indifferently, then turned away as if unwilling to engage.

Unbothered, Ludwig handed over a thermos cup. “Want some water?”

Xia Yan: “…” Actually, he was a bit thirsty.

As cannon fodder who oppressed the protagonist gong, having Ludwig serve him seemed perfectly normal, didn’t it?

The youth’s long lashes fluttered slightly as he turned his head and said coldly and arrogantly, “Pour it.”

The white thermos, a common sight in schools, came with a small cup attached. The blond man unscrewed the lid, carefully poured until the cup was 80% full, and handed it over with care.

Xia Yan accepted it casually.

The warm water had a hint of lemon, offering a faintly sweet and sour taste that was refreshing and thirst-quenching.

Their fluid interaction, from request to delivery, was so practiced that it clearly wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Half of Class 3-A’s students were also seated in the waiting area. Seeing this exchange, several frowned and whispered amongst themselves.

“…Yan… bullying… Ludwig…”

“Poor commoner student… suffering…”

“…doesn’t deserve…”

Ludwig frowned, finding the gossip incredibly annoying. He had volunteered, after all.

Xia Yan, drinking water with satisfaction: “…”

Perfect. Yes, keep bad-mouthing me.

Edwin & Betty: “…” What the hell! Don’t speak without knowing the full story! This is just Young Master Xia having fun with his little lover!

The two glanced nervously at the black-haired youth. Thinking back to when they, too, had bad-mouthed him, they felt as though their seats had grown thorns, making them uncomfortable.

Yes, after a few days together…

Edwin was thoroughly brainwashed and now believed Xia Yan was just a tsundere.

The rumors and gossip from before must have been a misunderstanding.

He couldn’t stand hearing anyone speak ill of Xia Yan anymore. Watching as Team Five wrapped up their battle and the robots began cleaning the arena, Edwin eagerly stood up. “Let’s go. It’s our turn now.”

Their team, being number six, was right in the middle of the rotation.

The young man stood up calmly, adjusted his sleeves, and led the way with composed strides. “Let’s go.”

Ludwig hesitated briefly before falling half a step behind, like a loyal bodyguard, always centered around the young man. The other three teammates followed closely.

Despite being mere military school students, their orderly demeanor faintly exuded the discipline of an experienced army, drawing attention from the spectators.

Most of the fourth- and fifth-year students who came to watch were there for Xia Yan. As soon as he stepped into the arena, he immediately drew every pair of eyes in his direction.

Some admirers even began cheering for him.

Xia Yan: “…”

Sorry, folks, I’m not here to show off today.

He had already made up his mind. During this internship, he would maintain a middle-of-the-road performance—not embarrassing but definitely not outstanding—deliberately letting the spotlight shine on the protagonist gong, Ludwig.

He was committed to fulfilling his role as the perfect stepping stone.

A worker never gives up!

System: [Go for it!!!]

–

In the observation area

The first training ground had not only open seating for students to spectate but also ten luxurious, highly private VIP boxes reserved for the aristocracy.

In Box #8, a middle-aged man, appearing to be in his thirties, reclined on a plush leather sofa.

Dressed in a sharp black military uniform, the contours of his muscular frame were faintly visible beneath the fabric. His powerful thighs emanated strength, and his meticulously combed golden hair shone in the light. His chiseled features exuded authority, while his piercing blue eyes seemed as deep and unfathomable as the ocean.

This was Clarence Gardner, the empire’s highest authority.

It was unthinkable for the Emperor himself to attend a mere class-level combat simulation.

The academy’s headmaster, seated beside him, poured him a cup of hot tea with a smile. “Team Six is up next.”

Clarence gave a nonchalant “Hmm.”

From their vantage point, every move on the field was clearly visible.

The headmaster listened to the students’ cheers. “He seems to be quite popular… well, outside of Class 3-A.”

The “he” in question needed no explanation.

Those unfamiliar with Xia Yan admired him for his formidable skills, noble lineage, and strikingly sharp appearance. But those who truly knew him? They tended to avoid him.

This contrast was exactly why Clarence came to observe today.

He was here to choose a suitable successor to the empire—a ruler who could bear the weight of the crown, protect its people, and carry the burdens of leadership.

The third-year combat exercises were juvenile at best to seasoned veterans like Clarence. Xia Yan’s performance, neither spectacular nor lacking, failed to leave much of an impression.

Sipping his tea, Clarence suddenly asked, “How is Grover doing on the frontier?”

Grover Gillingham, another strong candidate for the throne, had a much gentler temperament than the arrogant Xia Yan. Courteous and approachable, Grover was highly regarded among his peers.

Unfortunately, he lacked a certain edge, only reaching A-rank in ability.

“Once this internship concludes, his military achievements should be enough to secure him a captain’s rank,” replied the stoic woman in uniform seated on Clarence’s other side.

Clarence nodded approvingly. “Not bad.”

Everyone present was left wondering: whom exactly did the Emperor favor?

If he preferred Grover, why had he bestowed the surname Gardner upon Xia Yan? If he leaned toward Xia Yan, then why, when Huo Ruihe provoked him, did the Emperor allow the situation to escalate rather than stepping in?

After all, the Huo family had always been the Emperor’s loyal hounds.

By making enemies of them, Xia Yan seemed to be severing his own arm.

While the spectators mulled over this, the arena battle suddenly underwent an unexpected turn.