The next day
The third starship duel zone under North Star Starship Academy had been prepared in advance.
This was a star zone located on the outskirts of North Star Starship Academy, consisting of dozens of abandoned, uninhabited barren asteroids.
It was specifically used for starship combat simulations or duels at North Star Starship Academy.
At this moment, the duel was being broadcast live on the academy intranet, as per starship duel tradition.
Class 8 Classroom
Someone had pulled up the broadcast channel, projecting the holographic display at the center of the classroom.
"When is Zhao Chen and Zhang Haoran's duel starting?"
"I checked the announcement - it's scheduled for 10:00. It's already 10:00 now. According to duel regulations, both starships must arrive at the combat zone within half an hour of the designated time."
"Look! Is that Zhang Haoran's starship? It's actually a T2 Bald Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser!"
"That's the finest T2-class interstellar cruiser in our Stellar Glory Empire! Its speed is only second to T2-class interstellar frigates of the same tier!"
"I heard this T2 Bald Eagle currently costs at least 7 million stellar credits, and they're practically impossible to buy right now! You can't even get one if you have the money!"
"Game over. Zhao Chen is completely screwed this time."
The students of Class 8 were all writing Zhao Chen off. With that kind of starship on display, how could he possibly compete?
Could Zhao Chen possibly produce a starship superior to this model?
Class President Shen Bing stared at the T2 Bald Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser without the awestruck expressions of her classmates, as she had studied this starship model before - it was more of a "style over substance" product.
Its only advantage was speed. All other configurations could only be considered those of a "heavily modified" interstellar destroyer.
Being a light starship, its hull armor wasn't particularly strong, and its firepower didn't meet standard T2 interstellar cruiser specifications.
However, in a one-on-one starship duel, as long as the T2 Bald Eagle's captain commanded carefully enough, they could employ hit-and-run tactics to defeat most starships by leveraging its high speed.
But in actual interstellar battles involving fleet-scale combat, it would be practically useless.
"Class president, do you think Zhao Chen stands any chance?" Shen Bing's close friend leaned over and asked curiously.
Shen Bing hadn't become class president because of her looks as the class beauty, but because she was Class 8's top student.
If not for her ordinary background, she could have easily been placed in one of the higher-ranked classes.
Despite this, Shen Bing had consistently ranked in the top ten of her grade in theoretical exams over the past three years.
She was known as the commoners' academic ace.
"Very low," Shen Bing replied calmly.
"Then why was he so confident yesterday? He's just setting himself up for embarrassment. If I were him, I'd have already fled back to my territory by now to be a useless baron in peace." Her friend didn't hold back in her mockery.
Many similar disparaging comments could be heard throughout the classroom.
As Class 8 was essentially a commoners' class, most students came from commoner backgrounds or interstellar trade families.
Zhao Chen was the only exception.
His status made him an object of scorn among nobles.
Among these commoner students, he was an irritating presence. Naturally, everyone excluded this baron student.
Shen Bing remained silent, recalling Zhao Chen's expression yesterday - he had seemed genuinely confident.
Could it have just been arrogance?
"Where's Zhao Chen's starship? There's less than fifteen minutes left before the half-hour deadline. Did that bastard actually run away?"
"Damn it, I don't care if he loses, but this is embarrassing our whole class!"
"Whatever. If he loses, at least we won't have to see his annoying face next semester."
The Class 8 students joked and sneered.
BANG!
A loud noise interrupted them - it was Li Wei.
His fist slammed against the wall as he glared coldly around the classroom.
Anyone who met his eyes quickly looked away.
Li Wei's status was at the top of Class 8's hierarchy, thanks to his wealthy merchant father.
"Zhao Chen is still our classmate! Even if you won't cheer for him, must you mock him like this? What happened to the camaraderie we learned in Military Ethics class?" Li Wei roared angrily.
The students didn't respond directly to Li Wei, though many continued whispering, likely saying nothing kind.
"Ahem..."
A voice came from behind Li Wei - it was their teacher for this period.
"Class is starting. Everyone return to your seats." The teacher glanced at Li Wei before walking to the podium to prepare for the lesson.
Li Wei clenched his fists and silently returned to his seat.
He was deeply concerned about Zhao Chen, but hadn't been able to contact him since morning.
"Look! That weird starship - could that be Zhao Chen's?" someone suddenly exclaimed.
All eyes turned to the holographic broadcast window, where another starship slowly approached in the space previously occupied only by Zhang Haoran's T2 Bald Eagle.
The ship's hull had a plain metallic paint job, and compared to Zhang Haoran's T2 Bald Eagle, this starship looked battered and worn, with some sections clearly patched up.
"What kind of starship is that? I don't recognize it."
"It looks like an interstellar battleship... but those weapons aren't standard battleship caliber."
"That piece of junk? I bet Zhang Haoran's T2 Bald Eagle could blow it to pieces with one shot."
Faced with this strange starship, the Class 8 students unanimously treated it like garbage.
"Shen Bing, you're the smart one. Do you recognize this starship?" her friend asked again.
Shen Bing examined it carefully, frowning. "This starship... has structural characteristics of three different models.
The T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer, T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship, and T2 Gray Wolf-class Light Interstellar Cruiser...
Could this be a custom-assembled starship?"
"An assembled starship? Zhao Chen thinks he can beat a T2 Bald Eagle with some cobbled-together junk? Is he dreaming?" her friend scoffed.
Shen Bing stared at the outdated assembled starship without responding.
"Class is starting. Turn off irrelevant displays. Your priority right now is studying, not unimportant distractions. People should know their place and keep their feet on the ground," the teacher announced, though his words seemed loaded with hidden meaning.
Li Wei clenched his fists, seething with anger.
The classroom's holographic display turned off.
Li Wei desperately wanted to know how Zhao Chen and Zhang Haoran's battle would unfold, but unlike Zhao Chen - who could skip a month of classes without being held back - he needed to attend every session.
The only message Zhao Chen had left him was not to worry, focus on class, and wait for good news.
But who could focus under these circumstances?
It wasn't just him - many in Class 8 were curious, though not about the outcome, but rather how badly Zhao Chen would lose.
It was probably going to be humiliating.