The next day
The third Starship Duel Zone under the jurisdiction of the North Star Starship Academy had been reserved in advance.
This was a star zone located on the outskirts of the North Star Starship Academy, composed of dozens of abandoned, uninhabited barren asteroids.
It was specifically used for Starship Simulation Combat or Starship Duel events at the North Star Starship Academy.
At this moment, the duel was also being broadcast live on the academy's internal network, as was customary for Starship Duels.
Class Eight Classroom
Someone had specifically pulled up the broadcast channel, projecting it holographically in the center of the classroom.
"When will Zhao Chen and Zhang Haoran's duel start?"
"I checked the announcement; it's scheduled for ten o'clock, and it's already ten. According to the duel rules, both starships must arrive in the combat zone within half an hour of the scheduled time."
"Look, is that Zhang Haoran's starship? It's actually a T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser!"
"That's the finest T2-class interstellar cruiser in our Stellar Glory Empire, with a speed second only to T2 interstellar frigates of the same class!"
"I heard the current price for this T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser is at least 7 million Star Coins, and it's practically unavailable on the market! Even if you want to buy one, you might not be able to!"
"It's over. Zhao Chen is done for this time."
The students of Class Eight were all pessimistic about Zhao Chen's chances. With a starship like that on the other side, how could he possibly win?
Could Zhao Chen possibly produce a starship superior to this one?
Class Monitor Shen Bing stared at the T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser without the envious expressions of the other students, as she had studied this starship model before. It was a product she considered "flashy but impractical."
Its only advantage was its speed; in all other aspects, its configuration could only be described as a "modified version" of an interstellar destroyer.
Due to its classification as a light starship, its ship hull armor was not particularly high, and its firepower equipment did not meet the standard of a T2 interstellar cruiser.
However, in a one-on-one starship duel, as long as the Captain of the T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser commanded with sufficient precision, they could employ a hit-and-run combat style, relying on high speed to defeat most starships.
Yet, in a real Interstellar Battlefield, facing fleet-level combat, it would be largely ineffective.
"Monitor, what do you think? Does Zhao Chen still have a chance of winning?" Shen Bing's close friend leaned over and asked curiously.
Shen Bing's position as class monitor was not due to her reputation as the class beauty; it was because she was the most outstanding student in Class Eight.
If not for her ordinary background, she could have easily been placed in one of the higher-ranked classes.
Nevertheless, in the theoretical exams over the past three years, Shen Bing had consistently ranked within the top ten of her grade level.
She was known as the Commoner Academic Elite.
"Very low," Shen Bing replied calmly.
"Then why did he act so confidently yesterday? Isn't he just setting himself up for embarrassment? If I were him, I'd probably have already fled back to my territory by now, content to live as a useless Baron." Her friend mocked without hesitation.
At that moment, many sarcastic remarks could be heard in the classroom.
Class Eight was considered a Commoner Class, where the majority of students came from commoner backgrounds or were born into Interstellar Trade Families.
Zhao Chen was the only exception.
Zhao Chen's status was one that invited mockery and disdain among the nobles.
Among these commoner students, he was an unwelcome presence, so naturally, everyone ostracized this baron student.
Shen Bing remained silent, recalling Zhao Chen's expression from yesterday. At that time, he had seemed genuinely confident.
Could it have just been his "arrogance"?
"Zhao Chen's starship still hasn't appeared. There are less than fifteen minutes left before the half-hour deadline. Could that bastard have actually run away?"
"Damn it, I don't care if he loses, but this is embarrassing our entire Class Eight."
"Forget it, forget it. If he loses, at least we won't have to see his ugly face next semester."
The students of Class Eight jeered and mocked.
Thud!
A loud noise echoed—it was Li Wei.
He had slammed his fist against the wall, glaring coldly at everyone in the classroom.
Those who met his gaze quickly averted their eyes.
Li Wei's status was considered top-tier in Class Eight, thanks to his wealthy merchant father.
"No matter what, Zhao Chen is still a student of our Class Eight. It's bad enough that you aren't cheering for your own classmate, but you're here sneering and mocking him!
What happened to the camaraderie you learned in military training class?" Li Wei scolded angrily.
The students in the classroom didn't respond directly to Li Wei, but many whispered among themselves, likely saying nothing good.
"Ahem, ahem..."
A voice then came from Li Wei's direction—it was the teacher for this class.
"Alright, it's time for class. Everyone, return to your seats," the teacher said, glancing at Li Wei before walking into the classroom and standing at the podium, preparing for the upcoming lesson.
Li Wei clenched his fists and silently returned to his seat.
He was deeply concerned about Zhao Chen, but he hadn't been able to reach him since this morning.
"Look! That weird-looking starship—could that be Zhao Chen's starship?" someone suddenly exclaimed.
All eyes turned to the holographic broadcast window. In the previously empty space where only Zhang Haoran's T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser had been, another starship slowly appeared.
Its ship hull was painted in the most ordinary iron-gray color, and compared to Zhang Haoran's T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser, this starship looked ragged and worn, with some areas visibly patched up.
"What kind of starship is this? I don't recognize it."
"It looks like an interstellar battleship... but those weapons... they aren't the caliber an interstellar battleship should have."
"This shabby starship—I bet one shot from Zhang Haoran's T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser would smash it to pieces."
Seeing this strange starship, the students of Class Eight unanimously regarded it as junk.
"Shen Bing, you're good at studying. Do you recognize what kind of starship this is?" her friend asked again.
Shen Bing examined it carefully, furrowing her brow. "This starship... has structural features of three different starship models.
The T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer, the T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship, and the T2 Gray Wolf-class Light Interstellar Cruiser...
Could this be an assembled starship?"
"An assembled starship? Does Zhao Chen think he can defeat a T2 White Eagle with an assembled starship? Is he dreaming?" her friend mocked.
Shen Bing stared at this old-style assembled starship, not saying a word.
"Class is starting. Turn off anything unrelated. The most important thing for you now is to study, not to engage in unimportant matters. Be honest and down-to-earth in life." The teacher announced the start of class at this moment.
But there always seemed to be something hidden in his words.
Li Wei clenched his fists, feeling indignant inside.
The holographic video screen in the classroom was also turned off.
Li Wei really wanted to know the outcome of the battle between Zhao Chen and Zhang Haoran, but his academic performance was not like Zhao Chen's. Missing a month of classes wouldn't lead to him being held back, but he had to attend every class.
The only message Zhao Chen had left him earlier was not to worry, to focus on class, and to wait for good news.
But who could focus on class in this situation?
It wasn't just him. In fact, many people in Class Eight were curious, not about the outcome, but about how Zhao Chen would lose.
Probably lose very embarrassingly.