Third Starship Combat Zone · Combat Arbitration Zone
This was a small space hub specifically responsible for adjudicating the Third Starship Combat Zone, and it also served as the First Viewing Gallery. The number of spectators was small, less than a hundred, but today's gallery boasted the most dazzling scenery.
Three of the students voted as the Top Ten Beauties of North Star Military Starship Academy were all present.
"Your brother really came?" A playful, petite girl under 1.5 meters tall with twin ponytails covering her mouth exclaimed in surprise.
Zhao Wan'er's expression was complicated. "He doesn't have many other traits, but his personality is particularly stubborn."
"Is that the starship you mentioned before, the one your brother assembled himself? It can actually still move."
Beside them, a girl with an icy demeanor, tall and slender with waist-length hair, crossed her arms and said coolly, "In one month, assembling three old starships into one starship and managing to start it up and navigate successfully... your brother is quite skilled in Starship Engineering."
Zhao Wan'er looked at the icy beauty, biting her red lip lightly. "Sister Su Lan, if... if my brother really loses... could I trouble you to talk to... that Zhang Haoran and ask him to withdraw the Bet Agreement..."
These two were her close friends.
The twin-tailed girl was her classmate, Xue Xiaoxiao.
The icy beauty before her was her senior, Su Lan.
Su Lan's status was quite prominent; it was said that even the Academy's dean had to show her some respect.
"If it were before the duel, it might be easier. But if it's after the duel..." Su Lan frowned slightly, her heart aching as she saw Zhao Wan'er's pleading, sorrowful expression.
She said helplessly, "Preventing your brother from being expelled shouldn't be a problem, but he'll inevitably face some humiliation from that Zhang Haoran."
"As long as he isn't expelled! That's all that matters!" Zhao Wan'er nodded repeatedly, happily linking arms with Su Lan. "I knew you were the best, Sister Su Lan."
"Wan'er, your brother hasn't even fought yet. How do you know he'll lose? What if he wins?" the twin-tailed girl beside them muttered.
Zhao Wan'er replied, "How could he possibly win? Look at what kind of starship my brother has, and look at what the other side has! A T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser worth seven million Star Coins.
Among the starships owned by students in our Academy, in terms of one-on-one combat capability, it ranks within the top ten Starship Types."
Her gaze was complicated as she looked at that assembled starship. Deep down, she also hoped her brother could win, but... it was simply an impossible task.
Just then, the Judging Panel began contacting the captains of the two starships. Two video feeds appeared before the panel.
On one side was the bridge feed of the T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser. Zhang Haoran sat in the captain's chair wearing a splendid military uniform—not a standard-issue one, probably something he had acquired from somewhere.
Standing beside him was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties; his demeanor clearly marked him as a retired officer.
The bridge scene on the other side appeared much shabbier. Zhao Chen sat in an old captain's chair with a faint smile.
Behind him stood a young, white-haired beastman girl, her face bearing visible, fierce scars, her expression cold and detached.
"Is that a beastman?" the twin-tailed girl exclaimed in surprise.
Zhao Wan'er covered her face and said helplessly, "After my brother assembled this starship, he didn't have much funding left, so he could only buy a batch of half-beast slaves to serve as his starship crew."
"Half-beast crew members?" Su Lan frowned slightly, feeling increasingly that her friend's brother was truly unreliable.
"The duel participants are Zhang Haoran from Class 2, Grade 3, and Zhao Chen from Class 8, Grade 3.
Apart from not being allowed to leave the combat area, the rules are unrestricted combat.
Victory or defeat will be determined when one side's starship surrenders, loses combat capability, or is declared defeated by the judging panel.
Once the judging panel announces the final result, the battle must immediately cease, and no further attacks of any kind are permitted.
Duel participants, do you understand clearly?" announced a middle-aged male chief judge.
"Understood," Zhang Haoran sneered. He could now see Zhao Chen through the video window and hadn't expected this guy to actually dare show up before him.
And in such a dilapidated starship at that—this duel was already his to win.
"Understood," Zhao Chen replied calmly, even taking the time to yawn, as if what was about to happen had little to do with him.
"The judging panel will randomly select a 'starting point' for each starship within the combat starfield. You must arrive at your 'starting point' within ten minutes; at that time, the judging panel will announce the start of the battle."
After the chief judge finished speaking, he activated a device.
Soon, two circles—one blue and one red—appeared on the star map of the combat area, marking the 'starting points' for both sides.
Both starships received this location information and began navigating toward their designated areas.
At this moment, Zhang Haoran taunted Zhao Chen through the video window, clapping as he spoke, "Zhao Chen, I admire your courage. I never thought you'd actually dare to come.
Where did you dig up this piece of junk starship? Its hull armor looks like it would shatter at the slightest touch.
Wouldn't it be a bit cruel if I blasted your starship apart with a single shell?"
A vicious grin spread across Zhang Haoran's face. "After all, killing your opponent in a starship duel isn't illegal."
Zhao Chen stretched lazily and picked at his ear. "Finished? If you're done, you might want to book a ticket home."
Zhang Haoran's mouth twitched as he pointed at Zhao Chen. "You really won't give up until you see your own coffin, huh? Fine! I'll soon make you taste the difference in strength.
You, Zhao Chen, are nothing but a waste baron, while I am destined to become a viscount, even a count!"
At that moment, the judging panel cut off the video windows for both sides.
Zhang Haoran turned to the deputy captain, a crew member arranged by his father. "Deputy Captain Wang, I want you to toy with that guy's starship like it's a mouse—play it to death!"
Wang Cheng was the deputy captain hired by Zhang Haoran's father, a former starship captain in the Imperial Army.
He raised his head confidently and declared, "Young Master Zhang, rest assured. I guarantee you that dilapidated starship won't make it back to port."
The ship he commanded was a T2 White Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser—a top-tier high-speed starship among T2 vessels, though it had significant flaws on the interstellar battlefield.
But in a Starship Duel like this, against a mere Academy student piloting a dilapidated starship, he had countless ways to crush them.
On the other side, aboard the bridge of the Zero Blizzard.
Zhao Chen looked at his Deputy Captain Charlotte: "Charlotte, feeling confident?"
"Ten minutes to end the battle. If it takes even a minute longer, I'll take your surname," Charlotte said calmly.
Her expression seemed utterly disinterested in the upcoming fight.
Zhao Chen, however, felt a small thrill of excitement. He ran his hand over the armrest of the captain's chair, which bore the marks of its era. This would be his first Starship Battle!