The spectacle of Little White Chirp taming Ji Ya's Siberian tiger lingered in the minds of those who witnessed it, a fleeting moment of levity before the grim reality of the four-academy selection set in. As the Nanmi and Xizhou teams dispersed, the Tianquan cadets regrouped, their focus sharpening on the challenge ahead.
Ji Ya, still reeling, mustered a polite farewell. "Your Highness, I hope we meet again on Greenstar—perhaps as allies." Her tiger, with Little White Chirp still perched atop, padded after her, the bird chirping as if bidding Baisha farewell.
Sino chuckled. "Your bird's a diplomat, Your Highness. Got Nanmi eating out of your hand already."
Baisha smirked, coaxing Little White Chirp back to her side. "It's got a way with beasts. Let's hope it's as good with starbugs."
Cen nudged her. "That tiger was smitten. Think it'll help if we run into Ji Ya out there?"
"Only if her tiger's hunting for us," Yu Yan said dryly. "We need to move. The selection starts in an hour, and we haven't scouted the terrain."
The quartet slipped away from the bustling spaceport, where cadets from all four academies were checking mechs and grabbing last-minute supplies. Greenstar's atmosphere was thick with humidity, the scent of moss and alien flora heavy in the air. Beyond the port, the forest loomed—a labyrinth of towering, vine-draped trees and bioluminescent undergrowth, alive with the distant skittering of starbugs.
Sino laid out their strategy. "Seven days, two goals: survive and score points. Starbugs are our ticket to the top ranks. We stick together, hunt efficiently, and watch for trouble—not just bugs, but cadets like Holos who might pull dirty tricks."
Cen grimaced. "Seven days with ration packs and no showers? This is a nightmare."
"Focus on the bugs," Yu Yan said. "S-grade and above are rare but worth the points. We need a mix—clear low-grades for steady gains, then hunt a few high-grades to spike our scores."
Baisha studied the holo-map Yu Yan projected. The freshman zone was a sprawling forest, dotted with swamps and lakes. "Forests are our best bet. Dense cover for ambushes, but we'll need to stay sharp—bugs and rivals can hide too easily."
Sino nodded. "Agreed. Baisha and I lead with Thunderflow and my mech—we're built for frontal assaults. Cen, you're our eyes and sniper with Rainbow Rain. Yu Yan, you guard our rear with Wavebreaker. If we hit a 2S-grade bug, we coordinate: Baisha and I tank, Cen harasses, Yu Yan finishes with Stinging Jellyfish."
Cen hesitated. "What about mechsmithing, Baisha? You're dual-major. Any plans to show off there?"
Baisha shook her head. "Combat only for now. Jiang Gui's judging the mechsmiths, and he'd have my hide if I split my focus. I'll work on Sino's weapon design during downtime, but that's it."
Sino grinned. "Can't wait to see what you cook up, Your Highness."
Yu Yan checked his monitor, a sleek wristband syncing with their mechs. "Supplies first. The depot's crowded, and stocks are limited."
They navigated the port's depot, securing ration packs, medkits, and ammo—bolt packs for Cen's Rainbow Rain, energy cells for Yu Yan's Stinging Jellyfish. Baisha's Thunderflow and Sino's mech, both elite models, had robust power systems, but they grabbed spare cores for safety.
Holos and Sinclair appeared nearby, rifling through crates. Holos glared at Sino but held his tongue, Tisiya's warning still fresh. Sinclair offered a stiff nod. "Good hunting, A-Class."
"Likewise," Yu Yan replied, his gaze lingering on Holos, who muttered something inaudible before being pulled away.
Cen smirked. "Leash is tight on that one."
"For now," Sino said. "He'll try something in the forest. Bet on it."
At the final briefing, Tisiya stood before a holo-display of Greenstar's terrain. "Monitors are live," she said, holding up a wristband. "They track points, vitals, and location. Lose it, you're out. Starbug points: D-grade, 10; C-grade, 50; B-grade, 100; A-grade, 500; S-grade, 1,000; 2S-grade, 5,000. Pick your fights carefully—high-grades are lethal."
A cadet asked, "Can we form teams?"
"Yes," Tisiya said. "Points are individual, tied to killing blows. Teamwork helps, but don't expect a free ride."
Another asked, "How's the main team picked?"
"Top ranks go to ranked matches after the selection," Tisiya said. "First-years compete for four pilot slots and one mechsmith slot. Only the best make it."
The briefing ended, and the cadets had an hour to prepare. Baisha's team suited up in the hangar, their mechs gleaming. Thunderflow's sleek frame pulsed with energy, Sino's mech bristled with custom weaponry, Cen's agile rig was primed with Rainbow Rain, and Yu Yan's Wavebreaker loomed, Stinging Jellyfish humming softly.
"Locked in?" Baisha asked, sealing her cockpit.
"Ready to roll," Sino said, his lion construct prowling.
Cen loaded a bolt, grinning. "Bug season's open."
Yu Yan's bear construct appeared, steady and massive. "Stay tight. No risks."
The selection's start horn blared, and the freshman zone exploded into motion. Mechs surged into the forest, engines roaring, as Baisha's team dove into the green, sensors pinging for starbugs—and braced for the shadows of rivals trailing close behind.