The camera panned away, but the spectators still couldn’t believe their eyes. They flooded major online platforms with questions.
Screenshots and video clips from various angles surfaced, driving the online topics to explode in popularity. The live stream viewer count skyrocketed repeatedly as a result.
Unfortunately, that Omega’s match had already ended. The cameras only swept past him occasionally, with no other footage to speak of.
Waves of people surged into the live stream, only to leave again and scour the internet for video clips.
Another wave surged in and out.
After several rounds like this, the live stream held steady, but the major platforms all blew up with trending searches.
Mu Chenxing, naturally oblivious, sat upright in his seat, fully focused on the arena. He even couldn’t resist simulating a few strong opponents hands-on from time to time.
Fu Yuefeng, who had also finished his match, elbowed him and whispered, “Did you notice? Those cameras have been hovering right over us the whole time?”
Mu Chenxing glanced up again. “It’s a live broadcast. Cameras are normal, right?”
Fu Yuefeng frowned. “But the other ones are zipping all over the arena. These have been completely still.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Fu Yuefeng glanced around and leaned in closer. “They’re probably filming you.”
Mu Chenxing: “Maybe. Then you should scoot away quick, or you’ll end up on the news too.”
Fu Yuefeng pondered this. “This live stream looks like official media. So if they catch me, that’s basically official promo, right? Duoduo’s family might see it too. Does that count as getting the official stamp of approval?”
He slapped his palm. “Sweet! Makes meeting the parents way easier down the line!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Fu Yuefeng really did sling an arm over his shoulder then, flashing a grin and throwing up a V-sign at the camera. “Come on, help a brother out!”
Mu Chenxing: “Big bro, getting your photo with an Omega on official media… won’t that make meeting the parents harder?”
Fu Yuefeng: “Pfft, what’re you scared of? You’re not really an Omega.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Nice words. I like hearing that.
He broke into a big grin on the spot and looked toward the camera alongside him.
The cameras hovering in midair all flashed red lights in unison.
Fu Yuefeng got excited. “They got us~!”
The guys on the other side saw this and crowded over. “Official media promo? Count me in too.”
The Alphas behind them got curious and asked about it. Upon hearing, they bent down to poke their heads in, crowding around Mu Chenxing’s. “Me too! Make it worth the trip!”
…
In just a few words, the Alphas who had been chatting idly started squeezing in next to Mu Chenxing. They struck cool poses for the cameras, then quickly made room for the next ones.
Mu Chenxing, forced into the role of photo mascot: “…”
Childish.
…
With only so many people per planet and a few hundred total in the stellar system, the first round wrapped up by late morning.
Of the Alliance First Military Academy’s 31 entrants, 27 advanced to the next round.
On the way back, Mu Chenxing muttered to Zhang Yunli, “Our school’s pass rate is pretty high. I thought the Stellar System Tournament would be a real battle, but my matches felt easier than the Preliminary Selection.”
“We’re the Alliance First Military Academy,” Zhang Yunli explained. “And we’re the picks from Central Star. Central Star has over a dozen top Alliance schools. If planets didn’t have internal qualifiers first, Central Star students would dominate the entire University Arena Competition leaderboard.”
Mu Chenxing saw the light.
No wonder it felt relatively easy.
He rubbed his chin and glanced at the Alphas in other seats. “So most of my opponents were from our school?”
Zhang Yunli: “Nah, there are a few other solid military academies too. Back in the day, to make sure talent from every planet got dug up, the government built military academies in every stellar system—several good ones with solid reps. You’ll run into them in the finals—you are getting to finals, right?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Don’t ‘do your best.'” Fu Yuefeng leaned over the seatback, holding up a Holo-Screen. “Look how badass you are. You’re trending across every platform. On a variety show, this would’ve made bank.”
Mu Chenxing: “…What trends?”
Zhang Yunli shrugged it off. “An Omega making it to the Stellar System Tournament? Trending is normal.” He paused, then lowered his voice. “Government might even be pushing the platforms to amp it up.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Oh. Then ignore it.”
Fu Yuefeng, curious: “Government pushing? Why?”
He figured it out the next second. “To encourage more Omegas in arena comps? Tough sell though. Our school’s got tons of Omegas, but you’re the only freak.”
Mu Chenxing: “Who’re you calling a freak?”
Zhang Yunli: “Hahaha.”
Fu Yuefeng mimed zipping his lips and ducked back.
Mu Chenxing huffed lightly and looked away.
Zhang Yunli, still chuckling: “Didn’t expect Fu Yuefeng to catch on that quick. Usually he chases Duoduo like a goofy big lug.”
Mu Chenxing: “He’s top ten in political science. Looks dumb, but he’s sharp as hell. Otherwise Duoduo wouldn’t bother with him.”
Zhang Yunli raised a brow. “I knew his grades were good, yeah.”
Mu Chenxing: “Everyone in Mecha Department has solid grades. Pheromone Levels tied to IQ or something?”
Zhang Yunli: “…Or maybe you need high Pheromone Levels and brains to even get into a military academy? You think piloting Mecha doesn’t require engineering and info theory?”
“Oh.” Forgot about that.
Zhang Yunli eyed his wristband. “Not checking what they’re saying online?”
Mu Chenxing: “Still in the tournament. If it’s all praise, I’ll get cocky. If it’s hate, it’ll mess with my head. What then?”
Zhang Yunli side-eyed him. “You’ll get messed up?”
Mu Chenxing pulled up his Holo-Screen to check Luo Chen’s message. “Not important. No interest.”
Zhang Yunli raised a brow but said no more.
No need for them to check though—the Alphas on the flight vehicle had already spotted the trends and dove into heated discussion:
“Whoa, I knew grouping with Xing-ge would get me a pic!”
“I saw myself too, hahaha.”
“Me too! Shared the vid with family and classmate groups!”
“Hahaha, suddenly got tons of fans. I feel famous!”
“I posted on Douyin too. So many likes!”
Zhang Yunli leaned over. “Don’t just stare at your pics. Comments? What’re they saying about Xingxing?”
The laughter paused for a beat.
Fu Yuefeng spoke first: “What else? Sour grapes.”
“Yeah, buncha Alphas spewing sour bullshit.”
“Mostly disbelief, I bet. Few more matches and they’ll get it.”
“No lie, Xing-ge looks good on camera. Lots of folks—”
Ahem ahem.
“—say Xing-ge’s hot.”
“Yeah yeah, but my boyfriend’s hotter.”
“Get outta here. Lover’s eyes see beauty in anyone.”
Everyone cracked up, steering the topic elsewhere.
Zhang Yunli pondered, pulling back to open his Holo-Screen.
Mu Chenxing pressed his hand down. “Don’t look.”
“Something feels off—”
“Not important.” Mu Chenxing cut him off. “When our Association first started, the School Forum was full of negativity too, right?”
Zhang Yunli: “That’s different—”
“Same thing.” Mu Chenxing stayed calm. “Arguing with them is pointless. Strength speaks. Beat down anyone who doesn’t like it.”
Zhang Yunli sighed. “You can’t fight everyone.”
Mu Chenxing: “I don’t fight everyone at school either.”
“…Close enough?”
Mu Chenxing disagreed. “Not that exaggerated. I just beat the top guy from each major.”
Zhang Yunli: “…”
Mu Chenxing: “So, beat ’em down and they shut up. After this tournament, it’s internship time anyway. No opportunities left—whatever, let ’em talk.”
Zhang Yunli: “…How’d you end up with a personality steadier than my grandpa?”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
I’ll take that as a compliment.
He brushed it off and returned to the host school. After dinner with everyone, he roped Fu Yuefeng and the others into afternoon training to check the local planet’s facilities.
Fu Yuefeng and crew: “…”
What’s so great about training gear?
That said, after napping off their jet lag, when Mu Chenxing @’d them one by one, they dragged themselves up and headed to the field.
For training, Mu Chenxing had gotten Fu Mingyuan to pull strings that morning, granting them temp access at the host school.
Fu Yuefeng was floored hearing he’d gone straight to the principal for training.
Then at the site, seeing he’d dragged Yuan Hong and a few instructors over for better coaching? Double floored.
But the instructors didn’t coach—instead, they sat chatting and laughing on the sidelines.
Mu Chenxing directed: “Warm up for half an hour first.”
“Mu Chenxing! A few hours and you’re this intense? I’m a big influencer now with five hundred fans flat! I’m posting on Douyin to call you out!”
“Mine’s bigger—I gained six hundred already. Me too!”
“Come on, Xing-ge, photo op. Show everyone the torture devices!”
“Yeah, gotta expose Xing-ge’s demonic side!”
“Right right, make the little Omegas pity me, feel bad for me, then fall for me!”
“Ew—quit being full of yourself!”
The group goofed around, snapping pics with Mu Chenxing.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
What the hell are they saying online for these roughnecks to post pics of me training?
Whatever. Good intentions. Time to drill their weak spots.
Once they’d snapped pics and vented, Mu Chenxing put them through their paces.
They’d only started after lunch break, and after three hours, it was dinnertime—only three hours.
The group wailed dramatically, posting more Douyin rants.
Mu Chenxing was speechless. “You guys stirring up hype for me?”
The Alphas cracked up:
“No choice. You’re glued to the trends.”
“Riding your coattails means gains. My training-start Douyin got two thousand followers in three hours.”
“Mine too, haha.”
“Gaining fans like crazy! Awesome!”
Mu Chenxing stayed cool. “Training gains fans? Cool. Two more hours tonight then.”
The Alphas: “…”
…
After evening training, Mu Chenxing got back to his solo dorm, showered, and tidied up. It was already 10:30.
He climbed into bed, set his alarm, and prepped to sleep—
A message pinged.
Pei Yao: Congrats baby on advancing to the next round! [claps.jpg]
Pei Yao: Reward smooches (づ￣3￣)づ
Mu Chenxing: You watched the match?
Pei Yao: Saw your morning match video.
Got it. Busy in the morning probably.
Mu Chenxing: Pretty easy actually. Not as tough as Central Star’s third Preliminary Selection round.
Pei Yao: Your power’s improved a ton. You like quick strikes, but seemed like you were dodging opponents a bit. Physique holding you back?
Mu Chenxing: …Yeah.
Trained for years, and only Yuan Hong and the instructors noticed. Fu Yuefeng’s crew hasn’t even clocked it.
Pei Yao spots it from three minutes of footage. No wonder he’s the youngest admiral in a millennium…
Pei Yao: No biggie. Just flatten ’em.
Mu Chenxing: Mm.
The chat went quiet for two minutes before Pei Yao messaged again: You guys trained today too?
Mu Chenxing: Yeah, trained.
He hesitated, then explained: Heat Period ended less than half a month ago. Gotta train extra to readjust.
Pei Yao: Oh, yeah, your power and speed shift then. Makes sense to drill more.
Rare to have a real convo. Mu Chenxing didn’t want it to end, so he typed: Good thing no one minds. They stick with me, and I tweak a few issues for them while I can.
Pei Yao’s side showed typing… but nothing came for ages.
Mu Chenxing puzzled.
Busy again?
He eyed his last message—weird to reply to?
Debating a follow-up, the reply finally dropped—
Pei Yao: Looks like you get along great with your classmates.
Mu Chenxing: ?
He deleted his draft and sent: It’s fine.
Pei Yao: [pic].jpg, [pic].jpg, [pic].jpg
Pei Yao: Is this kid the closest to you?
Three photos, all of Mu Chenxing and Fu Yuefeng together. One was on the spectator stands, one on the flight vehicle back to the school they were borrowing, and one during training.
In the one returning to school, Fu Yuefeng had leaned out from the seat behind him, making a V-sign over his head. The other two had Fu Yuefeng’s arm slung over his shoulder.
Mu Chenxing’s heart stuttered.
Pei Yao sent another message: This kid does look pretty handsome. I just watched the video—he’s probably the best fighter in your year.
Mu Chenxing: Yeah.
Mu Chenxing: He’s pretty good. We eat together a lot.
The kind that included Li Duoduo and Xiao Xiao.
He added: He’s a good guy too. Great temper, great personality, super attentive. Practically the model Alpha partner.
These were Li Duoduo’s exact words.
The other side showed typing for a long time before it stopped.
Mu Chenxing stared at the chat window for ages. Even until he fell asleep, he still hadn’t gotten a reply.
But his mood was the best it had been in nearly a year.
