Chapter 12: The Nest

Meanwhile, the examiner and the live stream audience were watching the scene nervously.

"How can we fight against so many? Maybe we should just surrender," Arix felt hopeless. Even though this was just a holographic copy from the interstellarnet, the pain felt real, and she didn't want to suffer for nothing.

Drexel, coming from a military family, was used to the idea of never surrendering. He was actually speechless at Arix's willingness to give up so easily.

"Top ten in the Alliance get a full scholarship, including free meals," Drexel said emotionlessly to Arix.

"But, we can't possibly win," Arix's voice wavered, but she still sadly refused.

"There are mechas for the top ten winners," Drexel couldn't help but reveal. He had known how much Arix loved mechas, after spending a few days together.

Hearing this, Arix froze as if struck by a revelation.

Seeing Arix silent, Drexel sighed, wondering if he was pushing her too hard. After all, Arix was more of a chemist, not much of a fighter.

"Arix, maybe we should just surrender. Even if we lose, our points might still get us into the Hecaris Military Academy," Drexel comforted.

At that, Arix moved. "Surrender? You wouldn't want to do that."

Arix turned, her eyes fiercely fixed on Drexel, her psychic power erupting with a terrifying pressure.

Drexel didn't realize the influence of mechas on Arix was so profound.

Feeling a chill, Drexel swallowed and muttered, "No, we won't surrender."

"Good, then let's get ready to fight," Arix said, satisfied, shifting her menacing gaze from Drexel to the other military academy candidates.

Even as Arix shifted her gaze away, Drexel couldn't relax. He could sense a terrifying psychic power moving around him, one that seemed no less potent than his own, perhaps even surpassing it.

His potential was already at the Supergiant-Class level, so this could only mean Arix's power was beyond Supergiant-Class, which Drexel had only heard of in legends.

Thinking this, Drexel's pupils shrank, and he couldn't help but sneak a peek at the girl who had moved from behind him to stand in front. 'Who is she, really? Just an orphan from Planet Waste?'

"I heard Drexel had Supergiant-Class psychic power! The mental pressure is intense, indeed," Elio, the overly dramatic teenager, mistook the psychic power for Drexel's. Despite feeling a bit scared, he shouted arrogantly.

The other three from the military academies were misled by Elio, turning their attention to Drexel.

Drexel felt like he was unfairly blamed and shot Elio a look that said, "Really?" The future seemed worrying with someone like Elio as the heir of his family.

"This just got interesting," Cirilla said, her interest piqued. She infused her psychic power into her hidden weapons, eagerly aiming them at Drexel.

"Cousin, don't go crying if you lose," Varden said with a gentle smile, as if he were just a friendly guy next door. He then took out a harp from the in-game store and started playing, the notes turning into psychic power waves slicing towards Drexel.

"Drexel! Today, you'll definitely lose to me," Elio roared excitedly, infusing his psychic power into his sword and chopping down towards Drexel like a crashing mountain.

Zephyr, the emotionless one, took out an energy gun from the in-game store and aimed silently at Drexel, looking every bit the cold-blooded assassin.

"You're having a tough time, huh? So many people wanting to beat you up," Arix teased from behind Drexel.

Drexel quickly formed a psychic barrier, struggling to fend off the mental assaults from all sides. Hearing Arix's comment nearly made him spit out blood in frustration.

"Aren't you going to help?" Drexel's handsome face twisted, and he glared at Arix through gritted teeth.

"Why should I? With so many of them… I'm not stupid," Arix blinked her big eyes, pretending to be innocent.

That was the last straw for Drexel, who couldn't hold back any longer and literally spewed out blood in anger.

"Whoa!" Arix was startled, her conscience finally kicking in. She stopped teasing Drexel, hoisted him up on her back, and picked a less crowded direction to escape.

Using her psychic power clumsily, she sent the blocking students flying and quickly made her getaway.

The four team leaders left behind were dumbfounded by this unexpected turn of events, and the scene fell silent for a while.

"Is that skinny one a Supergiant?" Elio, usually fearless, felt his heart skip a beat for the first time.

"Clearly. And if I'm not mistaken, that psychic pressure we felt earlier was also from her," Varden said, his expression turning serious.

Among the top five families of the Alliance, besides Drexel Kering who was born with Supergiant-Class psychic power, the heirs of the other four families achieved their Supergiant-Class status through immense resources. Now, the appearance of a wild Supergiant in the new student exam might stir things up at the five military academies for a while.

"Hmph, I don't care if it's Supergiant-Class or not. If you guys are too scared to fight, I will," Cirilla said, undeterred by the notion of Supergiant-Class psychic power. As long as there were points to be earned, she would even dare to confront an insectoid queen.

Zephyr, unimpressed by the revelation of Arix being Supergiant-Class, coldly noted to his three companions, "They've gotten far away."

The other three swallowed hard and yelled, "Let's chase!"

At the Alliance military academy meeting room, Marlone shrank his neck a bit nervously, glancing at the other four examiners. He met their stern gazes, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"Glaring at me won't change anything. Arix is now a student at the Hecaris Military Academy, and she's expressed her liking for our academy," he said, trying to assert some confidence.

"You're mistaken about one thing. Arix was admitted to the Koros Military Academy. There was just a small mishap that led her to the Hecaris. After the competition, we'll clarify things with Arix, so she remains a student of the Koros Military Academy," Solis said, forcing a smile, but his eyes were fixed on Marlone.

"Ridiculous! Arix is clearly our student at the Hecaris Military Academy. Since when did she become yours?" Marlone retorted, his anger flaring up as he stared back at Solis.

"She was admitted by the Koros, how can you deny that? And who's to say there wasn't some collusion on your part to have her end up at your academy?" Solis was determined to win Arix back for the Koros Military Academy, putting his reputation on the line.

Marlone argued more assertively, his tone becoming colder, "If only Koros Military Academy had protected their students' legitimate rights properly! Tell me, how did Arix end up with us? Without the Hecaris Military Academy, the Alliance would have lost a Supergiant-Class talent. You should already feel lucky that the Alliance isn't accusing you of negligence!"

"Hey, watch your words!" Solis was at a loss for words, fuming with anger.

"Alright, alright. Whichever military academy Arix chooses, she remains a member of the Alliance. What's there to fight about?" Mendez intervened, trying to ease the tension.

Laiden couldn't help but burst into laughter, apologizing as he tried to contain himself, "Sorry, I couldn't help it. Please, continue."

Mendez gave Laiden a stern look and continued, "The issue of Arix's stolen enrollment will surely be taken to a military court. I'm sure the judge will provide a satisfactory solution to all parties involved."

Marlone and Solis calmed down a bit, exchanging cold glances before turning away, each still simmering with frustration.

Laiden, realizing the excitement had died down, showed a hint of disappointment. But then, as if struck by a sudden thought, his spirits lifted.

Raising his eyebrows at the other examiners, he posed a provocative question, "A natural Supergiant-Class psychic power user, possibly even beyond that. Do you really think such a talent could emerge from Planet Waste?"

The mood in the room shifted as the question sunk in, prompting a flurry of activity. Messages began to stream from the opticomputers of the examiners, each tapping into their networks and resources.

With a satisfied grin for having stirred the pot, Laiden leisurely composed a message to his own family, eager to share the intriguing developments.