The flight to the urban practice grounds was brief, filled with the low hum of the carrier's engines. As the carrier touched down, the students filed out in an orderly manner, led by Instructor March. He guided them to the designated area, revealing a simulated cityscape that was far more intricate than Zephyr had ever imagined.
Towering concrete buildings loomed overhead, casting long shadows across narrow alleyways, and numerous potential ambush spots added an element of unpredictability. The buildings, though imposing, were all hollow, constructed hastily by an industrial-sized 3D printer to save on costs.
The battleground was nestled within a barren mountain basin, just thirty minutes from the bustling city. The stark gray of the concrete structures contrasted sharply with the natural environment, which was bathed in a deep shade of orange from the surrounding rocky landscape.
Like a spider's web, the streets sprawled out from the center, becoming gradually less complex the further they extended. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden glow over the area. A thin layer of fog clung to the ground, seeping into every crevice like an estuary merging into the ocean. Judging from sight alone, the entire area had to at least be several square kilometers in size.
'A republic's most prestigious school isn't just for show, I guess,' Zephyr mused.
He marveled at the scale of the training ground, wondering how many other academies in his state could afford to build an entire urban metropolis solely for training purposes.
Most likely none.
In fact, he suspected that most other academies would only use simulators instead of the real deal.
Instructor March's voice cut through his thoughts. "Uh, so there will be four duels held here today. We'll start off with those who have submitted their challenges and rules first."
Scratching the back of his head, Instructor March added lethargically, "That would be Miss Sterling and Mr. Vael. Please prepare for combat."
Kenny gave Zephyr a thumbs up, a gesture of support. Christina hesitated for a moment but then wished both Nia and Zephyr good luck.
"I'm rooting for both of you," she said with a nervous smile.
Nia acknowledged Christina with a slight nod before turning on her heel to board her mech.
Zephyr kept his gaze on Nia's back for a few seconds, drawing in a deep breath to steady his nerves, then followed suit.
The Squire had already been deployed outside of the sky carrier, courtesy to Kenny. As Zephyr climbed inside the machine, he took a deep breath before powering the mech up.
***
Christina sat at the observation station once Zephyr and Nia both left her line of sight. Nia's Spectre had already exited the sky carrier's mech bay, but Zephyr's mech was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't in the sky carrier, so he must have already gotten into his mech, right?
"Are you one of Zephyr's friends?"
Christina flinched as she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder.
She turned around to see a tan, middle-aged man giving her a friendly smile.
"You are…?"
"Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm currently the mechanic responsible for Zephyr's mech. Call me Kenny if you will."
Christina widened her eyes slightly.
"Are you wondering where he is right now?" Kenny asked.
Christina nodded quickly. "The match is about to start, but I don't see him anywhere. Actually, I have no idea which mech he's piloting either. He never told me."
The mechanic revealed a surprised expression for a brief moment before his smile took over again. "He's quite cautious… that kid. Well, I guess it wouldn't matter if I told you now. You'll see his mech soon anyway."
Christina raised a brow. What did he mean by that?
Kenny pointed at the projection screen across from them. Down in the hollow city, drones were positioned in several areas providing a near omniscient view of the battlefield. Positioned on one side of the city, a video feed showed the Spectre's bone-white limbs coming into view. Instead of carrying the Type-50 Ballistic Cannon like in its last duel, the exotic mech was wielding an estoc—a sword that specialized in penetrating gaps in armor.
On the opposite side, a mech that resembled a simplified Knight with a duller paint job slowly stepped into place. Aside from its shabby appearance, it also had shoulder mounted devices she didn't quite recognize and what appeared to be a reinforced left forearm. It carried two longswords, one slung on its right side and the other slung on its back. Without a doubt, anyone born in the Republic recognized this mech.
The Squire.
Already, Christina began to hear snickers coming from the other students.
"So it was the transfer student piloting that old piece of junk! I should've known!"
"I was looking forward to seeing how much of a fight he was going to put up, but it seems like we may have overestimated him."
"Is he joking around because he already knew he was going to lose?"
Christina narrowed her beautiful eyes in confusion.
Was Zephyr trying to show off that he could win even while using an outdated model? Someone who was able to transfer into the academy outside of the normal admission date should come from a strong background. Under normal assumptions, Zephyr's current actions seemed like he was mocking his opponent.
Her frown grew deeper.
However, it didn't make sense. To others, it might seem like the enigmatic transfer student had accepted his defeat already, but Christina knew what was really on the line. If he lost here, Zephyr would have to leave the academy. There was no way he would intentionally put himself in a weaker position.
What if everyone had misjudged his background? It was seeming more and more like a real possibility.
"Are both contestants in place?" The instructor's voice rang over the shared communications channel.
"I'm ready sir," Zephyr replied in a neutral voice.
"Ready," Nia replied simply.
"Then begin."
***
The instant the go-ahead was given, Zephyr sprang into action, maneuvering along the city's edges and avoiding the more expansive center. Though the streets grew wider toward the city's heart, he wanted to steer clear of a direct clash in the opening minutes. His first priority was to get a feel for the environment.
Strangely enough, the nervousness that had gripped him before the match evaporated as soon as it began. His mind was sharp, his movements precise and deliberate. For a good few minutes, the pace he moved steadily increased.
"I should avoid using area scanners…" he muttered to himself.
While scanners would quickly provide information about his surroundings, they would also immediately compromise his position.
As if responding to his thoughts, his radar pinged with a new signal.
'Does she not realize she's revealing her position to me? Or maybe she just doesn't care,' Zephyr thought, furrowing his brows as the signal indicated the Spectre moving towards the center of the cityscape.
Constantly skirting the city's edges, Zephyr wasn't exactly increasing the distance between himself and his opponent. One reason he chose an urban environment was the reduced effectiveness of radar in areas with tall structures. By using an area scanner to map out the surroundings, Nia had gained a clearer view of the different streets, but she had also given away her previous location.
Should he do the same?
The Squire continued to run, weaving skillfully between the narrow streets as the Spectre closed in.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Zephyr shook his head.
'I shouldn't reveal my position yet. But if Nia gets close enough, her thermal sensors will detect me.'
He had only six thermal smoke canisters.
Minutes later, the unmistakable sound of a running mech, distinct from his own, echoed through the vicinity.
'She's already this close?!'
How was that possible? The scanners on the Spectre shouldn't be advanced enough to discover his position.
Clicking his tongue, Zephyr immediately changed course, heading toward the city's center. He had spent enough time evading. Nia's Spectre wielded an estoc, a weapon designed for thrusting. In the tight areas on the city's outer edges, his longsword, which required ample room for slashing, would put him at a disadvantage, forcing him into a defensive stance.
***
Watching the projection, Christina observed both mechs sprinting in different directions as the match commenced. Nia immediately rushed towards the center, while Zephyr opted to circle along the edges.
This went on for a while until the Spectre reached the heart of the city. The skeleton-like mech paused briefly, then suddenly bolted in the direction of Zephyr's mech.
'Did she discover him?'
From what she could remember, the Spectre's area scanners shouldn't have been advanced enough to detect enemy mechs with such precision.
Christina glanced at Kenny, noting the serious expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"You noticed it as well, right? That princess clearly knows where Zephyr is. If my hunch is correct, he might be in some serious trouble."
Although both mechs were still moving, the Spectre was gradually closing the distance.
"What's your hunch?" Christina pressed.
Kenny's face grew grimmer with each passing moment. "That Spectre has been modified. Its sensors and scanners must have been traded out for more modern replacements."
Although newer sensors didn't directly affect combat strength, it meant a frontal confrontation was inevitable.
Kenny just hoped Zephyr realized quickly enough to adapt.