Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Is this her ESP? ...

There are very few teams made up of freshmen that can reach the semi-finals, and most of them have strong teams behind them.

For a freshman team to make it all the way to the semifinals is simply extraordinary.

Getting first place once may be a coincidence or luck.

But so many times in a row?

It was just a meme on social media before, but now netizens are really curious about the Space Ghost Team.

"What is the origin of this Space Ghost Girl Team?"

"Guys, I dug up some information. This team is from the Mechanical Engineering College of Leimen University. The captain's physique is only F, and he even faints while running!"

Everyone said in unison: "What? Is this true?"

Someone posted a photo of Tao Ying competing in the competition. In the ID photo against a blue background, the student's face was pale, as if she was about to die.

“…”

"It seems to be true."

But after learning this, everyone was even more surprised.

"With her technical abilities, she should be a top-tier student majoring in mecha systems. Why is she flying a mecha? Is it for her dream?"

The campus forum of Leimen University was flooded with netizens who came to watch.

Previously, everyone’s impression of the University of Leimen’s College of Engineering and Technology was just one word: bad.

Now their students have made it to the semi-finals!

"Since they're students from Lehman University, why is their team called Space Ghosts? Is Lehman University not famous enough?"

"You didn't even know this? Lemen University felt that Ji Te Academy was an embarrassment, so they wouldn't let the Space Ghost Girls play under the school's name. I didn't expect them to make it to the semifinals."

"Oh—then they have such bad judgment. They finally found a good team, but they gave it to someone else."

The External Relations Office of Leimen University at this moment.

The superior was furious: "Look at what you've done! Such a great opportunity to promote the academy, and now they're using a name like that? Space Ghost Girl? That's ridiculous!"

If this kind of popularity could be used as publicity, it could have attracted better students to the Jite College!

"That's not what I thought..."

Gordon muttered softly as he was scolded.

It seemed like that team would be eliminated in the auditions, but who knew they would actually advance to the fourth round.

I remember when the student with physical condition F came to submit his application and they tried every possible way to reject him, he once said, "Is he really not going to pass? I might regret it."

Now it has come true.

The superior slammed the document on the table and angrily said, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and find a way to get them to change their name back."

Gordon returned to the office, reluctantly found Tao Ying's contact information, and dialed the number.

"Hello? Hello, this is the External Relations Department of Lehman University."

Gordon apologized for blocking Tao Ying's materials and asked Tao Ying to change the team name to "Lemen University Mecha Team".

But the tone was still condescending, even a little commanding.

Tao Ying was not surprised by the call. She paused and smiled slightly.

"No. Our team is too weak, and I'm worried that competing under the school's name will affect the school's image. Let's not change it. I really like the name Space Ghost. I have something else to do. Bye."

Tao Ying simply hung up the phone.

“Beep—”

A strong signal of rejection came from the phone.

Gordon's hand froze in mid-air, and after a while, he sneered through his nose: "What are you so proud of? It's just that we made it to the semi-finals."

“Maybe he’ll be eliminated soon!”

…

The format of the semi-finals is different from the previous rounds, it is a team mode.

Two teams work together to find hidden beacons in the arena to advance.

The focus of this mode, in addition to cooperation and competition between teams, is also to test the contestants' judgment of environmental conditions and their ability to seize resources on the field.

It is the game mode closest to the battlefield.

It is a great test of the team's comprehensive capabilities, and various unexpected situations may occur.

But anyway…

Tao Ying touched his chin.

The approach to electronic warfare may have to change.

…

On the day of the semi-finals, entrance music began playing in the venue.

The host said enthusiastically, "Welcome everyone to the 1312th Sky Cup Interstellar High School Mecha League!"

There was a burst of cheers at the scene.

The semi-finals will be held at Gaia Wetlands in Area C.

To the north of the wetlands lies the Falling Star Swamp, while to the south lies the Ashbriar Forest.

The Greythorn Forest is usually the main battlefield chosen by the players. The trees here are super tall and can grow up to fifty meters. The branches are also strong, and mechas can even walk on them.

"Wow, the competition venue has been expanded and upgraded this year!"

The audience, sitting in the air seats, exclaimed.

In the semi-finals, in addition to the live broadcast of the entire galaxy, the starship was also opened as a VIP audience seat.

The transparent cabin at the bottom of the starship is made of highly transparent materials on all four sides and bottom. When the audience sits here, they can have a clear view of the entire stadium.

It's just not very friendly to people with acrophobia.

A black-haired woman walked down the elevator and into the transparent cabin.

The waiter came over to lead the way. The black-haired woman looked around and raised her hand to indicate that it was not necessary.

Then he walked straight to the first row of VIP seats.

The red-haired curly-haired man, Yin Zihang, looked at the laptop and said helplessly, "Xiao Mo, you're ten minutes late. The opening is over, and the contestants are now preparing to draw lots to form their groups."

Bai Mo said expressionlessly: "It's just right, the opening is just a bunch of nonsense, what's so good about it."

"I'm here to see the mecha, not the people."

…

No, that's not entirely true. There was one person she was somewhat interested in.

Bai Mo glanced coldly at the team entering the venue and his eyes were fixed on a weak student.

Tao Ying was leaning against her teammate's back, lazily facing the sun with her eyes closed.

Bai Mo stared there for a long time before moving his eyes away.

Yin Zihang came over and said, "You really have remained the same for ten years now, showing no interest in anything other than mechas... Are you here for the Unlocker?"

"Of course. What about you?"

"I'm from Turantis! Of course I'm here to cheer for my junior classmates." Yin Zihang clenched his fist.

As he spoke, Yin Zihang pointed to the Turantis tactical team below.

Zhu Xiaorui, Ji Dahan, and Zhai Feizhou were also on the stage.

Zhu Xiaorui jumped and skipped to Tao Ying.

"Teacher S! Oh, no, I should call you Xiaoying." Zhu Xiaorui scratched his head embarrassedly.

Tao Ying opened her eyelids and greeted her.

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Maohe, you can call me whatever you want."

Zhu Xiaorui and Tao Ying started talking about the teams for this competition.

"Among the thirty-four teams in the semi-finals, there are five schools that have previously made it to the top three in the finals: Turantis Tactical Academy, Beor Military Academy, Qingxuan Military Academy, Changli Military Academy, and Norsca Federation Military Academy."

"The Imperial First Military Academy and the Camus Military Academy are both in the other semi-final. We are lucky not to meet them." Zhu Xiaorui added.

Tao Ying leaned lazily on Lin Biege like a cat.

She went around, matching each team's teammates with their respective schools.

I saw a familiar face during the process.

Zhu Xiaorui followed Tao Ying's gaze and apparently noticed the man as well. She frowned in disdain, "How come we're assigned to the same competition with the Alzeta Military Academy? What bad luck."

Zhu Xiaorui gushed, "We were assigned to the same team as Alzeta last year. We were supposed to get the beacon quickly, but near the end of the competition, they attacked our senior, injuring her and making her unable to compete this year. To do something like this just to eliminate a competitor in the finals is outrageous."

Tao Ying nodded.

She had also witnessed the methods of the Alzeta Military Academy.

"Oh, yes, you were in the same competition area as them during the auditions!" Zhu Xiaorui clinked fists and palms together, suddenly realizing, "I heard they crashed into your mecha during the opening rounds. I won't say much, but you have to be careful of them during the competition."

"Um."

Zhu Xiaorui folded his hands and said: "I hope you won't be in the same group with Alzeta this year."

The teams will be randomly drawn and formed into pairs.

There are seventeen black balls on the table.

The host opened a hollow ball and explained the rules of the draw.

"Each of these balls has a piece of paper with the team name written on it. We've arranged seventeen teams in advance. The captains will serve as representatives and draw the team you will form—oh, to be precise, not by drawing."

"Yes!"

As he spoke, the host waved his hand and lifted the red cloth beside him, revealing a machine that looked like a cannon barrel.

The host put the hollow ball into a small cannon-like machine, turned the handle, and the ball flew out and hit the palm of the person who caught the ball ten meters away.

After demonstrating it, he stuffed the seventeen balls into the barrel one by one.

"Captain, please come forward!"

The other team members were all eager to try: "Captain, you must grab the strong team!"

Tao Ying's style is completely different.

Nan Gua's face was filled with worry: "Xiaoying, you must get out of the way!"

Lin Biege: "Yeah, yeah, we just need to pick up the remaining ball. Don't try to be brave! Don't get hit by the ball!"

Zhu Xiaorui: “…” The cannon only looks scary, but the ball it hits isn’t heavy. Is it really that exaggerated?

"Bang" - the barrel made a muffled sound.

A person in front jumped up and intercepted the ball with very quick reaction, and the audience cheered.

"The teammate drawn by the Norsca Federation Military Academy is - Beol Military High School!"

"Turantis, the Qingxuan Military Academy pairing is successful!"

"Space Ghost Girls Team——"

The third ball came out and seemed to lose speed, flying straight towards Tao Ying's face.

Nan Gua yelled, "Xiaoying! Get out of the way!"

Lin Biege stepped over the railing, but was stopped by the staff. She stretched out her hand and said, "No, let me in to save her!"

"Captain, Captain, please don't die!"

Audience: “…” Is it really that exaggerated?

But Tao Ying had no time to dodge. Her body couldn't keep up with the speed, and as the ball flew 20 centimeters in front of her—

The ball suddenly stopped.

Tao Ying's eyes widened slightly.

What's going on?

She is about to die again, is now her last chance of life?

That’s not right, Tao Ying touched his chin.

Isn't it said that one feels good when one is in the final stages of lucidity? But she still felt uncomfortable all over.

So what's going on?

Time seemed to stop around me.

The cheerful music in the stadium was stretched out into the distance and turned into a heavy bass.

The host in front of him was blinking his eyelids slowly, at an extremely slow speed.

Everyone seemed to... stop moving.

Tao Ying felt a string vibrating in her brain.

The black ball was just twenty centimeters in front of her.

Nineteen, eighteen——

Tao Ying hesitated for a moment, then reached out and caught the ball.

And at this moment, the vibration of the string in my mind stopped.

The ball is in hand and starts spinning again.

Everything on the field returned to flow.

Tao Ying blinked.

This feeling seems to have happened somewhere before.

When she first piloted the Hengwo, she turned on the Resonance mode, and the world around her slowed down.

It is the extremely efficient awareness of the surrounding environment when the mental power is in a highly concentrated state.

Her mind tricked her body into functioning.

Tao Ying has always known that people with high mental strength have some abilities that are different from ordinary people.

Is this her ESP?

Tao Ying weighed the ball in her hand.

She tried to focus again, but the string in her head wouldn't click.

It seems that this ability can only be stimulated under certain conditions.

Tao Ying decided to study it later and focus on the game for now. She walked to the host's seat and waved the black ball towards her two teammates.

Lin Biege and Nan Gua were still amazed that their beloved captain had caught the ball abnormally just now. However, they quickly reacted after being shaken by Tao Ying.

"Xiaoying, look which team we drew!"

Tao Ying smiled slightly and took the ball apart with confidence.

After seeing the words above, his expression froze.

Soon his face became calm.

Finally, he smiled coldly, as if a knife had been quenched.

The host scratched his head and waited for a long time, but finally couldn't wait any longer and snatched the note from Tao Ying's hand.

He announced into the microphone.

"The teammate drawn by the Space Ghost Girls is... uh..."

"Alzeta Military Academy?"