Chapter 23: Someone familiar
After achieving their objectives inside the headmaster's office, Cross and Adam next went to the coliseum to watch the match.
Although Vice Commander Sheha told him to return to the Support Department once his task was done, it would be a waste if he missed the mock battle, no? It must be very interesting to watch. He also wanted to personally see the performance of both sides' mechs.
Moreover, before he left the Engineering Department, Commander Beth told him that it was up to her to tell Vice Commander Sheha Schmid the reason why he took so long to return. So Cross thought there was no problem if he watched the mock battle first.
Cross immediately went to the Coliseum. The Coliseum was not that far from the main building of the academy. From the main building, it was just over a kilometer away. Cross changed his route and immediately headed north because that was the direction of the coliseum.
Cross hadn't quite memorized most of the buildings here at the academy, but because of the size of the Coliseum, it was easy to notice.
Arriving in front of the Coliseum, he immediately noticed its dome shape towering over him.
He wasted no time outside and immediately went inside. Inside, he noticed that there were many spectators, but even with the number of spectators, the place seemed deserted. Everyone was very quiet. There were a few murmurs but that's all.
<Look master, that mech is so unusual>
From what Adam said, Cross looked at the field. There he saw a mech pulling another mech toward an entrance. If he wasn't mistaken, based on the form and color of the mech being pulled, it was the academy's Warlord Series. It didn't seem to have the strength left to stand on its own.
In such a state, its pilot has either run out of mana energy or has lost consciousness, or if not, the pilot has no more strength to fight.
Cross's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the other mech. That's probably what Adam means with an unusual design, Cross thought.
Adam was right though. The design of that one is truly unusual. It looks like a humanoid beast better known as a lizardman. It stands on two legs and has a long tail. And it has a face that resembles a dragon or a lizard. There is no doubt that the design of that mech was taken from that. The only difference is that its maw is attached to the chest. The pilot's cockpit must be in that part. Cross believed so.
So to say, with that design, the head of that mech could not tilt. Well, that's not an issue though, because, unlike humans, mechs were attached with radar to locate your opponent.
He could not judge whether it was a well-made mech or not. If anything, he was more curious about its performance. Sadly, it looked like the battle had already ended.
Looking at the two mechs, it was as though a woman walked gracefully while dragging someone. Well, not to mock the other mech but that's how this scene looked like in Cross' eyes.
<That must be the new variant of the empire.>
Cross didn't know about that but judging from what he heard from Vice Commander Sheha Schmid a while ago, that variant might be owned privately by a merchant.
"Maybe..." Cross simply said.
While turning around, Cross noticed that everyone was looking up. He turned to where they were looking and immediately saw a blimp floating in the air right above the battlefield. On it was a wide TV screen. And on the TV screen, the replay of the match earlier was being played.
He found out that it was a match between those two. As he thought, the match had just ended.
Based on what Cross had seen on the TV screen, both players were showing good fights. But as their fight went on, one mech prevailed over the other.
It could be seen that it had the upper hand in most aspects, in strength, speed, and even in utility. It could even perform acrobatic stunts such as tumbling, spinning, and flipping.
<In fairness, that mech seems so flexible, no master?>
He heard Adam say that. Cross slightly nodded his head.
"Yeah. It's not easy to do those stunts, especially with old variant mechs. But that mech did those things effortlessly", he said.
<That means that mech is a high-end mech.>
"Yes. Besides the mech, its pilot also seems to be very versatile. It can fight in and out. It is also good at throwing titanium knives. And it's also good at fighting at close range."
<Everything you said is right, master. There is no doubt that the pilot of that mech is an experienced fighter.>
"I bet they are."
While the two were talking, they suddenly heard a yell from behind.
"Hey! What are you standing there blocking my vision!?"
Cross quickly turned behind when he heard this. After turning around, he was greeted by a pair of V-shaped eyebrows up above a pair of irritated eyes. She was pursing her lips and a cross-shaped pulse on her face was floating. This person seems irritated because he was blocking her vision.
Judging by the expression on her face, she was definitely someone he could not talk to well.
"Uh, s-sorry..." Cross said and walked out of her sight.
Sigh.
He heard a sigh from her but Cross just ignored it. He didn't even notice that the person tried to stop him from leaving.
Cross looked around to find an empty seat where he could sit down properly. But it seemed like almost all the seats nearby were taken. There were some empty seats but they were located far from where he was currently.
As he was looking around, he spotted some familiar faces. On his right side, he saw Rebecca and Naomi. The two were looking at the blimps, so they didn't notice him.
From what happened yesterday, it would be awkward to go there and greet them.
Cross just sighed. It looked like he had to go around to the other side to sit in the empty seat there.
Unexpectedly, before he could even step towards it, he was suddenly called by the person who yelled at him earlier.
"Hey, you! Don't just stand there", she said as she pointed with her thumb to the empty seat beside her.
Cross gawked and was slightly surprised. He did not expect that person to invite him to sit on the empty seat beside her.
The call from that person attracted attention. Some of the spectators around reflexively glanced toward her and towards him.
"Wait, that's Cross", said Naomi when she noticed him.
Rebecca beside her also glanced. "Right, it's him."
They saw him walking towards a familiar person. "Wait, that's—!" Rebecca could not believe where Cross was heading.
"The computer genius from the Engineering Department, the one and only Vice Commander Ruru", Naomi said.
"Do they know each other?" Rebecca asked, her face plastered with surprise and curiosity.
"I don't know. Let's ask him later", replied Naomi.
But hearing that, "Eh?" Rebecca looked at Naomi with a face that wanted to ask whether Naomi forgot what they did.
"What? Why?" Asked Naomi in puzzlement.
She noticed Rebecca sighing.
"Naomi, have you forgotten what we did to him yesterday?" Rebecca said.
"Uh…" Naomi just remembered. That's right, they did that, Naomi thought. No wonder Rebecca reacted like that.
"It's your fault though, you didn't clarify what you told him."
"W-well… let's just see what we can do… I hope Cross won't get mad at us because of that."
Naomi sighed upon hearing that.
Aside from Naomi and Rebecca, another person also noticed Cross.
"Scarlet, do you know him?" Sherry asked when she noticed Scarlet staring at someone.
"Heh~… so Scarlet is interested in someone? Heh-heh!" Agnes grinned.
Vann and Dereck frowned when they heard it. They looked at where Scarlet was looking. They saw a male student.
In her poker face, Scarlet tilted her head. "No, I don't know him. But I do think he looks familiar to me. Perhaps I've seen him before."
"A childhood friend? Heh-heh", asked Agnes without erasing the grin on her face.
Sherry just looked at her two friends with her mouth open. She didn't know what to say in this kind of conversation.
"No, I mean, I've probably seen him somewhere."
"Are you sure that's it?" Agnes looked dissatisfied with Scarlet's reply.
"Yeah, that's it."
Agnes sighed.
"Stop bothering her with nonsense, Agnes", Dereck suddenly said.
Hearing that, Agnes pouted as she looked away.
"Anyway, the third match is about to begin. What do you think will be the outcome this time, guys?" Dereck asked.
Vaan beside him cleared his throat. "Erm, I think it's obvious already. For sure, it will be another defeat. If even Miss Leticia could not win against them, then it was more impossible for Senior Garry to win. If only they let me and my MK White Fang fight against those elite wannabes from the empire, the outcome would have been different", Vaan said proudly.
Agnes and Sherry let out an exasperated sigh. Perhaps Vaan forgot that it was a battle between ground-type mechs. An advanced mech such as the MK White Fang was not qualified for it as it was attached with a flight engine.
"Looking at the standing of the battle, there's a big chance for Senior Garry to lose as well. This is not just about the pilot's talent, but the mech's specs took the biggest significance."
"I agree with Scarlet'', said Sherry.
Agnes remained silent. She believed in Senior Garry's hard work, but the outcome of the first two fights told her that it was impossible to hope for a win. Well, there was no need to win if winning was impossible to attain. As long as Senior Garry could show a good performance, then it was all good.
The group then started talking about the incoming third match. Though everyone believed that winning was almost impossible for the academy's side.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone