Chapter 199: Stable

Words : 1534 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 199: Stable On the other hand, Luca just sat patiently as Instructor Max finished his grand speech about choosing opponents wisely. It was an oddly intense speech with more dramatic pauses and persuasion than necessary. But Luca, ever the dutiful student, nodded along attentively, completely missing the thinly veiled attempts to push the other students to target him. The class, however, was not as clueless. Every other student refused to move. Not because they were afraid of losing their dueling opportunity—but because they were afraid of dying inside. Not physically, no. But mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—and in all ways that mattered. In fact, most of them were praying that Luca wouldn’t randomly choose them for this duel. Which was what fueled the frenzy of finding someone to duel with. As in anyone. Anyone but the baby-faced freshman! And so, an unnatural silence fell upon the class as they returned from this scuffle of blindly choosing the closest victim—the fastest ones being those closest to Luca. Instructor Max scowled, and the students could already see the gears turning in the instructor’s head as that scowl turned into a wry smile. "Very well," he said, scanning the room with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Since the numbers don’t add up, and someone would need an opponent—" His gaze settled directly on Luca. "—I’ll do the honors and instruct you myself. But of course, that is if it’s okay with you?" The students collectively held their breath. Luca, completely unbothered and actually touched, smiled. "Oh! Thank you, Instructor Max! I really appreciate the opportunity!" The entire class flinched. Max’s eye twitched. What opportunity?! This was supposed to be his opportunity to put this brat in his place! In fact, his invitation alone made a few students shiver as it barely sounded covert! It was clearly just something he was saying for the class lecture recording! Shouldn’t he be shaking in his boots right now?! But no, this insufferable little noble brat was... was thanking him? Or was he really that stupid? The older man forced a smirk. "I hope you’re ready, Cadet Kyros." Luca, ever the eager student, nodded before responding. "I’ll do my best, Sir! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this!" The students grimaced. He’s done for. ___ Instructor Max didn’t even wait a day. He immediately herded everyone towards the training grounds like livestock ready for slaughter. The atmosphere inside the arena was strangely tense. Students filed into the spectator stands, whispering among themselves. In reality, this should’ve been a class-only affair, but the instructor made a show of it by talking as loudly as he could as they walked through the students in the middle of training. In his opinion, this kid would only learn if he learned his lesson in front of as many people as possible. And he immediately felt validated once the duels commenced. Instructor Max was already unimpressed. The moment Luca’s mecha stepped onto the field, he scoffed. It was a gold and black medium-class model, sleek and clearly expensive. The kind of mecha a pampered noble brat would use—all show, no substance. Max smirked. Typical. So this was how Luca compensated for his C-rank spiritual power. He had probably thrown money at the problem until it went away. The self-proclaimed expert had seen it a hundred times before. Over-reliance on premium tech. No real skill. His fingers itched to expose it. He was going to break this kid’s mecha down until all that expensive hardware couldn’t save him. What Max didn’t know—what he would have known if he had ever bothered to watch Luca’s fights—was that this particular mecha had been personally modified. And not for show. Luca painstakingly used his funds for his favorite precision tools. This wasn’t just a mecha. This was a dismantler. Or a money-saving researcher, as one little chipmunk would lovingly refer to it. And the delusional instructor had just walked into a live dissection. The countdown started. 3... 2... 1... Instructor Max lunged forward, confident that his brute force would overwhelm the delicate, noble-engineered frame before him. He would crush this bumbling idiot’s confidence first—then his mecha. But the said student? Luca simply stepped aside. To be fair, it wasn’t that the Instructor was too slow. Luca’s visual resonance just happened to be natural. And he could clearly see that move, which should’ve been a good one had it been used on anyone else. The instructor’s swing hit nothing but air. Then— *CLANK!* Max’s mecha stumbled. Warning lights flared across his dashboard. [Right arm: Detached.] His right arm was gone. "What—?!" The flabbergasted instructor whipped his head around in disbelief. And Luca tilted his head. "..." That was not his intended outcome. If anything, he just wanted to see what professional-grade mechas actually looked like and wanted to start with the arm. Oops. "Oh! Sorry, Instructor! Your mecha’s joints were a bit loose! I barely had to apply any force at all!" Hollered the panicked student who was really out to look at that fancy-looking arm attachment. And he really didn’t mean for that to happen because who would’ve known that his mecha arm would be attached like that? The students winced. Max ground his teeth. That had to be luck. He still had another arm. He could still— *CLANK!* [Left arm: Detached.] "...Huh?" The little dismantler’s face brightened at the sight before him. "!" In all fairness to the balance of this mecha, it remained upright despite its parts being taken down. It was just that the instructor should really think about checking with his mechanic. The joints were really too loose! "Wow! Your mecha’s structure is really strong! Even after losing both arms, it’s still standing!" The mad scientist found it fascinating because the Instructor’s mecha was very back-heavy and should’ve been wobbling by now, but it’s doing well! The spectating audience fought to keep their expressions neutral. Max’s mind was racing. What the hell was going on? Where was this brat even aiming?! He tried to retreat— *CLANK!* [Right leg: Disengaged.] Max’s mecha lurched forward. "Instructor! Careful! You’re losing stability!" Luca warned helpfully. The disgruntled retired soldier had never hated anyone more in his life. The students were dying inside. They had seen this before. Instructor Max, however, had not. Had he done even a single second of research, he would have known: The ranker didn’t fight to overpower. Luca fought to dismantle, well, research. He wasn’t actively beating the supposed teacher. He was taking him apart. Because mechas were expensive, and it was impossible to ask the mecha masters to discuss their designs publicly. Therefore, the penny pincher had to think of alternatives. And what better solution than to check everything out by himself? Piece. By. Piece—for free! And finally— *CLANK!* [Left leg: Removed]. [CRITICAL ERROR] [WARNING] [CRITICAL ERROR] Max’s mecha hit the ground with a deafening thud. "..." "..." Then— [VICTORY: LUCA SOREN KYROS] Luca gasped. Belatedly realizing that, he immediately safeguarded the parts he had dismantled and forgot about the falling cockpit! "Oh no! Instructor, are you okay? That fall was really sudden—I should have stabilized your landing better!" Or at all. But if anything, the little penny pincher could attest to the integrity of the salvaged parts! That should be fine, right? But the retired soldier was not fine. And probably won’t be fine for a very long time. Max stared blankly at his screen while the spectating students bit their lips. Luca’s words kept blasting over the speakers, and they sounded so innocent, but to a supposed expert? It was worse than any insult. Not to mention the insanity that was his current reality as this monster of a student fussed over his fallen mecha. Or what remained of it. "Oh! But your attack patterns were really confident! If I had hesitated even a little, I wouldn’t have been able to check on the joint connections better!" Max twitched. The class nearly lost it. Luca continued earnestly. "And your mecha’s frame is really durable! Even after full immobilization, there’s no catastrophic failure! That’s really impressive, Instructor!" Re-assured the little money-grubber who wanted to learn more about the combination used to create such a form. But in all this, the elder felt like dying. Going under. Or maybe thrown into a void. Anything would do, provided he could disappear from his cockpit without having to walk out. For this blasted demon child was not yet done— The little dragon was satisfied and had to make sure to be thankful for the fruitful and definitely expensive lesson. "I really learned a lot from this match! Thank you for giving me this opportunity!" Luca chirped. After all, who wouldn’t be giddy after the recent haul? Meanwhile, Instructor Max’s admittedly tainted soul left his body after everything dawned on him. This wasn’t a duel. This was a public execution. And he still had to sign that monster’s test permit. Because according to academy regulations... Beating an instructor was an automatic qualification. The students turned away, trying not to laugh. Luca brightened. "Oh! Does this mean I can take the exam now?" "!!!" And seriously, the once-proud instructor had never hated any family more in his life!

Chapter 199: Stable

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