"Welcome to the Waltz 3.0 system. This is your first time entering the system. Please enter your codename."A pleasant voice sounded in Endymion's ear.
Waltz was the name of the designer of this simulated combat system.
"Rookie." Endymion thought for a moment, then entered the codename. He really was a complete rookie now.
"Your chosen model is Notting Series 3, Type E. Your points: 0. You may now select an opponent. Once the opponent agrees, you will be randomly placed in a simulated battlefield."The same voice explained as the screen displayed possible opponents' codenames and points.
The Notting Series 3 Type E was the most basic training mech, used by the lowest-tier mech warriors. It required the least physical strength, and as a first-time pilot, Endymion naturally had to choose this model.
The points system was not very meaningful. Winning a match granted 2 points; losing gave none. Higher points only indicated more wins, not necessarily greater skill, as it depended on the opponent's strength each match.
"Gentle Rose," 99 wins, 1 loss, 198 points.
Seeing only one name on the screen, Endymion could only laugh bitterly. Was this a joke? Was there really only one other player in the entire training center besides him?
Refreshing several times still yielded just the one name. With no other choice, Endymion sent a battle request to Gentle Rose.
To his surprise, the request was accepted almost instantly. The scene shifted and both were transported to the simulation battlefield—an endless desert.
First match: Gentle Rose's mech charged straight at him. Endymion knew how to dodge, but his body lagged behind his mind. As a first-time pilot, he barely managed to move the mech slightly aside before being defeated in a mere three seconds.
Second match: Endymion took the initiative to attack. The opponent did not dodge, meeting him head-on. He lost again, and even faster this time—only two seconds. Gentle Rose's mech far outperformed his.
Third match: Endymion resolved not to attack this time. Instead, he focused on dodging while getting familiar with the controls. He improved significantly, lasting ten seconds.
Less than half a minute had passed, and Endymion had lost three consecutive matches—a crushing blow. Though he knew the opponent was strong, his stubbornness was ignited by his repeated swift defeats. Like a gambler blinded by losses, he kept challenging Gentle Rose again and again.
Gentle Rose accepted every challenge without hesitation. Perhaps she enjoyed tormenting others?
Endymion didn't share that sadistic taste. But when each match lasted less than a minute before he was defeated, his refusal to admit failure was fully ignited.
Gradually, his survival time grew longer and longer—one minute, two minutes, four minutes… On Gentle Rose's hundredth victory today, Endymion managed to last ten minutes.
This was a huge breakthrough for him. He was beginning to command the mech according to his will, and the coordination between his body and the machine was improving. However, limited by the mech's performance and his own physical condition, some advanced combat maneuvers remained beyond his reach.
"Strong in spirit but lacking in power"—this perfectly described Endymion's current situation.
He didn't send a request for the 101st match. Exhausted, he nearly collapsed in the cockpit. After resting a moment, he struggled out of the mech pod and staggered toward the cafeteria.
Unnoticed by him, as he exited the training center, a beautiful girl stepped out as well. She watched his retreating figure with a strange expression, whispering to herself, "It's really him?"
"Finally full!" Endymion sighed contentedly after finishing his eighth meal combo. Several people at a nearby table stared in amazement.
He was no ordinary person! They marveled silently.
Endymion's name had recently exploded in Notting Academy. First came the scandalous gossip with the Ice Queen Tan Bingbing, which lasted more than ten days. Just as that died down, came the duel incident. More surprising was that Endymion had defeated Meng He—reportedly seriously injured and now hospitalized.
A notorious loser in the entire Galactic Alliance suddenly beats Meng He—albeit in hand-to-hand combat—shocking everyone.
Even more astonishing, the usually aloof and melancholic Prince Andre publicly declared Endymion as his friend. And after the duel, the Ice Queen herself carried the unconscious Endymion away. This truly stunned the entire academy.
Could this guy really be the loser of the millennium-old knight family? Such doubts were cropping up in many minds.
"Endymion! I finally found you!" A shrill shout, and Fang Yang came rushing over like a whirlwind.
"What's up? Need something?" Endymion always felt guilty whenever Fang Yang showed up.
"Man, you really got me into trouble!" Fang Yang looked miserable. "I told you, why wander around late at night instead of staying in your room? Now Bingbing's mad at me because she found you missing. She scolded me hard, said I didn't keep an eye on you, threatened to lock me up if I didn't find you immediately, and said no dinner for me!"
"Huh?" Endymion felt even more awkward. "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"Shh! I did—secretly. Don't tell Bingbing, or she'll really lock me inside and never let me out." Fang Yang lowered his voice.
Endymion was speechless. Fang Yang's fear of Tan Bingbing seemed deeply genuine. He must have suffered a lot from her over the years.
"Uh, Endymion, gotta go report to Bingbing. Stay here, don't run off!" Fang Yang hurried away.
"What kind of situation is this?" Endymion muttered. Next time he saw Fang Yang, he vowed to clarify their relationship with Tan Bingbing. If she really was his fiancée, he had every right to be jealous.
"Endymion, do you mind if I sit here?"
A familiar voice sounded. Endymion looked up and was stunned—it was none other than the famous Melancholic Prince Andre.
"Not at all, please sit!" Endymion quickly replied. He wanted to ask why Andre had stood up for him yesterday.
"I've wanted to talk to you for some time, but you seem busy lately." Andre's faint smile, coupled with his melancholic charm, made him even more attractive. Some girls in the cafeteria started squealing.
"What do you want to talk about?" Endymion racked his brain but couldn't think why Andre would be interested in him.
Interest? Endymion shuddered. Could this guy be the real "glass heart"? So many girls liked him, yet he never had a girlfriend...