World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

Jian Weiliang.

A second-year student in the Mecha Combat Department at Imperial Capital University, holding the title of Intermediate Mecha Pilot.

Typically, assessments for the mecha combat module are conducted by junior pilots. Experts have their own pride; they come to the Battle Network for exchange and practice, to enhance their skills, and disdain bullying the weak.

But Jian Weiliang is an exception.

His outward excuse is that he cannot stand amateurs tarnishing the reputation of pilots, even online.

But in reality, he just enjoys crushing the weak, loves seeing those who can't become pilots in real life, come online to indulge, only to be defeated by him, leaving them in despair and disappointment, from which he derives pleasure.

Jian Weiliang's online ID is "Flying Shadow." Today, he has already eliminated nine amateur pilots in the entry assessment.

"Flying Shadow, got time to crush some noobs again today?" A pilot named Feng Chen, familiar with Jian Weiliang, waved to greet him.

Jian Weiliang skillfully maneuvered the Petrel to perform a technique called "Dragon Playing with Pearl," stood with his sword, and reviewed the entry assessment applications in front of him, saying, "Feng Chen, how many times have I told you, I'm not crushing noobs, I'm contributing to world progress. In two years, the main force of the Hill Civilization will invade.

Let these ignorant guys give up their unrealistic fantasies, so they can better focus on their actual jobs...

Damn, 'Ten Steps to Kill One,' such an arrogant name. Today, I'll teach you a lesson, suppress your arrogance, and let you know the importance of humility."

With that.

He accepted Du Ge's assessment application.

The pilot named Feng Chen did not leave but entered Jian Weiliang's assessment field to watch.

He is a junior pilot, and observing higher-level pilot battles doesn't help him improve much, but watching battles of intermediate pilots like Flying Shadow, who are neither high nor low, can enhance his skills.

That's why he looks down on Flying Shadow crushing noobs, yet is still willing to watch.

Flying Shadow's ID reveals his characteristics; his combat style emphasizes agility and nimbleness, specializing in light mechas.

Today, Feng Chen wants to learn Flying Shadow's signature move, the "Returning Wind Slash," which allows the Petrel mecha to glide a certain distance in the air and change direction at will, just like a petrel.

That is the most difficult maneuver humans can perform with the Petrel mecha, and Flying Shadow loves using this technique to crush noobs.

...

Soon.

Du Ge, wearing the Petrel mecha, entered the assessment field.

The simulated geographical environment of the assessment field was a grassland, with dense grass on the ground and almost no obstacles.

This is one of the most suitable scenarios for beginners to perform.

Du Ge, with rich combat experience, first surveyed the surrounding environment upon entering the assessment field, then looked at the examiner opposite him.

The same Petrel mecha stood there coldly, with no sight of the operator inside.

Most of the time, Du Ge would crazily brush attributes, relying on absolute power and speed to suppress enemies, having learned few techniques.

Moreover, those he fought against were mostly top experts, using big moves that could strike from miles away, either covering all angles or overpowering with force, rarely using intricate techniques.

Du Ge's combat skills were learned in a simulation field. Even so, after glancing at the examiner opposite, he found at least ten flaws in his stance. Such a guy, even if Du Ge didn't have such high mental power, even with just a thousand mental power, he felt he could easily handle him...

Indeed, an entry-level examiner!

If Lin Hong couldn't even beat such a guy, he truly had no combat talent!

"Ten Steps to Kill One?" Jian Weiliang's voice came from the public channel.

"It's me, greetings to the examiner."

Du Ge politely greeted the examiner opposite.

The synonym for low-key is reserved, humble. The arrogant way of speaking on the Alien Star Battlefield no longer suited him.

"Why come to the Battle Network for assessment?" Jian Weiliang asked.

"Because I like mechas," Du Ge replied.

"If you like mechas, why not become a pilot?" Jian Weiliang asked again.

"I tried, but I didn't pass," Du Ge replied.

"Do you know that in two years, the Hill Civilization will invade massively?" Jian Weiliang changed the topic and asked.

"..." Du Ge was stunned, "I know."

"Knowing that, why still come to the Battle Network for these meaningless things?" Jian Weiliang sighed, "Young man, mechas are for fighting, not for you to show off. Today, I'll defeat you with one move, and after you go back, focus on more meaningful things for society, don't waste time on the Battle Network..."

Damn!

Today I encountered a pretentious prick!

Listening to the advice coming from the public channel, Du Ge was speechless. One move, don't you know those who say such things usually get stepped on?

"Examiner, I'll consider your suggestion, but I still want to try, please guide me." Du Ge, as if not hearing Flying Shadow's sarcasm, politely drew his broad sword and assumed the most standard defensive posture.

"Heh, young man, today I'll show you the gap between a real pilot and an amateur..." Jian Weiliang chuckled, and the Petrel mecha suddenly leaped high.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind passed by.

Then, there was a loud bang.

Jian Weiliang's vision blurred, and he was already out of the assessment field, with nine words floating before his eyes: "Cockpit destroyed, you have been defeated."

Damn!

Jian Weiliang was completely stunned. He only saw a flash of light, and he was forced out of the assessment. What exactly happened?

The opponent was clearly more than twenty meters away, did he use a cannon?

But in the first assessment, the Petrel mecha is only allowed to carry a broad sword!

Jian Weiliang immediately opened the replay.

Then.

He saw that at the moment he leaped, the opponent lightly stepped back, and the broad sword in his hand had already been thrown out, piercing straight into his cockpit like a meteor!

For a moment.

Jian Weiliang's face turned ashen, his expression as ugly as if he had eaten something foul.

In the audience, Feng Chen was dumbfounded, witnessing the process of Flying Shadow being skewered by a sword. He was amazed at Du Ge's reaction speed but still shook his head. After all, it's a wild move; in combat, who throws their weapon away?

This guy must have practiced this move countless times to pass, banking on the element of surprise.

In pilot combat, throwing away your weapon means if you miss the enemy, you're left defenseless, and no pilot would throw their weapon away.

...

Idiot!

In the assessment field, Du Ge looked at the examiner he had skewered with one sword and also shook his head. In combat, who jumps up and exposes their vulnerabilities to the enemy, do you think you're practicing Taekwondo?

Then.

Du Ge directly applied for the second assessment. With examiners of this level, it's not worth wasting time here.

He needed to hurry up, become a formal pilot, then enter the mecha combat training module to gain fame. Having ability and fame without flaunting it is called being low-key; having neither fame nor talent is ordinary, not low-key.

Be low-key in life, high-profile in work!

...

Seeing "Ten Steps to Kill One" still had the face to apply for a second assessment, Jian Weiliang was furious and chose to accept the assessment again.

He wanted to show this guy what a real pilot is!

The second assessment involved hot weapons.

It tested the mecha cannon.

The Petrel system is a light entry-level mecha, equipped with only one mecha cannon, three hundred bullets, capable of single or burst fire.

The passing condition for the second assessment was simple: if the mecha was hit by the examiner and lost combat capability, it was a loss;

As long as the student's bullets broke the examiner's mecha's defense, it was considered a pass, without requiring the student to destroy the examiner's mecha.

After all.

Shooting requires higher skills from pilots, and unlike the first close combat match, in the hot weapon assessment, the distance between the two mechas exceeded five hundred meters.

Moreover, both sides could move.

Facing a moving target, if not controlled well, three hundred bullets could be wasted in an instant.

Most students couldn't grasp the rhythm, making it impossible for them to destroy a mecha controlled by a pilot with just three hundred bullets.

Students did exactly that, firing a burst as soon as they saw the examiner, regardless of anything.

Focusing on firepower coverage.

Before the examiner took them down, hitting the examiner's mecha was considered a success.

...

"Ten Steps to Kill One, do you know what you're doing? On the battlefield, losing your weapon means you'll become a sitting duck..."

Jian Weiliang entered, opened the public channel, and started lecturing, "Even if you become a pilot on the Battle Network, you'll be a disgrace to all pilots."

"Examiner, I didn't want to throw the broad sword, but you jumped into the perfect spot, I couldn't help but throw it." Du Ge sheepishly explained, "Rest assured, I won't do it again next time."

"There won't be a next time, I won't let someone like you pass the assessment." Jian Weiliang roared, making an evasive maneuver while raising the mecha cannon, aiming at Du Ge and pulling the trigger.

He knew the students' level.

As long as he made a general tactical evasion move, at such a distance, without practicing moving shooting, students couldn't possibly hit him, let alone, he was skilled in agility.

But the next second.

Jian Weiliang lost sight of Du Ge.

Then.

Bang!

A muffled sound.

Jian Weiliang was once again kicked out of the assessment field.

This time, the message in front of him changed to "You have been killed."

A master pretending to be a fool?

At this moment.

Jian Weiliang's expression became much more serious. He opened the replay video again, but upon seeing it, he was almost infuriated.

When he fired, the opponent dodged in panic, and the shot he fired wasn't even aimed, it was just a random shot while dodging.

It might even have been an accidental discharge.

It was precisely this random shot that pierced through his cockpit and nailed him in the forehead...

If he hadn't made a tactical evasion move, this bullet would have flown three meters past him!

Such luck!

Jian Weiliang cursed, then accepted Du Ge's application for the third time.

This time.

He didn't waste words, only said three words: "Let's begin!"

Then.

He raised the mecha cannon and stood still, shooting at Du Ge.

This time, he didn't make any tactical moves. He didn't believe his shooting speed would lose to a rookie?

Afterwards.

Another bang.

Jian Weiliang was once again kicked out of the simulation field, with the familiar message: "You have been killed."

...

Damn!

What the hell happened?

Jian Weiliang was completely bewildered. He clearly saw the opponent hadn't even raised the gun barrel, how was he killed again?

He shakily opened the replay record, then saw that the opponent fired without even raising the mecha cannon properly.

Then.

This accidentally fired bullet once again pierced through the gap in his cockpit, nailing his heart.

Jian Weiliang's mouth twitched violently, and he was on the verge of madness.

What kind of damn luck is this?

He frantically opened the entry assessment list, wanting to accept Du Ge's application again and completely remove this troublemaker.

But from start to finish, he couldn't find the name "Ten Steps to Kill One."

It was then he remembered, the opponent had defeated him three times, completing the entry assessment, how could there be a fourth application...

But letting the opponent pass the assessment in such a way, he was really unwilling!

The most crucial thing was, no matter what technique the opponent used, he was killed by the opponent three times.

He was an intermediate pilot, being killed three times by an entry-level student, if such a video spread, how could he face anyone?

People wouldn't think the opponent was lucky, they would only remember his humiliation of being killed three times, he would become a joke...

Why did this happen?

Jian Weiliang's facial features twisted, his mentality collapsed.

No.

This can't be.

He had to do something...

At least prevent the assessment video from spreading.

Feng Chen!

Yes, Feng Chen, and that "Ten Steps to Kill One," if he could silence them, no one would know about this assessment...

No one would bother checking a newcomer's entry assessment video...

Realizing this, Jian Weiliang rushed out of the examiner's room like a madman, looking for Feng Chen and Du Ge outside.

But he was a step too late, as he went out, he heard Feng Chen talking to Du Ge, with a cheerful laugh in his voice: "...Buddy, I'm impressed, I bet your entry assessment video will be the first of its kind in history."

"It's not that amazing, just a coincidence, I didn't expect the examiner not to dodge at the end!" Du Ge smiled shyly, "If he moved even a bit, I wouldn't have hit him. He probably went easy on me, saying he wanted to show me the difference between a real pilot and an amateur, but went easy during the assessment to let me pass, he's really a good person!"

Good person my ass!

Your whole family are good people.

Jian Weiliang's eyes turned red, he approached Feng Chen and Du Ge, forcing a smile: "You two, I want to discuss something with you..."

Before he could finish, Feng Chen interrupted him, looking at Jian Weiliang with amusement in his eyes: "Flying Shadow, anything else is negotiable, but deleting the video is absolutely impossible, this guy's luck is unbeatable. Shadow, believe me, you'll become famous too..."

Famous my ass!

Jian Weiliang took a deep breath and asked, "How much?"

"No amount will do!" Feng Chen said, "This is my best chance to gain followers, I'm counting on this video to go viral! I even have to find a way to push it to the top, Flying Shadow, think about it, even black fans are fans..."

Jian Weiliang's face turned ashen, suppressing his anger: "Three thousand net coins."

"Are you kidding me! Calling you Flying Shadow, you really think you're a brother." Feng Chen shook his head, laughing, "Don't you know the value of this video? Fifty thousand net coins, not a penny less."

"Fifty thousand, why don't you go rob someone?" Jian Weiliang shouted in exasperation.

Net coins, officially called Battle Network Coins, can be used to purchase items, materials, gamble, seek help, etc., within the Battle Network.

They can also be exchanged for equivalent currency outside, essentially serving as a universal currency on Bi Xing.

Becoming a pilot means having the right to use various functions of the mecha training module.

But in the mecha training module, pilots need to purchase or rent their mechas, even entry-level Petrel mechas require about a thousand net coins.

Higher-level mechas cost tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of net coins, which new pilots can't afford.

Not being able to afford a mecha means pilots can't participate in mecha battles, etc., and without battles, they can't advance to higher-level modules.

As the official statement goes, what comes too easily won't be cherished, and net coins exist to motivate pilots to strive for higher goals.

There are many ways to earn net coins, the simplest being recharging, a bit more challenging is participating in competitions, and another is gambling.

Currently.

Lin Hong has about eight thousand net coins in his account, all earned by betting on Gu Qingyan.

Feng Chen's video posting is also a way to earn net coins, as there are too many pilot battles, many people don't have time to watch live, nor do they want to sift through countless replay videos, leading to a group of people who specialize in uploading videos.

They find exciting videos and post them on the Battle Network platform for people to watch and comment, earning a certain amount of net coins based on traffic and rewards.

Du Ge's three entry assessments, passing in a seemingly lucky manner, met all the criteria for a viral video.

Therefore.

Feng Chen uploaded their video immediately, when there's money to be made, who cares about friendship!

"Flying Shadow, fifty thousand is already cheap, this is three times of being killed instantly, what newcomer has such godly luck..." Feng Chen said, "Believe me, once this video spreads, my earnings will definitely exceed fifty thousand."

"..." Jian Weiliang.

"Ten Steps to Kill, don't worry, I know you're the protagonist in the video, but don't rush to post your video and compete for traffic, let me earn from my video first, then you can post yours from the perspective of the person involved, when the hype dies down, we can stir it up again, and split the earnings seventy-thirty..." Feng Chen ignored Jian Weiliang, turning to Du Ge.

"Brother Feng Chen, you can post it, no need to give me money, I'm not into this, I prefer mechas and combat. Besides, except for the third round, Flying Shadow might have gone easy, I relied on skill, not luck, for the first two assessments." Du Ge smiled shyly, stubbornly explaining himself.

This time, his keyword was low-key, so he couldn't hype himself. If he hyped himself and got exposed, it would be devastating to his attributes, but if others did it, he could enjoy the benefits and earn a reputation for being low-key.

"Alright, suit yourself!" Feng Chen said indifferently, he had only just met Du Ge.

From his perspective.

This "Ten Steps to Kill One" guy just got lucky, such a miracle couldn't be replicated a second time.

A guy who got lucky has little investment value, so not sharing the money was fine.

At this point, unable to come up with fifty thousand to buy back his reputation, Jian Weiliang's anger had completely shifted to Feng Chen, he glared at Feng Chen viciously: "Fine, just wait, be careful you have the money but not the life to spend it."