The arbiter, by custom, ran through the duel rules once, then had the two ships proceed to random "spawn points," making ready to begin the coming starship duel.
The video comm still connected—
—Zhou Min doubled over laughing at this moment, pointing at the Zhao Wan'er across from her and jeering, "Zhao Wan'er, are you trying to make me die laughing so you can win this duel? If so, congratulations. You very nearly won. Using an interstellar frigate to fight an interstellar battleship — you've really got nerve."
Zhao Wan'er's face didn't change. "I hope you can still laugh in a little while."
The video comm cut off.
Zhou Min sneered, "An interstellar frigate, and it still wants to strut. In a moment we'll see how I blast this frigate of yours to dust!"
Up in the spectators' seats, everyone waited for the duel to begin.
But one could plainly see the mood split into two poles.
The Heaven's Glory Academy students were, each of them, thoroughly pleased, as though savoring a comedy.
Over on the Northstar Academy side, a small portion had already left the grounds.
An interstellar frigate fighting an interstellar battlecruiser — they simply dared not imagine what sort of scene would follow.
Perhaps the frigate's armor strength was quite good, able to withstand a few rounds of the enemy's shelling.
But your firepower?
A frigate's firepower was, by common consent, the lowest of all ship types.
And so small a ship — how many weapon modules could you even fit?
How were you to fight the other side's interstellar battleship?
With your pitiful little close-in guns?
Don't make people laugh.
"Fighting an interstellar battlecruiser with an interstellar frigate — is this what your esteemed academy teaches? Truly an eye-opener." Vice-Dean Jia, at this moment, mocked Vice-Dean Hong without the least reserve, wearing the look of one settling in for a good show.
Vice-Dean Hong, in truth, had no confidence at heart either; he cut a glance at the still-unruffled Zhao Chen not far off.
By rights, Zhao Chen shouldn't be the sort who didn't know the height of heaven and the depth of earth — but fighting an interstellar battlecruiser with an interstellar frigate.
This… this… there simply was no such combat case in any textbook!
"Academic exchange… it's only an academic exchange…" was all Vice-Dean Hong could murmur.
Soon both ships reached their "spawn points."
The instant the arbiter declared the battle begun—
—the two ships, with no thought of circling, drove straight toward the enemy's position detected on the ship radar.
T2 Black-Rhino-class Interstellar Heavy-Assault Frigate · the bridge.
"I can hardly wait to see that vile woman's face — all gun-stations, ready!" Zhao Wan'er sat in the captain's chair, her chest full of pent-up fury.
Secretary Lilith and the T2 Black-Rhino's original captain stood to either side.
"Miss Wan'er, I think this time we needn't fire at all," Secretary Lilith spoke up.
Zhao Wan'er was taken aback, and looked at Lilith, uncomprehending. "Not fire? Then how do we win?"
"Among all the shakedown items for the T2 Black-Rhino, there's one we've never yet had the chance to run. I think, perhaps, we might give it a try in this battle." As Lilith said it, a trace of sly mischief flowed into her eyes.
"What test?" Zhao Wan'er asked.
Lilith answered, "A live-combat hull-ramming trial."
Zhao Wan'er was taken aback, then, grasping her meaning, wore a rather wicked look.
After a few minutes' sailing—
—the two ships were on the verge of entering each other's fire-coverage range.
T2 Purple-Rose-class Medium Interstellar Battlecruiser · the bridge.
"Railguns, aim at that interstellar frigate!" Zhou Min meant, first thing, to teach the other side a lesson.
Fighting her interstellar battlecruiser with an interstellar frigate — truly not knowing her own measure.
"Report — all 10 railguns charged, ready to fire at any time!" the deputy captain reported at her side.
Zhou Min watched the ship radar and said with a cold smile, "Let them get a bit closer; fire in one minute!"
"Yes."
The spectators' seats.
Everyone watched the battle feed, the two ships, one large and one small, driving toward each other.
Soon they saw the T2 Purple-Rose-class Medium Interstellar Battlecruiser strike first.
The 10 T2-grade dual-mounted 200mm medium railguns fired.
20 metal shells left the muzzles at tremendous speed, then struck that interstellar frigate.
The metal shells landed, one after another, on the T2 Black-Rhino-class Interstellar Heavy-Assault Frigate's hull armor; the blasts threw up a great mass of smoke and dust, for a moment veiling this little ship of only 100 meters.
The Northstar Academy cadets began to worry for their prodigy student; Zhao Wan'er's standing among the students was quite high.
Xue Xiaoxiao had, at some point, gripped tight the hem of Zhao Chen's clothes — plain to see how she feared for her dear friend.
A few seconds later, a small figure came bursting out of the smoke and dust.
Very nearly in that instant, everyone rose to their feet, staring dumbstruck at the little ship.
"This… this… how is it possible…" Vice-Dean Jia's whole face was disbelief.
The others too were murmuring in astonishment.
Because!
That interstellar frigate showed not the least obvious damage!
Perhaps if the ship were set right before them for a close look, one would find marks where the paint had been scored; but at least in the broadcast feed, it was truly no different from before it was struck.
The T2 Black-Rhino was still sailing on toward that T2 Purple-Rose-class Medium Interstellar Battlecruiser, the distance between them steadily closing.
"How can it be unharmed? Keep firing! Keep firing! Use armor-piercing shells!" Zhou Min was a little flustered now.
After the second volley.
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on that mass of smoke.
A few seconds later, it was still the same ship.
Still whole and unharmed before their eyes.
"Good heavens! What sort of hull armor is that — taking two rounds of the T2 Purple-Rose head-on, and not a scratch to show!"
"This can't be a T3-tier interstellar frigate, can it?"
"Is this even the interstellar frigate we study in our textbooks?"
Every student was in disbelief.
At the same time, the Northstar Academy students' spirits were fired up, while the Heaven's Glory Military Academy students stood, each of them, dumb as wooden chickens.
"Mother of mine, this… this really is unharmed? Zhao Chen, just what kind of interstellar frigate is this!" Li Wei looked at Zhao Chen, stupefied.
Xue Xiaoxiao turned a curious gaze his way too.
"Just a rather sturdy frigate, is all." Zhao Chen said it light as anything.
Li Wei and Xue Xiaoxiao rolled their eyes.
This counted as rather sturdy?
"With armor strength like that, I'd guess it could take a few shots even from an interstellar battleship's giant gun," Xue Xiaoxiao muttered softly beside him.