Duel Arbitration Zone
The audience watched as two starships faced each other, knowing their confrontation was about to begin.
"Look! The T2 Bald Eagle-class Light Interstellar Cruiser's main laser cannon is charging! It's going to fire!"
"Zhao Chen better pray for luck. I doubt that scrap-metal starship of his can withstand even one shot."
"Just look at Zhao Chen's mystery starship - what kind of weapons does it have? A few dozen point-defense guns and five T2 laser cannons? How's that supposed to compete with a T2 Bald Eagle?"
The spectators clearly anticipated a one-sided match.
In a corner, Zhao Wan'er clenched her fists nervously, her eyes filled with worry.
"The T2 Bald Eagle's main laser isn't that powerful at this range. One hit would only cause serious damage at most. As long as your brother surrenders when he should, he'll be fine," Senior Su Lan reassured beside her.
She no longer believed Zhao Chen could win - she just hoped he'd know when to quit. She didn't care about the man himself, only about preventing her dear friend's heartbreak.
"Stubborn brother, don't do anything reckless! Live to fight another day!" Zhao Wan'er muttered to herself.
The broadcast showed Zhang Haoran's T2 Bald Eagle, its T2 medium Bald Eagle laser cannon glowing with electric energy at the bow - the telltale sign of imminent firing.
Seconds later, a laser beam shot forth toward its target.
Then something unexpected happened.
The broadcast displayed real-time data including speed readings. The Zero Blizzard, previously cruising at 40 stellar knots, suddenly banked right and accelerated.
In less than three seconds, it jumped from 40 to 80 stellar knots, tracing a perfect arc around the T2 Bald Eagle's position.
The laser missed completely.
Gasps erupted across the spectator stands.
"What just happened? Was I seeing things? How did that Zero Blizzard accelerate so fast?"
"Fluke! Must be a fluke! Or our sensors malfunctioned! That junker can't possibly hit 80 stellar knots! Impossible!"
"The T2 Bald Eagle only does 65 knots max!"
"But... how did it dodge that laser then?"
This question silenced the Zhao Chen doubters.
"What... just happened?" The petite twin-tailed Xue Xiao blinked in disbelief at her friends.
"Eighty stellar knots... that's... impossible..." Zhao Wan'er gulped.
Senior Su Lan's eyes sharpened as she focused on the live feed.
Having completed its arc, the Zero Blizzard now banked left, again pointing directly at the T2 Bald Eagle while continuing to accelerate.
85 stellar knots... 90... 95...
Every eye locked onto the speed readout.
Finally, it stabilized at 100 stellar knots.
Incredible!
Unbelievable!
This thought echoed through every mind present.
Even the judging panel's instructors showed astonishment.
T2 starships reaching 100 stellar knots weren't unheard of - but only in exceptionally rare models or heavily customized vessels.
Yet this unremarkable patchwork starship had just done it.
How?
Aboard the Zero Blizzard, Zhao Chen had no attention to spare for the audience's shock.
Breathing rapidly, he'd watched the laser's trajectory skim past his ship's stern on the radar display.
While it looked like a wide miss, ship systems calculated that one second slower would have meant a hit - not fatal, but certainly damaging.
"Now it's our turn to return the favor. Deploy our 1200mm caliber giant cannon! Blast that bastard!" Zhao Chen stood excitedly, one foot on the captain's chair as he pointed forward.
Deputy Captain Charlotte issued commands: "Full speed toward enemy vessel. Prepare T2 Heavy 1200mm Devil Crocodile Cannon."
"Acknowledged! Full speed ahead!"
"Activating T2 Heavy 1200mm Devil Crocodile Cannon. Ten second countdown... 10..."
A hatch opened at Zero Blizzard's bow, revealing a massive dark cannon barrel.
The entire audience leapt to their feet.
Even the instructors rose in disbelief.
"That's... that's the 1200mm cannon from a T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship!" a middle-aged instructor exclaimed. "How... how is it on that ship?"
"Pull this student's academy records!" the head judge ordered.
Records soon appeared.
The head judge scanned them and suddenly understood: "T2 Gray Wolf... T2 Devil Crocodile... T2 Hyena... It all adds up! He used those three starship models to assemble his ship and installed... the T2 Devil Crocodile's main bow cannon!"
Sharp-eared students nearby overheard.
"My god! That's the main bow cannon from a T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship!"
"What's a T2 Devil Crocodile?"
"See? This is why you should study. It's a century-old T2 battleship designed purely for firepower - mounted with the largest caliber cannon of its time, that very 1200mm beast using cannon technology! Legend says no T2 starship could withstand its firepower."
"1200mm caliber... that's T3-level firepower. Why don't we see them anymore?"
"Critical design flaws. They focused solely on firepower without considering if other T2 systems could support it - constant malfunctions. Plus construction costs ran 30% higher than standard T2 battleships. Production ended within thirty years."
Senior Su Lan turned to Zhao Wan'er: "You never mentioned your brother installed that cannon!"
"I... didn't know either..." Zhao Wan'er looked equally baffled by her brother's antics.
"Giant cannon! Giant cannon! I love giant cannons!" The twin-tailed Xue Xiao bounced excitedly, eyes sparkling.
Su Lan and Zhao Wan'er exchanged resigned looks - Xue Xiao's "giant cannon obsession" had flared up again. She adored interstellar battleships with massive cannons beyond reason.