A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 254: Master Sophia

Chapter 254: Master Sophia

This level of buzz was every journalist’s dream.

Riding the wave of enthusiasm, Phil grinned and announced, "Since everyone’s opinions are so divided, let’s settle this with a vote! If you’re rooting for Blaze, press 1! For Prince Kaleb, press 2! For Prince Branson, press 3! For Prince Cassian, press 4! And if you want Arix, press 5! Ready? We’ll start the countdown from three!"

[MermanKing]: "If you’ve got good taste, it’s gotta be 5!"

[Cassian4Life]: "4444! Vote for Prince Cassian! He’s the real deal!"

[ThirstyForBranson]: "I’m all in for 1."

[SpaceTraveler]: "Arix doesn’t go public often! It’s got to be 5!"

[UncleJoe]: "You know what, I’m voting 5 too. Arix’s psychic power potion saved me last year!"

[HakimLover]: "+1 for Arix!"

As the countdown wrapped up, Phil watched as the screen was flooded with 5s. He raised an eyebrow, impressed by the overwhelming support for Arix. But, ever the professional, he quickly regained his composure, flashing a playful smile. "Well, it looks like the majority have spoken! Our first interview will be with Arix!"

With that, Phil headed over to get the scoop, ready to kick off the day with an exclusive chat with the fan-favorite.

The five mecha teams were already standing close together, so it didn’t take Phil long to reach Arix.

He approached her with a polite smile, maintaining a respectful distance as he extended the microphone toward her. "Arix, congrats on being the first to be interviewed. How confident are you feeling about the upcoming competition?"

Arix wasn’t expecting to be put on the spot like this and felt a bit shy under the teasing gazes of her teammates. But knowing this was a live broadcast across the galaxy, she reminded herself that she represented the Alliance and had to make a strong impression.

She brushed her bangs behind her ear, revealing her strikingly beautiful face, and flashed a confident smile at the camera. "I’m feeling confident, and that confidence comes from my teammates. They’re my rock."

Arix’s natural beauty, combined with her poised response, left many of the livestream viewers completely captivated. The chat exploded with excitement.

**[MechaLover24]:** "Oh my gosh, Arix is so adorable! I’m totally in love!"

**[StarGazer99]:** "Arix just gets prettier every day! When’s the wedding, Arix? I’m ready!"

**[GoddessFan]:** "No wonder she’s our queen! Go, Arix! The championship is yours!"

Even though the chat was overflowing with positive reactions, Phil wasn’t entirely satisfied with such a straightforward answer. With a twinkle of mischief in his eye, he pressed on, "Arix, who do you think is the strongest competitor in this tournament?"

Arix hesitated for a split second, caught off guard by the question. That question just put her in a difficult position.

If she complimented someone else, it could be seen as downplaying her own team’s abilities. On the other hand, claiming her own team as the strongest might come off as arrogant. It was a tricky situation.

But Arix, having dealt with her brother Drexel’s teasing for years, was quick on her feet. She put on an innocent expression, her wide eyes sparkling with sincerity. "The strongest? That has to be my brother, Drexel. Without his care and love, I wouldn’t have made it to this place."

Her answer was both clever and endearing, sidestepping the potential trap without offending anyone. It was hard to argue with the sentiment that a big brother is the strongest in his sister’s eyes.

Phil, caught off guard by her response, raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. He attempted a few more tricky questions, but each time, Arix skillfully deflected them, much to the amusement of the viewers.

Eventually, even the audience began chiming in on the chat, playfully urging Phil to give up. Realizing he wasn’t going to trip her up, Phil finally conceded, albeit with a hint of regret.

Once she was done with the interview, Arix breathed a sigh of relief. The journalist, though friendly, had clearly enjoyed testing her.

Just as she was catching her breath, the warships from the five countries arrived at the hotel, prompting a shift in the atmosphere.

The reporters were pushed back, no longer allowed to approach the participants directly.

However, the nano-cameras continued to capture every moment, ensuring the live broadcast kept rolling.

With the warships’ arrival, everyone in the plaza began to prepare for departure.

The mecha team members exchanged a few final glances, each silently sizing up the competition one last time before boarding their respective ships.

The time had come to head to the competition site, and the excitement in the air was palpable.

On the Alliance battleship, Sykes stood with a serious expression as he addressed everyone before the competition began. "The battleground has been chosen—Inferno. This planet is swarming with fallen beasts, and the air is filled with an unknown virus that leads to mental breakdowns. Your primary mission will likely involve dealing with this virus, but remember, your safety is the top priority. If things get too intense, don’t hesitate to quit the competition. I’ll pull you out immediately. Got it?"

The entire Alliance mecha team saluted sharply and replied in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Satisfied, Sykes nodded. "Good. I won’t keep you any longer. Double-check your gear before the competition. Dismissed."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving the space to the students.

"Arix, Varden, do you have enough medical supplies?" Zephyr asked as he approached them.

Arix and Varden exchanged a quick look before nodding confidently at Zephyr. "Sir, we’re fully stocked."

"Great," Zephyr acknowledged with a nod, then moved on to check in with the others.

Once Zephyr was gone, Arix and Varden got to work on their gear.

Arix retrieved her Star Dust mecha and climbed into the cockpit to run diagnostics on various systems. Just to be sure, she also called on Sophia for assistance.

"Arix, the mecha’s systems are in good shape, but the energy stone is running low. You should swap it out for a fresh one," Sophia advised.

"Got it," Arix agreed without a second thought, promptly replacing the old energy stone in the mecha’s compartment.

Cirilla, who had been observing Sophia’s inspection, chimed in, "Arix, do you think Sophia could check my mecha too?"

Arix paused, glancing at Sophia. After getting a nod of approval, she turned back to Cirilla. "Sure, no problem."

"Awesome! Thanks, Sophia," Cirilla said with a grateful smile as she quickly brought out her own mecha.

Sophia nodded with a touch of pride and then got down to business, carefully inspecting Cirilla’s mecha.

While mechas used in competitions are typically well-maintained, Cirilla was surprised when Sophia discovered several issues within minutes.

"This wire is worn out—better to replace it. And this screw has a small crack. You should also apply some lubricant here," Sophia pointed out patiently.

Cirilla had only a small hope for Sophia to find anything, so she was stunned when everything turned out to be exactly as he said. She hurried to make the adjustments, her surprise growing with each fix.

Swallowing nervously, Cirilla looked at Arix in awe. "Arix, is your Psychic Incarnation really this skilled? It’s like having a mecha Grandmaster on your team!"

Arix felt it was a bit of a stretch but still nodded. "Sophia definitely knows more about mechas than I do."

Hearing this, Cirilla gasped in disbelief. ’If Sophia is even more skilled than Arix, just how incredible is this Psychic Incarnation?’

While Cirilla was still processing this, Arix was already used to it.

Sophia had a passion for everything related to mechas, constantly reading and watching anything she could find on the subject. She’d even pored over Arix’s mecha notes more than anyone else.

Sophia might not officially be a Grandmaster yet, but he was definitely on the brink of it.

When the rest of the Alliance mecha team saw that Sophia had really found issues with Cirilla’s mecha, they eagerly lined up, asking him to check theirs as well.

Knowing these were Arix’s teammates, Sophia didn’t hesitate and agreed without any fuss.

Over the next while, Sophia meticulously inspected each person’s mecha. If there was a problem, she spotted it right away. Even when the mecha was in perfect condition, Sophia still offered valuable tips for improvement.

Her expertise and sharp eye quickly earned the respect of the entire team. By the end, they weren’t just calling him "Sophia" anymore—they were respectfully addressing him as "Master Sophia."

Watching Sophia win over her teammates, Arix stood to the side, a proud and affectionate smile on her face. There was nothing more rewarding than seeing someone you care about shine.

But the moment of pride didn’t last long.

Suddenly, Sophia’s expression shifted to one of deep concern, and he called out, "Arix, come over here."

Arix had never seen Sophia so serious before, and a sense of unease immediately washed over her.

With a slight frown, she quickly walked over and glanced at the mecha Sophia was inspecting.

Her voice tinged with worry, she asked, "Sophia, what’s wrong? Did you find something?"

The small tiger cub, her face grave, nodded and said, "Arix, check this mecha yourself. See if you can identify the issue."

Without a second thought, Arix activated her psychic power and began a thorough inspection of the mecha, scanning it from top to bottom.

The others, who had been watching from the sidelines, started to grow uneasy as well.

They knew how skilled Sophia was, having witnessed it firsthand. If she was this serious, something had to be very wrong.

As the tension grew, everyone’s eyes slowly turned toward their captain, Zephyr—the owner of the mecha in question.