Chapter 215: Chapter 215: The Friendship Match Ends
Regardless of what the outside world thought, the prolonged, high-speed travel was enough for Zoe Pierce to create a huge gap between them and their pursuers.
For the last half of the day, she didn’t bother with formalities with Miles Sherman, taking the opportunity to rest.
Once they could no longer use their Mechas, she would have to conserve her energy to maintain their advantage.
After she had slept for about three hours, Miles Sherman called out to Zoe Pierce.
"Zoe, get ready." Miles Sherman reminded her that they had fifteen minutes until they reached the restricted zone.
Zoe Pierce got up and stretched her stiff muscles.
Fifteen minutes later, the two of them successfully exited the Mech Bay.
Miles Sherman took the Token from the Mecha. At this point, Zoe Pierce had no intention of holding back any longer.
She unfastened the Gravity bands on her wrists and ankles, did a few stretches, and looked at Miles Sherman. "Let’s go."
They would advance with everything they had.
Clearly, Miles Sherman understood what she meant.
The audience watching via the drone feeds, however, still didn’t quite understand.
But in the next second, they went completely wild when they saw the two of them suddenly break into a sprint back toward the starting point—with Zoe Pierce in the lead and Miles Sherman trailing just behind.
The two figures moved much faster than they had on their way in, their forms as agile as wild creatures native to the forest.
Nothing could block their path. They ran and leaped, heading toward the starting point at top speed.
The thoughtful organizers even displayed the drone’s current speed, allowing everyone to estimate just how fast Zoe Pierce and Miles Sherman were moving.
"Is Zoe Pierce’s physical fitness that incredible? Holy shit, she’s pulled completely ahead of Miles Sherman."
"Awww, Zoe’s teamed up with Miles again! You can literally see how much she’s improved this time."
"I can finally say it! Before this Friendship Match, Zoe Pierce attended a special training program at the military academy. Without any spiritual power, she took on a hundred people by herself!!!"
"Is the comment above for real?"
"It’s 100% true. My friend who was in the special training program showed me the video. She’s so badass! How can she be so beautiful and so strong? It’s insane."
"Also, Zoe made a donation to Gorbog!! She’s such a good person. I hope everyone gets to know our Baby Zoe."
"Here are the photos." A comment popped up with a series of links.
The links opened to dozens of candid photos. They included not just shots of Miles Sherman and others helping Zoe Pierce remove her Gravity bands, but also a picture of Chase Shaw carrying Zoe on his back.
She was drenched in sweat from head to toe, her clothes soaked through.
There were also a few pictures of her fighting on a stage.
It was perfect proof that the claims in the comments weren’t fake.
But the most touching photo was of Zoe Pierce’s smile—a lighthearted, relaxed smile directed at Nathan Lockwood and the others after it was all over.
It instantly made her seem much more approachable.
She was, after all, just a young Omega.
She could be playful, but also serious.
There was no more suspense in the rest of the match. After seeing Zoe Pierce and Miles Sherman sprint relentlessly for days on end, everyone was tired of being surprised.
Even though they didn’t get to see the full extent of Zoe Pierce’s Body Techniques this time, just watching her endurance and stamina showed a stark contrast to her last performance.
Gone was the battered state she was in during the rainforest incident. Now, she was like an agile cheetah, relentlessly charging toward her goal.
Only when their bodies could truly no longer take it did Miles Sherman and Zoe Pierce finally slow their pace slightly.
「Imperial Squad.」
Anna could see the distance to the Token stretching further and further. Even after they left the Mecha zone, its speed hardly decreased.
「One day. Two days.」
By the time they were all on foot, they couldn’t help but frown at the gap.
Erin Xavier was right beside them. "Still chasing? I don’t think you’ll be able to catch up."
’Just from their speed,’ Erin Xavier knew, ’Zoe Pierce isn’t even going all out. If she were to add her spiritual power to the mix, she’d be even faster. Not even Miles Sherman would be able to keep up with her.’
Anna glanced sideways at the three remaining members of the Federation flanking them and asked, "What’s there to be proud of? You Alphas just abandoned your Omega."
Her words immediately made Erin Xavier laugh out loud.
He raised an eyebrow. "Who told you we abandoned Zoe? Don’t look down on people. Our Zoe can even outrun an Alpha."
Anna was completely stunned. She looked at the Token’s distance on her Intelligent Brain.
"So... Zoe Pierce has been running for three days without rest?" And her speed hadn’t even dropped. Even if they chased her with all their might, it would be impossible to catch up unless they were two or three times faster.
Erin Xavier’s expression was now downright arrogant. "Just because you can’t do it, does that mean she can’t?"
Anna’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Bader also overheard their conversation.
But it was impossible for them to give up willingly now.
"Anna, stop talking. Let’s go," Beau said. "Wasting time talking to this bunch is pointless."
They could, of course, see that the three Federation members had no intention of fighting and were simply staying near them.
But this was, without a doubt, a form of humiliation.
Even if they were going to lose, they wouldn’t just surrender.
And so, the audience watched as the Imperial Squad continued their pursuit, even though the final outcome was already clear.
Anna ran continuously with the Alphas of her squad.
On the first day, her stamina already reached its limit.
On the second day, she gritted her teeth and pushed on, but she gradually began to fall behind.
On the third day, her vision blurred before she collapsed heavily to the ground, unconscious.
When she woke up again, she was no longer in the mountain forest but lying in a soft, large bed.
Beau was sitting beside her. Seeing her awake, his eyes filled with heartache. "Are you still feeling unwell, Anna?"
Anna first looked around, then asked in a hoarse voice, "The Federation won, didn’t they?"
Beau was silent. "Two days have passed."
It had been exactly two days from when Anna collapsed to when the Federation officially won the Friendship Match.
Anna lowered her head. Beau was about to speak when he saw two spots on the previously clean blanket suddenly become wet, blooming into darker patches.
His brow furrowed. Before he could speak, Anna interrupted him. "’I can’t accept this...’"
"’I just can’t accept it... Beau...’"
"Why can Zoe Pierce do it, but I can’t?" ’I tried so hard, and in the end, it was just basic running.’
’The most fundamental physical fitness, with no technique involved whatsoever.’
’And I fainted from that.’
’If I had just held on until the very end, if I could have heard the Federation’s victory announced with my own ears, I might not feel this terrible.’
’But I didn’t make it to the end. I couldn’t even last the full three days.’
Beau sat down beside Anna and gently hugged her. "It’s okay. We’ll just train more. It’s only three days. There’s no way our Anna can’t do it."
"Our Anna already lasted two and a half days. You just need to push through for another half-day. We can come back and run it again later."
Beau’s words sounded like a joke. Anna gave him a hard punch, but then she gripped his clothes tightly, buried her head in his chest, and after a long moment, said, "Mm..."
