The practical assessment took place in a massive indoor training field. The area was divided into dozens of smaller, enclosed zones, each with a different set of obstacles and challenges.
Lin Ke was assigned to Zone 17. The test for his group was "Command and Control: Obstacle Course."
The objective was simple: the Beast Tamer had to stand in a designated command area and verbally guide their battle pet through a complex course filled with hurdles, tunnels, and moving dummies. The pet would be judged on its speed, accuracy, and, most importantly, its obedience and synergy with its master.
This test was designed to weed out those who only focused on raw power while neglecting fundamental training.
When Lin Ke arrived, several other candidates were already lined up, their faces tense with concentration. The examiner for this zone was a stern-faced woman in the official uniform of the Guild.
"Next, Chen Hao!" the examiner called out.
The young man who had scored 185 on the written exam stepped forward, his expression proud. His battle pet, a Flame-mane Cub, looked energetic and powerful.
"Begin!"
At the command, Chen Hao began shouting orders. "Cub, jump! To the left! Dodge the dummy! Faster!"
The Flame-mane Cub was powerful and agile. It leaped over hurdles and dodged obstacles with impressive speed. However, perhaps due to nervousness, some of Chen Hao's commands were slightly delayed, causing the cub to hesitate for a split second or clip an obstacle. It completed the course, but its performance was not flawless.
"Time: 47 seconds. Obstacle collisions: 3. Command synergy: B-rank. Final Score: 78. Pass," the examiner announced dispassionately.
Chen Hao sighed in relief, a decent if not stellar score.
One by one, the candidates went through the test. Most managed to pass, their scores hovering between 65 and 85. A few, whose pets were poorly trained, failed miserably, their pets running wild in the course.
Finally, the examiner's gaze fell upon Lin Ke. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the Rock Vole by his side, a flicker of doubt in her expression.
"Next, Lin Ke!"
Lin Ke took a deep breath and walked to the command area. The whispers started again from the other candidates who were watching.
"It's him! The full-marks guy."
"Haha, let's see how his Rock Vole handles this. I bet it can't even get over the first hurdle."
"A Rock Vole's agility is notoriously bad. This will be a disaster."
Lin Ke ignored them completely. He looked at his pet and gave a calm, reassuring nod. The Rock Vole looked back, its eyes filled with unwavering trust. The bond they had forged through countless hours of interaction and data-driven training was their true strength.
"Begin!"
The timer started. But Lin Ke did not shout. His voice was calm, steady, and precise.
"Go. Three steps forward, 20-degree turn to the left."
The Rock Vole moved instantly, its movements precise and efficient, exactly as commanded.
"Jump. Angle 45 degrees, power output 80%."
The Rock Vole, a creature known for its poor jumping ability, leaped into the air in a perfect arc, clearing the first hurdle with centimeters to spare. It landed perfectly, without a single wasted motion.
The crowd fell silent. The examiner's eyes widened slightly.
Lin Ke's commands continued to flow, each one a model of brevity and precision. "Right step, evade. Enter the tunnel. Maintain speed. Exit, halt."
The Rock Vole was like a perfectly programmed machine executing a flawless routine. It moved through the course with an efficiency that was utterly astounding for its species. There was no flashiness, no wasted energy—just pure, unadulterated control. It was the result of Lin Ke's scientific conditioning, where every angle and every bit of force had been calculated.
It finished the entire course without touching a single obstacle.
"Time: 35 seconds. Obstacle collisions: 0. Command synergy: A-rank." The examiner paused, taking a deep look at Lin Ke before announcing the final score.
"Final Score: 95. Excellent."
The watching candidates were dumbfounded. A score of 95 was the highest given out all day. And it had been achieved by a Rock Vole. It made no sense. It was impossible.
Lin Ke simply bowed respectfully to the examiner and recalled his Rock Vole. He could feel the stares on his back, a mixture of shock, confusion, and a newfound respect.
He had proven them wrong once. Now, he was ready to do it again in the final and most crucial test: the one-on-one battle.