The qualification exam moved into its final stage. Only eight candidates remained out of the initial thousands. These eight represented the absolute elite of their generation in Mo City, and they were now set to compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the ultimate champion.
The atmosphere in the Guild Hall had reached a fever pitch. The main battle arena, a massive space that could accommodate thousands of spectators, was now open. The crowd was no longer just anxious parents and fellow candidates; many official Guild members and scouts from various factions had also come to witness the finals, hoping to discover promising new talent.
Lin Ke stood in the designated waiting area, his expression as calm as ever. His Rock Vole sat on his shoulder, its senses sharp, observing the new, grander environment with curiosity.
His two consecutive victories against seemingly impossible odds had made him the biggest dark horse of the tournament. The whispers around him were no longer of ridicule, but of awe and intense speculation. No one dared to underestimate the boy with the Rock Vole anymore.
The electronic screen flashed, displaying the matchups for the semi-finals.
Lin Ke looked up. His opponent was exactly who he expected.
[Candidate: Lin Ke | Pet: Rock Vole] vs. [Candidate: Chen Hao | Pet: Flame-mane Cub]
It was the "genius" who had scored 185 on the written exam. The boy he had watched in the practical assessment. A classic, powerful, and well-trained opponent. A fitting adversary for the semi-finals.
Just then, Chen Hao himself walked over, his Flame-mane Cub trotting confidently beside him. The arrogance he had displayed earlier was gone, replaced by a sharp, focused intensity. He now looked at Lin Ke not as a bookworm, but as an equal.
"Lin Ke," Chen Hao said, his voice serious. "I admit, I underestimated you. Your command skills are exceptional."
"You are not so bad yourself," Lin Ke replied politely.
"I watched your battle with Zhang Shan," Chen Hao continued, his eyes burning with a competitive fire. "Your Rock Vole's defense is shockingly powerful. But defense alone cannot win a battle. My Flame-mane Cub's firepower is not something that beetle's pathetic attacks can compare to. In the face of overwhelming power, your clever tactics will be useless."
It was a declaration of war. He was confident that his pet's raw power would triumph over Lin Ke's strategy.
Lin Ke simply nodded. "We will see on the field."
Chen Hao gave a curt nod and walked away to prepare.
Lin Ke watched him go, his mind already working. He didn't need the Gene Editor to recall the data on the Flame-mane Cub; its stats and attack patterns were already etched in his memory from the first battle he observed.
"A powerful, offense-oriented pet," he thought to himself. "High damage output, but also high energy consumption. He will try to end the battle quickly."
His own advantage lay in his Rock Vole's newly enhanced defense and its superior stamina, thanks to the repaired energy conversion gene. The strategy was clear. Survive the initial onslaught, drag the battle out, and wait for the opponent to make a mistake.
It was a battle of attrition. A battle of patience and will.
And now, with the promise of the 'Archive of Forgotten Species' on the line, his will to win was absolute.
"Semi-final match! Lin Ke versus Chen Hao! Please enter the main arena!" the announcer's voice boomed through the hall.
Lin Ke took a final, deep breath. He looked at the Rock Vole on his shoulder. "Ready for the final battle before the final?"
"Ji!" The Rock Vole responded with a sharp, confident cry.
Together, they walked out of the waiting area and into the dazzling lights of the main arena, towards the roar of the crowd and the final challenge that stood between them and the championship.