The main arena was in an uproar. The final result was so shocking, so utterly subversive to everyone's understanding of battle pets, that it took a full minute for the crowd to process it.
When they finally did, the applause that erupted was like a thunderstorm.
It was applause not just for a victory, but for a miracle. A new star had been born, not through overwhelming power or a rare bloodline, but through pure, undeniable genius. Lin Ke, the bookworm with the pet rock, had become the undisputed champion of the 2025 Mo City Beast Tamer Qualification Exam.
On the field, Chen Hao had already recalled his fainted Flame-mane Cub. He walked over to Lin Ke, his face pale but his eyes clear of their earlier animosity. He extended a hand.
"You fought well. I am completely convinced of my defeat," he said, his voice filled with a newfound respect. "Your understanding of battle is on another level. I hope we can battle again someday."
Lin Ke shook his hand. "You were a strong opponent."
This public display of sportsmanship earned another round of applause. In the world of Beast Tamers, strength respects strength, and Lin Ke had more than earned it.
He was then led to the center of the arena, where Chief Proctor Magnus was waiting for him, a warm smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Champion," Magnus said, his voice amplified by the arena's speakers. He presented Lin Ke with a golden medal, a symbol of his victory. "You have shown us all that the true strength of a Beast Tamer lies not in the rarity of their pet, but in the depth of their bond and the brilliance of their mind."
After the award ceremony, Lin Ke was escorted away from the cheering crowd and into the deep, secure levels of the Guild headquarters. Magnus personally led him down a heavily guarded corridor. They stopped before a massive vault door made of polished alloy.
"As promised," Magnus said, placing his hand on a biometric scanner. The vault door hissed open, revealing the room inside. "The champion's prize."
Lin Ke stepped inside, and his breath caught.
The room was a treasure trove. It was a circular chamber, and arranged on dozens of pedestals, under soft, warm lights, were battle pet eggs of every shape and color. There was a fiery red egg that radiated intense heat, an icy blue one that was covered in a thin layer of frost, and a vibrant green one that pulsed with the energy of life.
These were all rare, A-rank potential eggs, treasures that would cost millions of credits on the open market. This was the ultimate reward for any aspiring Beast Tamer.
"You may choose one," Magnus explained from the doorway. "Each egg has a basic description of its species and potential. Trust your instincts. A Beast Tamer's first true choice of a partner is a sacred moment."
Lin Ke nodded, his expression one of deep gratitude. But as he began to walk among the pedestals, his eyes began to glow with the faint blue light that only he could see.
Instincts? He didn't need instincts. He had data.
The Gene Editor activated, and his vision was flooded with information. The glowing red egg that looked so impressive? The editor revealed a hidden hereditary flaw in its energy channels. The beautiful icy blue egg? Its genetic makeup was stable but lacked any potential for mutation or hidden paths.
He walked past pedestal after pedestal, his mind processing a torrent of data. He saw eggs with powerful offensive genes, others with incredible defensive potential. They were all excellent choices, far superior to his Rock Vole's starting point.
Any one of them would make him a powerful Tamer.
But Lin Ke wasn't looking for "excellent." He was looking for "perfect." He was looking for a hidden gem, a piece of unpolished jade that no one else could see the value of.
His gaze swept across the room, past all the dazzling and powerful-looking eggs, and finally settled on a small, quiet corner of the vault.
There, on a dusty, unassuming pedestal, sat a single, plain-looking egg.