I Acquired The Insect Evolution System

‎

The morning sun cast its warm light over the sprawling campus of Beast Dominion Academy, but Kai was already on the move. His satchel bounced lightly against his side as he made his way toward the **Crafting Hall**, a grand, dome-shaped building nestled near the academy's central courtyard. 

‎

‎Tiny, his newly evolved Fortress Ant, marched steadily beside him, its metallic exoskeleton gleaming in the sunlight. Stinger, his Blitz Hornet, hovered above, darting between tree branches with its newfound speed. Glow fluttered quietly at his shoulder, its golden wings catching the light like delicate shards of sunlight. 

‎

‎Kai's mind was buzzing with plans. The upcoming **Beast Taming Exhibition** was the perfect opportunity to showcase the strength of his team—and to silence his critics once and for all. But to stand a chance against the academy's top-tier students, he needed more than just determination. 

‎

‎He needed upgrade.

‎

‎The Crafting Hall was a hive of activity when Kai arrived. Students and instructors bustled about, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of chatter, hammering, and the occasional roar of a beast. The air was thick with the smell of molten metal, freshly carved wood, and the faint tang of alchemical concoctions. 

‎

‎Kai stepped inside, his eyes quickly scanning the room. Rows of workstations lined the hall, each one manned by a student or a faculty member hard at work. Some were crafting armor for their beasts, while others were brewing potions or inscribing runes onto weapons. 

‎

‎At the far end of the hall a woman with graying hair and a no-nonsense expression stood behind a counter, her sharp eyes flicking between the students who approached her. This was **Professor Elara Forgewell**, the academy's resident crafting expert and the overseer of all things related to equipment and upgrades. 

‎

‎Kai approached the counter, placing his satchel on the polished wood surface. "Professor Forgewell, I've got some materials I'd like to use for upgrades." 

‎

‎Elara glanced up from her ledger, her piercing gaze settling on Kai. "Ah, the insect tamer. I've heard about you." Her eyes shifted to Tiny, who stood imposingly at Kai's side. "And I see the rumors are true. That's quite the Ant you've got there." 

‎

‎Kai grinned. "Thanks. Tiny's been putting in the work." 

‎

‎Elara nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Let's see what you've brought me." 

‎

‎Kai opened his satchel, carefully laying out the **Verdant Core**, **Shadowstalker Carapace**, and **Silkfang Silk** on the counter. The professor's eyebrows rose slightly as she examined the materials. 

‎

‎"Impressive," she murmured, running a hand over the gleaming **Verdant Core**. "This is from a Verdant Reaper Queen, isn't it?" 

‎

‎Kai nodded. "Took a lot to bring her down, but it was worth it." 

‎

‎Elara's lips curved into a faint smile. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. And good instincts. These materials are valuable—more than enough to craft some high-quality upgrades for your beast." 

‎

‎She straightened, pulling out a ledger and flipping through its pages. "Alright, let's see what we can do." 

‎

‎

‎Elara placed a sheet of parchment on the counter, detailing the available crafting options for Kai's materials. 

‎

‎**1. Fortress Ant Armor Upgrade** 

‎ - **Material**: Shadowstalker Carapace 

‎ - **Effect**: Enhances Tiny's defensive capabilities, increasing resistance to physical and magical attacks. 

‎ - Cost: 800 golds

‎

‎**2. Blitz Hornet Wing Enhancement** 

‎ - **Material**: Silkfang Silk 

‎ - **Effect**: Increases Stinger's aerial speed and agility, granting a temporary evasion boost during combat. 

‎ - Cost: 500 golds

‎

‎**3. Verdant Core Infusion** 

‎ - **Material**: Verdant Core 

‎ - **Effect**: Unlocks a new evolution option for one bonded beast. 

‎ - Cost: 1,000 golds

‎

‎**4. Tactical Cloak (Equipment for Kai)** 

‎ - **Material**: Shadowstalker Carapace + Silkfang Silk 

‎ - **Effect**: A lightweight cloak that enhances stealth and agility. Reduces detection range from enemies during exploration. 

‎ - Cost: 600 golds

‎

‎---

‎

‎Kai's eyes darted between the options, his mind racing as he weighed the possibilities. 

‎

‎"Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "Let's go with the Fortress Amor Ant Upgrade and Blitz Hornet Wing Enhancement. I'll hold onto the Verdant Core for now—I want to make sure I use it at the right time." 

‎

‎Elara nodded, jotting down the selections in her ledger. "Good choices. These upgrades will give your team a solid edge. It'll take a few hours to complete the work, you will also have to make a deposit before that. Looking at kai sour expression Elara chucked "Why don't we do this you borrow the golds from me and you will use the Verdant core as a colleteral is that ok you can come and get the equipment this afternoon?" 

‎

‎Kai nodded, stepping back from the counter. "Thanks, Professor. I'll check back later." 

‎

‎---

‎

‎

‎With the crafting underway, Kai decided to use the downtime to train. He led Tiny, Stinger, and Glow to one of the academy's open training fields, a sprawling expanse of grass and dirt ringed by tall trees. 

‎

‎The field was already occupied by a handful of students, each working with their beasts to hone their skills. Kai found an empty corner and set his satchel down, rolling his shoulders as he turned to face his team. 

‎

‎"Alright, guys," he said, his tone serious. "The exhibition's tomorrow, and we need to be ready. Let's focus on teamwork and coordination." 

‎

‎Tiny clicked its mandibles, Stinger buzzed eagerly, and Glow shimmered softly, their collective energy filling Kai with determination. 

‎

‎---

‎

‎

‎The next few hours were a blur of activity. Kai put his team through a series of drills, focusing on their individual strengths while also emphasizing teamwork. 

‎

‎- **Tiny** practiced using its new **Iron Bulwark** skill, planting itself firmly in the ground as Kai and Stinger simulated attacks from different angles. The skill's ten-second duration was short, but it was more than enough to block even the fiercest assaults. 

‎

‎- **Stinger** honed its **Blitz Dive**, launching itself into the air before streaking toward a target with blinding speed. Kai worked on timing the attack with Tiny's defensive maneuvers, creating a deadly one-two punch. 

‎

‎- **Glow**, though still unbonded, proved invaluable as a support unit. Its radiant light disoriented simulated enemies and provided crucial visibility during chaotic skirmishes. 

‎

‎By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, Kai's team was visibly stronger and more cohesive. 

‎

‎---

‎

‎Later in the day as promised, Elara had completed the upgrades by the time Kai returned to the Crafting Hall. She handed over a reinforced chestplate for Tiny and a set of gleaming, silk-infused wing covers for Stinger. 

‎

‎"These should serve you well," she said, her tone approving. "Good luck in the exhibition, Kai. Show them what an insect tamer can do." 

‎

‎Kai grinned, securing the equipment in his satchel. "Thanks, Professor. I will definitely pay you back ." 

‎

‎---

‎

‎The Night Before, Back in his dorm room, Kai sat cross-legged on his bed, the familiar hum of the system filling his mind as he reviewed his status. 

‎

‎---

‎

‎**[Status Interface – Kai Anther]** 

‎

‎**Name**: Kai Anther 

‎**Title**: Insect Tamer (Beginner) 

‎**Level**: 4 (EXP: 640/1,500) 

‎**Beast Taming Points (BTP)**: 200

‎

‎**Bonded Beasts:** 

‎1. **Fortress Ant (Evolved)** – Level 3 

‎ - Skills: Iron Bulwark (Level 1), Harden (Level 2), Mandible Strike (Level 1), Acid Spit (Level 1) 

‎ - **Equipment**: Reinforced Carapace Armor (+10% defense against physical and magical attacks) 

‎

‎2. **Blitz Hornet** – Level 2 

‎ - Skills: Blitz Dive (Level 1), Poison Sting (Level 1), Aerial Dash (Level 1) 

‎ - **Equipment**: Silk-Infused Wings (+15% aerial speed and evasion) 

‎

‎**Tamed Creatures (Unbonded):** 

‎- **Luminous Silk Moth** 

‎

‎

‎Kai closed the interface, his determination burning brighter than ever. Tomorrow, he would step onto the stage of the Beast Taming Exhibition—not as a joke, but as a contender. 

‎

‎And he was ready to prove that even insects could rise to the top. 

‎

‎---

‎