I Acquired The Insect Evolution System

‎The crowd roared with anticipation as the final round of the **Beast Taming Exhibition** was announced. The Colosseum of Beasts trembled with the sheer energy of the spectators, their cheers echoing off the towering stone walls. This was what they had come for—the **Boss Challenge**, where the strongest tamers would face off against a colossal academy-bred beast. It was a test of skill, strategy, and sheer willpower.

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‎Kai stood alongside the other finalists in the waiting area, his heart pounding as he stared at the massive iron gate that separated the arena floor from the beast's holding pen. His team—Tiny, Stinger, and Glow—stood ready at his side, their confidence bolstered by the victories they had earned. But even with their recent upgrades and training, Kai knew this would be their toughest fight yet.

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‎The system chimed softly in his mind. 

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‎**[Final Round: Boss Challenge]** 

‎**Objective: Work with your team to defeat the academy-bred boss, the **Thorned Devourer**. 

‎**Participants: The top six tamers from the previous rounds. 

‎**Reward for Victory: Beast Taming Points (BTP), recognition as a top-tier tamer, and access to the Advanced Tamer Division. 

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‎Kai's eyes narrowed. The **Thorned Devourer** was notorious. A monstrous insectoid beast bred specifically for these exhibitions, it was a hybrid of a mantis and a centipede, with serrated claws, venomous fangs, and a segmented body covered in jagged spines. Its speed and lethality were the stuff of legend, and more than one finalist in past exhibitions had been forced to admit defeat against it.

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‎"Stay sharp, Tiny," Kai muttered, patting the Fortress Ant's reinforced armor. "This isn't going to be like anything we've faced before." 

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‎Tiny clicked its mandibles in response, unwavering as always. Stinger buzzed overhead, its movements quick and erratic, while Glow perched on Kai's shoulder, its golden light steady and reassuring.

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‎"Alright, tamers!" boomed the voice of **Dean Alaric**, his commanding tone cutting through the noise. "The final round is upon us! You will face the **Thorned Devourer**, a beast bred to test your limits. Work together, or fall together. Tamers, prepare yourselves!"

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‎The massive iron gate began to rise with a deep, grinding rumble. The arena fell into hushed silence as the air grew heavy with tension. Kai's grip tightened on his satchel as he stepped onto the battlefield with the other finalists. 

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‎I the arena Kai's eyes scanned the other tamers, quickly taking stock of his temporary allies. He recognized Arden Stormfang, his self-proclaimed rival, standing tall with his crackling **Thunder Wolf** by his side. The wolf's electric-blue fur bristled with energy, its eyes glowing faintly with static.

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‎To Arden's right was **Valeria Ashthorn**, a composed girl with an air of quiet confidence. Her beast, a sleek **Shadow Panther**, prowled beside her, its black fur rippling like liquid darkness. Valeria's sharp silver gaze flicked briefly to Kai before returning to the gate.

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‎Eren and Akari, Kai's teammates from the previous round, stood further down the line. Eren's **Razorclaw Falcon** perched on his shoulder, its talons flexing menacingly, while Akari's **Silverfin Lynx** crouched low, its shimmering fur glinting faintly in the sunlight. 

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‎The final finalist was **Darius Flint**, a burly upperclassman with a towering **Stonehide Golem** at his side. The golem's rocky frame loomed over the group, its glowing emerald eyes betraying a dangerous intelligence. Darius cracked his knuckles, his expression one of grim determination.

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‎Kai exhaled slowly. These were some of the academy's strongest tamers, and while he had proven himself in the earlier rounds, he knew better than to underestimate them—or the beast they were about to face.

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‎As the gate slammed open with a deafening clang, and the **Thorned Devourer** emerged. The crowd erupted into cheers as the monstrous insectoid thundered onto the field, its many legs skittering across the ground with unnatural speed. Its serrated claws snapped menacingly, and its segmented body, covered in jagged spines, gleamed under the sunlight like polished obsidian. 

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‎The Devourer let out a bone-chilling screech, its mandibles clicking as it sized up the tamers. Its glowing, compound eyes reflected their every movement, and venom dripped from its fangs, sizzling as it hit the dirt.

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‎Kai felt a chill run down his spine. "This thing's even bigger than I thought," he muttered.

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‎Arden sneered, his Thunder Wolf growling low. "Don't hold me back, bug boy. Let's see if your ants can keep up."

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‎Kai ignored the jab, focusing instead on the system's analysis.

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‎**[Beast Identified: Thorned Devourer]** 

‎**Type**: Elite Insect-Bred Beast 

‎**Strengths**: Speed, high armor, venomous attacks, and area suppression with spines. 

‎**Weaknesses**: Vulnerable joints near the legs and lower abdomen. 

‎**Tip**: Coordinate attacks to exploit its weak points. Avoid direct confrontations with its claws or venom. 

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‎Kai's mind raced. "Weak points near the legs and abdomen… Got it." He turned to Tiny and Stinger. "We're going to play this smart. Tiny, focus on defense and keeping its attention. Stinger, aim for the joints. Glow, keep the field lit so we can track its movements."

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‎The other tamers were already shouting their commands as the Devourer charged forward, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying precision.

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‎As the Thorned Devourer lunged at the group, its claws snapping toward Darius's Stonehide Golem. The golem raised its massive arms, blocking the attack with a resounding *clang*. Sparks flew as the claws scraped against the golem's rocky hide, but the Devourer was relentless, its segmented body coiling as it prepared to strike again.

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‎"Now, Razorclaw!" Eren shouted, his falcon diving toward the beast's head in a blur of motion. The bird's talons raked across the Devourer's compound eyes, causing it to screech in frustration and rear back.

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‎"Silverfin, go for the legs!" Akari commanded, her lynx darting in low. The lynx's claws slashed at one of the beast's vulnerable joints, drawing a thin spray of dark green blood.

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‎Kai seized the opportunity. "Tiny, get in there! **Mandible Strike**!"

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‎Tiny charged forward, its massive mandibles clamping down on one of the Devourer's back legs. The beast thrashed wildly, its spines whipping through the air and forcing Tiny to release its grip.

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‎"Stinger, hit the joints with **Poison Sting**!" Kai yelled.

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‎Stinger zipped through the air, its glowing stinger launching a venomous projectile at one of the Devourer's exposed joints. The poison struck true, and the beast's leg buckled slightly, its movements slowing.

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‎But the reprieve was short-lived. The Thorned Devourer let out a furious screech, its spines vibrating violently before launching outward in all directions. The arena erupted in chaos as the tamers scrambled to dodge the deadly projectiles.

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‎"Glow, **Radiant Flare**!" Kai shouted.

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‎Glow's wings pulsed with golden light, illuminating the battlefield and temporarily blinding the Devourer. The beast staggered, its movements erratic as it tried to shake off the disorientation.

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‎"Now's our chance!" Valeria called out, her Shadow Panther darting forward to slash at the beast's exposed abdomen. The attack left a deep gash, but the Devourer retaliated with a vicious swipe of its claw, forcing the panther to retreat.

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‎The battle raged on, the tamers working together to chip away at the Devourer's defenses. Darius's Stonehide Golem tanked the brunt of the beast's attacks, its rocky frame absorbing blow after blow. Eren's falcon and Akari's lynx moved in tandem, striking at the beast's weak points whenever an opening appeared.

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‎Kai's team played a crucial role in keeping the Devourer off balance. Tiny's **Iron Bulwark** skill allowed it to block the beast's most devastating attacks, while Stinger's relentless poison strikes began to wear it down. Glow's light provided critical visibility, ensuring the tamers could track the Devourer's rapid movements.

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‎But the beast wasn't going down without a fight. As its health dwindled, it unleashed a desperate flurry of attacks, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed.

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‎"Stay on it!" Arden shouted, his Thunder Wolf darting forward to deliver a crackling bolt of electricity to the beast's side. The attack stunned the Devourer briefly, but it quickly recovered, lashing out with its tail and sending the wolf sprawling.

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‎Kai gritted his teeth. "We've got to finish this now. Tiny, go for the legs! Stinger, aim for the abdomen!"

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‎Tiny charged forward, its mandibles snapping shut on one of the Devourer's weakened legs. The beast screeched, its body collapsing slightly under its own weight. Stinger darted in, delivering a final venomous sting to the beast's exposed abdomen.

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‎The Thorned Devourer let out one last, ear-piercing screech before collapsing to the ground, its massive body kicking up a cloud of dust.

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‎The referee's whistle blew, signaling the end of the battle. The crowd erupted into deafening cheers as the tamers stood victorious, their beasts battered but triumphant.

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‎Kai exhaled heavily, a grin spreading across his face as he patted Tiny's armored head. "We did it," he said softly. "We actually did it."

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‎Tiny clicked its mandibles in response, and Stinger buzzed triumphantly. Glow shimmered faintly, its light steady and calm.

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‎The system chimed softly in Kai's mind.

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‎**[Boss Challenge Complete: Thorned Devourer Defeated]** 

‎**[Rewards Acquired:]** 

‎- **500 Beast Taming Points (BTP)** 

‎- **EXP Gained: 700** 

‎- **New Feature Unlocked: Advanced Evolution Pathways**

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‎Kai smiled as he glanced at the rest of the finalists.

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