MTLNOVEL Chapter 27: Chapter 26: The Brink of Defeat
Kai sat on a rough wooden bench in the competitor's resting area. His breaths came in short, uneven gasps as he leaned forward, wiping the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. His chest felt tight, his muscles ached, and his mind replayed the match with Marcus like a broken record.
That had been *too* close.
Tiny's carapace was dented and scorched in several places, faint wisps of smoke still curling off its reinforced armor. Stinger perched on the edge of the bench beside Kai, its wings flickering erratically, clearly drained from overexertion. Glow hovered weakly near his shoulder, its light dim and flickering, a far cry from the radiant beacon it had been earlier in the fight.
Kai let out a shaky breath. "We barely scraped by…"
Tiny clicked its mandibles softly, a gesture that felt more like reassurance than frustration. Stinger gave a faint buzz, while Glow's light pulsed weakly, as if to say, *We're still here.*
Kai forced a small smile. "Yeah, you're right. We made it through. But if we keep going like this, the next fight might be our last."
He opened the system interface, his vision filling with glowing panels and status updates. It was time to take stock of where they stood—and figure out how to move forward.
---
### **[Status Interface – Kai Anther]**
**Name**: Kai Anther
**Title**: Rising Contender
**Level**: 5 (EXP: 1,440/2,000)
**Beast Taming Points (BTP)**: 1,000
#### **Skills:**
1. **Swarm Commander (Passive)** – Boosts coordination and effectiveness of all bonded beasts in battle. (+10% speed, damage, and defensive response when commanding multiple insects.)
2. **Luminous Shield (Active)** – Creates a glowing barrier of light that absorbs damage for a short time. *(Cooldown: 5 minutes.)*
3. **Pack Tactics (Passive)** – Enhances teamwork among bonded beasts, increasing their synergy and effectiveness during coordinated attacks.
4. **Radiant Flare (Active)** – Releases a blinding flash of light, disorienting nearby enemies and improving visibility in dark environments. *(Cooldown: 3 minutes.)*
5. **Tactical Coordination (Passive)** – Grants a small boost to reaction time for both tamer and beasts during combat.
6. **Iron Resolve (Passive)** – Increases the durability and stamina of all bonded beasts during extended battles.
---
#### **Bonded Beasts:**
1. **Fortress Ant (Evolved)**
- **Level**: 3
- **Skills:**
- Iron Bulwark (Level 1)
-Harden (Level 2)
- Mandible Strike (Level 1)
- Acid Spit (Level 1 )
- Condition: Moderate Damage (Armor integrity at 65%)
2. **Blitz Hornet**
- **Level**: 2
- **Skills:**
- Blitz Dive (Level 1)
- Poison Sting (Level 1)
- Aerial Dash (Level 1)
- Condition: Light Fatigue (Speed reduced by 10%)
**Tamed Beast**
**Luminous Silk Moth (Glow)**
- **Level**: 1
- **Skills:**
- Radiant Flare (Level 1)
- Luminous Shield (Level 1)
---
Kai frowned as he studied the condition of his bonded beasts. Tiny's armor was showing serious wear, and while Stinger and Glow weren't as visibly damaged, their performance had clearly taken a hit.
The system chimed softly, offering a suggestion.
---
**[Suggestion: Use Beast Taming Points to Repair and Strengthen Bonded Beasts.]**
- **Option 1**: Minor Repairs (Restore 30% Condition) – 150 BTP
- **Option 2**: Full Repairs (Restore 100% Condition) – 400 BTP
- **Option 3**: Skill Upgrade (Upgrade a single skill to the next level) – 500 BTP
---
Kai rubbed his temples. "We'll need to repair them if we want to survive the next fight, but if I use too many points now, I won't have enough for skill upgrades later…"
He glanced at Tiny, Stinger, and Glow. They all looked back at him, their expressions—or whatever the insect equivalent of expressions was—filled with quiet determination.
"Alright," Kai said, making his decision. "We'll go with **Full Repairs** for Tiny and **Minor Repairs** for Stinger and Glow."
The system chimed again as the BTP deductions were processed.
---
**[Fortress Ant Restored to Full Condition. Armor Integrity: 100%.]**
**[Blitz Hornet Condition Improved. Fatigue Reduced.]**
**[Luminous Silk Moth Energy Restored. Light Output Normalized.]**
---
Kai let out a sigh of relief as he watched his team recover. Tiny's armor gleamed once more, its reinforced carapace looking as strong as ever. Stinger's wings buzzed with renewed vigor, and Glow's light returned to its usual brightness, casting a warm glow over the room.
"That's better," Kai said, standing up and stretching. "Now let's take a look at the next round."
The system interface updated, displaying the details of his next opponent.
---
**[Underground Tournament: Round 2]**
**Objective**: Defeat your opponent and advance to the next round.
**Reward**: 500 Gold Coins + 250 EXP
**Opponent**: Selena Brask (Beast: Frost Hydra)
**Risk Level**: High
---
Kai's stomach tightened as he read the name. Selena Brask was a name he recognized—one of the most dangerous alumni to ever graduate from Beast Dominion Academy. And her beast, the Frost Hydra, was the stuff of legends. A multi-headed creature that combined overwhelming strength with devastating ice-based abilities.
"This… is going to be rough," Kai muttered, his hands balling into fists.
Tiny clicked its mandibles, while Stinger buzzed defiantly. Glow hovered closer, its light steady and reassuring.
Kai took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "Alright. We're not going to back down now. We've come too far for that. Let's figure out a plan."
The system chimed one last time, providing a final analysis before the match.
---
**[Beast Identified: Frost Hydra]**
**Type**: Ice-Class Rare Beast
**Strengths**: High durability, powerful area-of-effect ice attacks, regenerative abilities.
**Weaknesses**: Vulnerable to fire and prolonged focus on individual heads.
**Tip**: Disable one head at a time to limit its offensive capabilities. Avoid prolonged exposure to its frost breath.
---
Kai nodded slowly, the beginnings of a strategy forming in his mind. "Alright. Tiny, you'll focus on defense and keeping the Hydra distracted. Stinger, your speed will be key—target individual heads and keep them occupied. Glow, stay back and light the battlefield so we can track its movements. We'll take it down one piece at a time."
His team responded with a chorus of clicks, buzzes, and flickers.
Kai smiled. "Let's do this."
As he stepped out of the resting area and back into the arena, the roar of the crowd washed over him like a wave.