MTLNOVEL Chapter 29: Chapter 28:Afrer the Storm
Kai staggered back into the competitor's resting area, his legs feeling like jelly. Every step sent a dull ache radiating through his body, but he forced himself to keep walking. The adrenaline from the fight was fading fast, and the weight of exhaustion was crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
Tiny lumbered behind him, its once-pristine armor now cracked and covered in patches of frost and acid residue. Stinger buzzed weakly, its usually sharp and precise movements sluggish as it perched on Kai's shoulder. Glow floated above them, its light flickering faintly, as if it, too, was struggling to stay alight.
Kai slumped down onto the nearest bench, leaning forward with his hands on his knees. His breaths came in heavy, uneven gasps as he tried to collect himself.
*That was too close,* he thought, his mind replaying the fight. He had pushed his team to their absolute limits, and though they had come out victorious, it had been by the skin of their teeth. Selena's Frost Hydra had been a monster in every sense of the word, and if it hadn't been for Tiny's resilience, Glow's quick reactions, and Stinger's precision, they wouldn't have stood a chance.
The system chimed softly in his mind, breaking through the haze of exhaustion.
---
**[Round 2 Complete: Victory Achieved]**
**Rewards:**
- **500 Gold Coins**
- **250 EXP**
- **Title Progress: Rising Contender
**[Level Up Achieved: Kai Anther – Level 6]**
- **EXP: 0/3,000**
**[New Feature Unlocked: Beast Synchronization (Passive)]**
- *Allows temporary synchronization between the tamer and bonded beasts, enabling enhanced coordination and shared instincts during battle. Cooldown: 1 hour.*
**[Bonded Beasts Status Updated.]**
---
"Level 6, huh?" Kai muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Guess we're getting somewhere."
But the smile faded quickly as he opened the system interface to check the condition of his team.
---
#### **Bonded Beasts:**
1. **Fortress Ant (Tiny)**
- **Condition**: Severe Damage (Armor integrity at 45%)
- **Skills:**
- **Iron Bulwark** – Cooldown: 7 minutes remaining
- **Harden** – Cooldown: Ready
- **Mandible Strike** – Cooldown: Ready
- **Acid Spit** – Cooldown: 10 seconds remaining
2. **Blitz Hornet (Stinger)**
- **Condition**: Moderate Fatigue (Speed reduced by 20%)
- **Skills:**
- **Blitz Dive** – Cooldown: 20 seconds remaining
- **Poison Sting** – Cooldown: Ready
- **Aerial Dash** – Passive
Tamed Creatures
**Luminous Silk Moth (Glow)**
- **Condition**: Low Energy (Light output reduced by 40%)
- **Skills:**
- **Radiant Flare** – Cooldown: Ready
- **Luminous Shield** – Cooldown: Ready
---
Kai let out a heavy sigh as he studied the stats. Tiny's armor was in rough shape, and while Stinger and Glow weren't as badly off, they were still far from battle-ready.
The system's voice chimed again, offering options.
---
**[Suggestion: Use Beast Taming Points to Repair and Restore Bonded Beasts.]**
- **Option 1**: Minor Repairs (Restore 30% Condition) – 150 BTP
- **Option 2**: Full Repairs (Restore 100% Condition) – 400 BTP
- **Option 3**: Energy Boost (Increase stamina and energy for 10 minutes) – 100 BTP
**[Suggestion: Rest Mode Activated.]**
- *Resting between rounds will gradually restore stamina and reduce fatigue for tamer and tamed beasts (30 minutes required for noticeable recovery).*
---
Kai frowned, rubbing his temples. He had 1,100 Beast Taming Points left, but the last round had already drained more than he wanted to spend. If the next fight was anything like what he'd just gone through, they'd need to be at their best.
He glanced at Tiny, who was resting in the corner of the room, its massive frame slumped against the wall. Stinger was perched on the backrest of the bench, its wings twitching faintly, while Glow hovered near the ceiling, its light dim but steady.
"You guys really gave it your all out there," Kai said softly, his voice tinged with guilt. "I pushed you too hard, didn't I?"
Tiny clicked its mandibles in response, a sound that almost seemed like a reassuring *no*. Stinger buzzed faintly, and Glow drifted down, landing gently on Kai's shoulder.
Kai smiled faintly. "Alright. Let's get you patched up."
He selected **Minor Repairs** for Tiny and **Energy Boosts** for both Stinger and Glow.
---
**[Beast Condition Updated.]**
- **Fortress Ant (Tiny)**: Moderate Damage (Armor integrity at 75%)
- **Blitz Hornet (Stinger)**: Fatigue Reduced (Speed restored)
- **Luminous Silk Moth (Glow)**: Energy Restored (Light output normalized)
---
Kai closed the interface, feeling a small sense of relief as he watched his team recover. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.
---
As Kai leaned back on the bench, his eyes closed for a moment of rest, a familiar voice broke through the quiet.
"Still alive, bug boy? I'm impressed."
Kai opened one eye to see Arden Stormfang leaning casually against the doorframe, his trademark smirk firmly in place. His Thunder Wolf stood at his side, its blue fur crackling faintly with residual electricity.
"What do you want, Arden?" Kai asked, his tone flat.
Arden chuckled, stepping into the room. "Relax. I'm not here to pick a fight. Just wanted to see how you were holding up after that little dance with the Frost Hydra."
Kai sat up, narrowing his eyes. "And? What's your verdict?"
Arden shrugged. "You're tougher than I thought, I'll give you that. But don't let it go to your head. The next round's going to make that Hydra look like a warm-up."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You know who I'm up against?"
Arden's smirk widened. "Oh, I know. Let's just say your next opponent has a reputation for being… ruthless. Thought I'd give you a heads-up. Consider it a favor."
Kai frowned, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Why would you do me any favors?"
Arden shrugged again, turning to leave. "Let's just say I want to be the one to crush you . Don't disappoint me, bug boy."
As Arden and his Thunder Wolf disappeared down the hallway, Kai felt a knot of unease form in his stomach.
"Ruthless, huh?" he muttered. "Great. Just what I needed."
The system chimed softly, displaying a countdown timer for the next round.
**[Next Match Begins in 15 Minutes.]**
Kai took a deep breath, glancing at his team. Tiny, Stinger, and Glow were resting quietly, their battered forms a reminder of how much they'd endured.
"Alright," Kai said softly. "We've got fifteen minutes. Let's use it wisely."
He leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. His mind raced with strategies and contingencies, but deep down, he knew that no amount of planning could guarantee victory.