I Acquired The Insect Evolution System

‎The arena was alive with anticipation, its energy buzzing like a hive on the brink of eruption. The stadium-style underground structure was packed with spectators from all walks of life—students, alumni, and officials from Beast Dominion Academy, as well as wealthy patrons who had come to witness the spectacle of the underground tournament. The crowd roared as they awaited the next match, the tension palpable in the air.

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‎Kai stood at the edge of the battlefield, his jaw tight and his fists clenched. His heart pounded as he took in the scene before him. The arena floor was a perfect circle, its surface a mix of stone and dirt, with jagged edges that suggested it had seen countless battles. The faint glow of enchanted runes carved into the walls illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows that danced along the perimeter.

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‎Across from him, Dren Varus strolled onto the battlefield with the confidence of a predator that knew it was at the top of the food chain. His black cloak billowed behind him, and his scarred face twisted into a smirk as he locked eyes with Kai. Dren's presence radiated menace, and the faint hum of energy emanating from the beast core at his belt only added to the sense of danger.

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‎Kai's gaze flicked to the core. Whatever was inside it, he could tell it wasn't going to be anything ordinary. *Stay calm,* he told himself. *You've faced worse. You can figure this out.*

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‎"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer's voice boomed, silencing the crowd. "For our third match of the night, we have a battle like no other! On one side, the Rising Contender, the underdog who has defied all expectations—**Kai Anther**! And on the other, a returning champion and one of the most feared alumni of Beast Dominion Academy—**Dren Varus**!"

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‎The crowd erupted into cheers, though Kai could hear the jeers and mocking laughter mixed in. He forced himself to focus, tuning out the noise as he steadied his breathing.

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‎"This is your last chance to back out, bug boy," Dren called out, his voice dripping with condescension. "Once I unleash my beast, you'll wish you'd stayed in whatever hole you crawled out of."

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‎Kai smirked, though his heart was racing. "Big talk for someone who hasn't even shown their hand yet. Let's see what you've got."

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‎Dren chuckled darkly. "Oh, you'll see."

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‎The announcer raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent. "Tamers, prepare your beasts! Let the match… BEGIN!"

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‎Kai immediately called his team into action. "Tiny, at my side! Stinger, take to the air! Glow, stay back and light the field!"

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‎Tiny stomped forward, its armored form gleaming under Glow's golden light. Stinger zipped upward, its wings buzzing as it took a high vantage point. Glow fluttered to the edge of the battlefield, its soft illumination casting away the shadows and giving Kai a clear view of his opponent.

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‎Dren grinned, unhooking the beast core from his belt and holding it aloft. The core pulsed with an ominous black light, and the air around it seemed to warp and twist as he channeled its energy.

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‎"Come forth, **Void Widow**!" Dren roared.

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‎A surge of dark energy exploded from the core, and the crowd gasped as the creature emerged. The **Void Widow** was a massive spider-like beast, its obsidian-black exoskeleton shimmering with an unnatural sheen. Its eight legs were long and spindly, tipped with razor-sharp claws that dug into the arena floor with each movement. The beast's abdomen was adorned with a glowing crimson hourglass symbol, and its many eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence.

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‎But it was the aura around the Void Widow that truly sent chills down Kai's spine. The air grew colder, and an oppressive energy seemed to press down on the battlefield, as though the Widow's very presence was sucking the life out of its surroundings.

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‎Kai swallowed hard. *This isn't just a beast—it's a monster.*

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‎Dren's grin widened. "I hope you're ready, bug boy. The Widow's venom doesn't just kill—it corrodes and destroys everything it touches. Let's see how long your pathetic insects can last."

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‎Kai narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. "We'll see about that. Tiny, defensive stance! Glow, keep the light steady! Stinger, wait for my signal!"

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‎The Void Widow moved with terrifying speed, its legs a blur as it darted toward Tiny. The Fortress Ant braced itself, activating **Iron Bulwark** just as the Widow's claws came crashing down. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, but Tiny's barrier held, deflecting the blow with a resounding clang.

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‎"Stinger, now! **Poison Sting**!" Kai shouted.

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‎Stinger zipped through the air, its wings a blur as it launched a venomous projectile at the Widow's side. The stinger struck true, embedding itself in the beast's exoskeleton. But instead of recoiling in pain, the Void Widow let out a low, guttural hiss, its crimson hourglass symbol glowing brighter as it absorbed the poison.

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‎Dren laughed. "Did I forget to mention? The Void Widow thrives on toxins. Your little hornet just made it stronger."

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‎Kai's stomach dropped, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Fine. Let's try something else. Tiny, go for the legs! Glow, blind it with **Radiant Flare**!"

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‎Glow's wings pulsed, releasing a burst of golden light that momentarily disoriented the Widow. Tiny seized the opportunity, charging forward and clamping its massive mandibles around one of the beast's legs. The Widow screeched, its leg buckling under the pressure.

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‎"Not bad," Dren said, his tone still mocking. "But you're going to have to do better than that. Widow, **Shadow Web**!"

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‎The Void Widow reared back, its abdomen glowing as it shot out a stream of dark, sticky webbing. The webbing spread across the battlefield, anchoring itself to the ground and creating a network of traps. Tiny was caught in the strands, its movements slowing as the sticky substance clung to its armor.

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‎"Tiny!" Kai shouted. "Break free with **Harden**!"

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‎Tiny's armor glowed faintly as it activated its skill, its movements becoming more powerful as it tore through the webbing. But the Widow wasn't done. It lunged forward, its fangs dripping with venom as it aimed for Tiny's exposed side.

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‎"Glow, shield it with **Luminous Shield**!" Kai commanded.

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‎Glow's light pulsed, forming a protective barrier around Tiny just as the Widow's fangs struck. The barrier absorbed the impact, but the force of the attack sent Tiny skidding backward, its legs digging into the dirt to regain traction.

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‎---

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‎Kai's mind raced as he assessed the situation. The Void Widow was faster, stronger, and more resilient than anything he'd faced before. Its ability to absorb toxins rendered Stinger's attacks useless, and its webbing was quickly turning the battlefield into a death trap.

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‎But every beast had a weakness. He just had to find it.

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‎"Stinger, distract it! Glow, keep the light on it! Tiny, aim for the abdomen!"

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‎Stinger darted through the air, buzzing erratically to draw the Widow's attention. The beast hissed, swiping at the hornet with its razor-sharp claws. Meanwhile, Glow hovered above the battlefield, its golden light illuminating the Widow's movements and preventing it from disappearing into the shadows.

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‎Tiny charged forward, its mandibles snapping as it lunged for the Widow's abdomen. But just as it was about to strike, the Widow spun around, its legs sweeping out in a wide arc. The attack caught Tiny off guard, sending it tumbling across the arena.

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‎Dren's laughter echoed through the space. "Face it, bug boy. You're out of your league. The Void Widow is the pinnacle of evolution. Your pathetic insects can't compete."

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‎Kai gritted his teeth. "We'll see about that. Glow, blind it again! Tiny, get back up! Stinger—wait, no! Stinger, pull back!"

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‎It was too late. Stinger had gotten too close, and the Void Widow's fangs snapped shut around the hornet, injecting it with a burst of venom. Stinger buzzed weakly, its movements faltering as the Widow tossed it aside like a broken toy.

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‎"Stinger!" Kai shouted, his heart sinking.

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‎The Blitz Hornet struggled to stay airborne, its wings flickering as it fought to remain in the fight. Kai clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to lose Stinger—or any of his team. They were running out of options.

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‎The system chimed softly in Kai's mind, offering a lifeline.

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‎---

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‎**[New Skill Activated: Beast Synchronization (Passive)]** 

‎*Enhance coordination and instincts between the tamer and bonded beasts. Cooldown: 1 hour.*

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‎---

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‎Kai's eyes widened. "Synchronization… That's it. Tiny, Stinger, Glow—let's do this together."

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‎He focused, reaching out with his mind to his bonded beasts. A surge of energy flowed through him as he activated the skill, and he felt an almost dizzying sense of connection as their instincts and senses merged with his own. The battlefield became clearer, every movement and detail amplified in his mind.

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‎"Tiny, flank it! Stinger, go for the eyes! Glow, keep it disoriented!"

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‎The Void Widow hissed, its movements growing more erratic as Kai's team coordinated their attacks with newfound precision. Tiny charged in from the side, its mandibles clamping down on the Widow's leg and throwing it off balance. Stinger buzzed upward, its stinger striking one of the beast's many eyes and eliciting a pained screech. Glow's light pulsed rhythmically, throwing off the Widow's sense of timing and making it harder for the beast to counter.

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‎Dren's smirk faltered. "What the hell…?"

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‎Kai's confidence surged. "You underestimated us. Big mistake."

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‎As the Void Widow staggered, Kai saw his opportunity. "Tiny, finish it with **Acid Spit**! Stinger, one last dive! Glow, give us everything you've got!"

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‎Tiny reared back, launching a stream of corrosive acid at the beast's abdomen. The acid hissed and bubbled as it ate through the Widow's exoskeleton, exposing the vulnerable flesh beneath. Stinger dove in, its glowing stinger piercing the exposed spot with a final burst of energy.

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‎The Void Widow let out one last, ear-splitting screech before collapsing to the ground, its legs twitching as the light faded from its eyes.

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‎The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps of disbelief as the announcer's voice boomed across the arena. "The winner is… **Kai Anther**!"

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‎Kai collapsed to his knees, exhaustion washing over him like a tidal wave. Tiny, Stinger, and Glow gathered around him, battered but victorious.

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‎Dren scowled, recalling the Void Widow into its core. "You got lucky, bug boy," he muttered before stalking off.

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‎Kai smiled faintly, his chest heaving as he looked at his team. "We did it," he whispered. "We actually did it."

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‎Tiny clicked its mandibles softly, Stinger buzzed faintly, and Glow's light pulsed gently in response.

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