I Acquired The Insect Evolution System

‎

‎Kai stepped through the archway that led out of the arena, his legs wobbling with exhaustion but his head held high. In his hand, he clutched Tiny's beast core tightly, feeling the faint pulse of his partner's tired but resolute energy within. The roar of the crowd still echoed faintly behind him, but Kai's focus was elsewhere—on the system interface glowing faintly in his mind.

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‎---

‎

‎**[Tournament Victory: Final Match Complete]** 

‎**Rewards Earned:** 

‎- **Gold Coins: 2,000** 

‎- **Bonus Gold Coins: 2,000 (System Contribution)** 

‎-**BTP : 900

‎- **Title Progress: Rising Contender (5/5)** 

‎- **Evolved Title Unlocked: Challenger of Titans** 

‎**EXP Gained**

‎-**3000 Exp**

‎**Bonus exp for beating stronger opponent**

‎-**5000 Exp**

‎---

‎

‎He blinked as the notification scrolled across his vision. "Four thousand coins?" Kai muttered, his lips curling into a grin. "Now *that's* what I call a payday." 

‎

‎His victory hadn't come cheap—Tiny was in rough shape, and the forced evolution had taken a toll on both of them. But four thousand gold coins? That would cover not only Tiny's healing but also upgrades, supplies, and maybe even a few luxuries. 

‎

‎Kai swiped the sweat from his brow and let out a relieved sigh. "Alright, system. Let's see the new title." 

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‎**[New Title: Challenger of Titans]** 

‎*You've defeated an opponent far above your strength class, proving your ability to hold your ground against overwhelming power.* 

‎- **Effect:** Increases the effectiveness of your beasts against higher-tier enemies (+10% damage, +10% resistance). 

‎- **Bonus:** Increase intelligence of bonded beast. 

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‎---

‎**[Bonded beasts and Tamed Creature as Leveled up]**

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‎Kai's eyes widened. "Higher-tier enemies, huh? Guess that'll come in handy when Victor tries to come at me again." He chuckled to himself, already imagining the look on his arrogant opponent's face when he found out about the title, and also my beast as levelled up that a good thing i was wondering whenthey would level up.

‎

‎As the system notifications faded, Kai turned a corner and entered the competitor's rest area. He expected to find a quiet place to sit and catch his breath, but instead, he was met with a familiar, hostile presence. 

‎

‎

‎"Kai," a low, growling voice called out. 

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‎Kai stopped in his tracks and turned his head toward the sound. Standing near the edge of the room, arms crossed and eyes blazing with fury, was **Arden Stormfang**. The tamer of thunder wolves looked every bit as intimidating as his beasts, his sharp features twisted into a scowl that could have melted steel. 

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‎"Arden," Kai greeted blandly, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't expect to see you here. What, came to congratulate me on my win?" 

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‎Arden's scowl deepened as he stalked forward, his boots clacking against the stone floor. "Congratulate you? Don't make me laugh, bug boy. I came to see if you were crawling out of here on your hands and knees after that stunt you pulled in the arena." 

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‎Kai smirked, though his grip on Tiny's core tightened instinctively. "Sorry to disappoint. Still standing, as you can see." 

‎

‎Arden's jaw clenched, his frustration evident. "You shouldn't be," he snapped. "You went up against Victor and his **Shadow Dreadwyrm**, and you're walking out of here with barely a scratch. That's not normal, Kai. That's not *natural.*" 

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‎Kai shrugged, his expression deliberately casual. "Guess I'm just lucky." 

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‎"Don't play dumb with me!" Arden barked, his voice echoing through the room. He jabbed a finger at Kai's chest. "That… thing you pulled out during the fight. That wasn't luck. That was something else. Something you shouldn't have." 

‎

‎Kai's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "You mean Tiny? My partner? My hard-working, incredible, underestimated *ant*?" He stepped forward, meeting Arden's glare with a defiant look of his own. "Yeah, that's what happens when you actually believe in your beast instead of looking down on them. Maybe you should try it sometime." 

‎

‎Arden's fists tightened, his knuckles white. "You're hiding something," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "No ant evolves into that kind of monster without something shady going on. And I'm going to find out what it is." 

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‎Kai's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "You know what, Arden? Why don't you go ahead and try? Dig as deep as you want. But while you're busy obsessing over me, I'll be busy getting stronger. And when the time comes, I'll beat you again. Just like I always do." 

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‎Arden's lips curled into a snarl, but before he could respond, Kai interrupted

‎

‎

‎"Looks like I've got somewhere to be," Kai said, flashing a mock salute. "Enjoy your tantrum, Arden. Don't punch a wall on your way out." 

‎

‎Without waiting for a response, Kai turned and walked away, leaving Arden fuming in his wake. 

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‎

‎

‎As Kai left the Wild Zone he made his way toward the academy's Beast Core Sanctuary, he couldn't help but reflect on the events of the tournament. The forced evolution, the **Mimic Titan Monarch Ant**, and the sheer power he'd glimpsed—it had all been incredible, but it had also been fleeting. 

‎

‎"System," Kai muttered, opening the interface. "Show me Tiny's condition." 

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‎---

‎

‎**[Beast Status: Fortress Ant (Tiny)]** 

‎**Condition:** Severe Fatigue (Armor integrity at 40%) 

‎**Abilities:** Temporarily reduced by 30% 

‎**Recovery Time:** 24 hours minimum (without external healing) 

‎

‎---

‎

‎Kai winced. "Tiny really gave it everything out there," he said softly. "We've got to get you fixed up, buddy." 

‎

‎The Beast Core Sanctuary wasn't far from the academy gate, and as Kai entered the building, he was greeted by the warm glow of the healing chambers. Rows of glowing pods lined the walls, each one pulsing softly as they worked to restore injured beasts to full strength. 

‎

‎A receptionist in a neat uniform looked up as Kai approached. "Ah, Mr. Anther," do tou want to heal your beast. "

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‎"Yeah," Kai said, handing over Tiny's core. "He really needs it." 

‎

‎The receptionist nodded and gently placed the core into one of the pods. The chamber lit up, and a soothing hum filled the air as the healing process began. 

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‎Kai watched for a moment, his hands resting on the edge of the pod. "You'll be good as new soon," he whispered. "And then we'll get back to work." 

‎

‎

‎As Kai left the sanctuary, he felt a sense of calm settle over him. The tournament was over, but the journey ahead was just beginning. He had the gold, the reputation, and—most importantly—the drive to keep pushing forward. 

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‎But he couldn't ignore the lingering tension in the air. Arden wasn't going to let this go, and Victor… Victor would be back. Stronger, angrier, and more determined to crush him. 

‎

‎Kai clenched his fists, his gaze steely. "Let them come," he muttered. "We'll be ready." 

‎

‎With that, he turned and walked toward the academy dorms, the faint hum of the system's notifications echoing in his mind. 

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‎--- 

‎

‎**Next Objective:** 

‎-**Paying Debts