I Acquired The Insect Evolution System

The training dummies lay in splinters, the last rays of sunlight casting long shadows over the field. Kai wiped the sweat from his brow and leaned back against the battered wooden post, feeling the satisfying ache of a good workout settling into his limbs. Around him, his insects rested after their intense session.

Tiny stood guard nearby, its massive armored frame glinting faintly in the dimming light. Stinger perched atop a broken dummy, its wings vibrating in satisfaction from its earlier drills. Glow fluttered lazily above, its golden light pulsing gently as it basked in the peaceful quiet.

Kai couldn't help but smile. His team may not have been the strongest or flashiest, but they were his, and he'd take them over any mythical beast any day.

"Alright, guys," he said, pushing himself off the post. "Let's call it a day. We've got a long road ahead, but step by step, we'll get there."

Tiny clicked its mandibles in agreement, and Stinger let out a sharp buzz that almost sounded like applause. Glow flitted down to land on Kai's shoulder, its soft wings brushing against his cheek.

Kai was about to turn toward the dorms when a voice cut through the quiet like a knife.

"Well, well. If it isn't the academy's resident insect enthusiast. Hard at work, I see."

Kai froze, his muscles tensing instinctively. He didn't need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to.

Lila Vermise.

---

When he finally turned, she was already standing there at the edge of the training grounds, her silver hair catching the last light of the setting sun. Her emerald-green uniform was as pristine as ever, and her piercing green eyes locked onto him with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Behind her, a faint shimmer in the air signaled the presence of her bonded beast, the **Celestial Sky Serpent, Aetheris**. The mythical creature coiled gracefully in the shadows, its golden eyes glowing faintly as it observed Kai and his team.

Kai stuffed his hands into his pockets, forcing a casual grin onto his face. "Lila. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Lila raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Oh, don't flatter yourself. I was just passing by when I heard the sound of… destruction." She glanced at the shattered remains of the training dummies. "I see you've been busy."

Kai shrugged. "Gotta keep up if I want to stand a chance against the academy's elite, right?"

Her lips curved into a faint smirk. "That's… an admirable goal. Though I wonder if you truly understand what it takes to reach the top."

Kai's grin didn't falter, but his eyes sharpened. "Oh, I think I've got a pretty good idea."

Lila tilted her head, studying him for a moment. "Do you, now?" She gestured to his insects, her tone cool but not unkind. "Your… companions are certainly unique. I'll give you that. But uniqueness alone won't get you very far here. This isn't some playground, Kai. This is Beast Dominion Academy. The strong rise, and the weak… well, you know how it goes."

Kai's grin widened, though there was a spark of defiance in his eyes. "Good thing I'm not planning on staying weak for long."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, a clash of wills that needed no words.

Aetheris let out a low, melodic hiss from the shadows, its golden eyes narrowing slightly as it studied Kai's team. Tiny shifted uneasily, its mandibles clicking softly in response. Stinger buzzed sharply, while Glow's light dimmed slightly as it pressed closer to Kai's shoulder.

"Relax," Kai muttered to his team, his voice calm but firm. "We're not here to fight. Not yet, anyway."

Lila's smirk widened slightly, as if she found his words amusing. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But spirit alone isn't enough to win battles."

Kai's expression hardened, his usual laid-back demeanor giving way to something sharper. "Maybe not. But strategy, determination, and a little creativity? That's a different story."

Lila's eyes narrowed, her smirk fading as she regarded him more seriously. For a moment, Kai thought she might say something cutting, something to put him in his place.

Instead, she turned to leave, her silver hair swaying behind her. "We'll see, Kai. We'll see if your insects can stand up to the academy's best."

As she walked away, Aetheris followed, its massive form gliding silently through the air like a specter.

Kai watched her go, his fists clenching at his sides. She hadn't insulted him outright, but her words still stung.

"We'll see, huh?" he muttered under his breath. "Yeah, we will."

---

The walk back to the dorms was quiet, the usual buzz of the academy fading into the background as Kai replayed the encounter in his mind.

Lila Vermise. The academy's top student. The Queen of the Sky.

She was everything Kai wasn't—polished, powerful, respected. And yet, for all her confidence, he sensed something else beneath the surface.

Doubt? No, not quite. Curiosity, maybe.

Kai shook his head, forcing the thought away. It didn't matter what she thought of him. What mattered was that he kept moving forward, kept getting stronger.

When he finally reached his room, he collapsed onto his bed with a heavy sigh, his insects settling into their usual spots around the small space.

Tiny clicked its mandibles softly, as if to ask if he was okay.

"I'm fine," Kai muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "Just… tired."

But even as he closed his eyes, Lila's words echoed in his mind.

"We'll see."

Kai's jaw tightened, his determination hardening like steel.

"Yeah," he whispered to himself. "We'll see."