I Acquired The Insect Evolution System

The next morning, Kai woke to the sound of his system's chime ringing in his head. He groaned, rolling over in his bed, but the persistent sound refused to let him drift back to sleep. Glow fluttered above him, its soft golden light casting faint patterns on the ceiling, while Tiny stood stoically near the door, as if keeping watch. Stinger buzzed impatiently from its perch on the windowsill.

"Alright, alright," Kai muttered, rubbing his eyes. "I'm up. What's so urgent?"

The system's voice, as sarcastic as ever, cut through his grogginess.

**[System Notification]**

*Reminder: Weekly performance evaluation begins today at noon.*

Kai bolted upright, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait, that's today?!"

**"Oh, good, you do have a sense of time. Yes, today. And judging by your… questionable progress, you might want to put in some extra effort."**

Kai groaned, slapping a hand over his face. The weekly performance evaluation was a mandatory event for all students, a chance for the academy's instructors to assess their progress and rank them accordingly. The results determined everything—resources, privileges, even access to advanced training facilities.

And for someone like Kai, who was already seen as an underdog, it was an opportunity to either prove himself or embarrass himself in front of the entire academy.

"No pressure, right?" he muttered sarcastically, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

Tiny clicked its mandibles, and Glow pulsed faintly as if to reassure him. Stinger buzzed down from the windowsill, landing on Kai's shoulder.

Kai smiled faintly, his frustration easing. "Thanks, guys. Let's get ready. We've got work to do."

---

The training grounds were already bustling with activity when Kai arrived. Students of all levels were scattered across the field, their beasts sparring, practicing techniques, or simply showing off. The air was filled with the sounds of roars, screeches, and the occasional explosion of energy.

Kai felt the familiar weight of stares as he made his way to an open corner of the field. Whispers followed him like shadows, but he ignored them, focusing instead on his team.

"Alright, team," he said, clapping his hands together. "Today's the day. We've got to be sharp, focused, and ready for anything. Tiny, I want you doubling down on defense. You're our anchor, and we need you solid as a rock."

Tiny clicked its mandibles in response, its armored body shifting into a ready stance.

"Stinger, your speed and precision are going to be key. No wasted movements. Hit hard, hit fast, and don't let up."

Stinger buzzed sharply, its wings vibrating with intensity.

"And Glow," Kai continued, turning to the **Luminous Silk Moth**, "you're our support. Focus on keeping the team protected with your shield. If things get messy, use your Radiant Flare to buy us some breathing room."

Glow pulsed softly, its golden light brightening for a moment before dimming again.

Kai grinned, his determination renewed. "Good. Let's run through some drills before the evaluation starts."

---

As the morning wore on, Kai and his team worked tirelessly to refine their techniques. Tiny practiced deploying its **Iron Bulwark** under increasingly difficult conditions, withstanding barrage after barrage of simulated attacks. Stinger honed its **Blitz Dive**, striking precise targets with incredible speed before retreating to a safe distance. Glow alternated between maintaining its **Luminous Shield** and releasing blinding flashes of light to disorient potential enemies.

By the time the noon bell rang, signaling the start of the evaluations, Kai felt a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. His team had improved, no question about it. But was it enough?

---

The evaluation arena was a massive, circular space surrounded by tiered seating where students, instructors, and even some of the academy's top tamers gathered to watch. The arena's floor was made of enchanted stone, capable of repairing itself after even the most intense battles.

Kai stood in the waiting area, his heart pounding as he watched the first match unfold. A Level 9 tamer with a hulking Flame Fang Wolf was squaring off against a Level 8 student with a trio of Shadow Raptors. The battle was fierce, the wolf's fiery attacks clashing against the raptors' coordinated strikes, but it was clear who had the upper hand.

The Flame Fang Wolf roared, its body erupting in a burst of fire that sent the raptors scattering. Moments later, the match was over, and the Level 9 tamer stood victorious.

Kai swallowed hard, his palms sweaty.

"Next match: Kai Anther."

The announcement echoed through the arena, and Kai's stomach twisted. He took a deep breath, glancing at his team.

"We've got this," he said, more to himself than to them. "Just stick to the plan."

Tiny clicked its mandibles, Stinger buzzed, and Glow pulsed faintly.

Together, they stepped into the arena.

---

Kai's opponent was a tall, broad-shouldered boy named Darius, one of the academy's more experienced tamers. His beast, a massive **Steelclaw Panther**, prowled beside him, its sleek, metallic body gleaming under the arena's lights.

"Well, if it isn't the bug boy," Darius said with a smirk, his voice dripping with mockery. "You sure you're in the right place? This isn't the gardening club."

Laughter rippled through the audience, but Kai didn't flinch.

"Funny," he said, his tone calm. "Let's see if you're still laughing when this is over."

Darius's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, stepping into position. "Let's get this over with."

---

The match began with a deafening roar from the Steelclaw Panther as it charged forward, its claws glowing faintly with energy.

"TINY!" Kai shouted.

The **Fortress Ant** stepped forward, its **Iron Bulwark** activating just in time to intercept the panther's attack. Sparks flew as the panther's claws scraped against the ant's hardened exoskeleton, but Tiny held firm, its massive body unyielding.

"Stinger, flank it! Glow, shield Tiny!"

Stinger darted forward, its wings a blur as it circled around the panther. Glow's **Luminous Shield** enveloped Tiny, reinforcing its defense as the panther continued its assault.

Darius frowned, clearly surprised by the coordination of Kai's team. "Not bad," he muttered. "But let's see how you handle this. Panther, Steel Barrage!"

The Steelclaw Panther roared again, its claws glowing brighter as it unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes. Tiny staggered under the onslaught, its exoskeleton cracking slightly despite the shield's protection.

"Tiny, fall back! Glow, Radiant Flare, now!"

Glow released a blinding burst of light, disorienting the panther and forcing it to retreat. Stinger seized the opportunity, diving toward the panther with its **Blitz Dive**, striking a critical hit on one of its legs.

The panther stumbled, its movements faltering, and the crowd gasped.

Kai grinned, his confidence growing. "Now we're getting somewhere."