Chapter 2
C2 – The Competition of Combat Pet
“The pet has successfully completed its bloodline evolution. Here are the details of the pet.”
[Pet: Phantom Snake]
[Gender: Female]
[Attributes: Poison, Wind, Darkness]
[Skills: Invisibility, Poison Fangs, Fog of Darkness]
[Owner: Jiao Yuanju]
[Current Level: Valuable and Rare]
[Type: Special Initial Evolution]
[Owner’s Current Level: Elite]
Jiao Yuanju was astounded; his pet had evolved and reached the coveted valuable and rare status!
It’s common knowledge that combat pets are categorized into average, rare, very rare, and legendary tiers, while Combat Pet Masters are ranked as spiritual, elite, grandmaster, and mythical.
“I never imagined I’d own a valuable and rare pet. This is a combat pet so unique, it can’t be purchased even for two hundred thousand Alliance Coins!”
Suddenly, Jiao Yuanju had an epiphany. He whispered to himself, “It seems I’ve evolved as well!”
He felt his blood surge with excitement. His perception sharpened, with sounds and images becoming increasingly vivid. Indeed, when a pet evolves, its owner experiences the ripple effects!
“This is perfect. Now I can sign up for the Combat Pet Academy!”
Jiao Yuanju was overjoyed. For him, nothing was more thrilling than the opportunity to join the Combat Pet Academy.
He extended his arm and chuckled, “Eoldrai, off we go!”
Eoldrai flicked her tongue and coiled around Jiao Yuanju’s arm, a stark contrast to her previous self!
Together, they hurried toward the renowned Azure Academy for Combat Pets.
On their journey, they saw giant eagles as large as bulls and swift wind birds crisscrossing the sky, while various cats and dogs navigated the streets below.
The evolution had touched domestic animals as well, with some undergoing dramatic transformations and others showing little change. This evolution revolutionized the value of pets, and Combat Pet Masters now filled many roles once held by humans.
“Where’s your pet?”
Jiao Yuanju made it to Class 7 just in time for the afternoon session. Commoners without exceptional talents were placed in average classes, where teachers meticulously inspected each student’s pet.
“The flame turkey is known for its formidable combat abilities and practical use.”
“The Wind Cat isn’t too shabby either,” remarked one of the teachers as they conducted their inspections class by class. When they reached Jiao Yuanju, his Eoldrai, a small green creature, was sprawled lazily across his arm, utterly motionless.
Pei Chang, the homeroom teacher, examined Eoldrai closely and expressed his curiosity, “Is this a Phantom Snake? It seems a bit off. Could it be a variant?”
Phantom Snakes were known to have potential. Some students, lacking any innate talent and saddled with average pets, had been turned away by Azure Academy.
Jiao Yuanju breathed a sigh of relief once his admission was confirmed. With entry into the school secured, he knew he could earn Alliance Coins to help ease his family’s financial strain.
Once the entire class had assembled, Pei Chang led them to a metallic room, at the center of which stood a vast metal platform spanning dozens of meters. This was the arena for assessing the aptitude of Combat Pet Masters.
Pei Chang surveyed the group and declared with a nod of approval, “We’ll now begin the entrance combat trials to gauge the prowess of both the Combat Pets and their Masters. Who wants to step up first?”
“Teacher, I’ll go first!” A plump student couldn’t contain his eagerness and bellowed out his challenge.
Striding onto the arena with a bear that stood half as tall as a man, he surveyed the crowd below with a smug look. “I’m destined to be the strongest in Class 7. The role of class monitor is mine for the taking!”
Laughter and scorn erupted from the onlookers.
“Who do you think you are? You believe you can just claim the title of class monitor?”
“You dare boast about being the strongest? My Wind Shadow Leopard hasn’t even had its turn. What makes you so confident?”
Many of those present were from affluent backgrounds and were not easily impressed. They all understood that a Combat Pet Trainer School was no ordinary institution. Becoming class monitor meant early access to a wealth of resources and opportunities. The success of two Grandmaster Combat Pet Masters from Azure Academy, who now held significant military positions, spoke volumes.
Truth be told, most students at such a prestigious school hailed from wealthy families. A few had gained admission by merging with rather unremarkable, low-level creatures, but such individuals were often quickly weeded out. It was rare to find someone like Jiao Yuanju, who had taken it upon himself to hunt in the wild, a task demanding great courage and tenacity.
A decent pet starts at a steep price of 10,000 Alliance Coins, which is roughly the annual income of an average family—about 10,000 to 20,000. Who else but the wealthy could possibly afford one?
Jiao Yuanju remained silent. He had always maintained a low profile, even after acquiring the system. He had no interest in squabbling with the offspring of the affluent. For one, he lacked the resources to compete with them, and for another, his goal was to earn the title of a warrior through being a Combat Pet Master, enabling him to collect Alliance Coins by undertaking missions.
Pei Chang, the homeroom teacher, spoke with a nonchalant air, “Jing Mowen is already on stage. Does anyone here wish to challenge him?”
The school actually had equipment to test the synergy between students and their Combat Pets—just a simple test would suffice. But this approach showcased the students’ real skills more effectively, which is why there were arena competitions each year. It was an opportunity to strut one’s stuff in front of a crowd.
“I will!”
A burly student stepped forward. His complexion was dark, and he was solidly built. His smile was simple and honest. Following him was a creature resembling a large wolf dog, but with black, curly fur. He introduced himself, “My name is Pei Henwen, and this is my Combat Pet, the big wolf dog!”