As Kenji stepped down from the arena after his victory, a wave of relief and excitement surged through his body. His heart was still pounding from the adrenaline of the battle. After taking just a few steps, he was met by Hiroki, who greeted him with a wide grin and a friendly punch on the shoulder.
"You did it, Kenji!" Hiroki exclaimed, raising his fist in triumph. "I knew you could do it, but I have to admit, you had me doubting a couple of times."
Kenji smiled and nodded as Charmander climbed onto his shoulder, visibly exhausted but pleased.
"It was tougher than I expected," Kenji admitted. "But I learned a lot from this fight."
The two friends stayed to watch the rest of the battles. Some were brief, with combatants barely putting up a fight before being defeated, while others were spectacular duels of skill and strategy. Kenji watched intently, analyzing the different beasts that appeared. Some had impressive abilities, like a blue-scaled Velociraptor that moved so fast it was nearly impossible to track, or a Shadow Serpent, a long-bodied creature with black scales patterned in gold, which slithered across the field creating illusions to confuse its opponent.
The roars and cries of the battles echoed through the arena, accompanied by the thud of powerful blows and the cheers of the audience. The tension in the air was palpable—each battle was a testament to the fighters' determination and effort.
Finally, it was Hiroki's turn. He stepped into the arena with confidence, and his beast, a Lupirapid, prepared for battle. It was a dark gray-furred wolf with glowing yellow eyes and muscular legs built for speed. The moment the match began, its agility became evident. It moved like lightning, dodging attacks and responding with swift, precise strikes. In mere seconds, its opponent lay on the ground, unable to continue.
The announcer declared Hiroki the winner, meaning he had passed the exam and was now officially part of the academy. Kenji couldn't help but feel happy for his friend.
"That was amazing, Hiroki!" Kenji said as Hiroki stepped down from the arena. "Your Lupirapid is incredible."
"Thanks, Kenji. But now, you have to win too." Hiroki crossed his arms and winked. "You can't fall behind, right?"
Kenji nodded with determination. He knew an important battle was still ahead. Soon, his name appeared on the large screen.
"Kenji!"
The crowd turned toward the screen, and murmurs quickly spread. His opponent was a young man many seemed to recognize: Renjiro Kisaragi, a boy from a noble family renowned for their expertise in breeding and training beasts.
Beside him stood his beast, a PorcoBeast. The creature stood over five feet tall, with a robust body covered in thick metal and leather armor. Its pink skin barely peeked out from beneath the protective plates, and in its hands, it wielded a massive spiked mace. Its red eyes gleamed fiercely, and its snout snorted with disdain as it glared at Charmander. Its heavy breathing made its armor resonate with a metallic echo, a testament to its incredible durability and physical strength.
"That beast is only rank E, but its potential is impressive," Hiroki murmured, concerned.
The system provided Kenji with the following data on the Porcobeast:
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📜 Poke-System Data – PorcoBeast
📊 Level: 11
🛡 Rank: E
🐗 Type: Beast of Strength and Endurance
🔹 Abilities:
• Thunderous Mace: Strikes with its massive mace, creating shockwaves that can stun the enemy.
• Iron Hide: Its thick skin and armor reduce damage from physical and slashing attacks.
• Wild Charge: Charges forward with full weight, increasing speed in a straight line and trampling everything in its path.
• Unstoppable Fury: The more injured it gets, the stronger and faster its attacks become, entering a berserk state.
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The spectators began murmuring, and many mocked Kenji and his small orange beast.
"This is the end for that rookie."
"His beast doesn't stand a chance."
"He's going to be humiliated in minutes."
Even the record keeper chuckled at Kenji's situation. He, too, wanted to see the young fighter crushed.
Akari, however, watched the scene with concern. She knew Kenji had talent, but could he face a challenge like this?
The professor overseeing the arena gave the signal for the combatants to prepare.
"Are you ready?"
Kenji took a deep breath and nodded. Renjiro simply smirked arrogantly.
"Begin!"
"Use Wild Charge"
The Porcobeast lunged forward with surprising speed for its size. Its mace rose high into the air and came crashing down with brutal force. Kenji felt a chill as he watched the attack's trajectory.
"Charmander, dodge!"
His beast reacted instantly, leaping to the side just as the mace struck the ground with a deafening boom. The impact left a crater in the arena, kicking up dust and debris. Kenji felt a knot in his stomach, realizing the damage the attack would have caused if Charmander hadn't dodged in time.
The crowd gasped at the display of power. Even those who had underestimated the Porcobeast now seemed to take the fight more seriously. The dust still lingered in the air, covering the battlefield in a thick haze. Charmander landed nimbly, its eyes gleaming with determination as it studied its enemy carefully.
"That was close..." Hiroki murmured, tense.
Renjiro crossed his arms, confident.
"If all you do is dodge, this battle will be over very soon."
Kenji gritted his teeth. He knew this wouldn't be an easy fight. In his mind, he was already crafting a strategy. The Porcobeast wasn't just incredibly strong—it also had formidable armor that granted it considerable defense. Normal physical attacks wouldn't do much damage. He had to find a way to exploit its weaknesses.
The battle had only just begun, and Kenji already felt the weight of the audience's expectations pressing down on him. But a spark of determination ignited within him. He wouldn't give up. He would prove that both he and Charmander were stronger than anyone thought.