Chapter 8: Strength Test II (Second Update)

Chapter 8: Strength Assessment · Part II (Second Update)

The moment Andy announced the start of the battle, Baili Yuan released Bulbasaur, Poliwag, and Oddish.

Andy and the elders nodded at Baili Yuan’s decisiveness. Releasing one’s contracted beasts the instant a battle begins is a wise choice and a basic quality that a summoner should possess.

However, their gazes were currently fixed more on the spirits Baili Yuan had summoned.

For a summoner, the quantity and quality of the contracted beasts brought forth during the emblem awakening are crucial. While they don't determine a summoner's entire future, they have a significant impact on their early development. An excellent contracted beast can save a summoner a lot of trouble and greatly enhance their strength.

Furthermore, the contracted beasts that appear with the emblem reflect the summoner’s talent and power alignment. Generally, a summoner’s future choices for contracted beasts and the formation of their team are built around their first contracted beast.

"Three of them?"

"Not bad, not bad."

The emblem bringing forth three contracted beasts proved that Baili Yuan’s talent was quite good.

"Two Wood-attribute, one Water-attribute. He will likely follow the path of a control-type or recovery-type summoner in the future," one elder analyzed.

Wood and Water attributes are recognized as non-violent attributes; Wood leans toward control, while Water leans toward recovery.

"However, these three contracted beasts don't seem to be known species. Could they be beasts from another world?" An elder raised an eyebrow.

The other elders observed the three spirits and eventually nodded.

"They are indeed not known contracted beasts."

"Haha, we’ve really struck gold."

Contracted beasts brought by a summoner’s emblem are divided into two types: "Native," meaning the beast exists within the local world, and "Otherworldly," meaning the beast comes from another dimension!

Compared to native types, otherworldly contracted beasts are more popular. This isn't necessarily due to strength, but because of a lack of intelligence regarding them. It is impossible to judge their specific strength and abilities; enemies can only guess based on attributes and past experience, often allowing the summoner to devise tactics that catch the enemy off guard during battle.

Moreover, emblems that bring forth otherworldly beasts have the potential to establish a channel connecting to that other world. Through this channel, a summoner can contract more beasts from that realm.

However, the execution of this depends on the summoner themselves. Some summoners can easily open the channel within their emblem, while others never manage to do so in their entire lives, eventually being forced to contract native beasts. While native beasts are not necessarily weaker than otherworldly ones—some are even stronger—they are much easier for enemies to counter.

After all, having fought the beasts of their own world for so many years, countless strategy guides have been written for common species. Just knowing a name is enough to fill pages with counter-tactics. Of course, this excludes cases where the contracted beast is a rare species.

"But these three don't look like particularly powerful contracted beasts," an elder questioned.

The other elders were taken aback. Upon reflection, it was true; none of these three looked particularly aggressive. They looked more like cute pets. In fact, the frog-like one was already licking Baili Yuan’s face like a puppy.

"Don't judge by appearances. Let's observe during the battle," Andy said.

The elders nodded.

Even so, they were worried. If the beasts were truly just pets for show, it would mean Baili Yuan’s summoner emblem was effectively useless.

After all, if the contracted beasts couldn't fight, would the summoner have to engage in hand-to-hand combat himself?

"By the way, Dean, what beast did you arrange for Little Yuan?" an elder asked.

Andy revealed a mysterious smile and did not answer.

At that moment, on the field, a hole appeared in the wall opposite Baili Yuan. A beastly roar echoed from within, as if some creature were charging out.

"Alright, everyone, stop messing around. Get focused and prepare for battle!" Baili Yuan commanded.

The three spirits nodded and stood in a triangular formation, shielding Baili Yuan behind them.

The stats of the three spirits were as follows

Bulbasaur: Grass/Poison, Level 6, Nature: Jolly, Ability: Chlorophyll. Learned skills: Tackle, Growl, Vine Whip. Height: 0.7 meters.

Poliwag: Water, Level 5, Nature: Cheerful, Ability: Water Absorb. Learned skill: Bubble. Height: 0.6 meters.

Oddish: Grass/Poison, Level 3, Nature: Bold, Ability: Chlorophyll. Learned skill: Tackle. Height: 0.5 meters.

Unlike the settings in "Remake," the spirits appearing in the real world had already awakened their abilities. In the game, they would need to reach their final evolution to awaken them, yet these three spirits had already done so.

After all, these spirits were living, breathing beings!

Baili Yuan was somewhat suspicious. Since these spirits had become true living beings, would there be more situations in the future that differed from the settings in "Remake"?

However, he would have to wait to experiment with that later.

ROAR!

A red figure charged out of the hole, announcing its arrival.

It was a giant red wolf, estimated to be over a meter tall. Its pair of green slit pupils glowed with an eerie light even in the daylight. Its exposed fangs and sharp claws proved it was highly aggressive.

"Green-Eyed Red-Maned Wolf!"

"Its strength is almost at the First Rank!"

The elders’ expressions turned serious. It wasn't because the wolf was exceptionally strong, but because for a newly awakened emblem user, it was extremely dangerous!

The Green-Eyed Red-Maned Wolf is a relatively common beast—yes, just a beast, not even a magical beast—but it is highly aggressive. Just by looking at it, one could tell it wasn't easy to deal with. Furthermore, its speed is incredibly fast, and it has long been jokingly called the "Newbie Killer."

What’s more, this was a wolf on the verge of breaking through to the First Rank. Since Baili Yuan had only awakened as an emblem user today, even with three summoned beasts to help, the odds of defeating it were extremely slim.

"Isn't this a bit much?" an elder looked at Andy with a displeased expression.

"This is an assessment, not a way to crush Little Yuan. Isn't putting a Green-Eyed Red-Maned Wolf against him just a game?" another elder said, his tone poor, dropping the honorifics.

"Dean, tell us the truth. Do you have a grudge against Little Yuan?" an elder asked, looking at Andy seriously.

"Now that you mention it... I remember Little Yuan seems quite afraid of the Dean. Dean, what exactly did you do? Even if you are still single and can't find a partner, you shouldn't take it out on Little Yuan! He’s still just a child!"

CRACK!

The chair in front of Andy turned into a pile of fragments. Andy looked at the elders with a "kind" smile.

"I naturally have my own reasons. That child, Baili Yuan, is not as simple as he looks, and he seems unwilling to cooperate. Therefore, only a stronger enemy can test his true strength. That is my reasoning, understand?" Andy explained.

"So that's how it is." The elders finally realized, and hearing Andy’s explanation, they felt it made some sense.

"My hands have been feeling a bit itchy lately. After Baili Yuan’s test is over, let’s spar," Andy continued, smiling.

The elders’ expressions stiffened. Although they were her elders, in terms of pure strength, Andy could absolutely crush them. Otherwise, she wouldn't have reached such a high position at such a young age—the Dean of the Emblem Academy even held a status above the City Lord!

However, it was also because Andy was too strong that she faced a major problem: she couldn't find a partner!

She looked down on those weaker than her, and those stronger than her were too old. This was the awkward situation Andy found herself in.

Therefore, "not being able to find a partner" had become Andy’s minefield.

The elders suddenly remembered that they had just accidentally "stepped on a mine."

Moreover, judging by Andy’s tone, the so-called "sparring" would definitely not be as pleasant as they imagined!

However, before the elders could refuse, Andy had already reserved the training ground and looked at them with a smile.

"The training ground is already booked. We’ll start after Baili Yuan’s test ends. No need to rush, one by one!"

The elders’ bodies went rigid, their backs turning cold.

*Whoosh—*

It felt as if a freezing winter wind was blowing against their spines.