71 - I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets!

**[Mode Confirmed: Team Melee (No Restrictions)]** “......” “......” “We’re doomed! No hope left now!!!” “Is White Maple Institute’s second team going to be eliminated in the preliminary? This might even affect the main lineup!!” “I heard White Maple Institute excels in focusing all resources on a single battle pet strategy. This unrestricted mode puts them at a serious disadvantage...” The faces of the team members in the White Maple Institute’s training room turned ashen the moment the mode rules were announced. Even some fans started wailing and throwing tantrums in the live stream chat, bewildering many onlookers. White Maple Institute is among the top ten academies, brimming with history and achievements—certainly not a nobody like the Orchid Institute. Even if it's the second team, drawing an unsuitable mode shouldn’t warrant such pessimism, right? Yet, those who watched the Orchid Institute’s show match live stream knew the truth: the unrestricted mode is what the strongest Moonlight Rabbit truly excels at. After all, how could a beast tamer possibly have their first main battle pet as a weapon-type!? Excluding the self-operating flying sword types... At this moment, facing the live broadcast, even the second team captain showed signs of wavering, unconsciously glancing at the stoic vice-captain. The aloof woman with long, dark ink-colored hair just shook her head with a reassuring smile. She only ever mentioned that the odds of winning with a single pet were high; she never said victory was impossible in an unrestricted mode. Even in this mode, her win rate was above 70%!!! If they got a small map, White Maple Institute’s win rate could even double. **[Random Map Loading...]** **[Map Confirmed: Iron Cage Arena]** See, luck has come, hasn’t it~~~ With the map determined, the initially despairing faces of the White Maple Institute's second team regained their composure, hints of relief and delight showing beneath. Xiao Kui had mentioned before, the main battle pet of the strongest Moonlight Rabbit is a type that relies on throwing. In such a cramped map even mid-tier pets would find stifling, how could a throwing-type pet possibly exert its abilities? However... As thoughts brewed among the crowd and under the keen observation of countless viewers, a girl with golden buns and white-silk-clad feet idly gazed off into space. At that point, Lian Xing’s starlit eyes gazed vacantly at the screen, with her delicate feet swinging beneath the terminal, having nowhere else to rest. Just as a lecturer can easily spot a daydreaming student, it was blatantly clear her thoughts were wandering far from the current mode and map draw. After over ten seconds, it was only when the liquid from the jade disk beside her feet started to puddle on the floor, and the cold sensation jolted her, that Lian Xing’s eyes refocused, scanning the battle rules expressionlessly. “......” “......” “A bad feeling…” In the viewing area of White Maple Institute’s training room. Seeing the opponent’s calm demeanor, a girl with light chestnut braided hair, known as one of the top ten, Aurora, murmured softly. It was her premonition as a top-tier beast tamer. This battle won’t go well… **[Data Loaded Completely]** **[Character Logging In—]** “Shush!!!” With a flash of white light, the live broadcast camera switched to the virtual battle map. Once participants’ consciousnesses connect to the virtual battle, their physical forms in reality appear as though they’ve fallen asleep. It's noteworthy that a decade ago, a star player, due to their poor sleeping posture, lost many followers from teeth grinding, snoring, and drooling. Another player, known for their pure persona, was exposed during sleep talking to have hundreds of alternate accounts all paired with different relationships, damaging their reputation. Hence, following a collective protest from the players, the league had to change the rules, prohibiting the filming of players after the match begins. --- --- Iron Cage Arena, an extremely small map. It so happened that this was Lian Xing’s first ranked match post-transmigration, against Yin Huomei, using the very same map. It was also the only time she employed Moonlight Drive in combat, resetting the evolution path of the Moonlight Rabbit right after that match. At this moment, separated by the harsh silver bars of the small coliseum, members of White Maple Institute’s second team stood to one side, while the Orchid Institute’s first team faced them from the other. Since it was an unrestricted mode, the lineup wasn’t disclosed in advance. Participants were free to field any number of battle pets they wished. Within the 30-second countdown, summoning any-tier pets would not pre-exhaust the beast tamer’s stamina. “Shush! Shush! Shush! Shush!!!” Flashing, radiant white lights emerged consecutively, revealing the looming shadows of battle pets before the crowd. With around 20 seconds left on the countdown and after a brief strategic discussion, White Maple Institute’s second team summoned their main battle pets. There were a total of 8 battle pets now present, three of which were high-tier!!! The most striking presence belonged to a blurry, toxic grey snake coiled around the woman with deep ink black hair. It appeared biological, yet it seemed ethereal, merely parasitic on White Maple Institute’s vice-captain. High-Tier · Virus Type · Grey Ash!! Following closely was an earth-element, emitting a yellow glow. Though its design was unappealing, its rough exterior held an unexpectedly heavy and sturdy texture. High-Tier · Element Type · Earth Shield Husk!!! This was the main battle pet of the second team captain. As for the last high-tier battle pet... It belonged to the original second team vice-captain and was a sniper rifle adorned with countless compound bee eyes. The sniper rifle had a grotesque assembly of worm-like organs encasing its surface, making it difficult to even discern the muzzle, exuding a beauty of entwined forms. High-Tier · Weapon Type · Suppurating Sting!! The team’s three mains hadn’t nurtured a second pet, explaining their reluctance towards the unrestricted mode. But... Victory isn’t determined by the count! With the vice-captain’s renowned Grey Ash, regardless of how many high-tier pets were fielded by the opposition, White Maple Institute remained confident~~~ Yet— The 20 seconds countdown elapsed, and to the audience's disbelief, the Orchid Institute failed to dispatch a single battle pet!!! “What’s going on with the Orchid Institute? Are they pulling another stunt?!” “Is there a glitch with the equipment? I noticed last time the Orchid Institute used older models—are they really still functioning?” “Lian Xing, why are you just stopping? My dear Lian Xing, move already, I can’t take it!!??” “I get it! The strongest Moonlight Rabbit must be letting the entire team experience battling in the flesh themselves! They’re planning to take on 8 pets physically, firsthand experiencing a one-sided pet-master feast??!!!” “Oh, I just tried it today, let me say—being bound hand and foot to a point where even conceding isn’t an option felt astonishingly exquisite; seems this white silk sister really understands??~~” “Mind your words, this is an official match. Publicly doing that would get them banned, right???” Faced with the Orchid Institute’s baffling behavior, the live chat buzzed with heated debate. However, observing the current status of the match broadcast, Xiao Kui was feeling increasingly uneasy. She glanced meaningfully at the captain of the Aurora team who was mumbling to himself and found him frowning too. Anxiety and unease began to trickle into their hearts... At this moment, Chi Yan, standing behind Lian Xing, couldn’t restrain his curiosity and asked in confusion. “Lian Xing, is it really okay to keep it like this?” “Are you planning a 1v5?” “Shouldn’t we play it safe...?” “1v5?” Upon hearing Chi Yan’s hesitant inquiry, Lian Xing smirked softly without a change in expression. In this ultra-small map, where even mid-tier pets struggle to move, does it make any difference whether it's 1v5 or 1v500? Pointless reserve would impede movement and dodging; better to leave herself some space for the battle~~~ In reality, from the moment the mode randomized to unrestricted, this match was decided, irrelevant of the map’s scale. “Just keep yourselves safe...” “This match is on me~~~” Lian Xing wasn’t self-seeking about personal glory; she merely didn’t want to needlessly sacrifice her teammates’ battle pets. Even in virtual battles, mutual slaughter affects trust and harmony among companions. So... This is for the best~~~ As White Maple Institute surmised, the ultimate victory isn’t dictated by sheer numbers alone!! With 5 seconds remaining in the countdown, as Lian Xing’s nonchalant voice echoed, the white-furred Moonlight Rabbit leaped down from her head. **Moonlight Rabbit, Advanced Evolution—** Lian Xing watched as the Moonlight Rabbit, draped in its soft, white fur, gracefully descended and landed with a subtle poise on the arena floor. The sight captivated the entire audience, drawing whispers of awe and anticipation. This wasn't merely a continuation of formalities; it marked the unveiling of an unexpected and awe-inspiring evolution. With the rapidly ticking countdown and the palpable tension saturating the air, an ethereal transformation began to unfold before their eyes. No ordinary transformation was this—rather, it was the advanced evolution of the Moonlight Rabbit, an extraordinarily rare spectacle that few had ever witnessed firsthand. The moonlight from the virtual sky above seemed to coalesce around the small creature, its once adorable features adopting a more refined, almost majestic aura. Its fur shimmered like pristine silver thread, each fiber catching and refracting the ambient light as though imbued with moonbeams themselves. Gentle, yet undeniable power emanated from it. This was a power borne not from size or brute strength, but from the elegant intersection of grace and precision, held in balance by the arcane forces of the lunar essence. Sleek, elongated ears twitched attentively as they captured the tiniest vibrations within the arena, painting a mental landscape of their surroundings that no ordinary eye could perceive. Its paws, enhanced and surefooted, barely disturbed the ground it stood upon, poised as if it were weightless. This advanced form of the Moonlight Rabbit spoke of ancient lunar magic whispered through legends—powers that controlled tides, manipulated the very light of the moon, and danced upon the edges of reality itself. As the final seconds of the countdown faded, a hush descended upon the audience. The stage was set for a battle where legends would be written and a new chapter of history forged. With Lian Xing’s unwavering gaze fixed firmly on the battlefield and a subtle, unwavering confidence etched upon her face, she declared softly yet undeniably: "Let’s show them what you can really do. Let the moonlight guide us to victory." Thus began the tale of the Moonlight Rabbit—a creature of humble beginnings now poised to etch its legacy against the backdrop of the Iron Cage Arena, reminding all who faced it that sometimes, the most seemingly inconspicuous adversary harbors the mightiest surprise.