Chapter 3: Dorm Life and System Quests
The sun was beginning to set as Kai made his way toward the dormitories, Tiny following along obediently. The academy grounds were sprawling, with towering buildings and lush greenery everywhere he looked. It was hard to believe he was actually here—at one of the most prestigious beast taming schools in the world.
But as much as Kai wanted to admire the scenery, he couldn't ignore the stares. Students whispered behind his back, their voices carrying just loud enough for him to hear.
"That's the guy who fought Arden, right? With the ant?"
"Yeah, can you believe it? He actually won!"
"Still, it's just an insect. He's got a long way to go if he thinks he can keep up with the top tamers here."
Kai sighed, doing his best to ignore them. "I guess being underestimated is going to be a regular thing around here."
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**[Ding! New Quest Available]**
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Kai stopped in his tracks as the robotic voice rang out again. A glowing panel popped up in front of him, displaying the details of the new quest.
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**[Quest: Prove Your Worth]**
**Objective**: Complete a system-designated task to solidify your position at the academy.
- Subtask 1: Bond with a second insect companion.
- Subtask 2: Participate in a group activity at the academy.
**Rewards**: 200 Beast Taming Points (BTP), New Feature Unlock
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Kai tilted his head. "A second insect companion, huh? That could be interesting." He glanced at Tiny, who seemed to be watching him expectantly. "What do you think, buddy? Ready for a new friend?"
Tiny clicked its mandibles, though Kai wasn't sure if it was in agreement or just a random insect thing.
"Alright then," Kai said, grinning. "Let's see what we can find."
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### **Later That Evening**
Kai's dorm room was… modest, to say the least. A single bed, a desk, and a small window overlooking the training fields. It wasn't much, but it was better than the tiny apartment he'd grown up in back home.
After settling in, Kai sat on the edge of his bed and opened the system interface again. He tapped on the **Inventory** tab, examining the glowing icon for the Evolution Stone he'd earned earlier.
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**[Item: Evolution Stone (Medium)]**
**Description**: A rare item used to trigger the evolution of a bonded beast. Can only be used on creatures that meet certain conditions.
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Kai tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if Tiny's ready for another evolution. It might be better to wait until we've faced a few more challenges."
Before he could decide, a faint scratching noise caught his attention. Kai turned toward the window and froze.
A **giant hornet** was perched on the windowsill, its wings buzzing faintly as it stared at him with glowing red eyes.
Kai blinked. "Uh… is this normal? Do giant hornets just show up in dorm rooms?"
The system chimed in.
**[Potential Companion Detected: Giant Hornet]**
**[Would you like to initiate the bonding process?]**
Kai scratched the back of his neck. "Well, this is convenient. Alright, system, let's give it a shot."
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**[Initiating Bonding Process… Success!]**
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The hornet's eyes glowed briefly before it settled down on the desk, its aggressive buzzing calming into a soft hum.
Kai grinned. "Welcome to the team, uh… let's call you Stinger."
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**[Status Interface Updated]**
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Kai tapped the glowing panel eagerly.
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**[Status Interface – Kai Anther]**
**Name**: Kai Anther
**Title**: Insect Tamer (Beginner)
**Level**: 2
**Beast Bond Slots**: 2/2
**Bonded Beasts**:
1. **Titan Ant (Evolved)**
- Skills: Harden (Level 1), Mandible Strike (Level 1), Acid Spit (Level 1)
2. **Giant Hornet**
- Skills: Poison Sting (Level 1), Aerial Dash (Level 1)
**Inventory**:
- 1x Evolution Stone (Medium)
- 100x Beast Taming Points (BTP)
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Kai leaned back, a satisfied grin on his face. "Alright, things are starting to look up. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into tomorrow."
Tiny clicked its mandibles, and Stinger buzzed softly in agreement.