Lin Ke did not sleep for the entire night. He sat at his desk, his gaze fixed on the small, slumbering figure in the pet bed. The faint, earthy yellow glow surrounding the Rock Vole gradually faded as the night wore on, absorbed back into its body.
His mind was a mixture of anticipation and nervous energy. The Gene Editor had confirmed the success of the procedure, but seeing the data on a screen was different from witnessing the results with his own eyes.
Just as the first rays of dawn pierced through the window, the Rock Vole's eyelids twitched.
It woke up.
It stretched its small body, a gesture it had done countless times before, but this time, there was a subtle difference. Its movements seemed more fluid, more coordinated. It hopped out of its bed and stood on the floor, looking around with a newfound clarity in its eyes.
"Ji!" It let out a cheerful squeak, a sound that was noticeably more energetic and crisp than before.
Lin Ke's eyes were locked onto his pet, and the blue light of the Gene Editor was already active, scanning every detail.
The changes were not dramatic on the surface. The Rock Vole's size was the same. Its grayish-brown color had perhaps become a shade deeper, more lustrous. The rocky shell on its back now had a faint, metallic sheen to it, looking denser and more solid. They were subtle improvements, the kind an ordinary person might not even notice.
But in Lin Ke's vision, the data panel told a completely different story.
[Individual Name: Rock Vole] [Attribute: Rock] [Rank: E- (Previously F)] [Genetic Potential: Low (Previously Extremely Low)]
[Stats]
Strength: 8 (Previously 5)
Agility: 7 (Previously 4)
Defense: 12 (Previously 8)
Energy Conversion Rate: 25% (Previously 10%)
[Skills]
Tackle (Basic)
Rock Throw (Basic)
Rock Harden (New) - Compresses the rocky shell on its back, temporarily increasing defense by 50%. Requires significant energy.
Lin Ke's breath hitched. He had expected an improvement, but the scale of it was staggering. Every single one of its core stats had increased by more than 50%. Its official rank had even climbed from F to E-. This was a qualitative leap!
The most crucial change was the Energy Conversion Rate. This stat determined how efficiently a battle pet could absorb energy from food and the environment to fuel its growth and skills. A higher rate meant faster growth and better stamina in battle. The S-17 gene fragment had indeed been the primary bottleneck suppressing the Rock Vole's potential.
"Little guy, come here," Lin Ke said, his voice filled with suppressed excitement.
The Rock Vole bounded over to him, its movements visibly faster and more agile than the day before.
"Let's test your new skill. Use Rock Harden."
"Ji!" The Rock Vole focused, letting out a determined squeak. Its body tensed. A deep yellow, earthy energy flowed from its body and converged on the shell on its back. The shell, which already looked tougher, now seemed to shrink slightly, becoming visibly denser. Its surface took on the hard, polished look of granite.
Lin Ke reached out and tapped the hardened shell. It was as solid as steel.
"Incredible," he whispered. "This level of defense... it's already comparable to a dedicated defensive pet like the Iron-shelled Beetle."
The skill lasted for about ten seconds before the hardened effect faded, and the Rock Vole looked visibly tired. The energy cost was, as the editor noted, significant. It wasn't a skill that could be used carelessly.
But it was a trump card. A decisive, game-changing ability.
Lin Ke picked up his reborn pet, his heart filled with pride and confidence. He looked at the clock on the wall. The second round of the battle assessment was about to begin.
"Zhang Shan and his Iron-shelled Beetle..." he thought, a confident smile playing on his lips. "He thinks he's my perfect counter? He has no idea what he's about to face."
The bookworm with the pet rock was about to shock everyone. Again.