The short break between matches was over. Lin Ke was summoned to the arena for his second battle.
His opponent, Zhang Shan, was already waiting on the field. He was a sturdy youth with a serious expression. At his feet sat his battle pet, an Iron-shelled Beetle. The creature was about the size of a large dog, its entire body encased in a thick, black carapace that gleamed like polished metal. It was the epitome of a walking fortress.
As Lin Ke entered the arena, the crowd's discussion immediately focused on the matchup.
"This is it for Lin Ke. His Rock Vole's attacks are all physical. There's no way it can break through the Iron-shelled Beetle's defense." "Zhang Shan's strategy is simple but effective: he just curls up and lets the opponent exhaust themselves. Then he hits back. It's a perfect counter for agile but low-damage pets." "The bookworm's tactical tricks won't work against absolute defense."
Zhang Shan clearly shared the crowd's sentiment. "Your luck runs out here," he said, his voice flat. "My beetle's defense is flawless. Surrender now and you can avoid having your pet get hurt."
Lin Ke simply gave a slight smile. "We'll see."
"Both sides, ready? Begin!" the examiner announced.
"Beetle, Iron Fortress!" Zhang Shan commanded without hesitation.
The Iron-shelled Beetle immediately tucked its legs and head under its body, becoming a seamless, armored dome. It was the creature's signature defensive stance, drastically increasing its resistance to physical attacks.
Lin Ke knew a direct assault was pointless. "Circle it. Probe with Rock Throw," he commanded.
The Rock Vole began to move, circling the motionless beetle. It flicked stones with precision, each one striking the black carapace with a sharp clink. The stones bounced off harmlessly, not even leaving a scratch.
The crowd sighed collectively. It was exactly as they had predicted. The Rock Vole's attacks were like pebbles thrown against a tank.
Zhang Shan smirked. "See? It's useless. Just give up."
Lin Ke ignored him, his eyes glowing faintly with the light of the Gene Editor. He wasn't just attacking; he was gathering data.
[Target: Iron-shelled Beetle (Iron Fortress state)] [Analysis: Shell integrity at 100%. No weak points detected on the outer surface.] [Energy Scan: Subject is expending a low but constant amount of energy to maintain this defensive state.] [Tactical Note: The subject must uncurl to launch an attack. The moment it re-configures its shell is its moment of maximum vulnerability.]
"Keep up the pressure," Lin Ke ordered. "Don't give it a moment to rest."
For a full minute, the Rock Vole continued its relentless but seemingly futile assault, peppering the beetle's shell with stones from all angles.
Zhang Shan's patience began to wear thin. He was winning, but the passive nature of the battle was starting to feel humiliating. "Enough playing around! Beetle, use Rollout!" he finally roared.
The Iron-shelled Beetle uncurled and immediately tucked itself into a ball, launching forward like a massive bowling ball, rumbling across the arena floor straight towards the Rock Vole.
The crowd gasped. Rollout was a powerful attack that combined both speed and crushing force.
"He's finally attacking!" "The Rock Vole has to dodge! If that hits, it's over!"
But Lin Ke's command was something no one expected. "Hold your ground. Use Rock Harden."
His voice was calm, almost serene. The Rock Vole, hearing the command, stopped its retreat. It planted its feet firmly on the ground. A deep, earthy yellow energy enveloped its body, and its shell instantly became as dense and solid as granite.
It did not dodge. It braced for impact.
BOOM!
The sound of the collision was deafening. The rolling Iron-shelled Beetle slammed directly into the tiny, stationary Rock Vole.
The audience flinched, expecting to see the Rock Vole sent flying out of the arena. But what they saw defied all logic.
The Rock Vole slid back a few meters from the force of the impact, its feet carving two deep grooves in the arena floor. But it stood its ground. Its hardened shell, though showing a tiny crack, had withstood the full force of the attack. It hadn't been crushed. It hadn't even fallen over.
A dead silence fell over the entire venue. Zhang Shan's jaw dropped. The examiners in the monitoring room leaned forward in their seats, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Now," Lin Ke's voice cut through the silence, sharp as a whip. The beetle, its Rollout attack halted, was momentarily unbalanced. "Target the third segment of its left leg joint. Full power. Tackle!"
The Rock Vole, ignoring the tremor in its own body, shot forward like a cannonball. It slammed its hardened body directly into the tiny, vulnerable joint in the beetle's leg armor that had been exposed for just a fraction of a second during the attack.
CRACK!
A sound different from the previous impacts echoed through the arena. The Iron-shelled Beetle let out a piercing shriek of pain and its defensive form crumbled as it collapsed onto its side, its leg clearly broken.
"Iron-shelled Beetle has lost the ability to battle," the examiner announced, her voice tinged with astonishment. "The winner... is Lin Ke!"