The last vestiges of light from the evolution faded, leaving the quiet hum of the laboratory equipment. Lin Ke and his newly evolved partner stood for a moment in silent communication. The Terran Titan Vole, now standing as tall as Lin Ke's waist, took a deliberate step out of the containment pod. Its movements were no longer the quick, skittering motions of a small creature, but the heavy, grounded steps of a being with immense power held in reserve.
It walked over to Lin Ke and gently nudged its massive, obsidian-plated head against his hand. Despite its intimidating new form, the look in its intelligent amber eyes was the same: one of absolute loyalty and affection. The Soul Pact between them felt stronger, clearer, and more profound than ever before.
"You're incredible," Lin Ke said, a proud smile spreading across his face as he ran his hand over the smooth, rune-etched armor on its back. "But let's see what you can really do. To the training yard."
He led the Titan Vole up from the lab and into the bright sunlight of his private training yard. The difference was staggering. The creature that had once been a small pet now looked like a genuine monster, a guardian of the earth.
"First, a simple speed test," Lin Ke instructed. "Sprint from here to the far wall."
The Titan Vole crouched, its powerful hind legs tensing. With a push that cracked the earth beneath its feet, it launched forward. It was not the lightning-fast blur of a speed-type pet, but its charge was deceptively fast, a rumbling, unstoppable force that covered the thirty-meter distance in a few short seconds. Its raw power was self-evident.
"Excellent," Lin Ke nodded, making mental notes. "Now, let's test the upgrade. Use Advanced Rock Harden."
The Titan Vole stomped its foot. The amber runes on its shell flared to life, and a thick, crystalline coating, far denser and more complex than its previous skill, enveloped its body. It looked less like hardened rock and more like a suit of polished, magical armor. Lin Ke knew instinctively that its defensive capabilities had increased tenfold.
"Now for the new weapon," Lin Ke said, his excitement growing. He pointed to a reinforced training dummy at the end of the yard. "Target. Use Earth Spike."
The Titan Vole turned to face the dummy. It didn't throw anything. It didn't charge. It simply raised its front paw and slammed it down onto the ground with immense force.
THOOM!
The ground itself erupted. A line of sharp, jagged rock spikes, each over a meter tall, shot up from the earth in a rapid sequence, racing across the yard and impaling the training dummy from below. The final spike lifted the dummy into the air, holding it there for a moment before crumbling back into the earth.
Lin Ke stared, impressed. It was a powerful, ranged, ground-based attack. His partner was no longer helpless against distant or aerial opponents. It now controlled the very battlefield it stood on.
Finally, he focused on the new passive skill listed in the Gene Editor's profile. "Editor, analyze 'Titan's Will'."
[Skill: Titan's Will (Passive)] [Description: A state of innate fortitude derived from the 'Titan' gene. Subject possesses a heightened resistance to pain, fear, and mental status effects. All incoming damage is passively reduced by 20%.]
Lin Ke let out a low whistle. It was an incredible passive ability, explaining how his partner had endured the intense pain of the evolution. It was a skill that made a tank even tankier.
With its enhanced defense, a new ranged attack, and a powerful damage-reduction passive, his Terran Titan Vole was now a true A-Rank potential powerhouse. His plans, which once seemed distant, now felt much more attainable. His gaze drifted to his terminal, where the information about the 'Starfall Auction' was saved. To participate in an event like that, he would need more than just his initial prize money. He needed capital, and the best way for a tamer to earn capital was to take on missions.
He now had the power to do so safely and efficiently.
A new plan formed in his mind. Before his next long-term expedition into the wilderness to hunt for corrupted essence, he would put his new partner to the test in real combat. He would dive into the Guild's mission board and take on the most lucrative C-Rank quests he could find. It was time to build his war chest. It was time for the world to see what a real titan could do.