Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Stripey touched its newly grown limb amusingly, moving it around a little and seeing that there was nothing wrong with it.
My regenerative ability is amazing! thought Stripey.
It raised its two front limbs as if raising two shields high up in the air and started walking horizontally into the forest in a lawless manner, hitting things left and right. It occasionally clapped its claws together, making clunking sounds.
Stripey’s grade requirements had been fulfilled long ago. Now that it also met its level requirement, if luck were on its side, it would evolve into a Commander tier familiar within the few days. Then Gao Peng would be the owner of three Commander tier familiars! And since Stripey was a defender and controller, it would certainly make up for the shortcomings of the team.
The injury on Da Zi’s back had also recovered significantly; the wound was now only as thin as a single chopstick.
“Candidate Pan Feng eliminated. Candidate Pan Feng eliminated.” The sound reverberated in the air.
Yet another one down. Gao Peng sighed. That was the fourth or fifth of the day already.
It was just as Gao Peng had expected. Today would be the peak of elimination.
By now, the total number of eliminated candidates had reached 20 to 30.
…
On the TV program, the host of the show had become very awkward. He followed the instruction of the channel director and praised the candidates as much as he could, but it was easier said than done…
“These young monster trainers are doing their best,” the host said, maintaining his professional smile. “After all, this is the Dayang Mountain Forest. There are a lot of monsters here, and it is filled with dangers. These candidates were still only high school students not so long ago. To suddenly come into such an environment… It is normal if they can’t adapt.”
“If there is no emergency signal, then these candidates were not just eliminated. They died.” Duan Wu shook his head. “In my opinion, these students are still too naïve. They need to train more.”
The host’s headache had worsened to a toothache. Why is this guy still on my program?
Although Duan Wu’s words were hard to stomach, they were spot on.
Originally, the show had been intended as an inspirational program. The second round of the Monster Trainer College Entrance Examination was broadcast live not just in the Huaxia region, but throughout the entire world.
However, the performance of these monster trainers put the senior officials of the World Alliance Government in a very awkward position.
The elimination rate was extremely high, and the candidates’ performance during this second round of the exam was absolute rubbish, especially that of the candidates who were eliminated due to basic knowledge errors. The newbie, Little Bai, had seemed speechless when he had been eliminated. His expression was even turned into an emoticon pack that became widely used on the internet.
The terrible performance received negative reviews and boos from the initially expectant viewers. As the saying goes, “the higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment.” The taunts and ridicule online grew worse and louder.
…
“This time, it’s our mistake. Having a good performance on stage was not a guarantee that they would perform well in practice in the forest,” a five-star general said with a frown.
Seven individuals, including the leaders of multiple top areas of government, sat inside a dimly lit room.
“The reviews these monster trainers have received so far are bad. I fear they have already become a joke,” said a white elder with blue eyes, smiling. “However, one might say that this is a good thing. As long as they can endure the rumors and gossip, it will prove to be beneficial to their growth in the long run.”
“In the long run, it is beneficial. But don’t forget that the point of the upcoming Alliance’s Strongest Youth Monster Trainer General Assembly is to observe the performance of these monster trainers. Their current performance is far from sufficient to make people believe in the quality of the General Assembly. Thi is downright disastrous,” a suited black elder said with a hoarse voice.
The meeting room fell into silence.
“Perhaps we can delay the date of the Youth Monster Trainer General Assembly? Give them three months of buffer time. Perhaps this year’s Alliance’s Strongest Youth Monster Trainer General Assembly should not restrict participation either. As long as an individual is below 20 years old, he or she will be eligible to participate in the General Assembly,” one of the leaders suggested.
“Below 20 years old, huh?”
“Those below 20 years old are still considered youth; those who are above 20 years old should be considered middle-aged already,” another leader said jokingly.
“A three-month delay, huh? That could work. I hope that we can see them grow and improve during these three months.”
After a brief moment of silence, the black elder agreed, saying, “That should be alright. Let’s give these kids more time to prepare.”
After that, four agreed, one abstained from voting, and two voted against the measure.
“The measure passes,” the white elder said with a smile. “We’ll give them three more months to grow.”
“If in the three months some of the kids turn 20 years old, what’s the operating procedure? Do we take away their right to participate?” The black elder asked.
“Then we’ll move the age limit to 20 years and three months,” another leader suggested.
That measure was passed with a vote of six for and one against.
“Preposterous… You’re all simply ridiculous!” The five-star general laughed anxiously. He never would have thought that such ridiculous suggestions originating from casual chats would be passed into law so simply. These politicians seemed to have no moral integrity.
“Don’t be so stubborn,” the black elder said and then laughed heartily. A rare glimpse of mischief emerged.
Each and every one of them started laughing like children with no moral integrity.
…
“See? To get the highest score, we just need to survive the longest,” Gao Peng lectured to Dumby, Da Zi, and the others while listening to the elimination announcement that reverberated in the air.
The familiars looked at their master without shifting their attention. Although they did not understand what Gao Peng was saying, they still nodded in respect to their master.
While most of the point pillars were located in the middle of the forest, a small number of point pillars were still scattered around the periphery of the forest, so Gao Peng was focusing on finding them. Gao Peng found and destroyed one while exploring along the outer edge of the forest.
Although his score did not increase exponentially, it was growing steadily. Gao Peng felt satisfied. As long as he survived to the end of the competition, his points would be pretty high.
The narrow road along the mountain was lined with big trees that had mottled bark that looked like ravines. As Gao Peng walked along the green, rocky road, he took a deep breath and reveled in the fresh air.
The scenery of Dayang Mountain was indeed amazing, and the air quality was good too. The only downside was that murderous monsters were hidden within the beautiful scenery.
Gao Peng’s group came upon the sound of a flowing stream, accompanied by a vague croaking sound that rumbled like thunder.
Gao Peng walked over to investigate and discovered a misty stream flowing down from the depths of the mountain forest.
Rugged boulders sat on both sides of the stream, and atop the boulders sat multiple dustpan-sized blue frogs with watermelon-like patterned skin. Other frogs could be seen swimming in the stream.
Gao Peng started at them curiously.
Why do these frogs look so familiar?
Their white bellies occasionally expanded, and loud croaking sounds came from their throats.
