Monster Pet Evolution

From the stands rose the audience's thunderous cheer and applause. The host continued. "We're pleased to have a new generation of monster trainers participate in our first ever World Youth Trainer Championships today! If you could all just bear with me a little longer and allow me to explain the rules of the tournament..."

In the referees' rest area, Gao Peng yawned.

There were two other referees in there with him. Both of them were top-tier trainers from the Monster Trainer League who each had a Lord-tier familiar of their own.

Gao Peng didn't even bother listening to the rules of the tournament.

The only thing he needed to know about refereeing was making sure that the rules were observed by both parties. Before he left, his grandfather had reminded Gao Peng that he should take the role of referee seriously.

"Show everyone out there that this is how we do things in Huaxia, openly and without resorting to underhanded tricks. Show everyone that we can accept our losses with as much grace and dignity as any other region!"

Gao Peng couldn't find any fault in his grandfather's words. If the Huaxia team lost, they would just have to try again in the next championship.

Also, as a referee, he didn't need to know the rules in detail. He just needed to make sure that the participating familiars weren't injured too badly at the end of a match.

The contestants had entered the waiting area, which was divided according to the regions they represented.

In the Huaxia section, after listening to the rules of the tournament, Han Lei sighed and said to his teammates, "You guys nervous?"

None of them responded. Some chewed on things in their mouths to calm their nerves. Some were simply listening to their headphones on the available sofas. Some had their eyes glued to their phones.

Han Lei felt awkward about this. He knew that the only reason his teammates didn't seem to think too much of him was because he was only a replacement member of the team.

So what if I'm just a replacement? I made it on the team through sheer talent. Though most of you were ranked higher than me, who's to say that luck didn't have anything to do with it?

Han Lei turned his attention to the television, which was now broadcasting what was going on outside on the field.

I'll show you all how much I've changed, Han Lei swore to himself silently.

After Gao Peng had retired from the team, his father, Han Yuanming, had pulled a couple strings to bring Han Lei onto the team. However, it was exactly then that people had begun to whisper unsavory rumors about him.

This had enraged Han Lei. He simply wanted nothing more than to prove himself to the world.

I, Han Lei, am definitely not weaker than Gao Peng. Anything he can do, I can do better!

The door to the resting area suddenly opened. One of the workers came in and announced, "We're going to draw lots for the first round now."

All twelve participants exited the room. Being one of the most populous regions in the world, the Huaxia region was able to turn out a high number of quality Monster Trainers and so had the most representatives in the championship.

Of course, there were exceptions to this rule. For instance, though the Kushan region had a high population density as well, its team only had six members.

"Let's invite our contestants to come up on stage and pick their opponents for the first round," said the host.

All eyes across the globe were now glued to their television sets, computers, and phones as young Monster Trainers of all shapes and sizes walked on the stage.

Someone excitedly nudged his neighbor in the stands. "Look, that's the one representing our region."

"Oh, he's got quite a... personality."

Most of the audience had come from various regions to support their teams.

"Ah Xi, look at how handsome the contestant representing the Goryeo region is!"

"Look at how big Jin Muen's eyes are. He had them done in Lihe Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, just like me!"

"What a coincidence, me too!"

There were 64 participants in total. Only 32 of them would go on to the next round. In the third and final round, the remaining 16 participants would be pitted against each other in order to determine who the strongest Monster Trainer of them all was.

In the first and second rounds, participants could rest assured that they wouldn't be matched against others from the same region. However, there would be no such rule in the third round.

After the lot-drawing process, all the participants left the stage. The results were then displayed on the huge screen above the field.

Han Lei of the Huaxia region would be up against Lucas of the Great Britain region in the first match.

There was no definite rule as to which referee should go out first. Any one of them could choose to referee any match that they wanted.

Aware of the tension between Gao Peng and Han Lei, one of the referees said to him, "Do you want this one?"

He figured that such a gesture would help him be on good terms with a genius like Gao Peng.

The other referee simply let them be.

"Thanks. When all this is over, let's have lobster for dinner tonight. My treat," said Gao Peng.

Han Lei clenched his fist as he came down from the stage. He had wanted to prove himself to the world. However, he hadn't expected such an opportunity to arrive so soon.

Han Lei proceeded to bring out his familiar: a 13-foot-tall, 22-foot-long Skeletal Rhinoceros.

It was a rare Commander-tier Ghoul-type familiar. As a Ghoul-type monster, it would be particularly resistant to physical attacks. Han Lei had seen Lucas' file. In fact, he had read through everyone's files. If he remembered correctly, Lucas's familiar was a gorilla that specialized in close-quarter combat.

Victory is mine, thought Han Lei.

Two metal gates facing each other on the field slowly rose up. The Skeletal Rhinoceros padded heavily through one of them, carrying Han Lei, who was now wearing a red uniform, on its back.

Though Han Lei maintained a calm exterior, deep down he was bursting with excitement. Take a good look at the future champion, everyone!

Just then, what appeared to be a mass of black mud rolled into the field from the other metal gate. Beside it stood a blond-haired boy in a purple uniform. He smiled radiantly as he walked past the metal gate and waved at the cameras and the audience, who burst into uproarious cheers.

Han Lei felt somewhat bitter about this. He had to admit that Lucas was more good-looking than him, if only slightly.

Is the world really that shallow?

The two contestants stood 30 feet from each other. Tension now filled the air between the two.

Another metal gate slowly rose up in a corner of the field. "Let's now welcome our youngest referee to the stage—Gao Peng!" announced the host.

Han Lei was stunned when he heard the name.

Gao Peng?

The name sounded familiar.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. Could it actually have been him?!

No, of course not, it's probably some guy whose name just happens to be Gao Peng. There must be thousands of Gao Pengs out there. There's no way it's him, thought Han Lei.

Then he turned to look at the referee who had stepped onto the field and couldn't believe his eyes.

Gao Peng! You're our referee?!