If she had the money to feed Sunny crystal cores every day, would she even need to participate in these exams?
Noticing Ash's odd expression, Nakul realized he had said something foolish.
Scratching his head, he let out an awkward laugh. "I'm sorry, I got a little too excited."
"But you're really impressive!" Nakul gave Ash a thumbs-up.
Then, seeing that the referee was still verifying some information, he added, "I'm looking forward to fighting you and your Larvanine."
With that, Nakul waved at Ash and returned to his side of the arena.
Meanwhile, in the audience.
Several more students who wore prestigious university uniforms entered the arena and took seats in the back rows.
This morning, 500 matches were scheduled to take place simultaneously across several arenas.
The representatives from top schools, who had received the profiles of the top 1,000 contestants in advance, could choose which matches to observe.
However, Ash and Nakul's match seemed to attract more attention than the others.
It made sense, upon reflection.
Both contestants in this match were anything but ordinary.
On one side was the first Larvanine in the history of the practical exam to make it into the top 1,000.
On the other side was Lynova who is ranked first in the number of victories in this year's practical exam.
While one of the competitors had already been preselected for Genova University due to their father's connections, that did nothing to curb the audience's curiosity about this match.
Would Larvanine and its miraculous streak of victories continue to give people a surprise, or would Lynova, the descendant of the former champion Arun Dev Mahajan's main Spirit Beast, reign it supreme?
Even before the match began, whispers of discussion had already filled the stands.
Of course, when it came to raw strength, not many people had much confidence in Ash and her Larvanine.
Even among those who had reviewed Ash's match footage after receiving the top 1,000 list yesterday, many remained skeptical.
They believed Ash's success with a Larvanine owed more to luck than skill.
After all, Larvanine were notoriously weak Spirit Beasts on Gaia, and Ash's matches often ended so quickly that they gave the impression her opponents simply weren't up to par.
As if to reinforce this sentiment, one of the school representatives stood up to leave just as the referee began preparing both contestants' Spirit Beasts for the match.
"Senior Travis? Are you heading out?"
A buzz-cut boy who is wearing the Lindbulm University uniform team looked at the boy in sunglasses walking past him and asked in confusion, "The match is about to start. Where are you going?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the boy in sunglasses replied lazily while letting out a yawn. "There's no point watching a match where the outcome is so obvious. I might as well head back and get some sleep."
The buzz-cut boy was momentarily at a loss for words.
Sure, Larvanine was undeniably weak compared to Lynova, but to write them off entirely before the match even began seemed excessively dismissive.
After all, making it into the top 1,000 wasn't something just anyone could do.
The buzz-cut boy opened his mouth to retort, but before he could say anything, the man in sunglasses waved him off and walked out of the stands without a backward glance.
His departure was as smooth and unbothered as could be.
The buzz-cut boy: "..."
Meanwhile, down below.
As the boy in sunglasses stepped out of the arena's doors, the referee on the sidelines blew the whistle that signaled the start of the match.
"Tweet—!"
The practical exam ranking match:
No. 1 vs. No. 798
Had officially begun!
...
"Next up…"
"Please go easy on me, Ash."
On the battlefield, Nakul maintained his calm smile. For him—already destined to join the senior students of Genova University on the stage of the collegiate league next year—every battle now was an opportunity to test the limits of himself and his Lynova.
To this end, Nakul never underestimated any opponent who stood before him. No matter what Spirit Beast the opponent had contracted, he and his Lynova would give their all.
"Come forth, my partner!"
Nakul raised his right hand high.
Golden patterns spread upward from his hand, half-covered by fingerless gloves. They seemed alive, converging in front of him to form a small lion with a mane resembling fiery flames.
This was Nakul's long-unrevealed Spirit Beast—Lynova.
A rare dual fire-light attribute Spirit Beast, capable of merging with its Beast Master.
"Lynova~!"
Lynova raised its head and let out a soft growl.
Though it appeared young, it already exuded the regal aura unique to lion-type Spirit Beasts. It was clearly a formidable opponent.
However...
Ash wasn't about to give up.
They had already surpassed their original goals, and every battle now was a chance to showcase themselves to the observing representatives of the top schools.
No matter how powerful the opponent, Ash and her Spirit Beast would fight to the very last moment.
Determination lit up in Ash's eyes.
"Let's go too, Sunny!"
"Larvanine!"
The green-patterned Larvanine responded with a nod before crouching low, its limbs firmly gripping the ground in anticipation of Ash's command.
In the next instant, Ash and Nakul simultaneously shouted instructions to their Spirit Beasts.
"Quick Attack!"
"Run, then use Fury!"
The moment their Beast Master gave their commands, the two Spirit Beasts charged toward each other simultaneously.
Larvanine's move was unsurprising, starting with its signature spring-enhanced Quick Attack. However, Lynova's approach caught Ash off guard—Nakul hadn't commanded it to use the standard opening move for fire-type Spirit Beasts, Flame Rush.
But Fury?
Was he aiming for an aggressive close-combat attack?
Recalling Fury's effects, Ash quickly issued a new order to her Larvanine.
"Don't get close! Keep your distance and aim your Bug Silk at the ground!"
"Too late!"
Almost simultaneously, Nakul gave his own command to Lynova.
"Charge forward and hit it with Flame Rush!"
"Lynova~!"
With a low growl, Lynova accelerated abruptly.
Its fiery mane, boosted by Fury's fire-type augment, flared up like blazing flames.