The morning light spilled across the cottage. Yin Fang stretched his arms wide, his voice echoing with satisfaction.
"Yikes, that was the most comfortable sleep I could ever get!"
"Chi!" The caterpillar squeaked from its basket, chewing on a leaf.
Yin Fang smiled. "Good morning, little guy."
"Chi! Chi!" The caterpillar bounced happily, its tiny body full of energy.
"Today is the first opening. Let's go." Yin Fang packed up after breakfast, carrying his partner to the academy.
The school grounds were alive with noise. Beast tamers crowded the courtyard, their companions beside them. The air was thick with anticipation.
"Hello everyone!" A voice boomed from the speakers.
"I am your Dean speaking. I won't waste time. Those who wish to challenge each other, head to the podium. You will be evaluated according to how you perform."
Yin Fang grinned. "Hmm, it's our time."
"Chi!" The caterpillar jumped in agreement.
A bulky man stepped onto the stage. His eyes landed on Yin Fang's partner. He burst into laughter.
"Huh? A caterpillar? Hahaha! Little kid, go home. I don't want to accidentally kill your pet."
The crowd joined in.
"Hahaha, a caterpillar?"
"Is this guy for real?"
"Imagine not even getting a cat but a caterpillar!"
The ridicule rolled like thunder. Yin Fang only smiled.
"You don't need to care so much. Just send out your beast."
The man sneered. "Alright, but don't cry later!" He roared, summoning his beast. A sand clock symbol shimmered, and a Golden Stripes Leopard emerged with a deafening roar.
"You can accept defeat now, kid."
"Nope. I will fight." Yin Fang's grin widened.
"Chi!" The caterpillar leapt from his shoulder, landing on the ground.
The leopard roared again, its sound carrying a suppressive force that silenced the crowd.
"Intimidate," Yin Fang said calmly.
"CHI!" The caterpillar's squeak shattered the leopard's roar, the sound waves collapsing back onto the beast. The leopard faltered, squatting in fear.
"Don't be scared! That's just a pest. Kill it!" The man shouted.
The leopard lunged, claws extended.
"Chi!" The caterpillar rolled aside, spitting silk.
The man laughed. "You think your pathetic web can do anything to my leopard?"
His laughter died as the silk bound the leopard's legs. The beast struggled, but the threads held firm. More webs followed, layer upon layer, until only its head remained free.
"Boom!" The leopard collapsed, trapped in a cocoon of silk.
The crowd gasped. Teachers leaned forward, stunned.
"Just like I thought. Level two Web Spitting is much stronger than level one." Yin Fang's smile was calm, almost casual.
The man's face drained of color. "H-how is this possible?!"
Whispers filled the air.
"Is that caterpillar a god?"
"How is it this strong?"
"That silk could be worth millions!"
In the observation room, a burly man spoke. "What a terrifying ability."
Another nodded. "I've never seen talent like this, especially from a caterpillar."
"This kid is a golden star. He deserves special treatment."
On the stage, the man lowered his head. "I admit defeat." He recalled his leopard into the beast space.
Yin Fang looked at the crowd. "Anyone else?"
Silence answered.
"Then that declares Yin Fang as the winner of this competition!" The loudspeaker announced.
Yin Fang muttered, disappointment in his eyes. "That's too easy."
"Chi! (True!)" The caterpillar squeaked.
Yin Fang jumped, startled. "That's you?"
"Chi! (Yeah!)" The caterpillar nodded.
"You're not even a beast though?" Yin Fang frowned.
"Chi! (You increased my racial ability. The beast space accepts me now. I'm far different from the rest of my kind.)"
Yin Fang was stunned. The system could break racial barriers.
Later, in the marketplace, Yin Fang approached a bulky merchant.
"I want to sell silk. Are you trustworthy?"
The man laughed. "This Old Li is the best silk purchaser in the city. I won't scam you."
Yin Fang handed him a bundle.
The man's eyes widened. "What quality! A dress made from this could sell for half a million!" He smacked the silk in his hands. "Where did you get this?"
Yin Fang smiled. "We're business partners. And what businessman tells his secrets?"
"Haha, good one! I'll buy this for one hundred thousand."
"Deal."
A robotic voice chimed from Yin Fang's watch.
[100,000 has been transferred to your bank account.]
The merchant grinned. "You're a beast master?"
"You can say that." Yin Fang replied.
Back at the cottage, Yin Fang placed two crystals before the caterpillar.
"The red one is an attack skill called Web Assault. The white one is movement, Silent Web Series. Break them both."
"Crack! Crack!" The caterpillar bit them down. White light erupted, entering its consciousness.
Yin Fang nodded. "Alright, I'll upgrade Web Assault to level two."
Red chains appeared, glowing before wrapping around the caterpillar.
"So the chains change color according to the skill type," Yin Fang thought. "Attack red, speed yellow, defense blue."
When the light faded, Yin Fang gasped. Two pincers had grown from the caterpillar's mouth.
"Use your new skill on that rock."
The caterpillar spat multiple threads, weaving them into a pointed spear.
"Boom!" The silk pierced the boulder, leaving a crack and a hole two centimeters wide.
Yin Fang was stunned. "This might kill a person if I'm not careful." He glanced at the panting caterpillar. "It's powerful, but it consumes a lot of energy. This will be our trump card."
That night, Yin Fang poured himself a cup of wine. He raised it toward the flickering candlelight.
"To breaking barriers," he whispered. "To turning weakness into strength. And to the day when even a caterpillar can shake the heavens."
The caterpillar squeaked softly, curling beside him. Together, they drifted into sleep, exhausted but bound by a promise that tomorrow would bring greater trials.