Ash's Determination

At night.

Ash sat at her desk, propping her forehead up with one hand while staring blankly at her journal which is now filled to the brim with her meticulous notes.

The soul contract she had formed didn't seem to have changed much about her life with Larvanine.

But Ash knew this was only temporary.

From the moment she became Larvanine's Beast Master, the weight of responsibility had settled firmly on her shoulders.

She had to shoulder the duties of being a Beast Master and nurture Larvanine into a strong Spirit Beast.

This wasn't just for her own sake—it was for Larvanine as well.

Because in this world, lifespan theory was a reality!

Yes, lifespan theory.

Many things Ash could previously ignore now had to be confronted the moment she became a Beast Master.

In truth, it wasn't difficult to understand.

After all, reality wasn't a game.

Insects had short growth cycles and high reproductive rates.

If they could exist forever, as they did in games, what room would there be for other creatures to survive in this world?

Even in the Pokémon games Ash knew so well, there had been subtle hints about lifespan theory.

However, because those games were marketed primarily to children, the official creators seldom showcased this harsher side of the world.

But just because it wasn't shown didn't mean it didn't exist, right?

Of course not!

Take, for example, the first Pokémon Ash Ketchum captured in the Pokémon anime—Butterfree.

The Butterfree evolved from a Caterpie.

In the anime, Butterfree didn't stay with Ash Ketchum for long.

It fell for another Butterfree, leading Ash Ketchum to release it so it could pursue its happiness.

After that, the two of them were never reunited, at least not before she was whisked away to this world.

However, many Pokémon players believed the reason there was no continuation to that story was likely because the official creators couldn't bear to show what came next.

In the real-world analogy of Butterfree's species, male butterflies typically die shortly after mating.

Female butterflies might live slightly longer, but they usually succumb to death after laying their eggs.

This is the unavoidable reality of lifespan theory that governs all life.

Even though the Spirit Beast of this world, thanks to their unpredictable evolutionary paths, have three opportunities to achieve a significant leap in their life essence, Larvanine isn't an exception.

Frankly speaking, based on all the evolutionary routes Ash has painstakingly researched, even if her Larvanine eventually evolves into a higher lifeform in its Growth or Adult stages, its lifespan would still pale in comparison to that of humans.

Let alone now, when it is still in its lowest and most fragile Baby stage!

This is why Ash must get into the Spirit Beast Department.

In the past, her desire to enter this field was driven by a hope for a different and exciting future.

However, now, it was no longer a matter of ambition—it was a necessity.

She needed to nurture Larvanine, and only the Spirit Beast Department could provide the vast resources required for its growth.

Ash had to pass the entrance exam—not with a "let's give it a try" attitude, but with absolute resolve to make it into the top 30% of accepted candidates.

With this thought, Ash's gaze shifted back to her journal.

It contained all the information she had gathered over the past night about the Spirit Beast Department Practical Exam.

Some of it came from the old man she'd spoken to at the library and some from her own online research over the last two months.

In summary, the entrance exam was divided into two stages.

1. The Written Exam.

This exam took place before the national high school graduation exams, usually around April or May.

While the scores from this test weren't factored into the final admissions criteria, they determined whether a candidate could advance to the second stage: the combat trial.

It served as the first stepping stone toward entering the Spirit Beast Departement.

The written exam primarily covered foundational knowledge about Spirit Beast from high school textbooks and essential concepts that any Beast Master should know.

Ash had read online reviews and felt this part wouldn't be too difficult for her.

As long as she memorized the material, she was confident she could pass.

2. The Combat Trial.

This was the core of the entrance exam.

The results of this stage determined not only whether a candidate could enter the Spirit Beast Department but also which universities they might be accepted into.

For Ash, this was the most daunting challenge and her biggest concern.

The reason was simple: compared to the Spirit Beast that was raised in breeding facilities or Spirit Beast Reserve, Larvanine was already at a disadvantage due to its species.

And that wasn't even considering the other factors at play.

Ash flipped to a blank page in her notebook, picked up a ballpoint pen, and wrote the words "Silk Thread".

This was the only move that Sunny could use.

Despite its dual Terra-type and Venenum-type, the number of moves it knew was painfully few.

Even if Ash generously included Body Blow—which didn't really count as a proper move—its current skill pool was still pitifully limited to just two moves.

This was the epitome of a nightmare start.

Ash bit the cap of her pen and scribbled a few other potential moves she had seen in the Spirit Beast Compendium that Larvanine might eventually learn.

But soon, she crossed them all out again.

It was pointless.

Larvanine's skill pool was far too shallow.

Unless it evolved to a higher stage, it simply had no effective offensive options.

Ash let out a deep sigh, finally understanding what it truly meant to be "a cook without ingredients."

No matter how many clever strategies she could think of to turn weakness into strength, none of it mattered without the akill to back them up.

"There's no hope at all…" Ash sighed again, tearing out the messy page she had just doodled on.