Chapter 8: The Junior Breeding License – The Theory of Life
Before the grand stage of the Championship, Leo had to secure his professional standing. In the Tamer Alliance, talent is respected, but Licenses are law. To participate in high-level research or access restricted evolution materials, one must hold a Breeding License.
The Junior Breeding License Exam was held at the regional Alliance Hub. Unlike school tests, this was open to all ages, and the failure rate was a staggering 70%.
Part 1: The Encyclopedia of a Million Species
The first part of the exam was a four-hour marathon of Identification and Pathing. Candidates were shown 500 different beast parts, scat samples, and mana-signatures. They had to identify the species, its current health, and its three most common evolution paths.
Leo sat at his terminal. The Sovereign's Insight hummed in the back of his mind, but he didn't even need it for the basic questions. His years of working the Heart Ranch and studying with his mother, Lily, had turned him into a living library.
Question 42: Identify this scale. List the primary deficiency and the corrective nutrient.
Leo's Answer: Species: Jade-Scale Serpent (Sub-adult). Deficiency: Earth-Elemental Malnutrition. Corrective Nutrient: Powdered Core of a Level 15 Rock-Golem mixed with Star-Grass juice.
[SYSTEM: Accuracy 100%. Processing Speed: 4x Average.]
[New Knowledge Unlocked: 'Rare Genetic Mutations of the Desert Biome']
While other candidates were sweating and flipping through digital handbooks, Leo's fingers blurred across the holographic keyboard. He finished the 500 questions with two hours to spare.
Part 2: The Logic of Synthesis (The Hidden Variable)
The second part was the true "Wall" for most breeders. It was the Synthesis Theory. Candidates were given a hypothetical beast with a "Stunted Growth" condition and a list of 50 random materials. They had to create a 12-step chemical and mana-based reaction to trigger an evolution despite the stunt.
This wasn't about memory; it was about Creative Logic.
[SYSTEM: Analyzing Hypothetical Scenario...]
[Subject: Fire-Maned Lion (Stunted by Ice-Poison)]
[Available Materials: 50 items (Including Sun-Stone, Frost-Moss, Charcoal, etc.)]
Most candidates chose the "Standard Purge" method—using the Sun-Stone to burn out the poison. But Leo saw the Hidden Path.
"If I use the Sun-Stone now, the heat shock will kill a stunted lion," Leo muttered.
He began typing a revolutionary method:
Use Frost-Moss to crystallize the poison further, making it brittle.
Use Charcoal to absorb the mana-residue.
Apply a low-frequency Vibration Pulse (simulated via mana) to shatter the brittle poison.
Only then, use the Sun-Stone to jumpstart the dormant Fire-Core.
The Shock of the Examiners
In the observation room, the Head Examiner, Master-Breeder Silas, stared at Leo's screen.
"He's using a Cold-to-Heat inversion logic," Silas whispered, his eyes wide. "That's a Master-level concept. Who is this boy?"
"That's Leo Heart," an assistant replied. "Lily Heart's youngest."
"It doesn't matter whose son he is," Silas snapped, though he was smiling. "This logic is flawless. He's not just answering the questions; he's rewriting the textbook. Look at Part 2, Question 10. He found a Hidden Primordial Path for a common Water-Sparrow that hasn't been documented in three centuries!"
The Results of the Theory Phase
As the bell rang to end the second part, Leo stretched his arms. Samuel, who was taking the "Junior Tamer" exam in the next hall, ran over.
"How was it, Leo? I barely passed my 'Beast Habitats' section!"
"It was interesting," Leo said, his eyes glancing at his System notifications.
[DING!]
[Theory Exam Part 1 & 2 Completed.]
[Score: 2000/2000 (Perfect Distinction)]
[Achievement: 'Theoretical Sage' – Increases success rate of manual evolutions by 5%.]
[System Points Gained: +1,500]
The digital board in the lobby refreshed.
Rank 1: Leo Heart (Distinction)
Rank 2: Elena Frost (High Pass)
...
Rank 89: Marcus Vance (Borderline Pass)
Marcus, who had barely scraped by, stared at the board in silent fury. He had spent thousands of credits on tutors, yet he was nearly 1,400 points behind Leo.
"Part 3 is tomorrow," Marcus hissed as he passed Leo. "Theory is just words. Let's see you 'evolve a pet' under the Alliance's pressure-cooker environment. I've brought a Silver-Grade Lightning Hawk. What do you have? A snail?"
Leo looked at Nova, the Astro-Void Snail currently hidden in his cloak, and Kael, the Void-Dragon sleeping in his soul space.
"I have enough, Marcus," Leo said calmly. "Just make sure your Hawk doesn't faint when the real power shows up."