What does it mean when a pet evolves incorrectly?

The Flameclaw Beast lay there quietly, its two front paws crossed under its chin, its orange-yellow pointed head tilted slightly upward, staring unblinkingly out the window.

The neon lights of the city shone through the glass, their colors shifting and changing across its smooth surface.

"What are you looking at?"

Lin Chen quietly walked to the Flame Claw Beast's side and followed its gaze outwards.

The city resembles a sleeping behemoth composed of rivers of light and steel peaks. In the distance, on the unfinished skyscrapers, red warning lights flicker like lonely stars.

"Gagu".

The Flameclaw Beast turned its head and looked over, letting out a clear cry.

It felt that this place was more beautiful than its previous home.

Lin Chen, who possessed telepathic abilities, accurately understood what the Flame Claw Beast meant and was stunned for a moment.

My old home?

He then suddenly realized that, having been busy all day, he hadn't had a chance to ask the Flameclaw Beast about its past experiences.

This is absolutely his dereliction of duty.

He sat down on the floor, leaning against the cool wall, at eye level with the Flameclaw Beast.

"Flameclaw Beast." He chose his words carefully. "Could you tell me your story?"

Why did you come here?

Upon hearing Lin Chen's answer, the Flameclaw Beast lowered its head and fell into deep silence.

Seeing this, Lin Chen flipped out the picture of WarGreymon from earlier in the day and moved it forward so that Flameclaw could clearly see WarGreymon's majestic and imposing appearance.

The Flameclaw Beast's eyes widened instantly, its gaze burning, and its breathing rapid.

Lin Chen crossed his arms and said casually, "Tell me, I want to know why you're so eager to become stronger."

The Flameclaw Beast broke its silence, turned to face Lin Chen, and with a deep growl, its story officially began.

It turns out that it had lived with its clan in a wild mountainous area in the south since it was a child. Its father was the leader of the Flameclaw Beast clan, so it was of noble status.

Wild pets have their own set of survival rules. In order to resist external risks and reduce survival pressure, the Flameclaw Beast clan and the Red-tailed Fox that live nearby formed an alliance.

As the offspring of the Flameclaw Beast leader, the Flameclaw Beast's task is very simple: to stay with the offspring of the Red-tailed Fox leader.

In other words, this is a marriage alliance belonging to the pet animal world.

The two pet beast clans established a closer and more stable alliance through marriage, thus enabling them to survive in the perilous wilderness.

The Flameclaw Beast did not resist, nor was it able to resist.

Until one day, a human ventured into this area, made a contract with it, and took away the exceptionally talented red-tailed fox offspring.

Before leaving, the beast tamer found the Flameclaw Beast and told it that the marriage was over. As compensation, the beast tamer left some breeding resources behind.

"Gagoo gagoo!"

The Flameclaw Beast's eyes were bloodshot as it brandished its claws, its anger palpable.

This is not compensation!

This is humiliating!

Naked humiliation!

Lin Chen remained silent for a moment.

This seems to be a very classic scenario of annulment, and the other party's act of offering compensation is seen as extremely humiliating by the parties involved.

I never expected something like this to happen in the world of pet animals.

"So you yearn to become stronger?" Lin Chen asked.

"Gaku!"

The Flameclaw Beast nodded emphatically, its expression indignant.

It wants to become stronger, to stand before that beast tamer and the red-tailed fox offspring, and to prove to them that breaking off the engagement was the most, most, most wrong decision!

Fortune changes every thirty years, so never underestimate a beast's worth!

Lin Chen pursed his lips, not giving an evaluation easily, but simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, you'll become stronger."

"Let's do it together."

In order to become stronger, the Flameclaw Beast chose to leave its clan and its comfortable and stable environment.

It doesn't want to be a pampered pet in a greenhouse; it wants to become stronger as quickly as possible through battle.

But having just left its kind and arrived at the edge of human civilization, before it had fully emerged from its cub stage, it encountered a powerful pet beast. After a brief battle, it was injured and fell into a coma.

When it awoke again, it was in a breeding house, receiving treatment and waiting for a human to contract it.

At this point, Flameclaw lowered its head, its eyes darting around.

Lin Chen chuckled to himself.

Such a difficult path to becoming stronger.

But the storyline of breaking off the engagement, becoming stronger after leaving home, and having a name containing a fire-related character seems somewhat familiar.

Because of its fighting ways in the previous breeding house, Flameclaw was sent to Qinglan City some time ago, which is how Lin Chen and Flameclaw met.

The two, one human and one pet, engaged in a deep conversation on this topic. After a while, the Flameclaw Beast became engrossed in observing the night view outside the window.

However, the figure seemed to shrink in the dim light, conveying a sense of loneliness from suddenly leaving a familiar home and being placed in an unfamiliar environment.

Lin Chen's heart stirred, and he was about to say something to comfort it.

This child is so young to have left home.

Before he could even speak, the Flameclaw Beast suddenly turned around, and the slight dimness in its expression vanished without a trace, like a thin mist blown away by the wind.

Its eyes became bright and sparkling, as if filled with all the neon lights outside the window, and its little paws waved excitedly.

"Gaku!"

But this place is very interesting!

The Flameclaw Beast drawled out its words, its face breaking into a wide smile that revealed its sharp little teeth:

"Gagoo gagoo gagoo!"

There's so much delicious food here, but the grilled skewers are the absolute best!

The words of comfort that Lin Chen was about to say stuck in his throat.

Looking at the Flameclaw Beast's excited, waving-around-the-edges appearance, he suddenly felt that his worries were a bit unnecessary.

This child is not as unapproachable as it seemed when first seen; it has a very strong ability to adjust its mindset.

When they left the incubator, they were still wary, but after only half a day, they had regained their lively nature.

He suddenly recalled the scene of the Flameclaw Beast bullying the Fire Hound: "By the way, why did you bully the pets in the breeding center?"

He originally wanted to say "bullying," but he changed the word to something else.

"Gag?"

The Flameclaw Beast blinked, looking completely bewildered.

It did not bully other pets.

Lin Chen changed to a simpler, more understandable approach: "Then why did you beat it up so badly?"

"Gag?"

The Flameclaw Beast looked even more confused, scratching its head with its little paws: "Gag~"

I just want to make friends with them and, incidentally, gain experience and become stronger through battles.

"Make friends?"

Lin Chen was taken aback, suddenly recalling how the Firehound had been held down by the Flameclaw Beast, hiding timidly behind the waiter: "Are you sure that's how you make friends?"

"Gaku!"

The Flameclaw Beast looked completely self-righteous.

In the wild, in the place where it grew up, it has to fight to make friends with other pets.

A pet that is too weak will not be able to make friends.

"Um?"

Before he could finish speaking, the Flameclaw Beast looked up blankly—Lin Chen was pressing his hand against its head, his smile gentle:

"But this isn't the wilderness."

"Here, we strike hard against the enemy."

"And if you want to make friends, all you need to do is this." As he spoke, Lin Chen looked at the Flame Claw Beast and extended his right fist.

"Gag?"

The Flameclaw Beast looked puzzled, but subconsciously reached out its paw and bumped its fist.

Under the moonlight, a person and their pet bumped fists.

"Now, I'm your first friend here."

"Gaku!"

"By the way, Flameclaw Beast, I'll call you Twofire from now on."

"Gag?"

"Because you have a senior who was also jilted at the altar, but he eventually washed away the shame through his own efforts and even became a respected figure."

"His name contains two characters related to fire."

"You must learn from him, become him, and eventually surpass him."

"This name represents my expectations for you."

"Gaku!!!"