Monster Pet Evolution
Chapter 245: The First Day

The Skeletal Rhinoceros continued struggling against the Swamp Monster on the ground. Muffled grunts came from its mouth, which its opponent had filled with mud.

Gao Peng could see the desperation on the rhinoceros' face.

Notwithstanding any differences he had with Han Lei, Gao Peng had to admit that the Skeletal Rhinoceros was a fine familiar.

Like human beings, every familiar had its own personality. In this case, the Skeletal Rhinoceros seemed to be on the bullheaded side.

However, every time the Skeletal Rhinoceros tried to get back to its feet, the Swamp Monster would weigh it back down.

The Skeletal Rhinoceros now had one knee on the ground as it tried to lift its head up. The single white horn on its snout had pierced through the Swamp Monster's body.

After a while, it managed to prop itself up with its other knee.

It then arduously pushed the rest of its body off the ground.

Those who had been cheering for the Swamp Monster from the stands had suddenly gone quiet.

"That's it, Skeletal Rhinoceros, just keep going!" shouted Han Lei, both his hands now curled into tight fists. "If you defeat it, I'll buy you your favorite treat!"

Suddenly, the flames inside the Skeletal Rhinoceros's sockets burned even more brightly. There was now a hint of purple in them.

Suddenly, one of its hooves struck the white jade tiles with a dull thud.

The Skeletal Rhinoceros finally got itself back on its feet, wearing the Swamp Monster on its back like a cape.

It then turned towards its master and let out a triumphant cry, as if proclaiming to Han Lei that it had finally won its battle against the Swamp Monster!

"Now shake off the Swamp Monster on your back and end it quickly," said Han Lei, waving his hand furiously at it.

The Skeletal Rhinoceros seemed slightly disheartened when it didn't receive any praise from its master. However, a resolute look appeared on its face. I have to win this, it thought.

It slammed the Swamp Monster on its back against the protective screen at the edge of the ring. Even though the screen was made of fortified fiberglass, the Skeletal Rhinoceros still managed to leave a small crack in it.

The audience behind the protective screen screamed. Some immediately left their seats in case the whole thing came crashing down on them.

Gao Peng frowned, then ordered Dumby to stop the Skeletal Rhinoceros. Deliberately damaging the area around the ring was strictly against the rules.

"Gao Peng, what the hell are you doing?" said Han Lei furiously.

"It's against the rules," replied Gao Peng calmly.

Han Lei was about to say something rude to him, but then he decided against it.

"Please take the fight to the stone platform in the middle of the field," said Gao Peng tersely.

After receiving Han Lei's order, the Skeletal Rhinoceros obediently headed towards the stone platform.

The Swamp Monster was still weighing it down by clinging steadfastly to its back.

The rhinoceros' fleshless body was completely incapable of sweating. However, drops of yellow liquid could now be seen seeping out from its exposed bones.

Suddenly, the Skeletal Rhinoceros rushed towards the stone platform and collided against it!

It had driven its tusk through the stone platform, which was supposed to have been built with a material capable of withstanding the attacks of any Commander-tier monster.

Mud flew in all directions from the rhinoceros' tusk.

"Good, Skeletal Rhinoceros, just keep attacking it like that! What are you still standing there for?!" said Han Lei when he saw his familiar simply standing there like a statue.

The Swamp Monster's mud had left the rhinoceros' skull, revealing its huge, empty eye sockets.

In them, one could see a pair of faint blue flames which was about to go out at any moment.

All of a sudden, the Skeletal Rhinoceros collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. It had used up all its strength in its last attack.

It weakly looked at Han Lei and let out a sad moan, as if it wanted to hear some form of consolation from its master.

"Useless," muttered Han Lei, who then turned away and left the field.

He had no need for such a useless familiar. Besides, he could always switch the Skeletal Rhinoceros for a more powerful familiar with his father's help.

When the Skeletal Rhinoceros saw its master turn his back on it, the blue flame in its eyes wavered for a moment. Despair was the only thing it could feel right then.

Then it let out a terrible wail that echoed across the field.

Lucas called its familiar back. Upon seeing the Skeletal Rhinoceros lying motionlessly on the ground, he sighed and left the field as well.

Gao Peng stepped down from the field to allow the next referee to take his place.

Most of the spectators in the stands were now craning their heads to get a better look at the next referee, who had appeared on the field in a white T-shirt and a pair of gray pants.

Li Yu gazed out at the stands with a slightly haughty expression on his face, bracing himself for the audience's excited cheers.

However, only sparse applause greeted him from the stands. Some of the audience even booed at him.

What the hell is wrong with everyone? he thought.

"Why is this referee so old?" muttered some of the spectators.

"He looks way too old to be a referee. He must be at least 30 years old."

These were the comments that Li Yu had managed to pick up from the audience.

I knew I shouldn't have let that little pipsqueak go out there first... Also, I'm only turning 30 this year! How dare you call me old!

The day soon passed by in the blink of an eye.

There were 32 matches in total in the first round of the tournament. Twenty-four matches had been completed that day, which meant that there were still eight matches left. The first elimination round would probably be completed the next morning, which would then be followed by the lot-drawing process for the second round.

Under normal circumstances, only some of the tournament's more promising participants would have been the hot topic of the day's news. However, this time was different.

Every news station was now buzzing excitedly about one of the referees of the tournament.

Gao Peng, a contestant from the Huaxia region, retired, 18 years old, referee, with a Lord-tier familiar.

Individually, these words didn't mean much. However, when put together, they formed an extremely eye-grabbing title on the front page of any newspaper!