Chapter 95: Assessment (Part Six)

Chapter 95: Assessment (Part Six)

It was a pure white dolphin.

The dark cosmos seemed like an endless ocean. It appeared to be leisurely navigating through invisible energy currents that humans couldn't perceive, swimming swiftly alongside the starship with its tail fin oscillating, as if it were a fellow traveler.

Its size surpassed that of an adult wolf in its transformed state, and it was even longer than this massive long-range starship. It accompanied the vessel, guiding them all the way to the stellar port.

As the starship entered the docking zone and extended its gangway, the dolphin exerted force with its fins, diving into the entrance of the stellar port's corridor.

Its upper half reached into the docking bay, while its fish tail swayed gently outside the starport. Its long snout rested on one side of the gangway, observing the candidates descending with curiosity.

Marine-type Star Beasts were exceedingly rare, and many military cadets had never seen one before. As they stepped down the gangway, they couldn't help but glance at the creature beside them. Some ventured to reach out to touch it, only to be pulled back by their peers.

"Be careful, that's General White of the First Legion's battle pet," whispered someone in the know, "It's very impolite to touch without permission."

"...Why is General White here?" another whispered, eager for gossip, "Shouldn't he be stationed in the warzone under the First Legion's jurisdiction?"

"The specifics, I'm not sure," replied the informed individual, "But there seems to be a joint operation between the First and Third Legions in this area. Shh, that's not something we should be prying into. Focus on completing the assessment first!"

Rong Mi followed the procession as they descended from the starship.

He had never encountered an oceanic Star Beast before and was particularly intrigued by this white dolphin.

In contrast to the fluffy, terrestrial creatures, the dolphin's skin was smooth and reflective, mirroring the hues of the starport as if it were a curved, illusory mirror. Its large, pitch-black eyes were adorned with a pale, nearly translucent pupil that resembled a seafloor fissure, leading into an unknown abyss.

As Rong Mi led the wolves down the gangway, the previously quiet white dolphin, who had been observing the people on the gangway, suddenly opened its mouth and let out a short, sharp whistle.

Its body arched forward, delving deeper into the starport, turning its head toward the Silver Wolves, and gently tapping the ground with its pectoral fins.

"Oooh!" The wolf poked its head out of the gangway, greeting the dolphin. Its tail affectionately wrapped around Rong Mi's wrist, seemingly introducing its new master to the white dolphin.

"Eeeeh-eeeh!" The white dolphin's high-pitched call turned towards Rong Mi. After studying Rong Mi for a moment, it suddenly looked exhilarated. Supporting itself on the Starport's surface, it lifted its body upward and leaned forward – gently touching Rong Mi's forehead with its elongated snout.

"…Wow!"

"What's happening!"

"Who is that person! Why would General White's Starbeast initiate contact with him!—"

"It's Rong Mi, right? That very Rong Mi! Didn't he have an argument with Young Master Hua when he first boarded the starship? Oh, oh, you were sleeping in the rest cabin and missed it."

"I can't believe it... Rong Mi is so handsome?"

"So that's why Admiral White's dolphin approached him! I wish I could be touched like that too—"

Rong Mi was momentarily stunned as well.

The dolphin's skin was incredibly smooth, slightly cool to the touch, a peculiar sensation.

His fingers twitched, longing for the opportunity to stroke its back.

But he held back.

After all, he hadn't received permission from the dolphin's owner.

And... there was his own battle pet squatting beside him!

Rong Mi glanced at the Silver Wolves by his side and was surprised to find that the wolf didn't resist the dolphin's contact with him, unlike when they first met Damon Rabbit and Sandel Lion.

It merely let out a low howl towards the white dolphin, nudging Rong Mi affectionately as if reaffirming its position. However, instead of any signs of displeasure, the wolf lowered its head and initiated a gentle nuzzle at the tip of the dolphin's beak-like mouth - a more solemn form of greeting.

"Ooh-ee-ee-ee!" The dolphin emitted a series of joyous clicks.

Swishing its tail, it retreated from the starport, flipping backward in delight as it swam towards the distant expanse of the starport, resembling a glowing white ribbon dancing through space.

In response to its calls, soon enough, more brilliant white lights illuminated the depths of the battlefield far away.

A grand assembly of white dolphins emerged from the vastness of space, swimming gracefully towards the starport. As they passed by the berthed spacecraft, they leaped high before Rong Mi, somersaulting mid-air, tracing beautiful arcs with their tails raised, as if performing an extraordinary spectacle.

The dolphins' descent was equally elegant. They dove into the sea of energy that filled the universe, circled around, then turned back, their white energy shimmering like splashes of "water," gently brushing against Rong Mi's cheek before dissipating into the air.

Rong Mi's expression froze for a moment, then she touched her face, a smile blossoming on her lips.

"Woah... —That's how white dolphins show affection!" exclaimed Gu Ming, who had been following Rong Mi. "How could this be?! It's said that white dolphins rarely exhibit such behavior towards anyone other than their owners!"

Phil, standing beside Rong Mi, was completely stunned.

He had seen battle pets before, but never an aquatic type, let alone up close. All he could do now was utter "oohs" and "aahs."

The other examinees on the gangway weren't much different from Phil. Only Hua Oulo, standing at the top of the gangway with his arms crossed, frowned deeply, looking at the group of white dolphins with a mix of dissatisfaction and confusion.

"Rumor has it that General White's white dolphins are quite hard to please," Rong Anting said, standing next to Hua Oulo with dark circles under his eyes. He muttered to himself, "They're Star Beasts that came with General White from the Sea of Slumber. They don't have the same affinity for humans as regular Star Beasts."

These past two days, Rong Anting had been reevaluating his therapist gene modification plan, and his lack of sleep had actually led him to discover a problem in the theoretical derivation, revealing a possible consequence of the therapist gene transformation!

Rong Anting had been wanting to find time to talk to Rong Mi about this recent insight, but the young man was elusive, either in the training room or on his way there.

Planning to catch Rong Mi when they disembarked the starship today, Rong Anting didn't expect the sudden appearance of the white dolphins, drawing everyone to the gangway to watch the Star Beasts. Even though he saw where Rong Mi was, he couldn't push through the crowd.

Thinking to himself, Rong Anting decided, Might as well join in and watch the white dolphins too!

"Those dolphins' leader recognizes Rong Mi's wolf," Hua Oulo remarked, looking down at the bottom of the gangway where Rong Mi stood. He said coolly, "Take a look at that Icefield Silver Wolf... I've been observing it for a few days, and I'm convinced it's the one owned by General Lu Yi."

Rong Anting: "..."

Rong Anting's expression froze.

"It can't be!" he reflexively exclaimed. "For the Icefield Silver Wolves to acknowledge two masters... What kind of relationship do Rong Mi and Lu Yi have?!"

"But if it does happen, our family head, Rong Yan, would definitely be overjoyed!"

Hua Oulo: "..."

Hua Oulo shot Rong Anting a look filled with mixed emotions.

He noticed that after just a few words with Rong Mi, the other's attitude had suddenly changed!

Previously, Rong Anting had always shown disdain when mentioning Rong Mi, but now, how did he become... so eager to learn?!

Unlike himself! He would not yield under pressure! He swore to himself to continue striving in the military assessments, to regain his dignity!

Hua Oulo clenched his fists, making a silent vow.

Ayin keenly sensed his gaze and lifted her head to look back, only to dismiss him with a disdainful glance and return her attention to the white dolphin.

"Ooh-eeh—" The same white dolphin that had initially greeted Rong Mi let out another distant cry.

This time, its voice seemed even more ethereal, tinged with a touch of elusive mystique.

In the silent universe, its call infiltrated everyone's mental perception as a unique energy wave.

The white dolphin swam in a circle in front of the starport, joyfully wagging its tail at Rong Mi.

Then, it turned around, leading the entire pod away from the starport and diving into the cosmos.

They dispersed and swam deeper into the war zone.

"This is a welcoming ceremony that symbolizes 'approval'," Gu Ming, knowledgeable about marine-type star beasts, explained with excitement, whispering to Rong Mi, "Fantastic! Bro Rong. You'll definitely get to visit the 'Sea of Slumber' during your second awakening."

Both Chen Mo and Lu Yi had mentioned this place before.

It was a special energy planet suitable for a second awakening, floating far beyond the human star domain, serving as the home of marine-type star beasts.

In the distant past, when humanity undertook their great interstellar exodus, a fleet became stranded there. After gaining the approval of the marine-type star beasts, they established their settlement.

It was once disconnected from the human star domains, despite its proximity to the Ice Butterfly Domain. Due to its remote location and frequent cosmic storms in the area, it initially saw few ice butterfly attacks. However, in the past century, as the Ice Butterfly Domain expanded outward, the creatures' activities increased, leading to several incursions into the Slumbering Sea.

Since no one was aware of the planet's existence, the Sea of Slumber stood alone, unguarded by any legions.

It wasn't until Lu Yi took charge of the First Battle Zone and conducted an integration inspection that the existence of the Sleeping Sea was discovered, followed by the deployment of troops there.

Indeed, Rong Mi would indeed enter the Sea of Slumber when on the verge of a second awakening.

However... this was his first time seeing an Oceanic-type Star Beast!

During the Era of Interstellar Nomads, much information had been lost. Rong Mi had never even seen a picture of an Oceanic-type Star Beast!

Yet, he was seeing one in the flesh today!

Rong Mi's eyes shimmered with excitement.

He rubbed his fingers together.

Rong Mi: ... I'll have to ask General White if I can give the white dolphin a proper petting session!

Although the white dolphin isn't furry... it's still so adorable!

As he thought this, he glanced at the wolf beside him.

"You didn't vie for attention just now, Ayin," the young man blinked at the wolf. "Does that mean... you don't like me as much as before?"

Ayin: "...?"

Ayin: "...!!"

Ayin's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Aoow!" The wolf pushed against Rong Mi and rubbed against the young man fiercely, messing up his hair.

Ayin: It didn't miss the look on Rong Mi's face, longing to touch the dolphin!

Dolphins were indigenous creatures of the Sleeping Sea and had a great relationship with the planetary governor of the Sleeping Sea.

If the dolphins had a good rapport with Rong Mi, her stay in the Slumbering Sea would be much easier.

That was why it didn't stop them from touching her!

How could Rong Mi complain before even attempting to pet them?

As the human and wolf playfully descended the gangway, Rong Mi looked up and spotted Chen Shu emerging from another docking port.

The young man waved at Chen Shu, who promptly hurried over. Holding Damon the rabbit, like most other examinees in the Star Harbor, he couldn't wait to discuss the recent dolphin appearance with his friend.

"Wow! Rong Mi! Did you see General White's white dolphins over there?!"

"I did! This is the first time I've seen white dolphins in a war zone! They're part of the defense line – they have unique energy wave attack abilities – and can even initiate area-wide spatial lockdowns – though such an ability must consume a lot of energy, I suppose…"

In the bustling Star Harbor, candidates who knew each other couldn't help but talk about the white dolphins.

At the top of the harbor, in the command room, White stood by the window. He watched his star beasts swiftly swim into space, returning to their duties, his expression thoughtful.

He had been dispatched by Lu Yi to the Third War Zone to ensure the safety of the testing grounds and to be ready at any moment to escort Rong Mi to the Slumbering Sea.

Rong Mi's name was well-known throughout the First Legion, yet he had indeed never met the man in person.

This was also true for his dolphins.

But today...

Not only the candidates, even he rarely witnessed such enthusiasm from his combat pets towards strangers.

From the emotions conveyed by Big White, he could sense that his group of white dolphins seemed to have encountered Rong Mi somewhere before.

They were delighted.

Because they had the chance to reunite with the young man once more.