Digimon: I really didn't want to be the Digimon Emperor!

"Yeah, my dad works at this research institute too. He's been working like a dog for ages."

Cheng Yuan then realized that her father was also a digital research expert, a family of researchers!

After completing his weekly check-in tasks at the Institute of Evolution, Cheng Yuan rushed off to his next destination.

Looking at the address Xu Xin gave him, and staring at the gilded characters on the building of the Dragon Clan Digital Club, a wave of chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) washed over him.

As one of the top beast trainer clubs in the country, Dragon Club is renowned for its expertise in training dragon-type Digimon.

Although the branch office can't compare to the headquarters in terms of grandeur, it's still one of the top branches in Pengcheng. After all, in this world, dragon-type Digimon mean stronger physiques and more abundant energy—simply put, they're good at fighting.

This place provides training grounds and equipment for club members, as well as match venues, sparring partners, and private coaches.

All Cheng Yuan had to do was complete the sparring assignments given to him by the club. Of course, the club wouldn't choose clients with a significant skill gap for him to spar with; his opponents were rookies who, like him, had just become trainee animal trainers.

Pushing open the revolving door, Cheng Yuan was instantly stunned by the sight before him.

In the high-ceilinged hall, crystal chandeliers refracted dazzling light, and the floor tiles were inlaid with huge dragon-shaped digital beast patterns.

In the rest area on the left, several animal trainers dressed in custom-made training uniforms are enjoying tea and chatting; in the training ground on the right, all kinds of high-end training equipment are readily available.

Through the glass wall, Cheng Yuan saw a dragon-shaped Digimon testing its strength; the value of "299kg" was particularly eye-catching on the display screen.

"Hello, is Manager Lin Ge here? I'm Cheng Yuan, I have an appointment." Cheng Yuan walked to the front desk and said to a pretty receptionist.

"Please wait a moment." The receptionist maintained a professional smile, her fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard.

Meanwhile, in the VIP reception room, Lin Ge was entertaining a special pair of guests. The middle-aged manager, with his neatly combed slicked-back hair, was currently serving tea to the portly father and son opposite him.

"Old Lin, don't praise him too much." The fat middle-aged man took a sip of tea and laughed loudly. "I know my son's skill level. I brought him here today to let him see what a real animal trainer is like."

As he spoke, he slapped his son on the back of the head without any hesitation: "You son of a bitch! What are you daydreaming about! Uncle Lin is talking to you!"

The chubby boy woke up with a start, drool still dripping from his mouth: "Dad, what are you doing! I'm listening to Yun Yao's 'Butterfly' right now. My pangolin's evolution depends on it!"

"What cloud what Yao, you're a beast tamer now, why are you still chasing stars?!" The middle-aged man smacked him on the head again.

Although the family had some savings from their business, it would be truly prestigious to be able to train an animal trainer.

It's a pity about this good-for-nothing son...

The chubby boy, still defiant, stuck out his neck and pulled out his phone with Yun Yao's image on the back, waving it around: "This song, 'Butterfly,' can increase Digimon attributes and speed up Pangolin growth. You didn't even know that? What a country bumpkin..."

"Me! What beast tamer? Believe me or not, I'll cripple you right now!"

Lin Ge smoothed things over, saying, "What a coincidence, our sparring partner has arrived. This sparring partner is also a new animal trainer. Why don't we let your son spar with him? This will help us tailor a more suitable course for your son."

"A newcomer?" the obese middle-aged man said. "No, no, we need to find someone more capable to open this fatso's eyes."

“Don’t you know how strong our club is? And it’s easier to see the difference between players of the same age.” Just then, the receptionist came in and whispered the news. Lin Ge’s eyes lit up: “Speak of the devil, and he appears! The sparring partners are here. How about we arrange a match right now?”

The chubby boy took off his headphones and stood up eagerly: "Perfect timing! He will be the stepping stone for my pangolin evolution!"

On the other side, Cheng Yuan was following the staff through the corridor. Through the glass wall, he saw all kinds of training grounds and high-end equipment, and couldn't help but marvel: How much does the maintenance cost? Sure enough, you really can't play the animal trainer's game without money.

So it's true that the rich rely on technology, while the poor rely on mutation?

"Are you Cheng Yuan?" Lin Ge asked.

Cheng Yuan turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a sharp suit walking towards him.

"I am Lin Ge." After a brief self-introduction, the man got straight to the point. "Since you were recommended by Xu Xin, your strength should be quite good. However, the rules cannot be broken, so we have to have a match first."

He pointed to the chubby boy not far away: "Your opponent is him. If you win 2000, you can stay; if you lose 1000, you don't need to come tomorrow. Any questions?"

Cheng Yuan was taken aback: "Wait, winning actually means a higher reward? And you don't have to act and go easy on me?"

"What kind of show is this?" Lin Ge scoffed. "If these young masters really thought they were so great, why would they even sign up for the club's training program!"

Cheng Yuan blinked, speechless. This logic... actually makes sense?

Chapter 26 Crushing Situation

“The other person is a senior high school student, and their Digimon is Pangolin,” Ling Ge explained as they walked. “Although it’s still in its growth stage, it’s been trained quite well.”

"The mature form of Pangolin is an Ankylosaurus-type Digimon, which is barely related to the dragon type, so it comes to the Dragon Club for training," Lin Ge added.

Among the subsidized Digimon eggs bred under government-directed programs this time are those of Pangolin, whose evolved form, Ankylosaurus, is also arguably called a dragon, thus sparking a wave of "dragon-raising" craze.

Cheng Yuan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. The big guy in the top class was paired with Pangolin, whom he knew all too well.

Pangolin

[Vaccine Type, Beast Type, Earth Element]

[Growth Period]

[Skills: Scratching, Rolling Stone]

[Description: Its head, limbs, and back are covered in hard scales that can withstand some physical attacks, while its soft abdomen is its weak point.]

The moment Cheng Yuan stepped into the arena, his heart began to race. Although he had participated in many training sessions under Xu Xin's guidance, this was his first time engaging in a formal match.

"My name is Wang Baole!" the chubby boy shouted with a strong voice, the Tyrannosaurus Rex on his waist gleaming under the lights.

The pangolin behind him was enormous, its carapace gleaming with a metallic sheen, but it lacked the imposing presence of Kang Zhaodi's.

Even when lying down, this pangolin is nearly half a person's height. It resembles a real armadillo, with four short legs supporting its heavy body and a long, thin tail swaying restlessly. Its chubby belly rises and falls gently with its breathing, clearly a well-built physique honed by advanced data cubes.

However, compared to the pangolin in the Kangzhaodi area, it lacks a bit of fierce momentum and refined muscle lines.

"Your little dog is quite cute," Wang Baole grinned, his tone clearly dismissive.

"Woof!" The little dog proudly raised its head and nodded slightly, as if responding to the praise.

Cheng Yuan sighed, rubbing his forehead: "This little idiot, can't you even tell they're mocking you? Looks like you weren't paying attention in Chinese class either; you can't even do reading comprehension."

Ling clapped his hands: "The rules are simple: one-on-one, single-elimination matches. Both sides, please send out your Digimon."

As the whistle blew, the little beast leaped down from his shoulder like lightning, its tiny paws leaving a small mark on the battlefield.

"It's up to you, Pangolin! If you win, I'll reward you with a lavish data feast!" Wang Baole promised loudly. Pangolin's enormous body slowly emerged, its front paws unconsciously scraping the ground, making a piercing sound.

The little dog suddenly turned its head and stared longingly at Cheng Yuan. That yearning look made Cheng Yuan both amused and annoyed. This little glutton, it was tempted by the mention of a "feast"?

"If I win, I'll buy you a big meal. I keep my word."

"Roll the stones!" Wang Baole was the first to attack. The pangolin immediately curled into a ball, its hard shells rubbing against each other and sparks flying. Like a chariot, it rolled across the field, plowing deep furrows in the sand.

"Rapid collision, dodge followed by puppy bark!" Cheng Yuan responded calmly.

Rapid Slam is a skill that allows the Puppy to move quickly, while Puppy Roar is a move that uses high-frequency sound waves to intimidate opponents and interrupt their skills.

The little dog beast dodged the attack with a swift movement, then let out a piercing roar. The high-frequency sound waves jolted the pangolin, forcing it to disengage from its rolling state.

"Now! Charge!" Cheng Yuan seized the opportunity. The puppy beast condensed a holy light shield on its forehead and charged towards the pangolin's exposed belly.

"Scratch!" Wang Baole hurriedly gave the order. The pangolin stretched out its sharp claws, trying to intercept, but its movements were slowed down because its skill had just been interrupted.

"Don't stop, dodge, keep accelerating!" Cheng Yuan shouted. The little dog beast turned into a blur, nimbly passing through the claws' blockade, and crashed heavily into the pangolin's soft belly, sending it flying three meters away.

"Gah! Gah!" the pangolin groaned in pain, but quickly stood up again with the encouragement of its trainer.

"Tsk." Cheng Yuan sighed. This was the difference in physique. Even if the little dog beast charged at high speed into the pangolin's weak spot on its abdomen, it would still be difficult to cause too much damage.

If you replaced it with a pangolin that shone brightly on the ground, its belly would probably be as hard as an iron wall.

"Roaming tactics, attack at the opportune moment!" Cheng Yuan changed his strategy. The puppy beast began to move at high speed around the pangolin, launching surprise attacks from time to time.

The pangolin's eyes stung as it watched the afterimages of the fleeing creatures around it. It could only wave one paw to block the small-sized beasts that tried to get closer, while using the other paw to protect its injured abdomen.

But the chubby boy believed that the puppy beast couldn't maintain this extreme speed for long; sooner or later its stamina would drop, and then it would be able to overcome its speed disadvantage.

"The puppy beast is too fast, completely restricting the pangolin's movement," Lin Ge exclaimed.

Wang Baole's father saw that his son was at a disadvantage and that he had achieved his goal of suppressing him, but he was also afraid that his son's Digimon would be seriously injured. He was too harsh on his son and was very conflicted.

"Use that move!" Cheng Yuan suddenly shouted.

"Huh? Which move?" Wang Baole looked bewildered.

Wang Baole's father covered his face, exclaiming, "What an idiot!"

"Woof!" The little dog suddenly accelerated and charged towards the pangolin, unleashing a high-speed ramming attack.

Wang Baole grinned. As long as the pangolin guarded it closely, the little dog's attacks would be nothing more than tickling and posed no threat whatsoever.

The little dog beast charged directly at the giant claw on the pangolin's belly, and at the moment of contact, it turned into a blur and disappeared.

"what?"

"Fake!"

"Is it a clone?"

That agile figure suddenly appeared in the pangolin's sight, like a white lightning bolt, striking the pangolin's unsuspecting face.

"Huh?!" The pangolin only saw a dog's face with a triumphant smile rapidly enlarging in its field of vision after it swung its paw.

"boom!"

His face, which wasn't covered by scales either, was smashed open by the little Divine Shield.

The pangolin collapsed to the ground with a dull thud as its shell struck the earth. Its eyes swirled with mosquito coil-like patterns, and it could never get up again.

The referee's whistle blew immediately: "The pangolin has lost its fighting ability, so the winner is Cheng Yuan!"

Guan Xingxi's job title was difficult to achieve, and the machine fell to the ground.

Lin Ge then revealed a meaningful smile: "Interesting, they've been hiding their strength all this time."

He learned about Cheng Yuan's strength from Xu Xin. There are at least 3-4 skills he hasn't used yet, two of which are still development skills; otherwise, he wouldn't have recruited a sparring partner whose background he didn't know.

Wang Baole stood frozen in place, staring in disbelief at his pangolin.

Cheng Yuan had already squatted down and gently stroked the little dog's head: "Well done! Extra food tonight!"

"Woof!" The little dog wagged its tail happily, as if all its fatigue had vanished.

At the same time, Wang Baole sighed and used the Tyrannosaurus Rex to recall the Pangolin.

"A truly spectacular battle." Manager Lin crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Cheng Yuan and the little dog. "It's hard to imagine that a battle of this caliber would take place between two rookie beast tamers." His tone seemed to be praising the entire battle, but Cheng Yuan could sense that the praise was mostly directed at him.

The chubby father patted his son's shoulder, so hard that Wang Baole stumbled: "Little Bao, look at him, and then look at yourself. We're both newcomers. If you don't work harder, don't blame me for disowning you as my son!"

"Dad, he kept dodging because he's fast... he didn't dare face me head-on..." Wang Baole was about to retort when his chubby father gave him a sharp slap on the head: "Still talking! You think you're not embarrassed enough? Hurry up and sign up for a class, and until you win the battle again, cut off all your allowance except for feeding your Digimon!"

"Come on, you're making a fool of yourself!" The fat dad kicked his son in the butt. Cheng Yuan could almost see the hellish training this rich kid was about to face.

He turned to Ling Ge and said, "I'm handing this brat over to the Dragon Clan. I'll transfer the tuition to the club's account later. Train him like crazy."

After seeing the two off, Lin Ge turned around and his entire demeanor changed. He walked over and directly transferred money to Cheng Yuan via mobile phone: "2000, you deserve it."

He lowered his voice, "You seem to be in good shape. Are you coming again this afternoon? We can schedule a few more shows to put those rich kids to shame."

Upon hearing the notification that his wealth value had increased by 2000, Cheng Yuan grinned from ear to ear: "Come on, of course I'll come if there's money to be made!"

Chapter 27 Starting Today, I'm the Demon King?

The battle arena was particularly lively in the afternoon, with Cheng Yuan facing off against two new beast tamers who had enrolled in the enhancement class.

The first Airdramon was caught off guard by Puppetmon's Rapid Charge as soon as it entered the battle, and the second Sandslammon was defeated before it could even use its Rock Slide move.

“This is a ‘baseline test’,” Lin Ge explained from the sidelines, “to let them recognize the gap in their abilities.”

Looking at the two dejected newcomers leaving, Cheng Yuan couldn't help but wonder, "These training courses must be very expensive, right?"

“Starting at 100,000,” Lin Ge said casually, “not including subsequent private coaching fees.”

Cheng Yuan almost choked on his own saliva: "One hundred thousand?!" He suddenly felt that his sparring fee was too low.

“So that’s why!” Ling patted him on the shoulder, “The profession of beast tamer either requires someone with a rich family or someone with exceptional talent.”

The next morning, Cheng Yuan arrived at the club on time again. When Lin Ge saw him, his eyes lit up: "Hey kid, not bad endurance."

Cheng Yuan smiled without saying a word.

Of course, he wouldn't tell Ling that he immediately converted the reward into attribute points as soon as he received it, and that this temporary boost from spending money greatly accelerated the recovery speed of the puppy beast.

With the club providing top-quality energy drinks and medical care, the little guy can stay in combat mode almost around the clock, as long as the intensity isn't too high.

Of the three battles on Sunday morning, the most troublesome was the dual-attribute Firewave Beast.

When it briefly took off with its rocky wings spread, Cheng Yuan had to change tactics and openly use Holy Light Bullets in battle for the first time.