"Found one, found one..."
Lin Yu said hurriedly.
As the red light faded, Ralts appeared hovering in mid-air. Seeing so many people, it shyly floated over to perch on Lin Yu's shoulder.
"Wow, a Ralts! So cute~"
Several girls from the team immediately crowded around, wanting to pet it.
But the little one absolutely didn't want to be touched by anyone other than Lin Yu.
Sensing this, Lin Yu smiled and politely declined them.
"Ralts, huh? Not bad!"
Looking at the Pokémon Lin Yu had released, Luo Xing's previously dark expression improved considerably.
Ralts, a Psychic-type Pokémon, was already combat-ready once it knew Confusion.
"Alright, I didn't gather you all just for a simple meet-and-greet. This year's Sophomore High School League starts on the fifteenth—that's in five days!"
Luo Xing waved his hand and dropped a bombshell.
Everyone was shocked.
Someone immediately exclaimed,
"Wasn't the sophomore league always held in March? Why is it so early this year?"
"Yeah, right! Why so early this year?"
Luo Xing motioned for silence, and the surrounding chatter immediately died down.
"I know this is sudden, but there's a reason. A D-rank mini-dimension was discovered in Chenghua District. So, the main reward for this year's league is exploration rights to that mini-dimension for the winning school. In short, this isn't just beneficial for you; it's also a great opportunity for the school."
Speaking of this, Luo Xing felt a hint of anxiety.
The timeframe was simply too short, far too short for him to do any proper data analysis.
No wonder other schools had postponed their usual opening-semester training camps and tests to after October.
Wasn't this just to hide their own school's selected competitors?
Only Shui Mu High School had foolishly gone ahead and held a野外 training camp.
Thankfully, it was about their secondary Pokémon.
Hearing the keyword—mini-dimension—everyone's spirits visibly lifted, but before they could chat further, Luo Xing cut them off.
"First, release all your Pokémon so everyone can get acquainted."
They shuffled apart, clearing a decent-sized space.
With flashes of red light.
One by one, Pokémon appeared on the training ground.
You had to hand it to them—as school team members, everyone had at least one Pokémon that had reached level 15 or above.
A Grovyle,
A Poochyena,
A Beedrill,
A Spearow,
...
Looking down the line, they were all decent Pokémon.
There was even a Bulbasaur whose talent reached the Lord level.
Lin Yu noted its trainer—a shy girl with thick, black-rimmed glasses and light freckles on her cheeks, kind of cute. When she noticed Lin Yu looking, she, Cha Wanwan, offered an embarrassed smile in return.
There was also a Braixen, level 17, whose trainer was another girl.
As for the Growlithe trainer's other Pokémon, it actually surprised him.
It was the evolved form, Grovyle.
Level 17.
Talent: Gym.
It seemed to be developing well.
"List the moves your Pokémon know, then give a brief self-introduction. We'll need to train and coordinate later. Qing Fei, you start."
"Class 3, Sophomore Year, Qing Fei. Pokémon: Grovyle. Moves: Bullet Seed, Leaf Blade... Growlithe. Moves: Flamethrower..."
"Class 1, Sophomore Year, Yukina. Pokémon: Braixen. Moves..."
"Class 4, Sophomore Year, Zhu Yuli. Pokémon: Pidgeotto. Moves: Quick Attack..."
Soon it was Lin Yu's turn.
"Ahem. Class 3, Freshman Year, Lin Yu. Pokémon: Charmander. Moves: Scary Face, Ember, Fire Punch, Scratch... Pokémon: Ralts. Moves: Confusion, Shadow Clone..."
As Lin Yu finished his introduction, several pairs of eyes immediately locked onto him.
You could say all the attention was on him.
These past few days,
His name had practically echoed throughout Shui Mu High School.
Who hadn't heard that in this year's freshman training camp, it was a freshman named Lin Yu who outperformed all the upperclassmen to take first place?
Among those outperformed upperclassmen were some standing right here.
"So, you're that famous little junior?"
The trainer of the Braixen was a beautiful girl with flowing silver hair, named Yukina.
She looked cool and aloof, but her personality was completely at odds with her appearance.
Very outgoing and familiar.
Lin Yu smiled modestly in response. "It was all Charmander's doing. I'm just riding on its coattails."
"A humble little junior, haha. Interesting."
The senior laughed heartily.
The exchange between them was completely observed by Qing Fei, the jealousy and hatred in his heart growing ever thicker.
This Charmander originally belonged to him!
"Lin Yu!"
Lin Yu turned, his brow immediately furrowing. "What now?"
Was this guy haunting him?
"I want a rematch with you!"
"With your Growlithe?"
Lin Yu glanced at the Growlithe beside him. The once majestic and cool canine now had a timid look in its eyes, its tail drooping, utterly lacking confidence.
He felt a pang of pity.
This Growlithe seemed to be going through the same ordeal the little Charmander had faced back then.
Unfortunately, there was no other Lin Yu for it to meet.
"No, with Grovyle, against your Charmander!"
His eyes were practically overflowing with jealousy and hatred. Now, his resentment wasn't directed at Lin Yu, but at the Charmander itself.
It was his Pokémon, so how could it be following someone else now?!
"You've got a screw loose! Why the hell would I fight you?!"
Lin Yu wasn't about to indulge him in the slightest.
The conflict between them seemed inexplicable to the others.
Only Lin Yu understood.
This guy was trouble.
"What's all this arguing? Arguing! The high school league hasn't even started, and you're already fighting amongst yourselves? If you've got that much energy, save it for the league! Whoever gets the highest ranking proves who's got the skill!"
Luo Xing's sharp reprimand cut off Qing Fei, who was about to speak further.
It also made Lin Yu nod, unimpressed.
"Fine, Lin Yu, just wait. I'll definitely beat you in the league!"
Lin Yu glanced at him, expressionless.
He honestly wouldn't have minded letting Charmander test its strength against this Grovyle.
After all, it was only level 17, with merely Gym-level talent.
Since the knot in Charmander's heart had been untied, its strength was immeasurably greater than before.
Add type advantage and today's sunny weather...
If he revealed just a bit more of its hidden potential.
That Grovyle might not even last a single hit!
He checked Charmander's status screen.
[Pokémon: Charmander]
[Ability: Solar Power]
[Gender: Male]
[Talent: Champion]
[Level: 15]
[Moves: Scratch, Fire Punch, Fire Spin, Flamethrower, Scary Face, Ember.]
[Description: A Charmander that has undergone a profound transformation.]
[Equipped Entries: Purify (Fixed), Hard Work Pays Off, Food Supply Station, King of Slackers.]