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Registration complete.
Lin Feng and Li Xiang were assigned to two different groups, four days apart, so they wouldn't be taking the exam together. This disappointed the former, who had hoped they could support each other.
Li Xiang also realized that he had been isolated in his group—there wasn't a single familiar face.
Oh well.
In the end, he'd have to rely on himself.
Strangely, Li Xiang felt calm. As long as he managed Torracat and the others' condition properly, the practical exam shouldn't be too difficult.
This was the Trainer Qualification Exam, not the Master Trainer Qualification Exam. An entry-level test wouldn't deliberately try to fail people.
Of course, there were always those who failed repeatedly, no matter how many times they took it.
But Li Xiang didn't bother considering them. If they lacked the talent to be Trainers, it was better for everyone if they switched careers sooner rather than later.
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Time flew by.
Soon, it was the day of the practical exam.
Li Xiang had reduced the intensity of training the day before, ensuring Torracat and the others got plenty of rest so they could face the exam in peak condition.
He himself had gone to bed early, too.
Now, he was in the best possible state.
Exam venue.
Unsurprisingly, it was the same circular arena he had seen before, containing various simulated environments—forests, lakes, deserts, rocky terrain, wetlands, and more.
There were seventeen other examinees in his group, all seemingly around the same skill level. The Pokémon they had to capture were all Level 30—no more, no less.
Before entering the arena, the proctor announced the rules and repeatedly emphasized safety precautions.
Much like during the Pilgrimage Trial, Li Xiang was given a button to press if he encountered trouble or completed the task. A Psychic-type Pokémon would retrieve him.
There were also Pokémon stationed above the arena to ensure examinees' safety.
The rules were stated as follows:
- Capture ten wild Pokémon within the arena.
- Species are unrestricted.
- Stealing others' Pokémon is prohibited. If someone catches one first, move on to the next—there are plenty to go around.
- Exit within one hour to pass.
- If all your Pokémon are knocked out, the exam ends.
- Do not push your Pokémon beyond their limits!
- Using methods other than Pokémon to capture wild Pokémon is forbidden!
That last rule was probably to prevent examinees from trying to wrestle wild Pokémon into submission.
Not that it was likely to work, but since this was a professional certification, human safety was a priority.
Hand-to-hand combat was definitely not allowed.
Level 30… Could he take one on by the time he turned eighteen?
Li Xiang imagined his adult self's strength and figured that, with some equipment, it might be possible.
After patiently waiting for the proctor to finish explaining everything, the association distributed specialized Poké Balls.
This time was different from the Pilgrimage Trial.
Back then, most wild Pokémon had been reluctant to fight—they'd flee rather than retaliate, and once caught, they wouldn't struggle in the Poké Ball.
But this time, the wild Pokémon would fight back and struggle violently inside the Poké Balls.
In short, it wouldn't be as easy as the Pilgrimage Trial.
Hence, the number of required captures was reduced to ten PokéBalls in hand.
They resembled the Park Balls from the games—no special capture bonuses like Heavy Balls or Moon Balls, just a different appearance.
Li Xiang tested a few before selecting six and slotting them into the holsters on his belt.
Trainers had many ways to carry Poké Balls, but the most common was a belt with metal clips—similar to those in the Pokémon Adventures manga—that kept the balls secure no matter how much the Trainer moved.
For those who didn't like reaching behind their backs, there were also jacket liners, though they made the chest look bulky and awkward.
Soon enough, the Psychic-type Pokémon were in position.
They would randomly teleport examinees to safe spots within the arena. The wild Pokémon wouldn't attack the Trainers directly—only their Pokémon once released.
This had all been arranged in advance.
"Exam—BEGIN!"
The proctor's voice boomed.
Li Xiang closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, he was standing in the middle of a dense forest.
The area around him was quiet, the ground soft with soil and decaying leaves. The air smelled of nature.
"As planned… you're up first!"
He tapped a Poké Ball, and with a flash of light, Froakie appeared at his feet, its eyes sharp as it let out a crisp call.
"Kero!"
Then, Froakie vanished.
After the Pilgrimage Trial, Li Xiang had learned his lesson—if wild Pokémon escaped during a direct encounter, chasing them down was a pain. Ambushes were far more efficient.
The forest's complex terrain was perfect for this.
A distant explosion echoed, followed by a bright flash of fire.
Someone had already encountered a wild Pokémon and started trying to capture it.
Li Xiang didn't hesitate and broke into a run.
The proctor hadn't lied—the arena was stocked with enough Pokémon.
Within minutes, Li Xiang spotted a green, boxy creature clinging to a tree. It had a caterpillar-like body, a yellow mouthpart, and headlight-like eyes.
—Charjabug, the Bug/Electric-type.
"Bzzt!!"
The Charjabug noticed Li Xiang and immediately gathered thread-like electricity in its mouth, preparing to attack—but then it realized he hadn't sent out a Pokémon yet.
Disappointed, it gave him a bored look.
Are you gonna release a Pokémon or—
"Kero!"
A low voice sounded right above Charjabug's head. Instinctively, it fired a bolt of electricity upward—only for the attack to pass straight through the Pokémon above it.
Like shattering a reflection, the illusion dispersed.
At the same time, a powerful force yanked Charjabug off the tree and slammed it into the ground!
THUD!
"Bzzt!"
Charjabug let out a pained cry, struggling to get up. Now enraged, its body crackled with electricity as it transformed into a small, sparking sphere and began wildly charging around!
Wild Charge!
But Froakie, still invisible, wasn't about to be hit so easily. When Charjabug finally paused to catch its breath, a shimmering sphere of water materialized out of nowhere and crashed down on it like a tidal wave!
SPLASH!!
The sound of rushing water filled the forest.
Charjabug's head spun as if it had been hit with a hammer, leaving it dazed and disoriented.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Xiang grabbed a PokéBall from his belt and hurled it at Charjabug.
The ball spun through the air before striking Charjabug's head, releasing a blue light that sucked it inside.
It hit the ground.
Shook once.
Twice.
Three times.
Click.
Success—without a single hitch.
Less than three minutes in, and his first wild Pokémon was captured.
Li Xiang quickly picked up the PokéBall and scanned the area, spotting Froakie's faint outline in a nearby bush.
"Good work, Froakie. Let's keep going!"
He tossed it an Energy Block—a mix of Sitrus Berry for energy recovery and Oran Berry for stamina, essentially a Pokémon version of a protein bar.
Froakie caught it midair, chewed, and swallowed. Just as it was about to respond, it suddenly tensed and dashed off in another direction.
Li Xiang hurried after it.
After some weaving through the trees, they arrived at a man-made stream where a crab-like Pokémon with one massive claw lounged on a rock.
—Kingler.
It lazily opened one eye, glanced at Li Xiang, and—still unaware of Froakie's presence—closed it again.
Then—
WHAM!
A figure wreathed in white energy crashed onto Kingler's head!
The sudden impact left Kingler dizzy. Blinking, it caught a glimpse of a fading afterimage and flew into a rage, twisting its body with shocking flexibility.
Its massive claw gleamed like metal as it swung down with terrifying force!
"Since when can crabs turn like that?!"
Li Xiang gaped. He'd had no idea Kingler could pivot so fluidly!
Fortunately, Kingler's Metal Claw only struck another of Froakie's Double Team clones. The attack smashed into a rock instead, splitting it in half with a deafening CRACK!
Shards of stone flew everywhere, pelting Li Xiang painfully—proof of just how powerful that move was.
But battles were won with strategy.
While Kingler searched for Froakie's real body, the water beneath its feet had already begun to freeze, hindering its movement.
Kingler roared in frustration and raised its claw to smash the ice—only for a pink, blade-like shockwave to slam into its face!
BAM!
The Aerial Ace exploded on impact, leaving Kingler momentarily stunned. Before it could recover, a second shockwave struck!
The repeated blows left Kingler reeling. It began spewing bubbles wildly, attacking everything in sight.
Li Xiang frowned. He hadn't expected Kingler to be this tough.
Three direct hits, and it was still fighting back?
But it had to be close to its limit.
He waited until Kingler exhausted itself, standing dazed and panting, before throwing his second PokéBall.
The spinning sphere struck Kingler's head, sucking it inside.
Clatter.
The ball hit the ground and shook.
"These Pokémon are way too stubborn. They should be trying to run!"
Li Xiang muttered, pulling out a backup PokéBall.
During the Pilgrimage Trial, the wild Pokémon had fled at the first opportunity. Here, they seemed determined to fight to the end.
…Well, better not jinx it.
POP!
The PokéBall burst open, and Kingler leaped out, immediately scrambling toward the stream!
"Dammit!"
Li Xiang cursed. Speak of the devil!
Luckily, Froakie had been keeping watch. As Kingler tried to escape into the water, Froakie fired an Ice Beam, freezing its path solid!
Li Xiang's second PokéBall struck Kingler mid-retreat.
This wasn't a game—Kingler had already broken out once and was on its last legs. A second escape was impossible.
After three gentle shakes…
Click.
Victory.
Li Xiang had secured his second capture.