From 30 degrees Celsius to minus 10 degrees, the sudden drop in temperature would cause most people to suffer from hypothermia, and if they weren't careful, it could even lead to death.
Head teacher Frank kept a close eye on Julian, watching without blinking. If anything went wrong, he was ready to step in and rescue him immediately.
However, both Frank and Luis were shocked. Julian, standing in just a short-sleeved shirt, seemed completely unaffected by the biting cold that came from the Blizzard.
Meanwhile, Luis, despite wearing a thick cotton coat, was already trembling, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
The strength granted by Julian's Mega Pallet Town physique gave him extraordinary abilities—greater speed, strength, and quick reactions. On top of that, it allowed him to withstand the harsh effects of elemental attacks such as fire, ice, and electricity.
Even though the temperature had plummeted to more than ten degrees below freezing, Julian could feel the cold, but it was nowhere near enough to harm him. It remained within the tolerable range.
That said, if this were a concentrated attack like an Ice Beam instead of an area-wide move like Blizzard, Julian wouldn't have dared to stand so casually in the midst of it.
"Unbelievable... is he a martial artist?" Luis muttered to himself in disbelief.
It was common knowledge that only certain highly skilled martial artists could withstand such extreme temperatures by relying on their powerful internal energy and strong life force.
"He is indeed a martial artist," Shen said to her friend Kate to Luis's remark, Shen couldn't help but feel proud, "I taught him, after all."
"Froslass, use Ice Shard!"
With her Snow Cloak ability, Froslass moved through the storm with incredible speed. Blizzard gave her the perfect cover, making her seem like a phantom—just like the snow spirits from Babath kingdom's legends.
By now, the entire battlefield was covered with a thin layer of ice from the storm.
"Lucario, locate Froslass," Julian commanded in a calm voice.
Despite Froslass's evasive movements and near-invisibility in the storm, Lucario's aura flared to life.
In the midst of the howling wind and swirling snow, an Ice Shard, hidden by the storm, hurtled toward Lucario. But just as it was about to land, Lucario's eyes snapped open.
"Luca!"
With a swift movement, he crushed the shard with his fist.
Then, in an instant, Lucario vanished.
"Froslass, use Icy Wind!"
Luis shouted, sensing danger.
Icy Wind, boosted by Blizzard, surged across the battlefield. The combination of the two was powerful, but it wasn't easy to control. The energy needed to be balanced perfectly; otherwise, both moves would weaken, or worse, backfire.
Blizzard surged, growing even more fierce, as Icy Wind intertwined with it.
The temperature dropped even further. Ice began to form on Lucario's body, and his movements slowed.
"Sure enough, except for Metagross, although the other Pokémon are powerful, but they are within the acceptable range" Yanis commented, watching Lucario struggle under the freezing conditions.
Tyler, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. He couldn't help but feel envious of Luis's strategy. He had cleverly avoided Metagross and was now successfully putting pressure on Lucario.
He exchanged glances with Yanis, both of them realizing they had underestimated Luis's battle tactics.
"If only I hadn't been the first to face Julian," Tyler muttered with regret. He knew that if Luis had gone up against Metagross instead, things might have turned out differently.
Yanis smirked slightly, knowing full well the tough time Tyler had. His own experience with Metagross had been humbling, but at least he wasn't taken down instantly. Still, he couldn't help but think that if Luis had faced Metagross instead, his Froslass would have been overwhelmed by now.
"Lucario's situation doesn't look good," Kate observed, concerned by Lucario's increasingly sluggish movements.
The freezing cold had begun to take its toll on him, and despite sensing Froslass's location, landing a hit seemed more and more difficult.
"Relax, Lucario's tough," Shen said with confidence, fully trusting in Julian and his Pokémon.
Luis's confidence was growing. He saw the signs of Lucario weakening and believed victory was within reach.
"Froslass, use Frost Breath!"
Blizzard + Icy Wind + Frost Breath—the combination of these three moves dropped the temperature even more, plunging it to a bone-chilling minus 50 degrees.
Luis, well-prepared for this situation, activated the electric heating function in his coat to keep himself warm.
However, amidst the thrill of the moment, a sudden realization struck him.
"Wait… Julian…" Luis muttered, his excitement fading. Julian was still standing out there, only wearing short sleeves.
He had only wanted to win the match—not kill Julian.
But because of the existence of Icy Wind and Frost Breath, Blizzard had become bigger, he could no longer see Julian on the opposite side, and had no idea whether Julian was frozen to death or not.
"Aura Sphere"
Julian's voice cut through the storm, calm and steady. A moment later, Froslass let out a pained cry.
"Froslass!"
Luis shouted in panic. He cursed himself for being an idiot— Metagross was standing right behind Julian, There was no way Julian was in danger with that powerhouse by his side.
Though the Aura Sphere hadn't knocked Froslass out, the damage was done. Blizzard began to lose its intensity, and soon the storm had cleared.
Julian stood unscathed, a faint green barrier surrounding him—the protective handiwork of Metagross.
The temperature may have dropped to minus 50, but Julian could still have relied on Mega Pallet Town physique to resist, but there were many people around. He knew better than to reveal his abilities in such a public setting. As long as they were not idiots, everyone would instantly know something was wrong.
As the storm cleared, Froslass was panting heavily, struggling to stay upright. Lucario, though frosted over, was still standing strong.
"Ice Shard!" Luis shouted, desperate to make a last stand.
"Aura Sphere."
"Boom!"
The two moves clashed, but the result was clear. Froslass, unable to keep up any longer, collapsed.
"Froslass is unable to battle. Lucario wins!"
"Still lost huh.."
Luis recalled his Froslass, his expression a mixture of frustration and respect. He had lost, but he had given it his all.
"Lucario must be your Trump Card, huh? It's ridiculously strong," Luis said, his tone lighter, though still tinged with disappointment. "I threw everything at it, and it barely flinched."
'Huh, Shameless..'
Tyler and Yanis exchanged knowing glances. Both thought to themselves that Luis wasn't fooling anyone. They all knew that Metagross was Julian's true Trump Card.
"Sure, a chance for you to meet my other Trump Card."
Julian found Luis's character quite interesting.
Still, Luis's strength as a Trainer was undeniable. He had skillfully combined Icy Wind and Frost Breath with Blizzard, creating a powerful synergy that could overpower Pokémon ten levels higher than his.
Meanwhile, Yanis, also an ice-type Trainer, didn't seem nearly as impressive in comparison.
Julian's gaze shifted toward Yanis, and it didn't take long for Yanis to catch on. His expression quickly turned awkward.
'What's that look for? You think I'm not as good as him? You're not even comparing the same situations—look at his opponent and then look at mine.'
Metagross was still towering, while Lucario had calmly stepped aside.
"Humph."
Luis walked up to Tyler and Yanis with a smug look on his face. Despite his loss, he acted as though he had just won the battle.
Both Tyler and Yanis were fuming. They couldn't believe his attitude.
After all, while neither of them had managed to even scratch Julian's Metagross, Luis's Froslass had actually caused some damage to Lucario.
And now, he was rubbing it in their faces.
"What's his deal?" Shen asked.
Shen couldn't help but be impressed. It wasn't easy to make Julian's Lucario show any sign of damage.
Even though she hadn't known her new friend, Kate, for long, she knew that Kate had a strong understanding of everyone's backgrounds in the special class. She even knew that Shen came from a martial arts family of Lake City.
"His grandmother is an Ice-type Elite," Kate replied.
"No wonder."
Shen nodded. With a grandmother who was an Elite specializing in ice-types, it was no surprise that Luis was so skilled at using his Froslass. If Shen had been the one against him, even her Trump Card, Machamp, wouldn't have been able to last two rounds against that Froslass.
"And what about you? What's your background? You a descendant of an Elite too?" Shen asked, curiosity piqued.
Everyone in the special class came from prominent families, and Shen was beginning to feel that her background might be one of the least impressive in the group.
"My family has shares in the Penguin Group."
"..."
Well, that explained it. A big local powerhouse, no doubt. Shen wasn't sure how many shares Kate's family owned, but it definitely wasn't a small amount.
"I will go next"
Just then, a burly figure emerged from the crowd.
Standing nearly two meters tall, he towered over everyone.
"My name's Walter. Mind having a match with me? I've got a level 20 Pokémon I want to train."
Shameless.
Tyler, Yanis, and Linda all sneered at Walter. He was clearly taking advantage of the situation.
Such a big man had such little courage.
Level 20 Pokémon were still in the early stages of development. At that level, Pokémon couldn't absorb too many resources, and over-investing would even cause harm.
At the same time, the difference between level 20 Pokémon wasn't typically huge, they all had similar level of power.
Unlike Metagross, who at the same level, no one could defeat.
"Alright"
Julian agreed with a nod. If he wanted to establish himself as the leader of the special class, he had to prove himself by taking on every challenge, one by one.
"Go, Marshtomp!"
Walter sent out his Pokémon—a level 20 Marshtomp, with cyan qualification.
The cyan-qualification was no surprise at all now.
"Aron."
As soon as Julian's Aron appeared on the battlefield, everyone's jaws dropped.
That wasn't a goddamn Aron— if Julian said it was a Aggron with stunted growth, they would all believe it.
'Have you ever seen an Aron-over a meter tall?'
"Is that really an Aron?" someone muttered in disbelief.
"F**k! Did this Aron grow up eating gold bars and Diamonds?"
"And did you notice how shiny its forehead is? The sunlight reflecting off it is practically blinding me!"
"Shen, does Julian even have any normal Pokémon?" Kate asked, staring at the towering Aron.
"No"
Shen replied without hesitation.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, but Walter stood there, lost in thought. His reverse strategy seemed to have backfired.
He realized with an Aron that size, his Marshtomp might get crushed directly.
Marshtomp looked back at his Trainer pitifully.
Marshtomp: I don't wanna fight it… I'll get squashed!
Meanwhile, Aron was full of excitement. Although Julian often took him to battle wild Pokémon, this was his first time battling another trainer's Pokémon.
Aron: Crush my enemy.
Marshtomp: ...
"Don't worry, Marshtomp. The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Walter reassured his Pokémon, though it was clear Marshtomp wasn't convinced.
Marshtomp had decent qualifications, but its timid personality got the better of it. The sight of Aron's massive frame only heightened its anxiety.
Many of the spectators couldn't help but look at him after hearing Walter's pep talk. He seemed to be talking about himself.
Pokémon: Aron (Steel/Rock)
Level: 20
Qualification: Blue
Ability: Heavy Metal
Gender: Male
Moves: Roar, Tackle, Harden, Headbutt, Protect, Rock Tomb, Metal Claw
Discs Moves: Earthquake, Sandstorm, Dig, Shock Wave, Rock Slide, Rock Smash
Genetic Moves: Stomp, Heavy Slam, Endeavor, Dragon Rush
Both Aron and Marshtomp were level 20, so there was no clear advantage on that front.
"Marshtomp, use Water Gun!"
Encouraged by Walter, Marshtomp summoned the courage to launch a Water Gun. A stream of water shot toward Aron.
"Aron, Tackle!"
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Aron charged forward, its heavy frame thudding against the ground. Thanks to its Heavy Metal ability, its speed wasn't the fastest, but it moved with unstoppable force, looking more like a small tank than a Pokémon.
The Water Gun splashed harmlessly against Aron's metal armor, as if it were nothing more than a raindrop hitting a stone. It didn't even slow him down.
Marshtomp's eyes widened in panic as Aron closed in.
"Use Mud Shot! Aim for its eyes!" Walter called out.
He had thought about using Dig to dodge the attack, but looking at the massive Aron, it's likely had Earthquake learned through a Disc, he couldn't take the risk. Digging underground would only make things worse.
Mud flew through the air, targeting Aron's face.
"Close your eyes and keep moving," Julian ordered.
There was no need for evasive maneuvers or complicated strategies. Aron could take whatever was thrown at him. After all, his role was simple: to tank.
Mud splattered against Aron, but it didn't matter. He barreled forward without hesitation, getting closer and closer to Marshtomp.
"Jump up when he gets close!"
"It's now!" Walter shouted.
Marshtomp leaped into the air just as Aron was about to collide with him.
"Marshtomp, use Rock Throw!"
Stones appeared mid-air, hurtling down toward Aron, with Marshtomp standing on top of one of them.
"Aron, Heavy Slam!"
Ignoring the falling rocks, Aron used his weight and Heavy Metal ability to turn into a small meteorite, plowing through the stone rain.
Marshtomp: My life is flashing before my eyes…
"Marshtomp is unable to battle. Aron wins!"
"Aron!"
Aron cheered in victory, looking even more eager for another round.
He turned toward Walter with anticipation.
Aron: Go ahead, send out the next one out.
"This feels like an adult fighting kindergarten children."
"This is Totem Pokémon for you—Marshtomp's moves just can't shake it."
"It's not just because it's a Totem Pokémon; Aron's defense is impressive!"
"Its armor shines like diamonds."
A certain girl was fascinated by Aron's armor that sparkled in the sunlight.
The people in the special class recognized Aron as a Totem Pokémon. No one was naïve here. Although most students had never encountered a Totem Pokémon in real life, it was obvious that Aron's massive size was no mere work of just resources and money.
The only conclusion was that Aron was indeed a Totem Pokémon.
"This is the privilege of being the sole heir to the Walker family"
Luis, who also came from a prestigious background himself, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Though he was indeed very talented and his family also gave him preference when allocating resources, but it was impossible to be like Julian, getting all the best things. After all, there were over ten direct family members to consider, and resources had to be shared.
Most of the people here had the same idea, they believed that Julian's Totem Aron was something the Walker family had found for him.
In reality, Aron had indeed been discovered by Julian's father, Jake. However, he hadn't started as a Totem Pokémon; Julian had transformed him into one through the soul of Totem.
When Jake found out that Aron was a Totem Pokémon, he called himself the emperor of luck. After all, He'd stumbled upon a Pokémon rarer than a pseudo-legendary, something beyond lucky.
Standing before Julian, he even bragged that if not for his luck, Julian would have never gotten this Totem Pokémon.
Julian smiled, choosing to remain silent.
-
"Which one of you will go first or should I pick?"
When Walter stepped down from the crowd, the last two challengers exchanged glances.
"I'll go first."
As one of the challenger stepped forward, someone in the audience who knew him muttered, "Julian is in trouble."
"Why, is he that strong?"
"Dragon-type Trainer, you tell me"
Among the eighteen types, Dragon-type Pokémon were synonymous with power, known for their incredible destructive capabilities.
Of course, their numbers were far fewer than other types, and Breeding them required substantial resources.
If breeding a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, a family without considerable wealth would be better off not attempting it at all.
Raising a dragon takes energy, time, and resources, and dragon types are still late bloomers. If you raise a dragon type pseudo-legendary, you might end up being dragged down by the Pokémon.
"He seems famous!" Shen exclaimed, noticing the commotion surrounding the newcomer.
"Ian Drake, heir of the Drake family in the imperial capital. The last Dragon Elite was his grandfather," Kate didn't disappoint, effortlessly sharing details.
"Ah, so he's from the Drake family," Shen said in understanding.
Most ordinary people knew very little about the top families in Drakoria, but the Drake family was an exception. Many recognized their members easily.
The main reason was them using dragon-types and many excellent members even using pseudo-legendaries.
Although not all pseudo-legendary Pokémon were dragon type, but they were the most numerous of all.
"Let's have a battle of dragons," Ian proposed confidently.
Tyler, Yanis: Shameless
Luis, Walter: Plagiarism
"Fine," Julian replied.
He withdrew Aron and sent out his Dragonair.
Looking at the blue and white figure soaring gracefully through the air, Ian said sincerely, "Your Dragonair is really bred well."
"Can I ask, where did your Dragonair come from?" he inquired, genuinely curious.
The qualifications of the Dragonair in front of him were clearly above Cyan—perhaps even above the Blue level. Its eyes, demeanor, and skin color all hinted at its excellence.
Such a Pokémon could not even be found in the Drake family; how had it appeared in the Walker family, known for its Steel-type Pokémon?
"That's confidential"
Julian replied coldly.
Ian felt a flicker of irritation at the dismissal. Without further ado, he released his Pokémon.
"Roar!"
A fearsome creature emerged—a Salamence with blood-red wings and a dark blue body, exuding an aura of intimidation.
Salamence looked up at Dragonair soaring overhead, its wings fluttering slightly. It matched Dragonair's level, its fierce, predatory gaze emanating a sense of danger.
Among the Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries, Salamence, Garchomp, and Hydreigon were notoriously aggressive, especially Hydregion.
In fact, Hydreigon had a history of violent incidents, including one where it killed and ate its own trainer in Celestria.
Salamence: Level 55, cyan qualification.
Pokémon: Dragonair
Level: 54
Qualification: Purple
Ability: Shed Skin
Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance
Discs Moves: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe
Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Shelgon evolves into Salamence at level 50, while Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55.
Julian had also suffered from the late bloomer status of Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries.
Salamence's Intimidate ability didn't diminish Dragonair's attack power. Although Dragonair was one level below Salamence, levels alone didn't define strength.
Ian realized this too, his brow furrowing slightly.
His Salamence was at level 55, while Dragonair hadn't yet evolved into Dragonite, so it's level must be less than 55.
Despite being lower in level, it was not affected by Intimidate.
The possibility was that Dragonair's strength might be comparable to Salamence's—or even surpass it.
Salamence was Ian's starter Pokémon, the strongest among his team, while Dragonair wasn't Julian's starter.
He was also part of a prestigious family, yet his starter Pokémon didn't measure up to Julian's other Pokémon in rank. The disparity gnawed at him.
"Salamence, use Dragon Breath!"
Ian initiated the attack confidently. Being a member of a Dragon family, he was certain he wouldn't lose in a contest of Dragon Pokémon.
The green breath surged forward, charged with powerful Dragon energy.
"Dragon Tail!" Julian commanded.
Dragonair's slender tail swung down, striking Dragon Breath with a sharp snap, instantly dispersing it.
"Salamence, use Dragon Claw!"
Salamence flapped its wings, covering the distance of over a hundred meters in an instant. The air split apart as its claw tore through it, creating a piercing sound.
"Swish!"
Dragon Claw descended, but Dragonair was no longer in the same spot.
"Extreme Speed!"
When Dragon Claw missed, Salamence felt a sudden force slam into its back, sending it spiraling downward.
Thanks to the protective shell covering Salamence's belly from its Shelgon stage, and the Extreme Speed Tackle not dealing critical damage. Otherwise, the blow would have been far worse.
Under Dragonair's Extreme Speed, Salamence crashed straight into the ground, creating a massive pit about seven or eight meters wide. Yet, Salamence wasn't down for the count; in fact, the impact only seemed to fuel its inner rage.
"Roar!"
With bloodthirsty eyes, Salamence glared at Dragonair, who floated gracefully in the air above.
"Extreme Speed... your Dragonair actually inherited that?" Ian said, disbelief clear in his voice.
Extreme Speed was a rare move, and while it didn't give Dragonair a huge advantage yet, once it evolved into Dragonite, it would be a game-changer.
Dragonite was already known for incredible speed, but adding Extreme Speed would eliminate its only real shortcoming.
The thing about Extreme Speed was that Dragonite couldn't learn it through normal means—it had to be passed down genetically.
And the odds of inheriting it were slim, almost like hitting the lottery.
In the wild or among most Pokémon, only a few species could even use Extreme Speed, like Arcanine or Lucario.
Both of them were just as rare as pseudo-legendaries.
So for a Dratini to inherit such a move? It was a jackpot.
Researchers were even studying more about these types of genetic moves.
Ian knew very well how powerful a Dragonite with Extreme Speed Move would be in the future.
How had a family known for Steel-type Pokémon like the Walkers ended up with a Dragonair so superior even to those raised by dragon-specialist families like his own?
For a moment, he doubted whether Julian was a child of the Drake family.
"Dragonair, use Dragon Rush!"
Julian, unfazed by Ian's comments, gave his next command calmly.
"Salamence, Protect!" Ian shouted, quickly reacting.
A green shield enveloped Salamence just in time, blocking Dragonair's rush. The two Pokémon's energies clashed violently, sparks flying as the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air.
"Crack, crack..."
Salamence's protective shield began to fracture under the pressure.
"Hyper Beam!" Ian called out just as Salamence's shield shattered.
A glowing beam burst from Salamence, colliding with Dragonair's Dragon Rush mid-attack.
Protect had already consumed some of the move's energy and The force of the Hyper Beam canceled out the remaining energy from Dragon Rush, leaving both Pokémon momentarily drained.
"This Dragonair is something else"
Ian muttered, realizing Salamence had needed two moves to block one of Dragonair's attacks—one of those moves being a lifesaving Protect.
The sheer power behind Julian's Dragonair was astounding.
"Dragonair, Ice Beam!"
Julian seized the moment.
Salamence was left frozen in place, reeling from the exhaustion of using Hyper Beam.
The stronger the Pokémon the less time it needed to reel in after a Hyper Beam, some really powerful ones might even ignore the effect all together.
But Salamence as of now couldn't do anything.
As the icy blast shot out from Dragonair's horn, the air filled with cold, jagged energy. Icicles formed wherever the beam passed.
"Salamence, dodge!" Ian yelled in desperation.
Not all Trainers were Ash, shout and Pokémon will fight back.
Salamence: I can't move my body, you should have thought this through before letting me use Hyper Beam, you idiot.
But Salamence was still recovering from Hyper Beam, unable to move. Ian could only watch as the Ice Beam struck true.
Ice-type moves were especially devastating to Dragon-types, 4x damage, and Salamence took the full brunt of the attack.
A moment later, Salamence was frozen solid, encased in ice like a statue.
"Salamence is unable to battle! Dragonair wins!"
Seeing that Ian lose, Tyler and Yanis were so happy that they gave each other a high five. After reacting, they felt something was wrong.
"Of course he had to lose, If Ian had won, wouldn't it make us look even worse?" Luis muttered.
The two nodded in agreement.
"It's Evolving"
Someone shouted from the crowd.
In mid-air, Dragonair's slender body was suddenly enveloped in a brilliant white light. Its elegant, serpentine form started to grow rounder, bulkier, as it transformed.
When the light faded, a large, orange dragon with tiny wings and a broad belly appeared—Dragonite.
Gone was the sleek and graceful Dragonair, replaced by a chubby, friendly-looking Dragonite.
Julian couldn't help but laugh at the sight of his newly evolved Pokémon. He gave Dragonite's round belly a playful pat, and it jiggled in response.
"Better watch what you eat, or you'll get even fatter," Julian teased with a grin.
Dragonite:((;???;))
Pokémon: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
Level: 55
Qualification: Purple
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Dragon Fang
Gender: Male
Moves: Hurricane, Wing Attack, Roost, Wrap, Leer, Dragon Tail, Twister, Thunder Wave, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Slam, Rain Dance
Move Disc: Protect, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, Substitute, Iron Tail, Breaking Swipe
Genetic Moves: Extreme Speed, Dragon Breath, Dragon Dance, Outrage
Ian's face fell as he withdrew his Salamence, his mind racing with disbelief. He had not only lost, but he had been completely outclassed. His Salamence, higher in level and a true dragon-type, had been defeated by Dragonair. To make things worse, Dragonair had evolved into Dragonite at the very moment of victory.
It was simply rubbing salt in the wound.
'If Julian's Dragonite becomes famous in the future, some people might say that when it was still Dragonair, it defeated someone named Ian and then evolved into Dragonite.'
"That Dragonite is incredibly strong and its strength should be no less than that of the Metagross. Maybe Dragonite is his real Trump Card," Ian said with a serious face after the match.
Even though Salamence was higher in level, and Ian was from a prestigious dragon family, he had still been soundly defeated. The thought stung.
"Cut the dramatics, Ian," Luis said with a knowing smile. "Lucario is his trump card, not Dragonite."
After all, losing to someone's ace was definitely different from losing to just any Pokémon.
"Actually, it's Metagross"
Tyler and Yanis corrected.
All of them exchanged glances, feeling the weight of their losses.
Even though there was one more challenger who hadn't battled Julian yet they could see what was coming. Each one of them had been defeated with ease, as if Julian was just warming up.
They all looked towards the last challenger.
"Why bother?" Luis said, patting them on the shoulder. "You're going to lose anyway. Might as well save yourself the embarrassment."
Facing Luis's teasing remark, the other trainer didn't even respond. He simply cast a cold glance at him, and that was enough to make Luis freeze in place. A drop of cold sweat ran down his cheek.
"I'll take him down"
Hugo declared, his voice as cold as ice. Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the battlefield.
"Huh, Who is this guy?, That murderous aura, he has definitely killed a lot of people" Luis muttered under his breath, still shaken.
'That stare... it felt like I was being hunted by an Arbok. One wrong move and I'm done for.'
"His name is Hugo. He's the champion of this year's Summer Country Field Fighting Tournament. Rumor has it that nearly a dozen people lost their lives to him during the competition."
Ian, standing beside him, offered some insight, though his tone was uneasy.
"Damn, it turned out to be that fierce guy. I've heard about him... but I didn't expect him to end up as a classmate."
"Yeah, suddenly it feels like my neck's a bit chilly."
Wild fighting tournaments were brutal, no-rules competitions where participants could use any tactic to win—even lethal ones.
These battles weren't just against Pokémon but also against the trainers themselves. It was a game of survival, where killing your opponent was not only allowed but expected in some cases.
There were only champions in wild tournaments, no second or third place, and those who participate and become champions will get very generous rewards.
"Wild fighting?" Tyler whispered. "I thought those were just for desperate people and criminals."
"They usually are," Ian replied grimly. "But the reality is... out in the wild, it's not just Pokémon you need to worry about. Trainers will turn on each other for treasure or to capture rare Pokémon. That's the kind of place Hugo comes from."
As Hugo approached, Julian's expression grew serious. The air around him felt tense, charged with danger.
Even Metagross, who had been calmly standing behind Julian, moved in front, ready to protect its trainer.
"I may not be your rival in a head-on fight," Hugo said, expressionlessly. " But Wild fights are about life and death, not rules."
Julian could hear the excitement in Hugo's tone when he spoke of life and death. He wasn't just a fighter—he was a thrill-seeker, a man who enjoyed danger, who thrived in chaos.
A real madman.
Julian finally knew why the other party gave him a sense of danger. It turned out that he was good at wild fighting, with no rules and the sole purpose of violence.
Julian didn't hesitate, though.
"I accept," he said firmly. He wasn't one to back down, even though he didn't have that much experience of a wild fight.
Seeing that Julian agreed, Frank, the head teacher, shook his head secretly, not optimistic that Julian would be able to beat Hugo in a wild match.
Head-to-head confrontation and wild fighting were two completely different things.
"Alright, you can have your wild match, but no crippling or killing, understood?" His eyes moved from Hugo to Julian, making sure both acknowledged the rule.
As the head teacher, he couldn't watch the two of them have an accident, holding a Poké Ball in his hand, he was ready to stop the match at any time.
They both nodded, though Julian could feel that Hugo was less concerned with the "rules" than he was with winning.
Wild fights were best suited for natural environments, where anything could happen. The battlefield setting limited Hugo's usual tactics, but that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous.
Without wasting any time, Hugo unleashed four Ghost-type Pokémon in rapid succession:
Mismagius, Banette, Sableye, and Dusknoir.
Their eerie presence chilled the air, and the spectators could feel the temperature drop as they appeared.
Ghost-types were known for their tricky, underhanded tactics—perfect for wild fights.
If the strongest Pokémon were considered to be Dragon types, then the most difficult to deal with Pokémon were definitely Ghost types.
Before Julian could even release more of his Pokémon, Hugo launched an attack.
"Mismagius, Astonish!"
"Banette, Curse on Metagross!"
"Sableye, attack the trainer directly!"
"Dusknoir, use Disable on Metagross!"
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
The only Pokémon Julian had out was Metagross, which he had never taken back after the match, and now Hugo's Ghost-types were closing in fast.
In a official match, this would've been illegal, but in a wild fight, anything goes.
Mismagius let out a piercing cry, causing the crowd to cover their ears in pain. Julian, thinking quickly, blocked out the noise with his Psychic abilities.
Sableye, however, was already speeding toward him. Metagross tried to move, but Dusknoir's Disable temporarily locked it in place. Though Metagross broke free a moment later, it was too late—Sableye was already upon Julian, throwing a Shadow Punch aimed straight at his abdomen.
Luis, watching from the sidelines, muttered to himself, "He's done for…"
Frank, the head teacher, had already thrown a Poké Ball, preparing to stop the fight.
"Eat my punch"
But Julian wasn't defenseless. Just before the Shadow Punch landed, he clenched his fists, and a burst of aura energy flared up around it. With precise timing, Julian swung his fist, and it connected with Sableye's face like a hammer.
The impact sent Sableye flying into the air.
"Haa..!"
Julian shouted, channeling his energy once more. He pulled back his hands and launched an Aura Sphere, the size of a football, straight toward Sableye, who hadn't even hit the ground yet.
With the power of Advanced Aura, using Aura Sphere was no longer a dream, though the power was definitely not comparable to Lucario.
The energy ball struck Sableye mid-air, and it came crashing down.
"Lucario, Dragonite, take care of the rest!"
Without missing a beat, Julian released his next two Pokémon.
Dragonite soared into the air, flapping its wings powerfully, and with one swift Dragon Breath, Sableye was down for good.
Lucario, meanwhile, darted across the battlefield, its target locked on Hugo.
Hugo had been counting on his sneak attack to take Julian out, but in just three seconds, he had already lost one of his Pokémon. Most people would've been overwhelmed by the initial onslaught—but Julian wasn't most people.
With advanced aura control, intermediate-level Psychic abilities, and his enhanced physique, Julian was anything but ordinary.
These factors made Julian take down Sableye instead.
Hugo barely had time to react before Lucario was upon him. He hastily ordered Banette and Dusknoir to intercept, but Lucario was too fast.
"Luca!"
With an Aura Sphere in each hand, Lucario struck both Ghost-types, forcing them to retreat momentarily.
That brief delay bought Hugo just enough time to roll out of the way as Lucario lunged for him.
Gengar, hidden in Hugo's shadow, finally revealed itself.
Taking advantage of this sudden reveal, Gengar's eyes glowed, casting a Hypnosis.
Lucario's movements slowed, and it stumbled, its eyelids growing heavy.
"Good job"
Hugo grinned, thinking victory was near.
But before he could finish the thought, a flesh-colored fist appeared in front of him.
"BANG!"
Julian's punch connected with Hugo's face, fracturing his nose. Hugo stumbled back, his vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his skull, causing him to tear up instantly.
"Let's have a wild match?"
"You think you're cool, huh?"
Julian growled, grabbing Hugo by the collar and delivering another punch to his jaw.
Seeing their trainer getting beaten by Julian, Hugo's Pokémon immediately grew anxious. They turned around, intending to rush back to protect him.
Unfortunately for them, Dragonite, Lucario, and Metagross were waiting, blocking their path.
Metagross: If you want to pass, pay the toll.
The message was clear. Dragonite and Lucario, following Metagross's lead, dashed toward Gengar, Mismagius, and Dusknoir, ready to battle.
Hugo, barely conscious, felt the world spinning. Everything sounded muffled, like he was underwater. Even the pain in his body had dulled. In his mind, for a brief moment, he thought he saw Arceus smiling down at him from above.
"Julian, stop!"
Frank called out, his voice cutting through the haze. The head teacher could see the fight had gone far enough. If Julian continued, there was a real chance Hugo would either be disfigured or dead.
"Alright, Teacher Frank"
Julian replied casually. But before he stopped, he threw one more punch at Hugo's face, sending a spray of blood into the air. He shook his fist, flicking off the blood like it was nothing.
By now, Hugo had completely blacked out. His face was almost unrecognizable, swollen beyond recognition, and his teeth were all but shattered.
Julian had made sure to send a clear message. When it came to someone like Hugo, who thrived on wild, no-rules fighting, showing mercy would only invite more problems. Being ruthless was the only way to earn respect from someone like him.
Meanwhile, Hugo's remaining Pokémon were lying on the battlefield, defeated by Dragonite and Lucario, unable to move.
Frank called for the school medic. Knowing how intense the battle might become, he had already summoned medical staff just in case things got out of hand.
The school doctor rushed over, dispatching a Chansey to heal Hugo.
"Chansey, Heal Pulse!"
Chansey's soft pink glow spread across Hugo's battered body. After a few minutes, his face started to heal, and even his broken teeth began to regrow.
With the help of Pokémon like Chansey, modern medicine had advanced to the point where even severe injuries could be healed in a short time. Humans had not only gained new partners in their everyday lives, but they had also seen their lifespans improve.
Groggy and dazed, Hugo slowly woke up. The first thing he saw was Julian's face, grinning down at him.
"Yo, welcome back," Julian said, still wiping the last bit of blood from his knuckles.
Hugo's eyes widened in terror as the memory of the brutal punches came flooding back. He scrambled back, a look of pure fear etched on his face.
"No.. No.. Don't.."
He touched his face and stared in shock at the blood on his hands.
"Alright, Julian, that's enough," Frank said as he approached. "The match is over."
Frank looked at Julian with a mix of admiration and surprise. He hadn't expected Julian to beat Hugo, the national champion of field fighting.
Wild fighting was a completely different style from regular competitions, and being able to defeat someone like Hugo was no small feat.
Of course, he could also see that Julian was not as good as Hugo in terms of wild fighting experience. The main reason Julian could win was due to his incredible reaction speed and the power of Advanced Aura.
If it weren't for Julian's ability to smash Sableye with an aura-powered punch in the beginning and his quick use of Aura Sphere, Hugo's sneak attack would have succeeded.
Thinking of Julian able to use Aura Sphere, Frank felt surprised and envious, After all which trainer didn't dream of having special abilities.
The battle, though it felt long, had taken just over a minute from start to finish.
For Hugo, this defeat was likely to leave a lasting scar—not physically but mentally. Julian might become his psychological shadow.
"Who else?" Julian called out, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
As Hugo staggered off the stage, the remaining six challengers who had faced Julian were already defeated. Except for Tyler and Yanis who faced Julian's strongest Pokémon Metagross.
The other four had tried to go head-to-head in their areas of expertise, but they still failed.
Now, as the group of twenty-three students watching the match exchanged nervous glances, no one seemed eager to step up.
The six challengers gave them a collective look of disdain.
Six: seriously?
Twenty-three: Hey, we're just following our hearts…
With this final battle, the entire class had come to realize that Julian, their representative, was undefeated.
Especially in the last match, if it was any of them, Sableye would have already taken them out, how could they be like Julian being able to beat up a Sableye.
Kate, watching the whole scene, clasped her hands together and sighed. "He's just so cool. That Aura Sphere—it really touched my heart."
Shen, standing next to her, rolled his eyes and muttered, "I advise you not to catch feelings for him."
Kate turned to Shen, raising an eyebrow. "Why? You like him or something?"
Shen smirked. "You ever heard of Iron-hearted guys of Oreburgh?"
"Yeah, sure… wait, is Julian one of them? Makes sense, given his Steel-type preferences."
"Nope," Shen corrected. "Julian's not an Iron. He's even better—he's Titanium."
Kate blinked. "Titanium? Wow… that sounds hardcore."
Shen: I'm afraid this child is suffering from a brain injury...
Julian, meanwhile, seeing that no one was coming forward recalled his Pokémon back into their Poké Balls and turned to walk back toward the class.
But as he took a step forward, the rest of the 21 students took a step back, Only Shen and Kate stayed in place, Shen looking amused, and Kate still gazing at Julian with hearts in her eyes.
Luis walked over with a grin. "Don't mind them, Walker. They're just still scared from watching you beat up Hugo."
Julian didn't respond but glanced down at his right hand, still crusted with Hugo's blood. He could understand why they might feel a little nervous.
"Walker, can I ask you something?" Luis continued, a little too eager.
"What is it?" Julian asked, raising an eyebrow.
The other party had a mouthful of Walker this and Walker that, which reminded him of Will's cheekiness, So he decided to entertain him.
"I saw you use that Aura Sphere with your hands earlier… To be honest, I've also awakened aura powers," Luis said excitedly, clearly hoping to be able to do the same.
Julian's interest piqued. Aura users were rare, and to meet another one in the special class was unexpected.
He looked at him, curious. "Show me."
Without hesitation, Luis concentrated, and a faint glow of aura appeared in his palm. It flickered for a moment before vanishing, leaving him looking a bit pale.
"Well? What do you think?" he asked, his eyes full of hope. "Can I make an Aura Sphere like you?"
Julian gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, "Go to bed early."
He had not even awakened Aura to the primary level yet.
Luis blinked. "Wait… what does that mean? Are you saying if I get enough rest, I'll be able to use an Aura Sphere too?"
Julian smirked. "Go to bed early, and you can dream about it."
Luis: (X_x)
At seven o'clock in the morning, the newest member of the team, Growlithe, padded over to Julian's bedroom door. The pup stood up on its hind legs, pressing the door handle with its paw like it had done many times before. But today, the handle wouldn't budge.
Growlithe: I could open this door a few days ago. Why isn't it working now?
After circling a few times in front of the door, Growlithe's ears perked up as an idea popped into its head. It bolted to the living room, eagerly nosing open one of the drawers. After some rummaging, Growlithe emerged, holding a key in its mouth.
Trotting back to Julian's door with the key clamped between its teeth, Growlithe placed its front paws against the door and attempted to insert the key.
After a couple of tries—and switching out two more keys—it finally found the right one. With a triumphant little growl, Growlithe managed to turn the lock and push the door open.
Once inside, the pup's tail wagged excitedly as it spotted Julian still fast asleep. Growlithe backed up a few paces, ran, and leapt into the air, landing squarely on Julian's chest with a thud.
"Bang!"
Julian's body jerked into a V-shape, his head and feet snapping upwards as the weight of the overenthusiastic Growlithe slammed down on him.
"Grow! Grow! Grow!"
Growlithe barked, its tail wagging furiously as it bounced around on the bed.
Still groggy and confused, Julian blinked at the happy Growlithe, trying to figure out how it had managed to unlock the door.
Normally, he didn't mind being woken up by his Pokémon, especially since Growlithe had taken it upon itself to be his personal alarm clock. But this method? Not so much.
"If you keep jumping on me like this, I'm going to need a doctor soon," Julian muttered, rubbing his eyes.
If it weren't for his abnormal physical strength, a 40-pound Growlithe crashing onto his stomach every morning would definitely put him in the hospital.
Seeing Growlithe inch closer, ready to give him a good-morning face wash, Julian quickly caught its muzzle with his hand.
"Alright, alright, I'm up. How about you go wake up the others instead?"
Julian gestured toward Aron and Meltan, who were still snuggled up in a corner of the room, completely oblivious to the commotion. Growlithe barked in agreement and bounded over to rouse its teammates.
By the time Julian was washed and dressed, all three Pokémon were wide awake and trailing him downstairs. At the dining table, Slowking—who had been awake for hours—was already setting out breakfast.
Slowking floated a glass of moo-moo milk over to Julian as he sat down.
"Thanks, Slow"
Julian said, though he couldn't help but feel a bit resigned. He had hoped to escape the daily moo-moo milk ritual when he left home, but no such luck.
It all started when his family called, and found out that Slowking was very good at taking care of people. After that Love took over the call and asked Julian to put Slowking on.
Julian didn't know what the two Pokémon talked about after that.
But from the next day onwards, a fresh glass moo-moo milk was placed in front of Julian by Slowking.
Breakfast was a bowl of porridge, accompanied by a stack of small pickles and ten dumplings, all made by Slowking. The taste was top-notch, as expected.
"Stop chatting with Love all the time, or you'll end up learning too much from her"
Julian said, noticing that Slowking was on the phone again. He could hear Love's voice on the other end, as they discussed how to best take care of him.
For the past few days, Slowking had been in constant contact with Love, seeking advice on looking after Julian. Love, not taking any chances, had instructed Slowking to keep a close eye on him.
Julian had even bought a mobile phone for Slowking. With its high IQ, using the phone and playing games had been easy for it.
As Julian sipped the milk, Slowking snapped a picture of the empty glass before sending it to Love for confirmation.
Julian: Even in the imperial capital, I am still under the supervision of Love.
You're a traitor, Slow.
Although he showed he was unhappy But truthfully, he was grateful.
With Slowking managing things, he could focus more on training his Pokémon and less on daily chores.
After finishing breakfast, Julian headed out to the backyard. His Pokémon were already lined up, Growlithe, ever eager, sat wagging its tail with a bowl in its mouth, waiting for its food.
Julian reached into his system space and pulled out food for each of them.
"Seriously, Slow," he said, noticing Slowking removing its crown to use as a makeshift food bowl again.
"Can you please stop using that to hold your food? It looks ridiculous."
The crown had seen better days, covered in scratches and dents from being repurposed as a dish.
And when Slowking took it off, its intelligence dropped considerably.
"Forget I said anything"
Julian could only shake his head as Slowking gave him a blank stare, clearly not understanding a word he said.
"Jigglypuff.... Jiggly...."
Before Julian could say anything else, the sound of Jigglypuff's iconic cry rang out—it was his aunt calling. He answered with a smile.
"Hey, Aunt"
"Okay I got it, Yes"
"Thank you, aunty"
A quick chat later, Julian hung up.
"My aunt says the paper on your evolution is getting published in the Pokémon magazine tomorrow, and the video will be on the Trainer Association's app," he told Slowking.
"Looks like you'll be able appear publicly with me from now on."
Slowking, crown back on and intelligence restored, nodded in acknowledgment.
Because Slowking was a new evolutionary form of Slowpoke, releasing this new form to the public requires a lot of early-stage work.
Until that work was completed, Slowking wasn't ready to show herself to the outside world.
"Slow!"
Slowking nodded.
She was curious about the outside world, especially after learning about it through the Internet. Her curiosity about what the outside world was like only grew stronger.
Julian had discovered this new evolutionary form of Slowpoke, and naturally, the Walker family would enjoy the benefits that came with it.
Not to mention, the authors of the related research paper were Quinn and Julian.
The Kings Rock available on the market had also likely been acquired by the Walker family.
The Kings Rock, which had appeared very early on, was initially misunderstood due to its resemblance to a rusty crown, leading some people to buy it as an antique.
However, the Kings Rock itself was relatively rare. Although the Walker family had managed to acquire a number of them, their quantity remained limited.
The acquisition of the Kings Rock wasn't motivated by a desire for profit; the Walker family was not lacking in money. Instead, it was a strategic move for potential future dealings with other families.
Slowking is a Water-type and Psychic-type Pokémon with a very high IQ.
Its appearance would undoubtedly attract trainers specializing in Water and Psychic types, especially those powerful trainers who understand the value of having a Slowking.
With such a high IQ, Slowking also possesses the ability to take care of people, making it all the more desirable.
"I'm going to the opening ceremony. You guys just stay at home. Growlithe, don't tear down the place"
Julian warned, concerned about Growlithe's energetic nature and fearing that the villa might not survive his absence.
Growlithe nodded vigorously. His expression didn't seem like a promise to Julian but more like a signal for him to leave quickly. It was as if he was saying, 'I'm going to demolish the house as soon as you leave. I have a three million renovation plan; would you like to hear it?'
"Slow, I'll give you the authority over him, make sure this place is still standing when I return," Julian said solemnly.
"Slo~"
Slowking nodded in agreement.
Then its crown was knocked off by Growlithe.
Slowking: Who are you?
Julian: I don't care if I don't attend the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony was mainly attended by freshmen and sophomores, but the older students—juniors and seniors—were not required to attend, as their courses were more relaxed, though they still had tasks to complete.
In the auditorium, the ceremony began with the president's speech. Interestingly, the president of Imperial College wasn't a professional trainer, but a well-known Pokémon scholar.
He had taught many outstanding students, and Julian's aunt was one of his proudest.
After the president offered words of encouragement, it was time for the teacher representative to speak. This year, it was Julian's head teacher, Frank. After him, a sophomore senior gave a speech as the student representative.
Finally, it was Julian's turn as the freshman representative. As the top student in his class, it was only natural that he would be chosen.
Most freshman representatives came from the Trainer Academy, though a few were from the Breeder Academy, the Pokémon School of Medicine, or the Pokémon Research Institute.
Almost all the speakers were tied to Pokémon, as it was central to the world they lived in, with countless professions related to it.
Julian walked up to the podium with Metagross by his side. Even in front of tens of thousands of people, he showed no signs of stage fright.
"Silver Metagross, wow! That's so cool," someone in the crowd whispered.
"I think Walker Elite is the coolest! Do you think Julian could get me an autograph?"
"He's not super handsome, but there's something about him. Like no one could be more handsome."
"Maybe you just think his Metagross is good-looking"
Whether it was because he was Walker Elite's grandson or because of his rare silver Metagross, Julian had drawn everyone's attention. Even though most people hadn't seen him before, they'd heard about him, especially after his participation in the Yale Provincial High School League.
Clips of his battles had been all over social media.
Now, even those unfamiliar with him knew from the crowd's reactions who this impressive freshman was.
"Look at my bro up there, Walker's looking great! Definitely school heartthrob material," Luis said with pride, as if Julian was his real brother.
"In terms of looks, he's not as handsome as me"
Ian added, touching his face proudly.
Though he couldn't match Julian in battle, he was determined to win in the looks department. This little victory inflated his confidence, and he stood up straighter.
"Come on, you're not even one-thousandth as handsome as Walker! Shameless," Luis scoffed.
Ian: You are more shameless, licking up to him like that.
"Hey, Walter, settle this for us! Who's more handsome, Julian or me?"
Ian asked, hoping Walter, the simple and honest looking guy, would give a fair answer.
"Julian, of course"
Walter said without a moment's hesitation.
"See? Even Walter agrees!" Luis gloated.
Ian looked at Walter in disbelief. He hadn't expected such a betrayal.
But then again, this was the same guy who, when challenged by Julian, had suggested using a level 20 Pokémon.
Walter had always been unpredictable. This experience made Ian realize what it meant to not judge a book it's cover.
Ten minutes later, Julian finished his speech. The school had provided the script, so all he had to do was memorize and recite it.
If he hadn't memorized it, he could've done like Teacher Frank and read directly from the paper.
As applause filled the auditorium, Julian stepped down from the stage.
The ceremony wrapped up soon after.
"Here, Brother Walker, have some water!"
Luis rushed up with a bottle of ice-cold water.
"Thanks," Julian said, taking it.
"No need to thank me, Brother Walker!" Luis waved his hands, almost embarrassed.
Julian didn't say much. He knew that if he spoke, Luis would launch into a ten-sentence monologue. Luis was even chattier than Will.
"Brother Walker, the clubs are recruiting new members this afternoon. Are you going?" Luis asked.
The opening ceremony took place in the morning, and the afternoon was reserved for club recruitment. Most new students would either join a club or start one of their own.
"Not interested," Julian shook his head.
Clubs were great for those looking to strengthen themselves, but for Julian, they would be a waste of time.
"If you're not going, then I'm not going either," Luis said.
He had already received an invitation from the Ice Club at the Trainer Academy, one of several clubs focused on specific Pokémon types. There might even be more than one club for the same type.
Competition between clubs for strong new members was fierce.
Julian had already been invited by three Steel-type clubs, but he had turned them all down.
Without Julian participating, Luis saw no reason to join either. For students from their background, joining clubs was more about appearances than necessity.
"I don't know why you're not interested! I think clubs are fun. I joined the Fighting Club! Most of those trainers are martial artists. I'm going to knock them out one by one with my Bajiquan!"
Shen, always the fighter, waved her fists in excitement.
Shen was a Fighting-type trainer through and through. Even her brain seemed to be made of muscle.
"Hey, Brother Walker, why don't we start our own club? We could get Ian, Walter, Hugo, and the others together and form a team to explore the secret realms!" Luis suggested.
Imperial University had two high-level secret realms and over a dozen intermediate ones, though there were no primary secret realms. The students were too advanced for those.
Most couldn't enter the high-level secret realms without contributing significantly to the university, but intermediate ones were open to anyone who had enough credits.
Students could even stay in the secret realms for extended periods if they wanted.
"Not for now."
Julian wasn't interested.
"I'm heading back."
He was more concerned about his Pokémon tearing down the house, so he left in a hurry.
"Why is Brother Walker in such a rush? It's like his house is on fire," Luis muttered.
"Maybe he's got a date"
Hugo, who had been silent until now, suggested with a mischievous grin.
All eyes turned to Hugo, who quickly added, "I was just kidding!"
Luis laughed. "Walker, on a date? That guy's going to be single for life!"
"Seems like you're holding a grudge from when he beat you yesterday," Ian teased Hugo.
"Hey, But isn't what Luis said more extreme!"
"Yeah, right. Brother Walker and I are tight. He wouldn't hold it against me," Luis said confidently.
The next day, the paper titled "Another Evolutionary Form of Slowpoke: Slowking" was published in the Pokémon Magazine, along with a video showing Julian's Slowpoke evolving into Slowking.
The video quickly spread across major portal sites and was re-shared by countless users.
Pokémon Magazine focuses on Pokémonology and covers various fields, such as Pokémon Medicine, Pokémon Research, and Pokémon Genetics.
Countless Pokémon Scholars aspire to have their work featured in its pages.
After Julian's aunt, Quinn, submitted the paper to the magazine, they tested the evolution theory with Slowpoke, using the Kings Rock provided by Quinn. When Slowpoke evolved into Slowking, it confirmed the theory, and the paper was published shortly after.
"Slowking looks goofy, but to it think it's so smart," someone commented.
"Who's got a Kings Rock? 20 million, no limit!" another exclaimed.
"As a Water-type Trainer, I need a Slowking!"
"A Psychic-type Trainer here, and I feel the same!"
"Professor Quinn's paper says Slowking's intelligence rivals that of top scientists. If I had a Slowking, would it look at me like I'm a fool?"
"Turns out those silly Slowking eyes are actually judging us," someone else joked.
The discovery of Slowking, another evolutionary form of Slowpoke, became the talk of the day. Half of the top trending topics were related to Slowking, especially since no new Pokémon evolutionary form had been discovered in years.
The video of Slowpoke evolving into Slowking had also garnered millions of views. Its seemingly clueless yet wise expression became a meme for many.
While some people read the lengthy paper, most watched the video instead, as only professionals would sift through a 100,000-word academic paper.
When some experts finally read the full paper, they saw the final signature: Quinn Walker and Julian Walker.
While Quinn's name wasn't a surprise—she's the youngest recipient of the prestigious Arceus Award—many were surprised to see Julian's name listed alongside hers as a co-author.
Quinn herself clarified on social media: "The new evolutionary form of Slowpoke, Slowking, was actually discovered by Julian, not me. I just did the data analysis and wrote the paper."
On Julian's end, he posted a photo of himself with Slowking, along with a video of Slowking preparing breakfast for him, captioned: "My Slowking is a real genius."
Will commented: "It's probably looking at you like you're an idiot."
Shen chimed in: "Slowking, taking care of a fool who is unable to take care of himself."
Luis added: "Brother Walker must've bagged many Kings Rock."
Hugo: "So smart—it could probably plan the perfect assassination plan."
Tina simply wrote: "My son is amazing!"
Meanwhile, Love, their Indeedee, added: "Get plenty of rest and eat on time."
Hmm – seems like something weird got in there.
Julian's phone buzzed non-stop as congratulations and jokes poured in, but he ignored most of it.
Instead, he stretched lazily and said, "Alright, time to register you officially."
Since Slowking hadn't existed in the outside world until now, there was no official record of it.
With the release of the paper and video, however, the Drakorian Trainer Association and various other national bodies had recognized Slowking as an official evolutionary form of Slowpoke.
"Slow~"
Slowking replied in its usual slow way, nodding. It then trotted upstairs, leaving Julian curious.
Moments later, Slowking returned, wearing a small schoolbag.
"When did you get a schoolbag?"
Julian asked, puzzled. It wasn't something he had bought. The bag was a perfect fit for Slowking, though.
Slowking pulled out its phone, showing Julian the bag on a e-commerce site. It was a custom-made order.
"Alright, let's go."
Julian patted Slowking on the head, returned Growlithe to its Poké Ball, and headed out, with him and Slowking gone, if this guy stayed at home, it will be a mess.
"Lucario, you're in charge while we're out," Julian called.
"Luca"
Lucario responded, nodding calmly from its meditation.
Metagross consciously followed behind Julian.
"Look Julian and his Slowking"
"Really?, Slowking is here?"
"It looks so cute"
"It looked at me, it really felt like he was looking at a fool"
As they walked through the academy, Slowking naturally drew attention. People whispered and snapped photos.
Slowking opened her backpack, Julian looked over curiously, and saw Slowking pulling out some small packets of walnuts and handing them to the nearest student passing by.
"For me?" one student asked in surprise.
"Slow~"
Slowking nodded.
Julian peeked into Slowking's bag—it was full of walnuts.
Slowking continued to distribute the walnuts and the students who got them happily accepted the walnuts, feeling oddly proud to have received the gifts from the world's first Slowking.
But just as they were about to snack on them, someone murmured, "Wait... aren't walnuts supposed to be brain food? Does Slowking think we're dumb?"
Everyone froze, holding their walnuts and exchanging glances with Slowking. The innocent-looking Slowking blinked back at them, oblivious.
'Walnuts might be good, but I don't want to eat them anymore.' Everyone had the same thought.
Julian, still holding his own packet of walnuts, didn't know whether to laugh or be embarrassed.
Should he eat the walnuts or not?
"Haha..ha"
"Hahaha.."
Don't know which heartless guy laughed first but laughter broke the awkward silence. Soon, the crowd joined in, and the tension evaporated in the lighthearted moment.
After registering Slowking, Julian returned home, knowing the next two weeks would be filled with military training. Classes wouldn't officially start until after the training was complete.
When he arrived at the villa, Luis and Walter were already waiting at the gate. They immediately focused on Slowking.
"Slowking looks so cool," Luis said, awestruck.
"Slow~"
Slowking responded, pulling out more walnuts and offering them to Luis and Walter.
Julian, was now truly suspicious of Slowking's walnut-giving tendencies.
Seeing Slowking handing him another pack of walnuts, Julian decisively refused.
Remembering the earlier encounter and the words spoken, the meaning of receiving walnuts from Slowking had become pretty obvious.
Since Julian didn't want them, Slowking handed the walnuts to Luis again.
"Thanks"
Luis proudly accepted two packets of walnuts and shot Walter a smug look.
'See, Slowking gave me two packs, while you got only one, it clearly likes me more.'
Slowking: It seems that only two packets are not enough.
Inviting them inside, Julian noticed Lucario had discreetly told Meltan to head back to its room to avoid being seen by the guests.
The three of them walked into the villa. Julian headed to the kitchen to boil some water, preparing tea for his guests. While waiting for the water to boil, he grabbed a few snacks and placed them on the coffee table—mostly walnuts, accompanied by other stuff.
Watching Slowking enter the kitchen again, Luis said enviously, "Brother Walker, your Slowking really takes care of everything!"
Julian shrugged. "I don't know. My Slowking just likes taking care of the house."
Slowking had only been introduced to the world today, and while there would definitely be more Slowking in the future, not all of them would be like his. Whether they would have the same traits as his Slowking was uncertain.
Luis hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Brother Walker, can I ask you something?"
Julian glanced at him. "Sure, as long as you're not asking me how to boost your Aura abilities."
"No, no, it's nothing like that!, it's definitely something you can do," Luis shook his head quickly.
"Do you still have any Kings Rock, Brother Walker?"
With the emergence of Slowking, the key item for its evolution, Kings Rock, had become widely known. Though it had been discovered many years ago, no one knew its purpose until now.
The number of Kings Rocks discovered had always been small. In the past, they were sold as decorative items, but recently, all the Kings Rocks on the market were bought up.
With Slowking's sudden emergence, it's easy to figure out who bought them.
For those who didn't already have Kings Rock in their possession, getting one now was nearly impossible.
Currently, the price of Kings Rock had skyrocketed to 50 million, yet it remained priceless due to its scarcity.
Previously, people didn't know its use. Even if some were found in secret realms or ruins, they might have been left behind because they seemed unnecessary or cumbersome.
Julian smirked. "I get why Walter would ask for one since he's a Water-type trainer, but you? You're an Ice-type specialist."
Luis grinned. "Brother Walker, Ice and Water go hand in hand!"
It was true—Many water-type Pokémon used various Ice-type moves, while fewer of the Ice-type used Water-type moves.
Through TMs, Slowking could also learn many Ice-type moves.
"Brother Walker, I'm not asking for it for free. I'll trade this Ice Stone for it."
Luis pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside was a shimmering blue stone, cold to the touch.
Ice Stones were much rarer than Fire, Water, or Thunder Stones, and the one Luis held was pretty good—between high to top-level.
Its value was more or less equal to that of a Kings Rock.
Walter, standing beside him, held out his own offer. "I've got a Mist Gem for you."
The Mist Gem could increase the power of Water-type moves.
(T/N: couldn't find it, should be a AU thing.)
Julian eyed the items for a moment. "Hold on."
He went upstairs and returned with two Kings Rocks in hand.
Meanwhile, Slowking had finished boiling the water and bought out the tea for the three of them.
"Here, take these. You don't need to give me anything in return," Julian said.
Handing the Kings Rock to both of them, Julian declined their offers of exchange. The Ice Stone and Mist Gem were of no use to him, and his family had no shortage of such items.
Seeing Julian's refusal, Walter hesitated for a moment, but Luis, standing nearby, wasted no time, accepting his with a grin. "Thanks, Brother Walker! You're the best!"
"Don't just stand there. Take it," Luis said to Walter. "Do you really think Brother Walker needs your stuff?"
At that, Walter finally accepted the Kings Rock and said, "Thank you."
Julian nodded. While Luis was more familiar and playful, Walter was much more reserved.
Julian had initially bought Kings Rock to manage certain family affairs. Even if he hadn't given it to Luis and Walter today, their family backgrounds meant they would eventually acquire one.
Everyone in the special recruitment class came from well-off families, and Julian wasn't the type to act arrogant because of his own background.
It made sense to stay on good terms with them. Besides, neither Luis nor Walter had bad personalities. Luis's cheeky attitude, calling him "brother this and brother that" so openly, made it hard for Julian not to give it to him.
---
The scorching sun beat down on the special class as they stood in formation, facing a dark-skinned instructor with a serious expression.
Military training was something every university student dreaded, and even after crossing in a world with Pokémon, there was no escaping it.
The instructor for their military training was a senior student from the Third Military Academy. His deeply tanned face made it hard to believe he was still a student.
Thinking about this, Julian couldn't help but recall Will, who was also at the Third Military Academy. When they meet again, Julian imagined he might be just as sunburned.
With his strong physique, though, military training was hardly a challenge for Julian.
It had been more than two hours since they started, and although his body could handle it, he was still feeling the exhaustion.
Finally, the instructor gave them a break.
The training ground was shared by several classes. Nearby, students from the Fighting class were also taking a break.
(T/N: for anyone who forgot cough-me, classes were divided according to types except for the special class)
Suddenly, three boys and one girl from the Fighting class approached the special recruits.
"Hey, you recruits over there! Any of you brave enough to spar with us?"
The one leading the group was a muscular boy named Kong, his military uniform stretched tight over his biceps.
All the members of the special class came from aristocratic families, and that sense of superiority ran deep, though it had been tempered by their elders.
So, when someone dared to shout at them, Luis was the first to step up. "Who dares to act wild in front of me?" he said.
Fatigued from military training and full of pent-up frustration, Luis wasn't going to let this challenge slide. "You, with the scrawny arms and legs—come over and let's see what you've got."
The boy sneered at Luis. "I am afraid you won't even be able to take one hit"
"I've been training in martial arts since I could walk. You're about to regret that" Luis said confidently.
Julian hadn't expected that Luis knew martial arts and felt that he had underestimated him.
Luis who was boasting so confidently leaned over and whispered in Julian's ear, "Brother Walker, stop me."
Julian: (??_?)
"Step aside Luis, I will take him on!"
Before the situation could escalate, kate stood up and let out a sharp shout, full of energy.
"Okay"
Luis sat down obediently.
There were three Fighting-type trainers in special class, two girls and one boy, which included Kate and Shen.
"Kate, Baguazhang."
"Warren, Xingyiquan."
(T/N: Explained at the end of chapter, plus something else I want to say too)
Both reported to each other about their respective martial arts.
The instructor didn't interfere, and soon the surrounding military training classes gathered to watch, forming rows to give the two enough space.
"Shen, which is stronger, Xingyiquan or Baguazhang?"
Luis came to Shen and asked in a low voice.
Shen shook her head. "It's not about which style is stronger. It's about who's the better fighter."
"Come on, Kate! Show him who's boss!"
Luis shouted enthusiastically.
****
T/N: Baguazhang: It is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice. Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the I Ching, one of the canons of Taoism. It is a versatile martial art, suitable for self-defense and competition. Its circular movements allow practitioners to adapt to multiple attackers and changing situations, making it an effective system for real-world self-defense scenarios.
Xingyiquan or Xingyi: It is also known as "Form-Intent Fist" or "Mind-Form Boxing," is a traditional Chinese martial art that emphasizes internal energy (qi) cultivation for combat effectiveness. Overall, It is a traditional Chinese martial art that focuses on internal energy cultivation, powerful movements, and coordinated training. Its unique blend of physical technique and mental intent offers practitioners a path to martial excellence, personal growth, and self-discovery.
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Now for the thing I wanted to tell everyone, Just to be clear, I haven't gotten anything negative related to this yet but just in case:
As you guys have noticed I leave some things that are Chinese as it is like food and martial arts or there might be more and I do that as a respect to the author's culture and origin. These things to me are not in the category of nationalism we see in the novels but just a part of one's culture, and to those who might say but this is a Pokémon fanfic, yep absolutely a Pokémon fanfic taking place in China on alternate Earth, so yeah if they don't sit well with some, I can't do anything about that.
Now that we are done with that, I want to say thank you guys for all the love and support you have given to this so far. I really appreciate it.