Zhang Tian was scrolling through the news when one headline suddenly caught his attention.
“Global Standardization of Pokémon Strength Classifications”
“They’ve finally standardized the terminology?”
Zhang Tian opened the article and began reading.
Previously, different countries had used different terms to describe the strength of Pokémon.
For example, what Daxia classified as the Elite Class was referred to as the Advanced Class in Nihon.
The inconsistent terminology occasionally caused minor problems.
The newly standardized strength classifications were as follows:
Levels 1–9 = Novice Class
Levels 10–19 = Beginner Class
Levels 20–29 = Ordinary Class
Levels 30–39 = Elite Class
Levels 40–49 = Gym Leader Class
Levels 50–59 = Quasi-Champion Class
Levels 60–69 = Champion Class
Levels 70–79 = Champion Peak Class
Levels 80–89 = Lesser Deity Class
Levels 90–99 = Greater Deity Class
Level 100 = Supreme Deity Class
Zhang Tian quickly finished reading the newly standardized global classification system.
“Simple and easy to remember. Not bad.”
Zhang Tian nodded slightly before continuing to browse the other news.
“Shocking! Nihon’s Strongest Champion, Red, Appears in Tokyo!”
Zhang Tian glanced through the article, and his expression became slightly serious.
There were quite a few characters from the Pokémon world in this world, including Team Rocket, Red, and Professor Oak.
As a result, Nihon was an extremely powerful country in this world, unlike the relatively weak country Zhang Tian remembered from his previous life.
“Red…”
“We’ll meet someday.”
“On the world’s most watched stage.”
A fierce fighting spirit burned in Zhang Tian’s eyes as he stared at Red’s name.
As a Pokémon Trainer, Zhang Tian also wanted to become the strongest.
He wanted to challenge the Champions of every country.
“It’s time to sleep.”
After browsing the news for a while longer, Zhang Tian put down his phone, closed his eyes, and prepared to sleep.
…
One week later.
“There are still twenty-one days until graduation. I have plenty of time. I should be able to make it.”
Zhang Tian glanced at the calendar before carrying a large metal basin filled with meat into the courtyard.
After a week of training, Pidgeotto had reached Level 26, while Izuchi had reached Level 29, putting it just one step away from Level 30.
As for Zhang Tian himself, he had reached Level 20.
His progress had been astonishingly fast.
Zhang Tian wasn’t particularly surprised by this.
The weaker someone was, the faster they could grow.
The stronger they became, the more difficult each subsequent increase would be.
“Time to eat!”
Zhang Tian put down the metal basin and called out.
“Pidge!”
“Roar!”
Izuchi, which had been resting beneath the shade of a tree, immediately came running over with surprising enthusiasm.
Pidgeotto was equally eager, spreading its wings and flying over.
“After this meal, Izuchi should break through to Level 30.”
“And we’ve almost used up all our food. It’s time for our second hunt.”
Zhang Tian watched Izuchi devour its food as he thought to himself.
“Roar!”
Just as Zhang Tian was thinking about their next hunt, Izuchi’s body suddenly began glowing with white light.
Its body began to grow larger within the radiance.
“It evolved. Just as I expected.”
A smile spread across Zhang Tian’s face as he watched Izuchi evolve.
The white light gradually faded.
A massive Great Izuchi stood before Zhang Tian.
Great Izuchi looked almost identical to Izuchi, except that it was considerably larger.
A normal Great Izuchi was around eleven meters long and approximately 3.8 meters tall.
It was a true monster in every sense of the word.
Zhang Tian’s Great Izuchi, however, was thirteen meters long and 3.9 meters tall.
It was an exceptionally large specimen—the equivalent of a Gold Crown individual in the game.
The instant Izuchi evolved into Great Izuchi, a notification appeared before Zhang Tian’s eyes.
[Izuchi has evolved into Great Izuchi!]
[Great Izuchi’s information is as follows:]
Great Izuchi
Level: 30 — Elite Class
Type: Dragon / Fighting
Ability: Sharp Claws — The power of attacks made with its hooked claws is increased by 50%.
Signature Moves: Blade Claw Charge, Triple Tail Swing, Water Spit, Powerful Tail Swing
HP Base Stat: 80
Attack Base Stat: 130
Defense Base Stat: 80
Special Attack Base Stat: 60
Special Defense Base Stat: 60
Speed Base Stat: 130
Total Base Stats: 540
“Congratulations, Great Izuchi. You’ve become even stronger.”
Zhang Tian walked over to Great Izuchi and smiled.
“Pidge…”
Pidgeotto looked at Great Izuchi with obvious envy.
It couldn’t help wondering when it would finally evolve and become as imposing as its new companion.
“Roar!”
Great Izuchi lowered its enormous head and happily licked Zhang Tian.
It had evolved into Great Izuchi in only seven days.
That was something it never could have imagined before.
Normally, an Izuchi would need several years—or even more than a decade—to grow into a Great Izuchi.
“Get some rest. We’ll be hunting again soon.”
Zhang Tian patted Great Izuchi on the head and signaled for both it and Pidgeotto to rest while he began preparing for the hunt.
Scent-masking potion.
Drone.
Tranquilizers.
Poké Balls.
Zhang Tian carefully organized everything inside his backpack.
Once he had finished, he recalled Great Izuchi into its Poké Ball.
Great Izuchi was simply too large to fit through the door.
After reaching the living room, Zhang Tian activated his world-traveling ability.
He reappeared in the Shrine Ruins, at the same location where he had killed the Kestodon before.
“Hm?”
The instant Zhang Tian appeared, his pupils contracted.
He immediately threw Great Izuchi’s Poké Ball.
Not far away, a large blue bear-like monster was eating the remains of the Kestodon on the ground.
It was one of the large monsters of the Monster Hunter world—
Arzuros.
In terms of ecological status and overall strength, it was roughly comparable to Great Izuchi.
Zhang Tian immediately used the system to inspect it.
Arzuros
Level: 38 — Elite Class
Bang!
A flash of red light appeared as the Poké Ball opened.
Great Izuchi emerged in front of Zhang Tian.
Its sudden appearance immediately caught Arzuros’s attention.
The moment it noticed Great Izuchi, the Arzuros stopped eating and rose onto its hind legs, staring warily at the enormous monster before it.
“Great Izuchi, use Agility.”
Zhang Tian issued his command.
Arzuros was Level 38, a full eight levels higher than Great Izuchi.
However, Great Izuchi had been converted into a Pokémon and possessed the advantages that came with Pokémon moves.
In Zhang Tian’s opinion, Great Izuchi was stronger than Arzuros.
It could fight.
“I’ll seriously injure Arzuros and then capture it.”
“That way, I’ll have another Elite-Class Pokémon.”
A dangerous glint flashed through Zhang Tian’s eyes as he stared at Arzuros.
“Roar!”
Great Izuchi let out a low growl and used Agility.
A faint pink glow spread across its enormous body.
This was the visual effect of Agility.
Agility increased Speed by two stages.
In numerical terms, that meant Great Izuchi’s Speed was effectively doubled.
“Great Izuchi, use Agility again.”
Zhang Tian issued another command.
Arzuros didn’t immediately attack, so there was no reason for Zhang Tian to rush either.
“Roar!”
Great Izuchi used Agility again.
Its Speed rose another two stages, reaching a total of four stages.
“?”
Arzuros stared at Great Izuchi in confusion.
It couldn’t understand what the strange creature was doing.
If this had been an Elder Dragon with intelligence comparable to that of a human, it would probably have attacked immediately.
But Arzuros wasn’t particularly intelligent.
So it simply stood there, staring blankly.
“I’m lucky. This Arzuros actually isn’t attacking.”
A smile appeared on Zhang Tian’s face.
Then he issued his next command.
“Great Izuchi, use Agility one more time. Then use Powerful Tail Swing.”
After evolving into Great Izuchi, it had gained a new Signature Move:
Powerful Tail Swing.
The movement was similar to Triple Tail Swing, except that it delivered a much more powerful single attack.
Powerful Tail Swing