After returning to the courtyard, Zhang Tian released the sleeping Arzuros and Vigorwasp.
“Vigorwasp, use Healing Mist on Arzuros.”
Zhang Tian looked at Vigorwasp and gave the command.
“Hoh!”
Vigorwasp let out a strange cry and shook its body.
A cloud of green mist immediately appeared, enveloping Arzuros.
Under the healing mist, Arzuros’s wounds began closing at a visible rate.
“What incredible healing ability.”
“But I suppose that makes sense. Even in the later stages of the game, Vigorwasp can still heal the player.”
“Once Vigorwasp reaches a higher level, its healing ability should become even stronger.”
Watching Arzuros’s wounds rapidly heal, Zhang Tian became even more satisfied with Vigorwasp.
“From now on, we’ll do what we’ve been doing. Train properly until we run out of food.”
“As the saying goes, ‘Keep a low profile and grow stronger. There’s nothing shameful about playing it safe.'”
With that thought, Zhang Tian took out a pen and paper and began planning the training routines for Great Izuchi and Arzuros.
“Great Izuchi has learned three new moves: Bounce, Powerful Tail Swing, and Dragon Claw.”
“They’re all good moves, and they complement Great Izuchi’s Ability extremely well.”
“The focus should be on training these four moves: Bounce, Powerful Tail Swing, Dragon Claw, and Agility.”
“As for Arzuros, after becoming a Pokémon, it learned Bulk Up.”
“The focus should be on Bulk Up and Feeding Frenzy.”
“Arzuros’s other moves are pretty mediocre. Feeding Frenzy is the only truly powerful one. Its other Signature Moves all have obvious recovery windows.”
“And Feeding Frenzy only works against smaller creatures.”
“Looks like Arzuros’s role is going to be a counter specifically for smaller Pokémon.”
Zhang Tian shook his head helplessly as he wrote this down.
Once the training plans were complete, the training of Pidgeotto, Great Izuchi, and Arzuros continued as usual.
Even though he now possessed two Elite-Class combatants in Great Izuchi and Arzuros, Zhang Tian didn’t become arrogant in the slightest.
He had no intention of going out and capturing more monsters.
The Monster Hunter world was simply too dangerous.
For example, the Shrine Ruins where Zhang Tian traveled contained Magnamalo.
Magnamalo was a monster capable of fighting Elder Dragons and was classified at the Elder Dragon level of strength.
If Zhang Tian encountered one and failed to escape and activate his world-traveling ability in time, he could easily end up dead.
And if that happened, Great Izuchi and Arzuros would probably die as well.
After all, when Zhang Tian traveled between worlds, he needed to physically touch Great Izuchi and Arzuros to bring them along.
Alternatively, he could return them to their Poké Balls before traveling.
Therefore, Zhang Tian had only one strategy:
Play it safe.
Keep a low profile, survive, and steadily grow stronger.
As long as he remained alive, he would eventually become powerful.
Whether that happened sooner or later wasn’t particularly important.
So Zhang Tian had no intention of taking unnecessary risks.
Ten more days passed in the blink of an eye.
After ten days of training, Pidgeotto finally reached Level 30.
Vigorwasp reached Level 26.
Great Izuchi reached Level 31.
Arzuros reached Level 39.
Zhang Tian had also reached Level 30 himself. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Whether it’s Pokémon or me, once we reach Elite Class, our growth rate slows down by ten times.”
“I used to gain roughly one level a day. Now it takes around ten days to gain a single level.”
“Looks like Gargwa meat isn’t enough anymore.”
“If we ate the meat of Elite-Class monsters, such as Great Izuchi’s meat, our growth rate probably wouldn’t slow down nearly as much.”
“We could probably gain a level every day.”
Zhang Tian stopped writing after finishing his notes.
The reason was simple.
His phone had started ringing.
Zhang Tian put down his notebook and picked up his phone.
A new announcement had appeared in the class group chat.
NOTICE!
NOTICE!
NOTICE!
Students who wish to become traveling Trainers, please submit your application forms.
Ten days from now, on the day before graduation, you will take the traveling Trainer examination.
Students who pass the examination will officially become traveling Trainers.
Attention: This year’s examination includes a practical battle.
Train your Pokémon well.
Unlike previous years, simply possessing an Elite-Class Pokémon will no longer be enough to qualify as a traveling Trainer.
“A practical battle?”
Zhang Tian frowned slightly after reading the announcement.
“Although Pidgeotto has reached Elite Class, it still hasn’t evolved into Pidgeot.”
“Compared with other Elite-Class Pokémon, its combat power is considerably weaker.”
“So I could fail.”
“And the chances aren’t exactly small.”
“Pidgeotto needs to reach Level 36 to evolve into Pidgeot.”
“That means I have to raise it six levels within ten days.”
“Looks like I’ll have to hunt Elite-Class monsters.”
“Only the meat of Elite-Class monsters can help Pidgeotto gain six levels within ten days.”
“I originally wanted to keep playing it safe…”
“Looks like I’ll have to take a little risk.”
Zhang Tian’s eyes flickered with determination as he began preparing.
He was absolutely determined to obtain the status of a traveling Trainer.
As for using Great Izuchi and Arzuros during the examination, Zhang Tian didn’t dare.
Doing so would be too dangerous.
With his current strength, he couldn’t protect two completely unknown Pokémon from the consequences.
If he wanted to openly use Pokémon converted from monsters, he needed to reach at least Quasi-Champion Class.
Around three in the afternoon, Zhang Tian finished preparing and activated his world-traveling ability.
He appeared in the bamboo forest of the Shrine Ruins.
The moment he arrived, Zhang Tian immediately threw out the Poké Balls containing Great Izuchi and Arzuros.
Bang!
“Nothing dangerous. Good.”
Only after releasing them did Zhang Tian begin carefully surveying his surroundings.
He didn’t see any monsters.
“Same as usual. Use the drone to scout the area.”
Zhang Tian opened his backpack and took out the drone.
Bzzzz!
The drone rose into the air and began climbing.
Bang!
When it reached an altitude of one hundred meters, a fireball suddenly appeared in the sky.
It struck the drone and destroyed it instantly.
“Roar!”
A furious roar echoed through the forest.
It sounded like a territorial beast warning intruders away.
Then an enormous dark-green wyvern appeared in the sky above Zhang Tian and the others.
It was Rathian, known as the Queen of the Land.
This Rathian was nineteen meters long and absolutely enormous.
Even Great Izuchi looked small beside it.
Rathian stood on two powerful legs and possessed a pair of wings.
Its appearance resembled that of a Western dragon, except its body was covered in dark green scales.
Rathian
Level: 46 — Gym Leader Class
The instant Rathian appeared, Zhang Tian moved without hesitation.
He immediately recalled Great Izuchi and Arzuros into their Poké Balls before activating his world-traveling ability and fleeing.
“Roar!”
The instant Zhang Tian disappeared, a massive fireball crashed down.
Boom!
It blasted a huge crater into the ground.
It was Rathian’s fireball attack.
If Zhang Tian had been even a little slower, he would probably have been burned to a crisp.
A moment later, Zhang Tian reappeared in the living room of his home.
“Damn! Good thing I ran fast.”
“I actually ran into a Rathian the moment I arrived. What terrible luck.”
“I’ll wait an hour before going back.”
Zhang Tian put down his backpack and sat on the sofa.
Then he began checking the information he had obtained about Rathian.
“As expected, Gym Leader Class.”
“Good thing I escaped quickly.”
Zhang Tian felt another wave of relief as he looked at Rathian’s information.
“Pidge.”
Pidgeotto, perched on Zhang Tian’s shoulder, rubbed its head against his face.
Its cry carried a hint of concern.
“Don’t worry, Pidgeotto. I’m fine.”
“I was just startled.”
Zhang Tian gently stroked Pidgeotto’s head and smiled.