Rhyhorn Level: 12 (2-Star Pokémon) Aptitude: Rare Types: Ground, Rock Ability: Rock Head Moves: Horn Attack, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Fury Attack, Stomp, Smack Down Thanks to an ample food supply and constant training in the wilderness, Rhyhorn had learned three new moves in one go.
Among them, Fury Attack and Stomp were both Normal-type moves that relied purely on physical strength.
Even without any elemental enhancement, their power was astonishing.
Before Rhyhorn had even advanced to Two-Star rank, it had fought a Level 11 Two-Star ferocious beast and crushed its skull with a single Stomp.
Smack Down was an especially interesting move.
It could knock airborne Pokémon out of the sky, pinning them firmly to the ground.
As long as Rhyhorn remained capable of fighting, the effect wouldn’t disappear.
After Rhyhorn learned the move, Lucas had tested it on Gastly.
The result…
Gastly was left with psychological trauma.
Because Lucas ‘s three Pokémon had been relentlessly sweeping through the area around the base, the already scarce ferocious beasts nearby had practically disappeared.
Just as Lucas was considering venturing into the more remote forests to continue hunting, an announcement arrived from the base city.
To answer the nation’s call for cultivating new talent and encouraging exchanges between different bases, Jiangnan Province had issued a trial mission.
All village-level bases within the province were to hold exchange competitions to select outstanding young Trainers.
Requirements for participation were simple.
Applicants had to be between fifteen and twenty years old.
Anyone who had successfully summoned a Pokémon was eligible.
Everyone was encouraged to participate.
An event like this was held almost every year.
The entry requirements were extremely low.
As long as a young person possessed a Pokémon, they could sign up.
Those who performed well would be selected by the larger town-level bases and receive focused training.
Because of that, not only were students from Lucas ‘s own base participating, but so were competitors from neighboring village-level bases.
Even senior officials from various town-level bases would be attending to observe.
However…
This year’s competition had arrived somewhat earlier than usual.
Everyone knew that only a short time had passed since the latest group of middle school graduates had summoned their Pokémon.
Most Trainers hadn’t even fully bonded with their partners yet.
Unless someone had tremendous confidence, few dared participate.
According to rumors…
The competition would be held in an area overrun with ferocious beasts.
Although high-ranking Trainers had already swept through the region several times, numerous One-Star and Two-Star ferocious beasts still remained.
For ordinary rookie Trainers, dealing with One-Star ferocious beasts was already difficult enough.
Facing Two-Star ones was even more dangerous.
As a result, many beginner Trainers simply backed out.
Most shared the same thought.
There’s always next year’s competition.
I’ll sign up then instead.
Consequently, among Lucas ‘s graduating class…
Almost no one registered besides him.
The few who did were all familiar faces.
Ryan, who had summoned an Elite-Aptitude Oddish.
Claire Reed, the gentle girl next door who had summoned a Rare-Aptitude Charmander.
Lucy, whose Elite-Aptitude Taillow specialized in Flying-type combat.
Emily …
And Michael…
At first, Lucas found it strange.
Hadn’t Michael lost his Rhyhorn to him?
How was he participating?
When Lucas saw the registration form listing Mankey as Michael’s Pokémon, everything became clear.
Apparently…
The rich young master had simply used his connections to buy another Pokémon.
Besides students from their graduating class, there were also seven older students.
Each was one or two years their senior and represented the strongest members of the younger generation within the base.
…
The next morning…
Golden sunlight bathed the school grounds.
Normally quiet during holidays, the campus echoed with the rumbling horns of military vehicles.
“Everyone participating in the Village Base Exchange Tournament, get on the vehicle!” Sitting atop an armored transport covered in reinforced steel spikes, their chubby homeroom teacher, Henry, called out to the waiting students.
“I’m Henry, the person responsible for transporting you all to the trial site.” He greeted everyone with his usual warm smile.
“Is everyone here?” Teacher Henry looked around the group.
“Not yet.” “Lucas hasn’t arrived.” Emily frowned as she answered.
Teacher Henry checked his watch.
There was still plenty of time before departure.
“No rush.” “We’ll wait.” “We have more than enough time.” “Heh.” “That guy’s probably too scared to show up.” Now that Michael had obtained another Pokémon, his confidence had apparently returned.
The moment he opened his mouth…
He began mocking Lucas again.
Unfortunately for him…
Before he could even finish speaking, a calm voice sounded from behind.
“It seems Young Master Michael wants to repay a bit more of that interest.” The instant he heard the familiar voice…
Michael’s face twitched violently.
He stumbled backward several steps as though he had seen a ghost.
“L-Lucas !” “Y-You…” “What are you trying to do?” “I’m representing the base this time!” “Don’t you dare mess around!” Lucas ignored him completely, treating him like an insignificant clown.
Instead, he walked straight up to Teacher Henry with a smile.
“Good morning, Teacher Henry.” “Am I late?” The chubby homeroom teacher smiled warmly and shook his head.
“Not at all.” “You’re actually a little early.” Naturally, Henry paid extra attention to students from his own class.
Even during the Pokémon Summoning Ceremony, he had never expected the previously ordinary Lucas to astonish everyone by summoning an unknown Pokémon.
Once everyone had arrived…
The armored transport finally started moving toward the trial site.
Because dangerous ferocious beasts and wild Pokémon roamed outside the bases, ordinary vehicles simply weren’t safe.
Travel almost always relied on specially reinforced military transports like this one.
Before boarding, Lucas couldn’t help glancing at the vehicle a few extra times.
He clicked his tongue in amazement.
The technological development of this world really was strange.
In terms of everyday life, many conveniences were actually inferior to those from his previous world.
Yet every now and then…
It produced pieces of advanced technology that completely surpassed anything his previous world could achieve.