The first boy on stage finally calmed himself.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the hexagonal crystal platform beneath his feet.
Countless tiny specks of starlight immediately began to shimmer across its surface.
The starlight gradually gathered together until, in an instant, a light cyan Pokémon Egg decorated with dark blue stripes appeared in midair.
“It’s a Pokémon Egg!” Someone in the crowd immediately cried out in surprise.
No matter what kind of Pokémon hatched from it, as long as someone successfully summoned one—even if it was the notoriously weak Magikarp—they would officially become a Trainer.
Their life had already become half a success.
As everyone stared at Ryan’s pale cyan Pokémon Egg, their eyes filled with envy.
Before anyone could remain shocked for long, a crisp crack echoed through the air.
The Pokémon Egg hatched on the spot.
“Mada?” Out popped a strange little Pokémon with blades of grass growing from its head and two small legs supporting its lower body.
“It’s an Oddish!” Someone at the edge of the crowd shouted.
Oddish Level: 1 (One-Star Pokémon) Aptitude: Elite Type: Grass, Poison Ability: Chlorophyll Moves: Absorb, Growth The Eye of Insight flashed, instantly displaying all of Oddish’s information.
At the very moment the Pokémon hatched, Lucas also noticed a faint white light flash across Ryan’s body.
Immediately afterward, Ryan’s previously ordinary physique improved slightly.
His Physique rose from 9 to 11.
His lifespan also increased by twenty years.
Ryan Physique: 11 Lifespan: 99 Trainer Rank: One-Star Trainer Summoned Pokémon: Oddish Seeing the changes in Ryan’s status, Lucas fell into thought.
He decided to keep watching.
“Oddish, a Grass and Poison-type Pokémon.
Congratulations, Ryan.
You are now officially a One-Star Pokémon Trainer.” As one staff member rapidly recorded the results, another began explaining the many benefits of becoming a Trainer.
At this point, Ryan’s mind had gone completely blank.
It took him quite a while to recover his senses.
His eyes brimmed with excitement and joy.
Although most people considered Oddish a rather weak Pokémon, to him, simply managing to summon a Pokémon at all was already something worth celebrating.
He barely heard anything the staff said afterward.
Completely immersed in his own happiness, he stood there grinning foolishly and nodding repeatedly.
The staff clearly encountered situations like this all the time.
After going through the standard procedures, they presented Ryan with an exquisitely crafted badge bearing a single star—the symbol of a One-Star Trainer.
He also received his One-Star Federation subsidy along with a Trainer’s handbook.
In addition, the staff thoughtfully gave him a bag of Grass-type Pokémon feed.
The feed was made from nutritious berry blends mixed with specially prepared nutrient water.
Although Oddish possessed the Poison type as well, its dietary habits were essentially no different from those of ordinary Grass-type Pokémon.
With berries and sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis, it could grow healthily and was considered an easy Pokémon to raise.
“Classmate, although your Oddish is still weak right now, its future Aptitude is quite remarkable.
“Once Oddish evolves into Gloom, it has two different evolutionary paths.
If you use a Leaf Stone, it can evolve into Vileplume.
It may look a little silly, but the pollen released from the enormous flower on its head is incredibly potent.
Just a tiny amount is enough to bring down an African elephant.
“On the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to obtain a Sun Stone, it can evolve into Bellossom instead.
Bellossom not only possesses respectable combat ability but is also an outstanding support Pokémon.
Trainers who own one are even recruited by the Federation to work as physicians at Pokémon Centers.” Encouraged by the staff’s words, Ryan’s eyes sparkled with countless stars as he began imagining his bright future.
Having summoned a promising Pokémon and received such enthusiastic praise from the staff, Ryan happily carried his Oddish off the crystal platform.
His success greatly boosted the confidence of the students waiting behind him.
The second student strode confidently onto the platform, believing he would summon a Pokémon just as easily as Ryan had.
However…
After he stepped onto the hexagonal crystal platform, its light only flickered halfway before fading away.
“What a pity.
This student failed to summon a Pokémon.
Next.” The staff member announced the result calmly.
The student walked off the platform in a daze.
Only gradually did he realize what had happened.
His face filled with disappointment and unwillingness.
One thought separated heaven from hell.
Some people were simply born lucky enough to summon a Pokémon.
Others, no matter how talented or academically gifted they were, would still miss that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
With the summoning success rate being so low, it was destined that most people would never have a Pokémon.
“Ah!
I summoned a Caterpie!” Lucas noticed that a girl on stage had summoned one of the most common Pokémon of all—Caterpie.
He originally thought the crowd might look down on her.
Instead, a neatly dressed middle-aged man in a business suit immediately stepped forward.
With a warm and respectful smile, he introduced himself.
Everyone quickly learned that he was the manager of the city’s clothing factory.
His purpose was simple.
He wanted to hire the girl and her Caterpie to work at the factory producing silk.
Clothing woven from Caterpie silk was exceptionally comfortable to wear and highly sought after.
Later, other students summoned Pokémon such as Magnemite and Miltank.
Representatives from several important organizations within the city immediately came forward to recruit them as well.
The student who summoned Magnemite was hired by the city’s power plant—a stable government enterprise much like a state-owned company from Lucas ‘s previous life.
Meanwhile, the student who summoned Miltank received an offer from a famous dairy and beverage company.
Some celebrated.
Others despaired.
Those fortunate enough to summon Pokémon not only brought honor to their families but also secured promising careers and bright futures.
Those who failed could only drag their exhausted bodies outside the Pokémon Center, where they broke down in tears together with their waiting families.
Lucas stood toward the back half of the line.
After watching one summoning after another, he had roughly figured everything out.
Anyone who successfully summoned a Pokémon experienced a slight increase in both Physique and lifespan.
It seemed that successful summoning itself granted those improvements.
At the same time, he estimated the actual success rate.
About ten percent.
Out of every ten people, perhaps only one would successfully summon a Pokémon.
That single lucky person would completely turn their life around, gaining both a successful career and a longer lifespan.
Everyone else would have to find another path forward.
“Damn it!” An angry roar suddenly erupted from the crystal platform ahead.
A finely dressed young man, whose face had turned terrifyingly gloomy, collapsed to his knees atop the crystal platform.
Clenching both fists, he repeatedly slammed them against the crystal surface.
“Why is it that even those worthless trash can summon Pokémon, but I can’t?!” “We understand how you feel,” one staff member said with a frown as he looked at the young man’s disgraceful behavior.
“However, please control yourself.” “There are still other students waiting to summon Pokémon.
Please cooperate with our work and leave the platform immediately.
If you continue causing trouble, we will be forced to remove you.” The young man’s expression shifted repeatedly before he finally snorted coldly and climbed down from the platform.
Although his father held some authority within the small base city, openly opposing the Pokémon Center was clearly unwise.
For now, he could only swallow his anger.
Just you wait…
You bunch of snobs.
You’ll regret looking down on me.
“Hey, do you know that guy?” “Yeah.
He’s Michael from the advanced class at our school.
I heard his father is one of the city’s officials.” “Tsk…
so he’s a rich second-generation heir.
No wonder he’s got such a terrible temper.” “Shh…
keep your voice down.
Even if he failed to summon a Pokémon, he’s still not someone we can afford to offend.
Besides, he’s obviously furious right now.” The whispers from the surrounding crowd only fueled Michael’s rage.
Bastards.
You’re all a bunch of snobs.
Just wait until I blind you with my success one day!
Just as Michael was grinding his teeth in fury, another wave of astonished cries erupted around the crystal platform.
Before a delicate-looking girl dressed in simple, worn clothes, a fiery red Pokémon Egg slowly rose into the air.
Moments later…
The shell cracked open.
“Char!” A small bipedal lizard Pokémon leaped out.
Its tail burned with a bright flame, while sharp claws and pointed fangs gleamed in the light.
It was none other than the famous Fire-type Pokémon— Charmander!
Lucas couldn’t help using the Eye of Insight on the newly hatched Charmander.
Charmander Level: 1 (One-Star Pokémon) Aptitude: Rare Type: Fire Ability: Blaze Moves: Growl, Scratch A Rare Aptitude Pokémon…
Lucas couldn’t hide his surprise.
Several people had already summoned Pokémon before this girl, but nearly all of them possessed only Common Aptitude.
Even Ryan, the lucky first student, had summoned only an Elite Aptitude Oddish.
This girl’s luck was truly extraordinary.
The surrounding crowd immediately burst into discussion.
Everyone sighed at the irony of fate.
The wealthy, influential Michael hadn’t managed to summon so much as a single Pokémon.
Yet this poor girl had successfully summoned a Charmander.
After the staff finished recording her information and she stepped off the crystal platform, she was instantly surrounded by people.
Some simply wanted to become acquainted with her.
Others represented various companies hoping to recruit her.
Being able to summon a Charmander alone was enough to prove she had limitless Aptitude.
Whether it was building goodwill or establishing connections, everyone wanted to do it as early as possible.
Watching the girl become the center of countless envious gazes, Michael’s jealousy grew almost pathological.
Why…?
Why couldn’t someone like me—a wealthy young master—summon a Pokémon like that…
Yet some poor girl could?
Just as Michael’s face darkened enough to drip water, another girl slowly walked forward from a different school.
She wore a plain white blouse and light blue jeans.
Her beauty was breathtaking.
Her silky black hair was casually tied into a ponytail that reached her slender waist.
As she stepped onto the crystal platform, an extraordinary aura seemed to radiate from her, instantly lifting the spirits of the students around her.
Anyone who laid eyes on such a pure and beautiful girl couldn’t help but feel their mood brighten.
Countless gazes converged upon her.
Even the resentment in Michael’s eyes faded somewhat as he stared at her in fascination.
When she had first transferred into their school, her stunning appearance had immediately captured Michael’s attention.
However, his father had warned him that the girl’s background was anything but ordinary.
If he wanted to pursue her, he would have to rely on his own ability and absolutely must not act recklessly.
The more Michael interacted with her, the deeper he fell.
Her unique temperament and incomparable beauty captivated him completely.
Ignoring the countless admiring eyes fixed upon her, the girl remained perfectly composed.
She lowered her head and focused solely on the crystal platform beneath her feet.
Taking a deep breath, strange halos of light spread around her.
Within moments, the glowing lights gathered together and erupted into a dazzling brilliance.
Everyone immediately realized what that meant.
She had successfully summoned a Pokémon as well!