The matter of Pokémon Academy weighed heavily on Wally’s mind.
Professor Birch’s test would undoubtedly be of tremendous benefit to his development, and Wally could clearly see that the Master had high hopes for him.
Unlike a genius like Wallace, who already had a master, or Joy, who came from a powerful background, someone like Wally was often more appealing to Professor Birch.
The Breeder examination was over, and everything had finally settled down.
Wallace said goodbye to Wally and the others before embarking on a new journey of training by himself.
As for Joy, after successfully passing the examination and becoming a Junior Pokémon Breeder, she was taken away by members of her family.
Professor Birch had originally been invited to the celebratory banquet as well, but for Wally’s sake, he declined.
“Are you ready?”
Looking at Wally’s calm expression, Professor Birch was somewhat expectant.
The test he had prepared was something he had originally devised for his own purposes.
His initial intention had been for Joy to complete it.
But he hadn’t expected to encounter Wally.
Compared with Joy, Wally seemed even more suited to this particular test.
That had caused him to change his plans.
“The place we’re going is Mt.
Chimney.”
Wally was familiar with Mt.
Chimney.
Fallarbor Town, where he had lived for four years, was located at the foot of Mt.
Chimney.
He simply hadn’t expected to return there so soon.
But this time, he wasn’t returning as a traveler coming home.
He had no intention of returning to Verdanturf House to announce the good news, either.
This trip was solely for the sake of Professor Birch’s test.
“The contents of the test…
are going to be quite difficult.”
Thinking about what awaited them, even Professor Birch felt somewhat troubled.
They departed by private plane, Wally traveling together with Professor Birch.
Mt.
Chimney was a volcano, but the area wasn’t as barren and monotonous as one might imagine.
There were still forests and patches of grassland surrounding it.
After arriving, Wally immediately realized that they were at the core of Mt.
Chimney.
It was different from the place on the outskirts where he had previously trained with his Beautifly.
This area was beyond the range of human activity.
Large numbers of Pokémon lived here.
“What are we going to see?” Wally asked.
Up until now, Professor Birch still hadn’t told him the exact contents of the test.
“One Pokémon.”
Professor Birch walked through the environment with surprising ease despite his advanced age.
“Whoosh!”
A Seviper suddenly lunged at them.
Before Wally could even react, Seviper was sent flying.
What appeared before him was a Pidgeot.
Its magnificent wings had just finished beating, and its sharp eyes stared at Seviper like those of a king.
The Pidgeot had merely blocked the attack, yet the force sent Seviper flying and bent the surrounding trees, creating quite a disturbance.
This was probably Professor Birch’s Pokémon.
Wally had already noticed the Poké Ball in his hand.
“Be careful.
The Pokémon around here aren’t particularly friendly.”
Professor Birch chuckled.
Then he gave Pidgeot another command.
“Go and call it over.”
It?
Who was it?
Pidgeot spread its magnificent wings and shot into the sky at an astonishing speed, continuously circling overhead.
Boom!
A tremendous gust of wind erupted.
Wally could clearly hear the howling of the wind.
What incredible conditioning.
Even though Wally’s experience wasn’t particularly extensive, he could still tell that this Pidgeot was exceptional.
The sheen of its wings, the beautiful feathers atop its head—everything testified to its outstanding condition.
As expected of a Master Breeder’s Pokémon!
“What is it calling?”
Wally raised his head curiously.
What did Professor Birch mean by saying they were going to meet a Pokémon?
And what did it have to do with his test?
After arriving at Mt.
Chimney, even Wally couldn’t help feeling increasingly curious about what awaited him.
The sky was clear, with clouds drifting overhead.
The enormous vortex of wind created by Pidgeot added a dramatic touch to the beautiful scenery.
Soon, they didn’t have to wait long.
In response to Pidgeot’s call, a black dot gradually appeared among the layers of clouds.
The black dot grew larger and larger.
As it descended, a beautiful melody drifted into their ears.
“That’s an Altaria.”
Wally finally got a clear look at the Pokémon.
It possessed the elegant appearance of a swan.
Its sky-blue body gave it an air of nobility, while its fluffy wings looked as soft as cotton.
Its enchanting song was enough to make anyone lose themselves in it.
Altaria.
A rare Dragon-type Pokémon.
“Looks like it has arrived.”
Seeing Altaria’s arrival, Professor Birch smiled and said to Wally,
“This test presents two opportunities for you.”
“The first is a place at Pokémon Academy.”
“The second is earning its recognition.”
“What kind of recognition?”
Wally was confused.
“Look.
They’re fighting.”
Professor Birch helplessly looked toward the sky.
The moment Altaria had arrived, it had immediately launched an attack against Pidgeot.
Wally said nothing and waited for Professor Birch’s explanation.
“You know what my research focuses on.”
“Inherited moves.”
“Yes.”
Wally nodded.
“This Altaria is a Pokémon I’ve been observing for a very long time.”
“If my guess is correct, it possesses a mysterious power within its bloodline.”
“More precisely, somewhere in its lineage, one of its ancestors—or perhaps one of its parents—was a purebred Dragon-type Pokémon from the Kanto Region…
a Dragonite.”
“So I set up a situation that allowed it to breed with my Pidgeot.”
Professor Birch noticed Wally’s strange expression and chuckled.
“I’ve been preparing for this research for a very long time.”
“If my theory is correct, there’s a very good chance that the offspring will possess exceptional potential—perhaps even a Swablu with racial advantages comparable to Pokémon such as Dragonite and Tyranitar.”
“For a Pokémon like Swablu, which is naturally disadvantaged compared with other Dragon-types, this could be an excellent opportunity to rise.”
“Then what exactly do you expect to be special about this Swablu?”
Wally asked.
“The special part?”
“Perhaps it will simply be capable of learning multiple moves from the moment it is born.”
“Don’t underestimate it.”
“Starting from a different point naturally leads to different achievements.”
“If nothing goes wrong, it may even learn a powerful move like Dragon Rush at a very early stage.”
“Swablu?
Dragon Rush?”
Wally found it difficult to believe.
“Nothing is impossible.”
Professor Birch waved his hand.
“My Pidgeot also possesses a trace of Dragon-type bloodline.
It’s extremely faint, but combined with the medicine I’ve prepared, it should be enough to activate a greater degree of Dragon-type potential in the Swablu.”
“But what’s going on now?”
Wally raised his head and looked at the two Pokémon fighting fiercely in the sky.
He couldn’t understand what any of this had to do with Professor Birch’s explanation.
At this point, Professor Birch smiled.
Seeing that smile, Wally suddenly developed a bad feeling.
“However, Altaria doesn’t seem particularly pleased with what I did.”
“It doesn’t acknowledge me.”
“But do you think I’m the kind of person who gives up easily?”
“So, after defeating it in battle, I made a bet with it.”