Magic City University, Breeding Department Head’s Office.
Sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves outside the window, casting dappled shadows over the research papers spread across Professor Doran’s desk.
“Doran, check this out!”
Marcus’s booming voice shattered the quiet of the office.
He crossed the room in a few strides and shoved his phone screen right into Professor Doran’s face.
The screen was paused on the exact moment Whimsicott unleashed Moonblast.
“Look at this!
Your student has raised this Whimsicott incredibly well!
This strategy…
tsk, tsk, it really has shades of Percy when that old rascal was younger!”
Professor Doran leaned back slightly to avoid the screen, his eyes sweeping over the paused video.
He picked up the white porcelain cup next to him and took a sip.
“The Substitute’s form is loose, and its move pool is a mess.
As for its breeding…
it’s barely passable.”
Marcus pulled his phone back and dragged a nearby chair over, sitting down with his legs spread wide.
The chair legs scraped softly against the floor.
“Oh, come on, drop the act!” He propped his elbows on the desk and leaned in, an undisguised, teasing grin on his face.
“Your star pupil is about to become an Advanced Breeder at just twenty-one!
Who wouldn’t be thrilled?
You’re definitely gloating on the inside, aren’t you, Doran?
If you’re happy, just admit it!”
Professor Doran’s gaze returned to his papers.
He remained silent for a couple of seconds.
The cooing of a few Pidove drifted in from outside the window.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly before he finally spat out a single word.
“Thrilled.”
For a moment, the only sound in the office was the rustling of turning pages.
Marcus knew Professor Doran well.
Beneath that cold exterior lay genuine care and attention for Shane.
Professor Doran had always focused on breeding research and rarely mentored students personally.
For his projects, he usually just requisitioned Advanced Breeders directly from the Breeder Association.
Shane was the first graduate student he had ever made an exception to take on.
Marcus still remembered how Professor Doran had recently lamented Shane missing the Hoenn symposium, complaining to him about it non-stop.
A twenty-one-year-old Advanced Breeder…
Though Professor Doran’s eyes remained fixed on his papers, his mind wandered.
He himself had been twenty-three when he passed that very exam.
Truly, the new generation was rapidly outshining the old.
Observing the subtle shifts in Professor Doran’s expression, Marcus grinned and brought up an old memory.
“Speaking of which, I remember the final field assessment for the Advanced exam allows the candidate to bring two trainers for protection, right?
Griffin and I accompanied you back in the day.”
“What do you say? Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Should I personally escort your precious student through the Magic City Forest?
You know, hold the line for him?”
“Nonsense!” Professor Doran snapped his head up.
“Utterly improper!
A dignified Elite Four member of Donghuang, running off to interfere in a junior’s promotion exam?
What would that look like?
Imagine the scandal if word got out!”
Properly scolded, Marcus shrank his neck back and waved his hands with a sheepish laugh.
“Whoa, what’s the rush!
I was just throwing it out there.
It was a joke, can’t you take a joke?”
Looking at him, Professor Doran let out a long, silent sigh.
“You should rein in your wandering mind and focus on your exhibition match in the second half of the year.
Your opponent is Elite Four Kona.
Even if it’s just an exhibition, it’s still on Donghuang’s home turf.”
“If you lose…
heh, I’ll be waiting to laugh at you.”
“Tch!” Marcus patted his chest with brimming confidence.
“Lose to Kona?
Impossible!
If I, Marcus, actually lose this match, I’ll…
I’ll take your last name!”
The corners of Professor Doran’s mouth twitched upward ever so slightly, so fast it was almost an illusion.
He lowered his head again, organizing the papers on his desk, leaving only a cold profile and a breezy response:
“Tch, as if anyone wants that.”
The next day.
Sunlight slanted through the glass doors of Song of the Forest.
Whimsicott was wiping down the counter while Shane sorted a fresh delivery of picked Berries.
The door chime rang softly as a uniformed Timburr placed a small package at the entrance.
“El?” ‘A delivery?’
After signing for it, Shane picked up the package.
It felt quite light.
He noticed the sender’s information: Professor Doran, Magic City University Breeding Department.
“From the professor?” Shane muttered in confusion.
He tore open the packaging to find a scroll inside.
Unrolling it, he saw a line of vigorous, powerful handwriting at the top.
[Substitute Move Mastery and Breeding]
Shane’s heartbeat quickened slightly.
‘Did the professor see the battle in the video?’
Shane immediately took out his phone and sent Professor Doran a message of thanks.
Then, his eyes locked onto the contents of the scroll, and he was quickly engrossed.
[Substitute Move Mastery and Breeding]
Its true essence lay in being an extension of the main body—an alternate self.
Ideally, a Substitute should be able to attack as nimbly as the original, even achieving a dual-threat combat style where the main body and the Substitute execute different moves simultaneously.
However, this path was arduous.
The first step required precise energy control—molding the initial form to look utterly indistinguishable from the original.
This step alone thwarted half of all who attempted it.
As for the realm where the main body and the Substitute could launch different attacks, only about 0.007 percent of top-tier trainers’ Pokémon could ever reach it.
Understanding dawned on Shane.
Professor Doran had indeed seen through the flaws in Whimsicott’s Substitute move at a single glance.
This scroll was targeted guidance.
He quickly scanned the scroll, his eyes landing on the final supplementary note:
Once Whimsicott’s Substitute form control stabilizes, you may take this scroll and use my name to visit the Magic City Gym Leader, Nova.
He has unique insights into breeding Whimsicott.
I will inform him in advance; he will help you.
‘Professor Doran…’
A wave of warmth welled up in Shane’s heart.
Although Professor Doran always wore a cold expression and spoke bluntly, his dedication to mentoring Shane was genuine and wholehearted.
This wasn’t the first time the professor had helped him with resources.
In the past, when purchasing expensive Technical Machines, rare items, and breeding materials, Shane had been able to enjoy internal discounts and even buy on credit—all because he was backed by Professor Doran’s sterling reputation.
If not for that, relying solely on scholarships and savings, even three or four million Alliance Credits wouldn’t have been enough to raise Whimsicott to his current level.
The only way he could repay him was to go all out and become a Master Breeder as soon as possible!
“Whimsicott,” Shane called out softly, carefully spreading the scroll out on the counter.
“Come here.
The professor has pointed us in a new direction.”
“El-fun!” ‘A new move tutorial?’
“Exactly.
We’re going to make your Substitute look exactly like you.” Shane read his partner’s mind.
“The professor said this requires much finer control.
Come on, let’s give it a try.”
The trainer and Pokémon immediately threw themselves into studying the scroll and making their first attempts.
Shane deciphered Professor Doran’s notes word by word.
Combining this with Whimsicott’s Ability and energy traits, he pondered how to guide him through more delicate energy shaping.
Whimsicott, meanwhile, focused entirely on trying to execute it.
Time slipped away quietly amidst their focused studying and repeated energy adjustments.
The golden glow of the setting sun gradually dyed the window frames red, casting a soft, hazy light inside the shop.
At the counter, Shane and Whimsicott’s heads were practically pressed together.
One explained in a low voice while demonstrating with hand gestures, and the other concentrated on sensing the energy and putting it into practice.
Occasionally, a mass of white energy would coalesce beside Whimsicott.
It was clearer than before, though it still retained the soft, fluffy appearance characteristic of a cotton ball.
While it was still far from being exactly the same, its form had become much rounder and more fluid.
“Great job!
That’s another step up from last time!” Shane encouraged without hesitation.
“El!” ‘Hehe!’