As for the final Speed-type bond, Sprigatito’s compatibility with it was absolutely perfect.
Although it sacrificed a bit of move power, the resulting boost in execution speed was unparalleled.
After all, the adage “in the world of martial arts, speed reigns supreme” applied to the Pokémon world as well.
And the [Chosen Crest] obtained from the Prismatic Orb naturally had to be arranged immediately for his future “founding general,” Sprigatito.
Mainly because the [Chosen Crest] could provide an extra bond count.
Otherwise, he would have to catch a second Pokémon to activate a bond, and who knew how long that would take.
At this thought, Xia Chi said in his mind, “Use the Chosen Crest on Sprigatito.” [The Chosen Crest is a single-use item and cannot be withdrawn once used.
Do you wish to confirm?] Xia Chi said without hesitation, “Confirm.” [Please select Sprigatito’s extra bond.] Xia Chi stroked his chin.
*I can choose the extra bond myself?* He had thought it would be random, just like in the game.
Honestly, if it was a choice between the three, the scaling Dark-type bond was probably the most urgently needed right now.
A thought suddenly struck Xia Chi.
“Can I choose all three?” System Bro’s response was firm and cold: [Only one can be selected.] Xia Chi shrugged.
“Fine, then I’ll choose Dark-type.” [Use successful!
Your Sprigatito has been promoted to a Chosen Pokémon!] Just as the system’s voice faded, Xia Chi noticed the Sprigatito in front of him suddenly collapse to the ground with a soft thud, immediately followed by the sound of steady, even breathing.
Xia Chi asked, “What happened to Sprigatito?” System Bro calmly replied: [This is a normal reaction to the Chosen promotion.
Host, please do not worry.] Xia Chi was speechless.
So this was just like a system update?
Still, the system was reliable.
Without thinking too much about it, he carried Sprigatito to his bed, then sat back down in front of his computer desk.
Just as he was about to shut down the computer and call it a day, he noticed the notifications in his streaming account’s backend flashing non-stop.
Xia Chi muttered in surprise, “Huh?
So many direct messages?” Because he was worried about being harassed by haters, he had set a restriction where only viewers with a level 10 fan badge could send him direct messages.
Generally speaking, even dedicated regular viewers would need to check in for over half a year to reach that level.
Since Xia Chi had only been streaming for two or three months, those who could message him were all “bread-and-butter” patrons who had donated a significant amount of money.
Even so, every day quite a few young girls who lusted after Xia Chi’s good looks would send him private messages.
Of course, there was also a possibility that they weren’t actually young girls.
Usually, when that happened, he would need to go wash his eyes out.
However, the person bombarding him with messages today was indeed a girl, and a beautiful one at that.
It was none other than Iono, who had run into Xia Chi twice and ended up logging off in a fit of rage after being thoroughly beaten.
Xia Chi hadn’t looked at his computer for barely half an hour, yet this girl had managed to send over a dozen messages.
“Are you kidding me?
You’re already ending the stream?” “That Trick Room strategy is pretty interesting.
Want to have another match?” “Are you an apprentice at some gym in the Donghuang region?
Do you want to come to the Levincia Gym for an exchange program?” “Don’t worry, I’m not planning to hunt you down in real life.” “…” “Type 1 and I’ll gift you a Master Ball.” Except for the final message sent ten minutes ago, most of them were just meaningless spam.
On the surface she had a high-energy, cute girl persona, but in reality, she was a chatterbox?
*In private, does Iono-sensei secretly gorge herself on ice cream and fries?* After making this slightly mischievous assumption, Xia Chi casually replied with a “1”.
Iono replied instantly: “!” “I’ll gift you the Master Ball tomorrow.” “Get online, 1v1!
I just put together a new team.
Let me clash with your Trick Room team again!” So she had been hovering in front of her screen this whole time, waiting for his reply?
Xia Chi was speechless.
He replied, “Let’s skip today, Iono-sensei.
I have an 8:00 AM class tomorrow.” Iono: “An 8:00 AM class?
What does that mean?” Xia Chi replied: “A morning lecture at eight, so I can’t stay up too late.” This was a lie.
Whether he had an 8:00 AM class or not, Xia Chi wouldn’t go to sleep early; this was just an excuse because he didn’t want to play anymore.
“Pokémon: Path of Champions” was a real-time command battle game, and playing it for too long was actually quite exhausting.
Iono actually took it seriously.
“I see…
That’s the first time I’ve heard of that.
Students in Donghuang really have it rough.” Xia Chi replied helplessly, “Well, there’s nothing we can do.
Our Donghuang University has its own unique circumstances.” A “?” quickly came back from the other side.
Feeling that the conversation was drifting off topic, Xia Chi changed the subject: “It’s nothing.
To thank you for the Master Ball, I can build a custom team to help boost your account’s rank during my next stream.
Do you have any favorite Pokémon, Iono-sensei?” *Build a custom team to help boost my rank?* *Do I look like I need you to boost my rank?* Feeling that Xia Chi was being a bit too arrogant, Iono was about to refuse when she suddenly had a bold idea.
“Any Pokémon at all?” Xia Chi replied, “Yes.” A mischievous smile crept onto Iono’s lips.
Her fingers flew across her keyboard.
“Then I want to see Pachirisu!” Having been completely dominated by Xia Chi twice in a row, Iono had developed a twisted desire to see him embarrass himself on stream.
That was why she made such a harsh request.
Granted, Xia Chi had used Trapinch, a baby-stage Pokémon, during today’s stream.
From a game data perspective, Trapinch’s base stat total was actually quite a bit lower than Pachirisu’s.
But Trapinch had very distinct characteristics—high Attack and low Speed—making it incredibly fitting for a Trick Room team.
In comparison, Pachirisu was far inferior.
Its Speed was mediocre, its offensive capability was practically non-existent, and its defensive stats could only be described as average at best.
With such a featureless Pokémon, could Xia Chi really pull off any tricks in high-elo matches?
If choosing pure trash-tier Pokémon like Magikarp or Feebas weren’t too obvious, Iono would have wanted him to build a team around Magikarp.
Perhaps feeling that the request was a bit too harsh and fearing Xia Chi wouldn’t dare accept, Iono incentivized him: “For any match where Pachirisu plays, I’ll gift you a Master Ball for every win!” *A Master Ball for every win?* On the other side of the screen, Xia Chi only felt like laughing out loud.
*Are you trying to tell me that the “White Devil,” a Pokémon that once won the Pokémon World Championships, can’t completely dominate the high-elo brackets of this tactically backward world?* Xia Chi replied: “Sure thing!
Generous boss, thanks for the support!” Iono: “…” *Wait, why isn’t this going according to my script?* *With this confident tone of his, why do I feel like I can faintly hear my wallet crying…* *** With System Bro’s help, Sprigatito enjoyed a deep, baby-like sleep for the first time in a long while.
It only barely woke up when Xia Chi returned after finishing his 8:00 AM class the next morning.
“Meow-fee?” Sprigatito opened its still-hazy eyes.
Its brain lagged for quite a while before it realized it had woken up in an unfamiliar environment.
*Where is this?* Turning its head, it saw Xia Chi sitting at his computer desk.
Sprigatito slowly recalled what had happened last night.
*Oh right.
I have a new trainer now?* Feeling the warmth of being wrapped in a soft blanket and Xia Chi’s scent lingering everywhere, a faint blush spread across Sprigatito’s cheeks.
A strange, inexplicable flutter rose in its heart.
*Maybe becoming a human’s Pokémon again isn’t so bad after all?*