Strength Test

While shopping, Wei Xin received a phone call. When he returned, he was expressionless.

Life is a long journey, and we will always encounter some unexpected events along the way. But sometimes, a small accident can fester over time and quietly decay in an unknown corner.

"Where are we going next?" Mary asked.

"Let's go check out the battle club and the Pokémon gym," Wei Xin said.

As the most prosperous city in Donghuang, Shanghai has no shortage of battle clubs and Pokémon gyms, most of which are located around universities. Apart from some VIP users who spend a lot of money, students are the main consumer group.

So now that students have one foot in Pokémon battles and the hype hasn't died down, these organizations are taking advantage of the situation and launching various activities and marketing campaigns.

When Wei Xin and Mary arrived at the nearest battle club near the school, they saw many new students gathered at the entrance of the battle club with their newly acquired Pokémon.

In the middle of the crowd was a student with a new leaf cat, facing a black, flexible wall with an electronic board at the top.

The sign above displayed the students' and Pokémon's names, along with their scores, while the activity rules were written on a signboard next to it.

The general idea is that any university student in Shanghai can participate in the event with their first-stage Pokémon.

Have your Pokémon use its skills on the power tester, and the machine will give you a score. If you reach the required score, you can get gifts such as equipment discount coupons, shopping cards, or club membership cards.

In addition, the top ten scorers will receive special rewards from the club.

The items included Pokémon food, Energy Cubes, a club membership card, and a black and gold Poké Ball that looked extremely expensive and was housed in a blast-proof glass case.

(=ﾟДﾟ=)

"Ralts." Ralts, carried on Wei Xin's shoulder, had its gaze fixed on the Poké Ball, unable to look away for a long time.

"It's a deluxe ball," Wei Xin said. "I want it. Let's participate together later and see if we can win first place."

(｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)

"Ralts!" Ralts swung its fists at the air twice, eager to try.

That being said, Wei Xin was not confident of winning first place.

After all, Ralts is still young, and her psychic powers don't work on walls. She has only just mastered Fire Punch, so it's not very powerful.

If only Ralts could have a few more days.

Well, if we don't win the championship, we should check out the price of luxury balls online.

I'll give it to Ralts as a gift for the freshman tournament.

However, before that, we should still try our best. The shortcomings of the Pokémon should be made up by the trainers.

So, system, give me a single draw first!

[Item: Small Starfruit (Increases luck by 3 points after consumption)]

"Marie, do you want to join?" Wei Xin secretly consumed the item provided by the system without any noticeable effect. He turned to ask Marie, who was bending over and looking at the club's recruitment information.

"Of course, Morubek and I only got second place last year, so we have to get first place this year," Mary said confidently.

"New Leaf Cat, use the leaf!" came the command from the student standing in the middle of the crowd.

The new Leaf Cat in front of him stepped on the ground with its front paws, green dust spreading from its feet, and the fur under its neck emitted an emerald green light. Then, countless fluorescent green leaves crashed into the wall.

System score: 57.

To facilitate the bonding between students and their starter Pokémon, the research center provides Pokémon that have been hatched for no more than half a month, so their moves are naturally not very powerful.

The consolation prize has a score of 100. The current score of 121 is 10th on the leaderboard, and the highest score is 203.

"Oh dear!" the boy exclaimed regretfully, and dejectedly left the stage with Xin Ye Miao.

Suddenly, a student in the crowd complained, "The top ten scores were all achieved by upperclassmen using their Pokémon. We're just freshmen who only got our Pokémon today. This isn't fair."

The highest score among freshmen so far is only 81. Isn't this blatant bullying of freshmen?

"That's right, the senior students should be banned." Someone chimed in.

"If it really doesn't work, give us a few more days, we'll practice and then come back."

"Please note that this activity is open to all students. If you are not strong enough, it only means that you lack scientific and effective training." As he spoke, the staff member released a small fire monkey and shouted at the wall.

"Little Fire Monkey, use the Flame Wheel!"

"Poka!" Chimchar leaped into the air, spun around, and flames shot out from his tail, completely enveloping his body.

A blazing wheel of fire crashed into the wall, and as it rubbed against the wall, the data on the electronic board continued to climb.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he achieved a score of 213, instantly becoming the number one player on the leaderboard.

He then leaped into the air, leaving a scorching mark on the black wall, and landed gracefully back beside the staff, supporting himself with one hand and raising his arm in a shout.

"This Chimchar is also a baby Pokémon. It was trained at our club for only a week, and it went from being a useless Pokémon that couldn't use its moves properly and was abandoned by its trainer to what it is today," the staff member said.

[Actually, this little Chimchar has been raised for almost a month. It was a top-tier individual given to it by the breeding center, and it even received an Attack Boost before going on stage.]

"Only scientific training methods can unleash the potential of Pokémon. Our Penguin Club has the most complete facilities and the best training experts. As long as you join our club, we guarantee that you and your Pokémon will be able to dominate the competition in the new generation."

"The first fifty students to recharge today will enjoy a 50% discount. What are you waiting for?"

"But my Grookey was beaten by your Chimchar just last week, and your Chimchar has three moles on its left palm," a senior student in the crowd suddenly said.

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

[After all that, it's still just about selling products.]

If all students send their Pokémon to the club, wouldn't that be equivalent to no one sending their Pokémon to the club at all?

College students just don't use their brains, they're not brainless.

"That's actually his twin brother." The staff member coughed, noticing the students below staring at him with strange looks.

It's as if it's saying, "Do you think I'm stupid?"

He could only change the subject, asking, "Is there anyone else who wants to come up and take on the challenge?"

Before everyone had recovered from the controversy surrounding the live-streaming sales event, a student spoke up, "Can I give it a try?"

"Of course! May I ask your name and what your Pokémon is?"

"Song Hui, a freshman in the combat department, my partner is Scyther." With that, Song Hui released Scyther.

"Wow, Scyther, that's way too unfair."

As a Pokémon that did not have an evolution in the first generation, but which was added in later generations, Scyther's type makes it almost overwhelmingly powerful against baby Pokémon.

"Scyther, use Combo Attack."

"Guva!" Scyther leaped into the air and crashed into the wall, then swung its scythe-like claws, leaving scratches all over the wall.

"191 points!" someone exclaimed.

My Hercules should be able to score even higher.

"Oh dear, just a little bit short."

"Why not use Sword Dance to strengthen first?"

"Because my Scyther can't!" Song Hui said righteously.

Where did a Scyther less than a month old get the Swords Dance?

"Oh dear, what a pity." The staff member wiped the sweat from his forehead.

[I thought the grand prize was going to be won. No, just in case, we need to have the people backstage make some preparations. How about we just bring the young master out? After all, he's a freshman in college.]

[Use the help skill first, then stack the sword dance; the score achieved should be unmatched.]