Under the envious gazes of the surrounding trainers, John took the Pokeball containing the Totem Bulbasaur. With a flick of his wrist, he released it into the open.
A flash of red light revealed the massive Pokemon.
Standing before him was a uniquely large Bulbasaur, its turquoise body supporting an enormous emerald-green bulb. It was nearly twice the size of an average Bulbasaur, and John couldn't help but wonder—once it evolved into a Venusaur, would a full-grown tree sprout from its back?
What truly caught his attention, though, were its eyes.
Bright. Sharp. Intelligent.
John had seen many Pokemon, but Bulbasaur's gaze held an uncanny depth. It was the look of a warrior—a Pokemon that had trained endlessly, honing its skills through countless battles. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty, only fierce determination and boundless anticipation for the journey ahead.
"Good," John murmured, reaching out to gently stroke Bulbasaur's head.
The Totem Bulbasaur had observed his entire battle earlier. Watching John defeat all challengers with a near-effortless flow, it had developed not resistance but admiration. Instead of pulling away, Bulbasaur leaned into John's touch, rubbing its head against his palm with trust.
John retrieved the Pokeball and recalled Bulbasaur, then turned toward the registration booth. As he walked away, the crowd could only stare at his retreating figure, murmuring in awe.
"He's strong... incredibly strong."
Many among them were already scrambling to learn more about him. A trainer with such skill as a freshman couldn't be ordinary. Whether to befriend him or keep an eye on him as a potential rival, knowing John's background had suddenly become a priority for the elites of the academy.
John, however, was indifferent to the whispers. He was already focused on his next goal.
Three days from now, he'd be arriving in Fortree City. He needed to finish tonight's grind—battle in the wild, gather berries, and clear a few more dungeons. There was still so much to do.
Just as he was heading back to his dorm, he noticed two figures waiting under a streetlamp.
Scarlett stood beside a young man John didn't recognize.
"Hey," the young man greeted, stepping forward with a confident smile. "I'm Azure, Scarlett's cousin and the head of this breeding camp."
John glanced at Scarlett. She didn't say anything, which he took as silent confirmation of Azure's identity.
Cousin? And the camp's director?
Suddenly, John understood why Scarlett had such strong backing.
"John, freshman at Riverstone University," he introduced himself simply.
"I know, I know!" Azure grinned. "I just talked to Scarlett about you. We all saw your battle earlier—it was incredible! If you're this strong as a freshman, by the time you're a sophomore or junior, you'll probably be pushing Elite-level. You'll have your hands full by then."
Before John could react, Scarlett cut in, her tone dry. "Ignore him. He's used to talking ."
Azure just laughed. "Still, if you ever have questions about breeding, especially about that Bulbasaur, feel free to ask me. I was the one who personally caught it."
John raised an eyebrow. That was valuable information. He had just asked the staff about the Bulbasaur's origins, but if Azure had caught it himself, that meant he could provide firsthand knowledge.
Unlike John's Tyranitar, which had been bred for battle, this Bulbasaur came from the wild. Knowing where it had been captured meant that even if its Totem aura weakened in future battles, John could return to its birthplace to restore its strength.
"Sounds good," John agreed.
"Great! Here, let's exchange contacts. My main workplace is the Riverstone Breeders Association, so if you ever need anything—or even just want to grab some tea—hit me up."
John pulled out his phone and added Azure as a contact.
It didn't take long for him to notice the stark contrast between Azure and Scarlett. Despite being family, they were nothing alike. Scarlett was a reserved academic, always buried in research, while Azure had the charm and smooth-talking ease of a seasoned businessman.
Azure stretched. "Alright, I've got things to do. Catch you later, John. Looking forward to seeing how you perform in the breeding camp!"
With a wave, he disappeared down the road.
Scarlett watched him leave, then turned back to John. "That shiny Gyarados of yours—did you breed it yourself, or did you catch it in the wild?"
John answered without hesitation. "Caught it in the wild."
She nodded, seemingly satisfied. Any trainer who could capture and train a wild Gyarados—especially one strong enough to take down a gym-level trainer—was no amateur.
In official gym battles, trainers were required to use four Pokemon out of six, meaning anyone aiming for that level needed at least four Pokemon at gym leader strength. John had two confirmed: his Gyarados and his Dusknoir. Then there was Combusken, which had stunned everyone at the freshman tournament.
Scarlett's thoughts were clear: John was already on the verge of gym leader-level strength.
"You should consider challenging a gym," she suggested. "Becoming an official Gym Leader comes with a lot of perks—fame, status, resources. It'll accelerate your growth."
John nodded. She wasn't wrong.
Gym Leaders received regular shipments of rare Pokemon items, access to exclusive ranches, and even a portion of the city's revenue as part of their funding. More importantly, only trainers at the gym leader level or higher were allowed into restricted areas containing rare Pokemon and legendary battlegrounds.
But there was a problem.
"Gym challenges have entry requirements," John pointed out. "And there aren't any major tournaments coming up."
He had been keeping an eye on potential opportunities. With a level 70 Dusknoir and a powerful Gyarados, he was confident in his strength. The issue was gaining entry. Most gym positions required honor rankings from major competitions, and the tournament season was nearly over.
Scarlett, however, smiled knowingly. "Don't worry about that."
John raised an eyebrow.
"I heard from Azure that the Gym Leader of Chiba City is retiring soon. When that happens, they'll host a battle for his replacement. Unlike standard gym challenges, this competition doesn't require tournament rankings—just raw strength. If you're strong enough, both I and the principal are willing to recommend you."
John took a moment to absorb the information.
A direct battle for a gym position. No entry requirements. Just skill.