Qiao Ran began directing Dianxi's counterattack, and the battle in the arena flared up once more.
The battle continued. However, Long Xiangdong, acting as referee, had already seen the outcome. The Pokémon called Dianxi had basically gained a complete advantage over Pangding.
The battle's subsequent development largely confirmed his judgment. Although Long Jiangxue never gave up and kept trying to use all sorts of moves to hurt Dianxi, none of them successfully knocked Dianxi down. On Dianxi's side, after Diamond Storm and Moon Power struck Pangding, Pangding was already struggling to hold on.
Finally, after another Diamond Storm landed, Pangding collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon, its eyes rolling back as it completely lost the ability to continue fighting.
It was not that it had not tried hard enough, nor was its fighting style rigid. It was simply that, in this drawn-out battle, its physique and every other aspect of its capabilities had been utterly crushed by Dianxi.
One side had rifles and millet, while the other had a Gundam. How was this match supposed to be fought?
"Pangding!"
Seeing Pangding fall, Long Jiangxue hurried forward to check on it.
"Pangding has lost the ability to battle! Therefore, the winner of this match is—challenger Qiao Ran!"
Referee Long Xiangdong announced the result at the same time.
The first match had been a victory of tactics, while the second had been a victory of Pokémon. Especially in the second match, it was clear that Qiao Ran's training ability was far beyond that of an ordinary rookie Trainer. He truly qualified to receive this Badge.
Seeing such a young man, Long Xiangdong found himself looking forward to seeing him mature sooner, so they could have a truly exhilarating Giant Beast Battle.
"Congratulations. You won this Gym challenge! I hope you remember how today's battle felt. As a fellow Longjiang native, I'll be cheering you on throughout the rest of your journey."
"I... won!"
Upon hearing the news of his victory, Qiao Ran excitedly crouched down and embraced Dianxi. This was his first victory in a Gym battle. Although the process had differed somewhat from what he imagined, the joy of victory had not been diminished in the slightest.
"Did you hear that? We won, Dianxi!"
"Diti."
Dianxi smiled happily as well and hugged Qiao Ran tightly. In her heart, being needed by her Master and achieving success alongside him was the greatest happiness. This was undoubtedly her happiest moment.
However, neither of them seemed to notice that, as they embraced, Dianxi's body quietly underwent
some tiny changes.
—The hem of her dress seemed to have lengthened slightly, and even her pink diamonds had become more dazzling.
They glittered brilliantly.
Dianxi's changes went unnoticed, but it was as though a seed had been planted in a tranquil lake. One day, it would bloom into a beautiful flower.
After announcing the results, Long Xiangdong personally handed the Badge to Qiao Ran. The Longjiang City Badge resembled a giant dragon spreading its wings, echoing the arena's exterior. At a glance, it carried the feeling of Longjiang City's Giant Beast Battles.
"The Longjiang City Badge represents a dragon's toughness and resilience. It represents imposing momentum and bold, sweeping strength. That girl still lacks much in those areas. I believe she'll understand before she officially begins her journey next year."
Long Xiangdong looked at the boy before him. He felt that Longjiang City might be about to produce another legendary figure.
As for his daughter, although she also attended Longjiang Third Middle School, unlike Qiao Ran, who was already able to set out on his journey, she was only in her third year of middle school and still needed to complete another year of studies.
"Thank you. I'll take good care of this Badge."
Qiao Ran thanked the Gym Leader and carefully put away the Badge. It not only meant he was one step closer to the Huaxia Alliance, but also that the Alliance subsidy he could receive would increase significantly. Once the subsidy increased, he would be one step closer to fulfilling his promise to buy clothes for Vulpix and Dianxi.
—That was right. These days, whenever Qiao Ran thought of money, he immediately thought of buying clothes. Who knew what had stimulated and brainwashed him?
Of course, he might have even more Pokémon partners in the future, and different Pokémon would have different needs. By then, whether this subsidy could support such a large group of Pokémon was anyone's guess...
"Hmph..."
Long Jiangxue stood nearby with a cold expression throughout. Being defeated did not feel good, especially when she had been defeated by someone her own age whom she had always looked down on. Worse still, after losing the battle, her father had singled her out for criticism.
"Don't think you're so great just because you started your journey a year earlier than me. You're only... only a little stronger, that's all."
The girl was still talking tough, but she seemed to have accepted the fact that she was weaker than Qiao Ran. That alone was considerable progress.
Seeing how awkward she looked, Qiao Ran could not help wanting to tease her.
"How about I let you touch Dianxi?"
"Really???" Long Jiangxue actually cried out upon hearing Qiao Ran's words, sparkling little stars instantly spreading across her eyes. However, she quickly realized her reaction was somewhat improper, hastily cleared her throat a few times, and returned to being the usual cold-faced, black-haired, straight-haired young lady.
"Ahem... Don't... don't think this will change my opinion of you. During this year at school, I'll definitely catch a Dianxi of my own too!"
Long Jiangxue's desire for Dianxi had reached an unprecedented level. After today's battle, she had thoroughly realized Dianxi's beauty. Even her devastatingly powerful moves resembled blooming diamond flowers. Where was she supposed to find such a heavenly Pokémon?
"As long as you like her."
Faced with Long Jiangxue's soaring fighting spirit, Qiao Ran could only roll his eyes where he stood.
—He was finding it increasingly difficult to tell her the truth. All he could do was hope Long Jiangxue found an Ultra Wormhole in the grass on the mountain behind the school. If she crossed through it, perhaps she really could find a wild Dianxi.
As for any other possibility... forget it. The grass only had wild Rayquaza in it. There was no way it would have Dianxi.
After staying at Longjiang City Gym for a while longer, Qiao Ran let Dianxi give Long Jiangxue a little treat. This young lady held Dianxi's hand as if she never wanted to let go, and pink bubbles seemed to keep floating out around her.
A long time passed. In the end, Qiao Ran had to reach out and forcibly pry the strange-looking Dianxi away from her. Otherwise, Long Jiangxue probably would not have let go until she died.
"Wait, leave me your number."
Before they left, Long Jiangxue asked Qiao Ran for his contact information, claiming it was to discuss how to catch Dianxi. Qiao Ran could not refuse her, so he had no choice but to leave her his number.
However, when Qiao Ran walked out of the Gym, Long Xiangdong suddenly ran out after him and called out to him as he was heading away.
"Wait!"
Qiao Ran turned back in confusion. The father and daughter truly had similar personalities. Both were the type to come and go like the wind, swift and decisive. Long Xiangdong in particular stood over two meters tall; when he ran, he was like a fully armed tank.
"Challenger... no, Qiao Ran, have you arranged your next destination? Which city are you planning to visit?"
Long Xiangdong stopped and immediately threw out a question.
"Which city?" Qiao Ran shook his head. "I'm planning to rest for a night first, then think about it. Longjiang City is right in the middle of Huaxia, so heading either north or south would be a good choice."
"Then I suggest you take a look at Hangcheng in the south. Perhaps you'll discover something new there."
Long Xiangdong looked down at Qiao Ran with a smile.
"Something new?" Qiao Ran was puzzled and had no idea what the other man meant.
"Yes. I watched your battle while you were directing Vulpix. You actually know a special ability that lets you convey information to Pokémon, right?"
"This..."
Qiao Ran's expression froze for a moment. Could it be that the fact that Vulpix and I have a high affection level was exposed???
However, Long Xiangdong's next sentence dispelled Qiao Ran's concerns.
"It's fine. I know. This power called Aura Power is very special. Not only can it convey information to Pokémon, it can also detect an opponent's location. So I'll keep it secret for now. But if you want to improve, you should visit Hangcheng. The Gym Leader there seems to have some knowledge in this area."
"A-Aura Power??"
Qiao Ran's head filled with question marks. When did I ever develop such a bizarre power?
Long Xiangdong ignored Qiao Ran, who was still staring wide-eyed and blinking. He directly stuffed a letter into Qiao Ran's hand and gave his shoulder a firm pat.
"This is a letter of recommendation I just wrote. When you get there, give it to that Gym Leader. He'll know how to handle it."
"Keep it up! No matter what difficulties you face, don't be afraid. Perseverance is victory. We men of Longjiang are definitely the best!"
After saying a whole string of baffling yet incredibly inspiring words, Long Xiangdong left directly. His swift, decisive pace was even more excessive than that of his daughter, Long Jiangxue.
Only Qiao Ran remained standing in disarray at the Gym entrance, clutching the letter in the wind.
This... is this a recommendation letter for me to study Aura Power? And it's addressed to the Gym Leader in Hangcheng??
But... I really don't know any of that fancy stuff!!!
The Legend of the Pokémon Nurse
Right now, Qiao Ran truly wanted to pull out his Rotom Phone immediately and make a post online—
Urgent! How do I learn Aura Power? Waiting online, pretty urgent!
However, Qiao Ran ultimately dismissed that impractical idea. Even Long Xiangdong, a Gym Leader, had said Aura Power was a special power. Asking random people online probably would not be of any use.
"Forget it. I'll keep it for now."
Long Xiangdong's letter of recommendation was already in his hands, and he could not exactly return it. Who knew? It might really prove useful someday.
Qiao Ran had already experienced the benefits of challenging a Gym without needing an appointment. These private battles could provide more guidance while also preserving some of his privacy. Qiao Ran rather liked that.
After challenging Longjiang Gym, Qiao Ran headed to the Pokémon Center in Longjiang City. Besides needing to rest there for the night, he also needed to update his Alliance information. A single Badge could increase the subsidy by quite a bit, and Qiao Ran really needed the money.
"All right, I've registered your latest information for you."
After registering his information, the nurse at the Pokémon Center handed Qiao Ran's magnetic card back to him. For some reason, the nurses at the Pokémon Center, like Nurse Joy from the Pokémon world, all had long pink hair. However, they looked completely different from Nurse Joy.
Though they were equally beautiful, they did not have Nurse Joy's uniformity.
"What is it? Is there something in my hair?"
The nurse also noticed Qiao Ran staring at her hair. She smiled slightly and explained.
"Do you find pink hair unusual? It's actually a rule of our Pokémon Centers. If you want to work at a Pokémon Center, you have to dye your hair this special shade of pink. They say it's to commemorate history's first Pokémon nurse."
"The first Pokémon nurse... Could she be..."
Qiao Ran froze. The instant he heard those words, an unrealistic thought seemed to surface in his mind, but he quickly shook his head.
"May I ask what that nurse's name was?"
"I don't know." The young nurse shook her head. Though she said she did not know, her expression carried a trace of admiration and helplessness.
"They say she left behind no name, nor did she leave behind any descendants. After she died, she was buried beneath the Evergreen Tree in front of the World Alliance. That day, Alliance chairmen, Champions, and Elite Four members from all over the world came... They say even the leaders of certain evil organizations came."
"She left nothing behind and took nothing away. In the end, all she left was the legend of pink hair. That's why, even now, nurses at our Pokémon Centers must dye their hair this color. Her wish to care for Pokémon and keep them healthy will be carried on by us."
"I see..."
This was Qiao Ran's first time hearing this piece of history, and a strange feeling rose in his heart.
Still, he felt that this nameless nurse with pink hair had some inexplicable connection to the Nurse Joy he imagined. Yet there was no way to prove it now.
If that really had been Nurse Joy...
"..."
Qiao Ran's expression gradually turned serious. Although arriving in a world full of Pokémon had excited him greatly, this world did not seem to be as simple as he had imagined.
What else was hidden in this world?
It seemed... he would have to pay closer attention to some of this world's legends in the future.
After settling down at the Pokémon Center, Qiao Ran lay down to rest for a while before taking Vulpix and Dianxi out.
"Master is so unfair, Rotom! Why can they walk around outside? I want to go outside too, Rotom!"
"Your identity is special. You're a valuable Pokémon."
Qiao Ran shrugged, ignored Rotom's protest, and stuffed her into his pocket. Until he became strong enough, Rotom could only stay like this.
As for the purpose of his outing, it was actually very simple. Since he had time to rest after challenging the Gym, he wanted to use the subsidy he had received to buy Vulpix a prettier dress. Tomorrow, their journey would begin again.
Time to rest was precious, so he had to make use of it.
"Diti."
Dianxi looked enviously at Vulpix, who had taken human form and was being led by the hand by Qiao Ran. She had not yet gained the ability to take human form, but she believed it would not be much longer.
To help Vulpix adapt to the outside world in this form, Qiao Ran could only lead her by the hand for now. Although she was very open around Qiao Ran, once they reached the outside world, she still seemed somewhat shy around strangers.
"..."
The petite girl with blue-and-white hair timidly looked around at the sights surrounding her, clutching Qiao Ran's hand tightly. With her viewpoint suddenly raised so much higher, perhaps the entire world had become completely different for her.
And most importantly, it was easier to pick clothes after taking human form. Qiao Ran had previously bought Vulpix a simple white dress and a set of underwear online. After she put them on, they had somehow turned out a little too big—especially around the chest, where they sagged quite noticeably.
Longjiang City, a women's clothing store.
A professional smile rested on the female clerk's face as she looked at the man, woman, and Pokémon before her.
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