"This battle is over! The winner... is Qiao Ran's side!"
Seeing the outcome, the homeroom teacher announced the final result, completely confirming Qiao Ran's victory. Not only that, he announced another piece of news.
"Also, because student Chang Mengda violated the rules by sending out a Pokémon that did not belong to him, he is hereby permanently disqualified from this competition—therefore, I announce that the final winner of this match is student Qiao Ran!"
"W-Wait, teacher?"
Chang Mengda's eyes went wide, disbelief written all over his face. But after the result had been announced, no amount of wailing could help him.
Even after sending out his elder's Pokémon, he had still lost miserably. Was there anything more humiliating than that?
From now on, he would probably become a laughingstock.
"Good job, Dianxi."
Qiao Ran crouched down and happily rubbed Dianxi's head. Dianxi answered him with a dignified smile.
"Dianxi."
Dianxi seemed to enjoy Qiao Ran touching her, but unfortunately, Qiao Ran still could not understand every word she said.
However, after this battle, Qiao Ran could feel a special connection gradually forming between Dianxi and himself. He quietly glanced at the Evolutionary Stone hanging around his neck. He believed that one day, his relationship with Dianxi would go even further, reaching unprecedented heights.
By then, Dianxi would be able to reveal an entirely new form.
Once Qiao Ran's match ended, the following matches became boring. Taking advantage of the time, Qiao Ran planned to bring his Vulpix to the school infirmary. Although this world did not have the Pokémon world's complete medical system, injured Pokémon could still receive decent treatment.
"Wait."
Just as Qiao Ran stepped out of the gymnasium, someone called out to him from behind.
"...?"
Qiao Ran turned back in confusion, only to see a black-haired girl in a school uniform. Her pretty little face, however, radiated an unmistakable keep-out aura.
Qiao Ran did not know her.
"Is something the matter?"
Qiao Ran could not figure out what she wanted. Could this be some kind of honey trap?
"Take this. You can come when the time comes."
The girl did not explain further. She merely took out a card and placed it in Qiao Ran's hand before immediately leaving. Her brisk, decisive movements left Qiao Ran slightly stunned.
"Oh, right. Was that Pokémon caught on the back mountain?" Before she left, however, she still asked that question.
"Uh... yeah. Is there a problem?"
Qiao Ran answered casually while examining the card. He swore he had only answered casually. Whatever she chose to think had nothing to do with him.
"No problem. I'm leaving."
The girl nodded bluntly, then quickened her pace once more, leaving Qiao Ran standing there and staring at the card in his hand.
"Longjiang City Gym Challenge Card (No Reservation Required)"
"A Gym Challenge Card... is this for real?"
Qiao Ran scratched his head. "Could this really be some kind of honey trap?"
Qiao Ran's Vow
A honey trap—an act of using lustful impulses to set a trap and swindle people out of money—was one of the schemes Qiao Ran detested most.
As for Longjiang City Gym, it was known throughout all of Longjiang City and was one of the city's landmark buildings. Not only was the Gym imposing and magnificent, but enormous twin wings like those of a soaring dragon had been built atop it, giving it an inexplicable air of majesty.
This was not only Longjiang City's largest Trainer training base, but also a famous tourist attraction and sports venue. Visitors often came to Longjiang City Gym to watch battles and cheer.
However, precisely because of that, Gym challenges in Longjiang City were always packed. Reservations had to be made at least a week in advance, otherwise one could not even get in line. But with this no-reservation Challenge Card, it seemed one could skip all those troublesome procedures and jump straight into a challenge.
"...It looks like it might be real."
After examining the card several more times, Qiao Ran tucked it into his pocket.
Longjiang City Gym was no weak Gym. The Gym Leader stationed there was a master who used Dragon-type Pokémon. Even within the entire Huaxia Alliance, he was someone officially recognized with the title of Quasi-Elite Four.
Although there were still the two major ranks of Elite Four and Champion above Quasi-Elite Four, reaching that level had made Longjiang City's Gym Leader the pride of the locals, someone standing at the pinnacle of Trainers.
If Qiao Ran challenged the Gym now, he would most likely be unable to battle the Gym Leader's ace Pokémon. However, qualified Gym Leaders would judge a challenger's level and send out suitable Pokémon accordingly, so Qiao Ran believed he could receive the appropriate guidance.
That guidance might not show itself in Pokémon knowledge or an understanding of Pokémon attributes. After all, Qiao Ran's own knowledge of Pokémon might already surpass that of most people in this world. What he lacked now was practical combat experience and ways to respond in battle. A battle master like a Gym Leader would surely be able to point him toward the right path.
...Once I get my Adventurer qualification, I'll go take a look at the Gym. I need to collect Badges anyway.
As Qiao Ran thought to himself, he could not help growing excited. Just how thrilling would a real Gym battle be?
Despite thinking that, Qiao Ran still quickened his pace. His Vulpix still needed treatment, and if he did not hurry, he would miss the next match.
After experiencing the high-intensity first battle, the following matches posed almost no difficulty for Qiao Ran. These rookie Trainers, who had yet to leave the nest, only owned Pokémon as harmless as kittens and puppies.
Qiao Ran simply sent out his treated Vulpix and easily won those matches. Vulpix was not particularly strong, but her rapport with Qiao Ran was absolutely first-rate. After all, she had been by his side ever since she hatched and had never left him.
Of course, in order to train Dianxi's level, Qiao Ran also sent her out a few times and shamelessly farmed some experience... no, gained some experience.
Unlike other Trainers, who had to undergo harsh training to level up, Qiao Ran discovered that his Pokémon had only one way to raise their levels—winning battles.
As long as they won, his Pokémon could gain the experience needed to level up. The stronger the opponent, the greater the increase in experience.
After that series of battles, his Vulpix had successfully reached Level 16, while Dianxi had reached Level 15. Compared to their starting Level 5, they looked far better now.
"Dianxi."
"Awoo!"
After every victory, Qiao Ran had to praise the two little girls properly. If he did not take the initiative to pat their heads, they would puff up their cheeks and sulk at him.
"Who did you two learn that from?"
Qiao Ran shook his head helplessly. Pokémon being disobedient gave Trainers headaches, but Pokémon that were too good at acting cute gave him headaches too.
"Mas...ter..."
However, just as Qiao Ran comforted Dianxi, he even heard an incredibly resentful voice coming from his pocket. It was the Rotom Phone, crying out with the bitterness of a Ghost Type.
Why... why am I the only one being left out... Why... when they're being praised, all I can do is stare helplessly...
Stare helplessly!
"Sorry... Rotom, just hang in there a little longer. It'll be over soon, really."
Qiao Ran had no choice but to do his best to comfort her. After all, he had been the one to decide that Rotom should stay in his pocket.
Since Qiao Ran did not intend to let his classmates know that he possessed such a special item, he had kept the Rotom Phone hidden in his pocket, disguising it as an ordinary phone.
After all, in this world, high-end Pokémon appliances like Rotom Phones were considered luxuries even among the upper class. If his classmates saw it, Qiao Ran felt that he would probably attract some kind of trouble. Before he had grown strong enough, he had to avoid that.
One should not flaunt one's wealth. That was all there was to it.
Once he had gained a certain amount of strength, he would no longer need to fear such things.
Soon, the class competition came to an end. This elimination tournament that had swept through the entire class also determined the final four survivors.
"The Adventurer Battle has officially ended!"
The homeroom teacher stood onstage and shouted loudly.
"Congratulations! Four students have obtained Adventurer qualifications this time! They will receive Adventurer qualifications issued by the Alliance and may independently embark on Badge-collecting adventures!"
"Their names are! Lan Wenyu! Song Hailiang! Hou Sai! And—Qiao Ran!"
"Let's welcome them with a round of applause!"
As one of the final victors, Qiao Ran had undoubtedly obtained his Adventurer qualification. Still, as part of the ceremony, the homeroom teacher invited him onto the stage, perhaps intending for him to give some sort of acceptance speech.
"Um... there's actually not much to say. I just think everyone here is..."
Holding the microphone, Qiao Ran swept his gaze across the classmates standing below the stage, all looking at him with expectant eyes. Then he swallowed the two words that had nearly slipped out.
Sometimes, having too sharp a tongue was not necessarily a good thing.
Fortunately, Qiao Ran reacted quickly enough.
"...Everyone here is... my friend. This is also my starting point, my alma mater. Right now, it may seem like I have nothing. I only have three Pokémon partners by my side, but I believe that when I return here again someday..."
As he spoke, Qiao Ran silently raised a fist. Brilliant flames began to shine in his eyes.
They were flames of the future, the sacred fire of fighting spirit burning within him.
"I—will become the Champion!"
"The one and only Champion in this world!!"
I'm Not, I Didn't
Qiao Ran had never had any experience giving public speeches, nor had he ever said much in front of a crowd.
Yet when he stood on that stage, he somehow knew exactly what he should say.
It was not empty flattery, nor was it hollow grandstanding. It was what he—Qiao Ran—truly wanted to say.
Facing his classmates, facing the school he was about to leave and might not return to for an unknown length of time, Qiao Ran felt that speaking from the heart was the best thing he could offer them. And making a vow would also serve as motivation for himself.
Champion had always been his goal.
As a gamer, from Kanto, where the first winds blew, to traditional and mysterious Johto; from the complex environment of Hoenn to mythically majestic Sinnoh; from diverse and blended Unova to newly evolved Kalos; from the simple folkways of Alola to the roaring arenas of Galar...
No matter which region he went to, what kind of partners he met, or what kind of rivals he encountered, Qiao Ran's goal had never changed—to become the Champion.
The one and only Champion.
He had pursued that goal even in games. Now that he had come to the real world, Qiao Ran had even less reason not to work harder for it. This declaration and speech merely expressed his thoughts completely.
"Oh my god..."
"This Qiao Ran... he actually dared to say something like that..."
"Become the Champion? Is being Champion really that easy?"
Qiao Ran's words caused an uproar among the students below the stage. Some looked at him with admiration, but more were doubtful and distrustful. Some even felt that Qiao Ran's speech had been far too presumptuous.
"Yeah! What gives you the right to say that!"
Several classmates Qiao Ran had defeated earlier mixed into the crowd and began stirring things up. The voices condemning Qiao Ran grew louder.
However, at that moment, someone stepped forward and helped Qiao Ran out of the situation.
"Alright, student Qiao Ran spoke very well, so everyone should stop arguing. Adventurers should strive to become Champions. Without the goal of becoming Champion, there can be no possibility of becoming Champion. Even the Gym Leader of Longjiang City Gym set out on his journey with the goal of becoming Champion."
As he spoke, he patted Qiao Ran on the shoulder, telling him not to worry.
Looking into his homeroom teacher's eyes, Qiao Ran suddenly snapped back to himself. Perhaps he was a good teacher who cared about his students after all.
Though he could be a little biased at times, he was still capable of stepping up when it truly mattered.
Qiao Ran could not help thinking of another teacher at the school. In his memories, that female teacher had not only taken the best care of him in class, but had also hatched Ice Vulpix from her egg together with him.
Unfortunately, that teacher had resigned from the school a year ago. Apparently, she had returned to her hometown in the north.
I wonder if I'll run into her again after I begin my journey? Qiao Ran thought to himself.
He still missed her quite a bit.
After completing the procedures for becoming an Adventurer at school and accepting the magnetic card that recorded his identity, the first thing Qiao Ran did was rush straight home. He not only wanted to share the good news, but also needed to pack his luggage. After all, he could not travel without bringing some clothes.
"Mom! I got my Adventurer qualification!"
"Really?"
Hearing the news Qiao Ran brought back, his mother could not help showing a delighted expression. However, she quickly came to her senses.
"Son, you aren't fooling me, are you?"
"It's real. Look if you don't believe me."
Qiao Ran tossed the magnetic card directly to his mother. When she saw it, her hands trembled.
However, Qiao Ran did not say anything else. He simply hurried back to his room.
Before you continue