Making Up His Mind (Please Bookmark, Please Vote)

Now that Weedle had evolved into Metapod, it could no longer move and could only express its thoughts through sounds.

Eichi measured Metapod's height and weight. They were 0.8 meters and 20 kilograms, respectively.

According to the official data, Metapod was 0.6 meters tall and weighed 10 kilograms.

Because he had raised Weedle especially well, Eichi's Metapod was 20 centimeters taller and 10 kilograms heavier than an ordinary Metapod.

Once Metapod evolved into Beedrill, it would also be much larger than an ordinary Beedrill.

Metapod had no mouth now and could not eat, so it could only endure for a few days.

However, Eichi's Weedle had evolved more than ten days later than other Weedle.

Ordinary Weedle generally evolved in just three or four days.

Eichi's Weedle had been born for two weeks now, already many days later than other Weedle.

He did not know how long it would take this time for Metapod to evolve into Beedrill.

Now that Metapod could not train after evolving, Eichi had to shift his focus to studying as well.

When Teacher Arno had asked him which advanced academy he planned to apply to last time, Eichi had hesitated.

He did not know which school to choose. Every region had one top academy of its own.

The Kanto region had Indigo Academy, the Chengdu region had Silver Academy, the Hoenn region had Saffron Academy, and the Sinnoh Region had Sinnoh Academy.

These four schools were currently known as the best academies.

But Hoenn and Sinnoh were too far from the Chengdu region, and those two schools did not recruit students in the Chengdu region.

So he could only choose between Silver Academy and Indigo Academy. As for which one specifically, he would have to ask Teacher Arno tomorrow before making a decision.

Every year, these two academies set up assessment sites in every city throughout the region to recruit students.

Though they were the best academies, their tuition was extremely expensive. Ordinary families simply could not afford it, especially since they did not have Pokémon.

Taking this into consideration, the two schools changed their rules: anyone who ranked among the top thirty in the written test at their assessment site could have their tuition waived.

Of course, this was for students who wanted to choose the Breeding Major or Research Major.

Those choosing the Trainer Major had to take one more test on top of that.

That test was the battle assessment. In previous years, participants were allowed to take the battle assessment whether or not they had Pokémon.

Specifically, the examiners would bring out a Pokémon to battle the participant's Pokémon.

For those without Pokémon, the examiners would provide one for them.

Those who won would pass the assessment directly. Those who lost would have the examiners judge whether they had the talent to become Trainers.

The next day, after school, Eichi came to Teacher Arno's office.

The door was open. The room was very clean, with a pleasant scent of incense in the air.

Several books were neatly arranged on the desk.

Eichi knocked on the door. When Teacher Arno, who had been working, saw Eichi, he closed the document in his hand and said, "Eichi! Come in."

Eichi walked in politely. Teacher Arno found him a chair and had him sit in front of the desk.

The scene was exactly like a teacher calling a student in for a talk in his previous life.

Teacher Arno spoke first. "Have you decided which school you want to attend, Eichi?"

Eichi shook his head. "Teacher Arno, I still have a few questions."

Teacher Arno smiled. "What questions? Go ahead."

Eichi suddenly asked seriously, "Teacher Arno, do you know which school has the deepest research into Bug-type Pokémon?"

Teacher Arno found it strange that Eichi would ask such a question.

Still, he answered seriously, "When it comes to the deepest research on Bug-type Pokémon, it would be Silver Academy and Sinnoh Academy in the Sinnoh Region."

After hearing that, Eichi knew which school he should choose.

Teacher Arno then asked, "Eichi, why did you ask me that? What does it have to do with which school you want to apply to?

Can you tell your teacher?"

Eichi answered solemnly, "Teacher Arno, because I want to specialize in Bug-type Pokémon in the future. I want to become the first Bug-type Elite Four."

At this time, Yanase of Sinnoh had not yet become a Bug-type Elite Four.

So when Teacher Arno heard that Eichi's dream was to become the first Bug-type Elite Four, he was completely stunned.

After recovering from his shock, Teacher Arno composed himself.

With a serious expression, he asked, "Why?"

Eichi thought very seriously for a while before answering, "I feel that I have a special connection with Bug-type Pokémon. I used to be a Bug Catcher, and my first Pokémon was also a Bug-type Pokémon."

"As I spent more time with them, I slowly came to like Bug-type Pokémon.

They may be weak and short-lived, but they still live tenaciously in this world."

"I often heard people say that Bug-type Pokémon were the weakest Pokémon, and that Bug-type Pokémon Trainers were the weakest Trainers.

At first, I did not think much of it, but when people kept saying it, I started getting angry.

Why should Bug-type Pokémon be looked down on? Maybe they are born unable to beat other types.

Maybe their potential is not as good either, but that does not mean Bug-type Pokémon are synonymous with weakness.

Bug-type Pokémon can be incredibly strong too. I want to prove that Bug-type Pokémon are not the weakest.

Bug-type Pokémon Trainers are not the weakest either. I want to fight for this.

I want everyone to know that Bug-types can be strong too, that they can defeat Pseudo-legendaries.

Bug-type Pokémon Trainers can become Elite Four members, and even Champions."

"I know it will be difficult. The road ahead is filled with hardships, but I am not afraid.

That is why I want to go to Silver Academy. I want to learn everything about Bug-type Pokémon and raise and train the strongest Bug-type Pokémon.

I want Bug-type Pokémon to stand against Pseudo-legendaries.

I want them to know that my Bug-type Pokémon are not weak either."

Eichi poured out everything that had been bottled up in his heart in one breath.

The air became exceptionally quiet. Only Eichi's rapid breathing could be heard after saying so much in one go.

Teacher Arno shook his head inwardly. Though he greatly admired Eichi's courage and dream,

he truly did not believe Eichi could become the first Bug-type Elite Four.

Becoming an Elite Four-level powerhouse was already unimaginably difficult.

Let alone becoming the first Bug-type Elite Four. Teacher Arno himself had once aimed to become an Elite Four-level powerhouse, so he had the greatest say in how difficult it was.

Without sufficient resources, it was simply impossible to become one of the Elite Four.

Perhaps once Eichi suffered some setbacks, he would understand that it was impossible.

Eichi did not know what Teacher Arno was thinking.

Even if he had known, he would not have changed his mind. That was because Teacher Arno had never seen Yanase.

Yanase was impressive too, becoming an Elite Four member with Bug-type Pokémon. Though he might have been the weakest Elite Four member,

he was still an Elite Four member, no matter how weak he was.

However, Yanase's family background seemed to be very formidable as well.

For someone from an ordinary background like Eichi to want to become an Elite Four member by specializing in Bug-type Pokémon was harder than climbing to heaven.

What was more, Eichi's dream was not to become an Elite Four member, but a Champion.

Eichi did not dare say it. He was afraid it would scare Teacher Arno to death.