Elf Ability Test (Seeking Flowers, Seeking Collections, Seeking Reviews)

"Begin the test, Trial Participants. Be wary of those around you, and trust no one easily."

Though Coach Frostwolf spoke the plain truth, it only made more people grow cautious.

"Damn, this instructor really is egging everyone here to tear each other apart!" Qing Wu silently grumbled.

Qing Wu also got a full view of the testing device—a large Nano Testing Robot.

This Nano Testing Robot stood about three meters tall. Its head was composed of screens, and its belly was the target attack zone; you had to hit the robot's belly to score points.

Under the arrangement of the Team Rocket Robot, everyone lined up and proceeded with the test in order.

"Koffing, use Self-Destruct!" a Trial Participant holding a Koffing issued the command.

"What a waste." Qing Wu sighed. Once this Koffing Self-Destructed, it would be left with a sliver of HP.

The base wasn't a charity; it wouldn't actively help restore a Pokémon's stamina. That spelled no good outcome for the Trial Participant.

Let's just say Self-Destruct feels great in the moment, but it's a one-way ticket to ruin.

The Koffing flew clumsily near the testing robot's belly, its body swelling violently, glowing and heating up.

By the time the Koffing had fully turned into white light, a thunderous boom rang out, producing a massive cloud of smoke.

The instrument immediately displayed a Power Value of 120.

"Power Value 120." The Team Rocket support robot promptly recorded this Trial Participant's data, and the participant was overjoyed.

But he didn't catch Coach Frostwolf's icy glare. Using Self-Destruct to trade for Power Value was the stupidest method.

This Trial Participant also set a bad example. The next several participants holding Koffing all had their Pokémon Self-Destruct one after another.

One of them even scored a decent 150 Power Value with his Koffing's Self-Destruct, temporarily ranking first.

Qing Wu watched the spectacle unfold like a bystander. The more excited they were now, the more tragic things would be later.

"Number 7, Power Value 67."

"Number 11, Power Value 121."

One by one, the Trial Participants took the test, each wearing a different expression.

Some even harmed their Pokémon's foundation just to get a high score—something they'd regret for a lifetime.

Everyone was acting like madmen, desperately trying to outdo each other. Qing Wu could feel the feverish atmosphere was seriously off.

It was as if they were all being encouraged to use any means necessary, just for a single number.

"Power Value, 200."

A young woman with gorgeous long blue hair, accompanied by a Shiny Zubat, used Razor Wind to snatch the current first place.

Qing Wu's eyes widened. He remembered that this very Trial Participant would eventually break through the ranks and earn the right to pick a Blue Quality Pokémon.

"This time, the Blue Quality Pokémon is mine for the taking, and you'll always be beneath me." Qing Wu raised an eyebrow, thinking calmly.

Next came a young man with a blank expression, piloting an Ekans to a decent score.

The young man cast a lifeless gaze over the crowd, then leisurely walked off with his Ekans.

This guy, who looked like a shut-in, was no pushover. Qing Wu recognized him as the future Poison-type Elite Four.

He always liked to stare down opponents with his yellow snake eyes. A master of poison, skilled in using serpentine Pokémon.

Like Arbok, Seviper, Sandaconda, Serperior, and so on.

By the time it was Qing Wu's turn, it was already late in the session. Qing Wu's number was 15.

Qing Wu watched as the Zubat flapped its wings, surrounded by countless swirling air currents. He knew the Zubat was ready.

Qing Wu gave the Zubat only one command.

"Zubat, use Quick Attack."

That's right. Under Tailwind, and with a body larger than the average Zubat, under Quick Attack, the Zubat's speed would hit an extreme.

The Zubat flew high into the air, leveraging gravity, acceleration, Quick Attack, and Tailwind, and dove straight down toward the instrument.

The Trial Participants only saw a flash of white light before the instrument displayed 245—the highest score so far.

"Number 15, Power Value 245, highest score of the session, currently ranked first." The Team Rocket support robot announced the final result.

This result left everyone present in disbelief.

"That's just a simple Quick Attack—how could it have that much power?"

"Isn't this cheating?"

"How does that Zubat have such destructive force?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Some eyes flickered with resentment, as if refusing to accept the score.

"Silence! The instrument doesn't malfunction. This score is valid." Coach Frostwolf put the matter to rest.

Everyone fell dead silent, staring in disbelief as Qing Wu calmly recalled the Zubat into its Poké Ball.

After a moment of silence, they finally understood why the Zubat had earned such a score.

It was simply a technique that made use of altitude and gravitational acceleration, granting Zubat more Power Value.

Although everyone understood Qing Wu's little trick, there weren't many Trial Participants left behind him.

Some Trial Participants were lost in thought, while others were so anxious they broke down crying. In this Trial Base, all kinds of emotions could surface.

But more Trial Participants believed Qing Wu's method was a cheap trick that couldn't stand up to scrutiny, so Qing Wu received many contemptuous looks.

Qing Wu didn't care about others' opinions. If he did, he would have been devoured long ago by this ruthless Trial Base that showed no mercy.

So the final results were as follows:

First place, number ___, Power Value: 245

Second place, number ___, Power Value: 210

Third place, number ___, Power Value: 200

Qing Wu was already calculating what he could exchange with his points.

After the rankings ended, each Trial Participant received a special wristband marked with a red R symbol.

There was also a Trial Card exclusive to Trial Participants, which bore each participant's number.

The wristband was made of nano-materials and contained a storage space of about one cubic meter.

Embedded on the wristband were six ordinary red-and-white Poké Balls, which could be removed by prying them off with a finger.

The Trial Card could be used for point transactions and redemptions, serving as a payment method among Trial Participants.

Once the assembly was dismissed, Qing Wu headed straight for the Point Redemption Center.

For someone who had once been a member of Team Rocket, Qing Wu knew exactly where the redemption center was.

Moreover, Team Rocket's Point Redemption Center was the entire organization's warehouse, containing all sorts of wonders.

Even a large airship could be conjured up, as long as you paid enough Team Rocket points.

Qing Wu had a lot of things to exchange this time, and many of them were small and scattered. The most crucial item was the special alloy for Kecleon to consume.

This was the key to improving the metal strength of Kecleon's entire body.

Qing Wu arrived at the redemption center, and a Team Rocket member handed him a tablet listing all the items currently available for exchange.

Qing Wu once again recalled how expensive Pseudo-Legendaries were. A Dratini with no quality rating at all cost ten million points to exchange.

Any Pokémon tied to a Pseudo-Legendary cost ten million points.

Slightly stronger Pokémon cost several million points.

Qing Wu also spotted a Green Quality Kecleon, with an exchange price of three million five hundred thousand points.

Qing Wu felt he was still very lucky, having encountered only Green Quality Pokémon.

Whether it was Rattata or Caterpie, none of their exchange prices were below one million points.

This showed that even Team Rocket itself was extremely short of Green Quality Pokémon.

May Day Reading, Daily Joy, 500 VIP points gifted!

(Event period: April 29th to May 3rd)