Axew and the Red-Haired Boy

After casually finishing lunch at an ordinary Pokémon restaurant nearby, Xia Chen and Marnie did not hurry back. They took their two Pokémon for a walk around the area to digest their food.

At noon in August, the hottest time of the year in Zhijiang, the two instinctively headed somewhere cooler: Zhijiang Old Town Civic Park.

Unlike the sight of old men playing cards and Chinese chess everywhere in his previous life, Pokémon Battles were naturally the most popular thing in the Pokémon World.

This civic park was no exception. Beneath nearly every patch of shade, a pair of Trainers could be found commanding their Pokémon in battle.

Of course, most were at the level of Shorts Boys and Bug Catchers—commonly known as rookies pecking at each other.

"Let's go!" "Dodge it!" "Get up!"

All kinds of Rejuvenating Roars echoed through the park, making every person and Pokémon who entered feel their blood boil.

Along with a slight risk of losing brain cells.

Xia Chen watched these battles, which barely had any tactics or commands to speak of, with great interest.

He was no longer the Legendary Pokémon Trainer from his previous life's games, wielding Primal Reversion Kyogre in one hand and Mega Evolution Rayquaza in the other.

Though Xia Chen had plenty of battle experience in games, he had not fought a single battle in this world. Calling him an armchair strategist could not have been more fitting.

In truth, he and Eevee could only rank at the bottom here. (Eevee: Don't drag me into this, thanks.)

That was why every battle here held considerable value for him.

Places like civic parks were the most mixed-bag environments. From Pokémon Trainers to adorable newcomers, every level below professional could be found here.

This world did not have the levels from the games, but Trainers and Pokémon had very clear divisions of strength.

A high school student like Xia Chen, who had only just received his starter Pokémon, was naturally a beginner Trainer at the very bottom.

It was basically the level you could reach by casually picking up a Caterpie off the roadside and putting it in a Poké Ball, as long as you registered with the Trainer Association.

Above that came Entry level Trainers.

That was not particularly difficult either. It was roughly the level of raising a Charmander into a Charmeleon. As long as someone was willing to spend time on it, anyone could achieve it, so it did not carry much weight.

After that came Amateur Class, roughly the level of training a Charizard.

Reaching that stage required not only time, but also a certain amount of money and effort.

Most people in this world who were interested in Pokémon Battles were at this level.

But beyond that, things became different: veteran, elite, Gym Leader, Elite Four level.

And even Champion, or Legend!

Those were the people who could truly be called professional Trainers.

They were also the brightest and most dazzling trailblazers in this world where Pokémon existed.

Of course, back in this civic park, aside from a few people with terrible personalities, professional Trainers generally would not come to a recreational place like this to crush weaker opponents.

So most battles here could be considered evenly matched—or, less politely, rookies pecking at each other.

The occasional appearance of a powerful Pokémon like a Blastoise was enough to draw waves of astonished cries from the spectators.

It had to be said that there were quite a few familiar faces in this small civic park.

Besides neighbors, there were even more students from Zhijiang High School, where Xia Chen attended.

As students about to enter their third year of high school, most of Xia Chen's classmates had received their starter Pokémon several months ago and were now more or less at the stage of beginning practical battle training.

The moment Marnie saw people around her own level, her hands immediately itched for a battle.

After greeting Xia Chen, she eagerly joined them with Snivy, leaving the envious Xia Chen alone to wander around the park with Eevee in his arms.

Xia Chen was not particularly combative, but in the more than half a year since coming to this world, he had never truly fought a Pokémon Battle himself.

Coupled with the intensely enthusiastic battle atmosphere around him, he felt a little eager too.

But he had only caught Eevee three or four days ago. She had not even learned a proper Pokémon move yet, and she was still such a delicate little girl. How was she supposed to fight?

Helplessly, he could only put away his excited thoughts and find a cool spot to continue being a spectator.

What Xia Chen did not know was that the "delicate" little Eevee on his shoulder was even more anxious than he was.

She had not been allowed to fight at the training center, and after returning to Xia Chen's side, she had to act like a good girl.

Who knew how badly the Eevee once known as the Dragon-Slaying Fairy in her previous life now craved a battle?

But how could she have a thrilling battle while maintaining her "image"?

Eevee's large eyes swept across her surroundings. When she spotted a familiar figure buried deep in her memories, a faintly sly smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

"Vee—"

While Xia Chen was engrossed in watching a battle between Cyndaquil and Wooper, he suddenly heard Eevee cry out from his shoulder.

The sound was a little... punchable?

Xia Chen asked curiously, "What's wrong, Eevee? Do you want to go back?"

But before he could hear Eevee's reply, another angry cry reached his ears.

"Ax—"

When Xia Chen turned around, he saw a blue-gray Pokémon over half a meter tall rushing toward him, roaring furiously as it came.

Perhaps because it was still young, though, its voice was childish. Its threatening roar was not intimidating in the slightest and instead had a cute, bumbling quality to it.

Seeing the dragon-like Pokémon's distinctive tusks protruding from the corners of its mouth, Xia Chen was somewhat surprised.

Why was there an Axew here?

What was it trying to do? It looked like it was coming straight for him.

"Vee."

Eevee looked startled and instantly leaped down from his shoulder into Xia Chen's arms.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to my Axew—he suddenly lost control a little. I'm really sorry for scaring you."

Behind Axew, a rather handsome red-haired boy ran over. Looking apologetic, he spoke as he tried to pull Axew away.

"Ax!"

Axew strained with all his might to break free from the boy's hands, shaking his head furiously in refusal.

He looked as if he had been mocked, glaring intensely at the Eevee in Xia Chen's arms.

"Sorry, my Axew's stubborn streak has flared up. It looks like he wants to spar with your Eevee? You came here because you wanted a Pokémon Battle too, right? How about it?"

The red-haired boy smiled awkwardly and issued a battle invitation on behalf of his Pokémon.

Xia Chen looked at the polite boy, thought for a moment, and replied, "Well, I'll discuss it with Eevee first."

The red-haired boy smiled. "Please, go ahead."

Xia Chen turned around and asked curiously, "Did you say something to Axew just now?"

Eevee shook her head, then nodded again, leaving Xia Chen even more confused.

"Vee. Vee."

Eevee pointed at the two Pokémon still battling, then pointed at Axew behind them. After a long bout of animated gesturing, Xia Chen finally more or less understood what had happened.