"So, you want to battle me?"
On the Black River University campus, Mu Yun had barely left the administration building when a young man with spiky hair ran up to him.
"That's right!"
The spiky-haired Qu Qi caught his breath, straightened up, and flashed a toothy grin.
"Let me introduce myself, too. I'm Qu Qi—not Cookie. I'm a second-year student at Black River University and a reserve member of our school team."
Mu Yun nodded. "Mu Yun. First-year student."
"I know you—the first National Top Scholar. Too bad our year didn't have a unified exam. Otherwise, I'd have liked to see how I stacked up against students from the Four Capitals," Qu Qi said regretfully.
"But it doesn't matter. I made the school team this year, and next year I'll become a full member. Then I'll get to face people from the Four Capitals and the Top Ten."
He made the school team in his second year?
Mu Yun suddenly thought of Song Xiaomeng.
She had joined the school team in her second year, become a full member in her third, and risen to vice-captain in her fourth.
Of course, Evergreen University couldn't compare to Black River University in strength.
"Speaking of the school team, interested, Yun?" Qu Qi asked with easy familiarity.
"Yes."
Mu Yun's answer was simple.
Only by joining the school team could he lead it into the National Pokémon University Tournament—the Black Dragon Cup.
Normally, school team selections took place in the first half of each year, during the second semester of the academic year.
First- and second-year students who performed well became reserves, then competed for full membership when they reached the upper years.
Mu Yun had no intention of going through all that trouble, though.
Once classes began, he planned to let his strength