The School Leaders' Fury! A Pokémon Battle

"If you quit school, what will you do with your life?"

The vice principal wore round glasses and an old-fashioned suit, looking every bit the stern scholar.

When he realized Xu Mu truly intended to drop out, he immediately scolded him in exasperation.

Xu Mu stared at him, stunned.

Huh?

What can I do without school?

Plenty, thank you very much!

Didn't I hear that line countless times in my last life?

I crossed into another world, and I still have to listen to this "earnest advice"?

"If I quit school, I'll travel the world."

"Besides, what they teach here isn't much use to me."

"It isn't what I want to learn or what I need. I don't want to become a trainer."

At that, Xu Mu raised his head and looked at the principal.

"Is that enough of an explanation?"

The principal still said nothing.

Everyone else fell silent too.

There was nothing wrong with not wanting to become a trainer.

And dropping out... there was nothing inherently wrong with that either.

"But can you protect yourself?"

"Secret Realms appear all over the world now. Large or small, they descend on us almost every day. Danger is everywhere!"

"Wild Pokémon are far more vicious than you imagine!"

"Do you know any of that?"

The vice principal pressed him.

Only then did Xu Mu realize the old man wasn't simply picking on him. His sense of responsibility as a teacher had put him at odds with Xu Mu.

"I know. And I can protect myself."

Xu Mu spoke with the same earnest expression.

"Pfft!"

The head of discipline suddenly laughed.

"Xu Mu, Pokémon in Secret Realms are extremely wild. They attack humans all the time."

"You've only just received your starter Pokémon. What makes you think you can protect yourself?"

"Out in the wild, even an ordinary Mightyena could kill you!"

The other school leaders all agreed with the head of discipline.

It was true. Pokémon Secret Realms had been appearing in this world for over three hundred years.

Humanity had learned to make use of and manage many Secret Realms, and had found ways to coexist with Pokémon.

But new Secret Realms still descended across the world every day.

No one could predict where or when a new Secret Realm would appear, or how dangerous it would be.

The danger remained. That was why trainers had the highest mortality rate of any profession.

"I really can."

Xu Mu was helpless. He had a Champion-level Greninja!

How could he not protect himself?

Forget self-defense. With its early Champion-level strength, Greninja could clear out smaller mystery realms without a problem!

"Fine. Then let a battle settle it."

No one believed Xu Mu.

He was just a kid who had only just received his starter Pokémon—if he had even received one yet. What gave him the right to make such boasts?

If the boy refused to listen, they would teach him a lesson.

The school leaders exchanged glances. It could work.

They would settle this the simplest way their world knew: if he disagreed, he could fight.

"Old Yu, have a match with the boy."

The principal gave the order to the head of discipline, Yu Hailong.

Yu Hailong nodded at once. They should have done this from the start. The boy had clearly been spoiled at home; a firm lesson would set him straight.

"Fine. If the principal says so, let's do it."

"But if I beat Director Yu, can I drop out?"

Xu Mu's unruffled manner sent the vice principal's temper soaring.

"Enough! If you win, I'll handle your withdrawal myself. We won't even need the principal!"

Hearing that, Xu Mu let out a slow breath of relief.

"Good. Let's begin."

Inside the gymnasium of Fengcheng No. 1 Middle School, a huge battle arena stood ready.

Xu Mu and Yu Hailong took their places at opposite ends.

"Each side will use one Pokémon. The match ends when either Pokémon can no longer battle!"

A teacher drafted to serve as referee stood at the center of the arena, holding two small flags.

Xu Mu and Yu Hailong nodded, then released their Pokémon at the same time.

"Sceptile!"

"Greninja!"

"Scep!"

[Who dares face me? I'll cut you in two!]

"Gren!"

[I, Greninja, am willing to brave fire and water for the Xu family, generation after generation!]

The two Pokémon, one blue and one green, faced each other.

The air in the arena grew thick with tension.

"What? A Greninja?"

"This is absurd! How can a student command a fully grown Pokémon like Greninja?"

"What kind of family does he come from? Who gives a child a Pokémon like that as his starter?"

"They're hurting the boy! A trainer's bond with his starter Pokémon should be the deepest, but this Greninja clearly wasn't raised by Xu Mu. It'll severely hinder his growth!"

"Exactly! What were his family thinking?"

The moment the school leaders saw Greninja, they felt far more anger than surprise.

After all, Xu Mu's confidence suggested he had something to back it up.

A Greninja was unexpected, but they could just about accept it.

For all they knew, he was secretly the heir to some wealthy family with a powerful trainer at home.

But even then, how could they hand a Pokémon he didn't know to a student as his starter?

If the Pokémon refused to obey, it would be a disaster for a beginner.

It could affect him for the rest of his life!

Xu Mu looked at Greninja's back without the slightest worry.

Did he understand what the school leaders were thinking?

Of course, Xu Mu understood their concerns.

When a Pokémon's level far exceeded its trainer's abilities, it might refuse to follow commands.

But who am I?

I'm the reigning back-to-back Pokémon world champion!

The tactics in my head are enough to crush every trainer in this world!

I am Xu Mu, after all!

"Gren!"

[Got it, little Xu Mu.]

With that brief exchange, trainer and Pokémon knew what the other was thinking.

Greninja, in particular, was beside himself with excitement!

Finally, a battle!

Come on. Let little Xu Mu see what I can do!

Thinking of this, Greninja suddenly began imagining himself fighting side by side with little Xu Mu.

"Gren!"

[Little Xu Mu will give me commands, won't he? Should I follow them?]

[If I do and we lose, that would be embarrassing...]

[What if little Xu Mu gets upset if I don't listen?]

While he was still turning it over in his mind, the referee called out:

"The match begins now!"