As for the final speed-focused synergy, Sprigatito was an absolutely perfect match for it.
Although it sacrificed a little move power, the increase in execution speed it offered was unparalleled.
After all, the principle that "speed alone is invincible" held true in the Pokémon world too.
And naturally, the [Chosen Badge] from the Prismatic Orb had to go straight to Sprigatito, his future trusted veteran.
Mainly because the [Chosen Badge] could provide an extra synergy.
Otherwise, he would have to catch a second Pokémon to activate a synergy, and who knew how long that would take?
At that thought, Xia Chi said inwardly, "Use the Chosen Badge on Sprigatito."
[The Chosen Badge is a single-use item. Its use cannot be undone. Confirm use?]
Xia Chi answered without hesitation, "Confirm."
[Please select Sprigatito's additional synergy.]
Xia Chi rubbed his chin.
I can choose the extra synergy myself?
I thought it would be random, like in the game.
Honestly, if he had to pick one of the three, the growth-focused Dark-type synergy was probably what he needed most right now.
An idea suddenly struck Xia Chi. "Can I choose all three?"
His system buddy's reply was firm and cold:
[You may only choose one.]
Xia Chi shrugged. "Fine, then I'll pick Dark type."
[Successfully used. Your Sprigatito has been promoted to a Chosen Pokémon!]
The system's voice had barely faded when Xia Chi saw Sprigatito topple to the floor with a thud, immediately followed by the sound of steady breathing.
Xia Chi asked, "What happened to Sprigatito?"
His system buddy calmly stated:
[This is normal during Chosen promotion. Host, please do not worry excessively.]
Xia Chi was speechless. So this worked like a system update, huh?
Still, the system was trustworthy. Without dwelling on it, Xia Chi carried Sprigatito to his bed, then returned to his computer desk.
He was just about to shut down and wrap up the day's work when he noticed that the dashboard for his streaming account kept flashing.
"Huh? This many private messages?" Xia Chi muttered in surprise.
Worried about harassment from haters, he had restricted private messages to viewers with level 10 fan badges.
Normally, even regular viewers who showed up just to keep him company would need to check in for over half a year to reach that level.
And Xia Chi had only been streaming for two or three months, so anyone who could message him was a generous donor helping pay his bills.
Even so, plenty of girls drawn to Xia Chi's good looks sent him private messages every day.
Of course, there was also the possibility that they weren't girls.
Those cases generally required him to wash his eyes out afterward.
But the person bombarding him with private messages today really was a girl-and a pretty one at that.
It was none other than Iono, who had run into Xia Chi twice and ended both streams red-faced after he beat her.
Xia Chi had only looked away from his computer for a little over half an hour, yet she had already sent more than a dozen messages.
"Seriously? You're ending the stream already?"
"That Trick Room strategy was pretty interesting. Want another match?"
"Are you an apprentice at some gym in the Donghuang Region? Want to come to the Levincia Gym for an exchange visit?"
"Don't worry, I'm not trying to beat you up in person."
"."
"Type 1 for a Master Ball."
Apart from the last message, sent ten minutes ago, most of it was pointless chatter.
An energetic, adorable girl on the surface, but actually a chatterbox?
Does Ms. Iono secretly go to town on ice cream and fries too?
After indulging in some uncharitable speculation, Xia Chi casually replied with a "1."
Iono replied instantly, "!"
"I'll send you the Master Ball tomorrow."
"Get online. Solo match. I just built a team, and I want another crack at your Trick Room team!"
So she's been sitting in front of her screen waiting for me to reply?
Speechless, Xia Chi replied, "Let's call it a day, Ms. Iono. I've got an eight a.m. tomorrow."
Iono: "An eight a.m.? What does that mean?"
Xia Chi replied, "An eight o'clock morning class, so I can't stay up too late."
That was a lie. Eight a.m. class or not, Xia Chi never went to bed early. It was just an excuse because he didn't want to play anymore.
Pokémon: Champion's Path used real-time commands for battles, and playing for too long was pretty tiring.
Iono took him at his word. "Oh, I see. That's the first time I've heard of it. Students in Donghuang really have it rough."
Xia Chi replied helplessly, "Can't be helped. We at Donghuang University have our own national circumstances to consider."
A "?" promptly came back from the other end.
Realizing he had gone a little off track, Xia Chi changed the subject. "Never mind. To thank you for the Master Ball support, Ms. Iono, I can build a custom team and help your account climb the ranks next stream. Are there any Pokémon you particularly like?"
A custom team to help me climb?
I need you to help me climb?
Feeling that Xia Chi was getting a little too full of himself, Iono was about to refuse when a bold idea suddenly occurred to her.
"Any Pokémon at all?"
Xia Chi replied, "Any."
A mischievous smile curled Iono's lips, and her fingers flew across the keyboard. "Then I want to see Pachirisu!"
After being taken prisoner by Xia Chi twice in a row, Iono had developed a twisted desire to watch him embarrass himself on stream.
That was why she had made such a demanding request.
Sure, Xia Chi had used Trapinch, an unevolved Pokémon, on today's stream.
In terms of game stats, Trapinch's base stat total was actually considerably lower than Pachirisu's.
But Trapinch had a very clear niche: high attack and low speed, making it an excellent fit for a Trick Room team.
Pachirisu, by comparison, was far less impressive.
Its speed was neither here nor there, its offensive power was practically nonexistent, and its defenses could at best be described as barely adequate.
Could Xia Chi really work wonders with such an unremarkable Pokémon in top-ranked matches?
If picking utterly useless Pokémon like Magikarp or Feebas hadn't been too obvious, Iono would have asked him to build a team around Magikarp.
Perhaps feeling that her request was a little harsh, Iono worried Xia Chi might not accept and offered an incentive. "For every match you win with Pachirisu on the field, I'll send you a Master Ball!"
A Master Ball for every win?
On the other side of the screen, Xia Chi could only howl with delight.
You're telling me a white devil that once won the Pokémon World Championships can't run circles around top-ranked players in this tactically backward world?
Xia Chi replied, "You got it! What a generous boss. Thanks for the support!"
Iono: "."
Wait, why isn't this going the way I imagined?
Why does that utterly confident tone make me feel like I can faintly hear my wallet screaming...?
With his system buddy's help, Sprigatito enjoyed baby-like sleep for the first time in ages.
It only just woke up the following morning, after Xia Chi returned from his eight a.m. class.
"Meow?"
Sprigatito opened its still-hazy eyes. Its brain stalled for quite a while before it realized it had woken up somewhere unfamiliar.
Where am I?
Turning its head and spotting Xia Chi at the computer desk, Sprigatito slowly recalled what had happened the night before.
Oh, right. I have a new Trainer?
Feeling the warmth of the soft bedding wrapped around it and Xia Chi's scent all around, Sprigatito's cheeks flushed faintly, and a strange flutter stirred inexplicably in its heart.
Maybe being a human's Pokémon again wasn't so bad?
Before you continue