The Foundation for Survival and an Encounter with a Shorts Kid

The development of a power depended, to a certain extent, on higher-level combat power, such as Champions.

More importantly, there were exclusive methods for breeding certain high-potential Pokémon, passed down through generations. Commoner Trainers simply did not have access to such conditions.

Even if they stumbled into training a few Quasi-Elite Four Pokémon, the barrier to breaking through to Elite Four Level would stand firmly in their way, leaving them unable to advance another step.

That was reality. Encountering a high-potential Pokémon could improve your strength to some extent, but it would not be decisive enough to change your fate.

Unless you were lucky enough that both you and your descendants kept encountering high-potential Pokémon—more than a dozen in succession—and three generations developed together, only then might it be possible.

Tetsuya showed little reaction to Brock's words. He merely nodded before taking his leave and returning to the Pokemon Center.

Brock watched Tetsuya's figure disappear beneath the streetlights. After staring for a while, he turned and left as well.

"There are thresholds too. No wonder something felt off after I bought that Pokémon Egg from the Black Market.

"Although Elite Four Level eggs are relatively rare among Trainers, there should not be only single-digit increases in Elite Four Trainers across the League every year.

"If potential is merely the ticket through the door, then later-stage breeding is the key to determining whether a Pokémon is strong or not.

"Because I have Zero, I was able to fully bring out Combusken's Champion Potential.

"For an ordinary Trainer, they might be able to force their way to Elite Four Level through sheer potential, only to find themselves unable to progress any further.

"But why did Brock tell me this? This information clearly wasn't in the materials he gave me.

"Does he want me to devote myself to becoming a Breeding Master? No, that doesn't make sense either. Then why give me a Pokémon Egg with Elite Four potential?"

Tetsuya could not figure it out no matter how much he thought about it on the way back.

Pewter Gym's generous treatment had already startled him, and Brock's attitude today was even more baffling.

But everyone had their own thoughts. That was perfectly normal, wasn't it?

Hadn't he only revealed to Pewter Gym the parts he wanted to reveal?

Even if Pewter Gym thought it knew what he had concealed, that still was not all of him.

Who could possibly imagine that he had Zero? Unless he told them himself, they could only attribute it to his luck and talent.

It did not matter what Pewter Gym's true purpose was. The foundation he depended on for survival was still Zero.

As long as he used Zero to raise his strength, none of these issues would remain issues.

After returning to his room, Tetsuya finished Geodude's breeding plan and sent it to Brock.

Afterward, he began reviewing for the Breeder examination.

According to Brock, the League Breeder Center near Fuchsia City would hold this year's Breeder rank assessment four months later.

Pewter Gym had secured him a special assessment slot to skip ahead and take the Level 6 Breeder examination, and he needed to pass it himself.

Naturally, Tetsuya could not refuse. It would benefit him too, and he could not obtain such a slot on his own. Otherwise, he would still need to take the exams level by level.

At one level per year, that would waste several years.

To him, the difficulty of such an exam could only be called an easy task.

After studying for two hours, Tetsuya finally went to sleep close to midnight.

The night passed without incident.

When Tetsuya got up early the next morning, he found that Brock had already transferred the payment for the customized plan into his account.

5,000,000.

All he could say was that rich people were generous. Please, let there be more rich people like that.

After washing up, Tetsuya headed into Viridian Forest as usual to train with Pidgeot and Combusken.

"I challenge your Combusken!"

A voice came from behind Tetsuya, startling both him and the resting Combusken.

While silently reproaching himself for letting down his guard, he turned around to see what kind of fool would casually approach another Trainer in the wilderness.

A white T-shirt, yellow shorts, and a limited-edition cap—he looked exactly like a Shorts Kid from a game.

Tetsuya's expression turned strange as he pointed at himself. "You want to challenge my Combusken?"

"Of course! Is there anyone else here besides you?" the Shorts Kid said, eyes widening.

Leisurely sitting on the ground, Tetsuya asked, "Trainer battles have stakes, kid. What do you have?"

It was fortunate that this was a little guy who did not know any better. Tetsuya was completely unaware that they were about the same age.

If this had been in the forest near Viridian City before, anyone who approached him for no reason in the wilderness would have been dealt with already.

After all, when adventuring in the wild, it was not only wild Pokémon one needed to be wary of.

Under any circumstances, humans were the most dangerous creatures.

This Shorts Kid had probably only just begun preparing to become a Trainer. Giving him a little hardship would be a nice change of pace.

Tetsuya did not take the person opposite him seriously at all.

After all, ordinary residents could only finish school and qualify to receive their first Pokémon at sixteen. Only geniuses like him graduated early.

His strength had long since surpassed that of ordinary peers.

Hearing this, the Shorts Kid froze for a moment, then stammered without being able to say anything.

"If you don't have anything, go back. Don't wander around the wilderness," Tetsuya said, waving him away and signaling him not to disturb him.

"Who says I don't have anything? I'll use this to battle you!"

Seeing how unconcerned Tetsuya looked, the Shorts Kid flushed red and pulled out a stone from his pocket.

It was a damaged fossil.

Tetsuya glanced at it. He was about to refuse, but then remembered his fossil collection plan and hesitated.

"Combusken, go play with him."

"If I lose, I'll give you three days' worth of Energy Cubes."

The first sentence was for Combusken, while the latter was his response to the Shorts Kid.

"Combusken."

Combusken nodded and stepped in front of Tetsuya.

When the Shorts Kid heard Tetsuya accept his challenge, he eagerly took out a Poke Ball.

"Go, Geodude!"

"Hmph, your Combusken might be a little higher leveled, but Fire-type attacks do very little damage to Geodude. Besides, Combusken barely knows any Fighting-type moves at this stage."

The Shorts Kid was very confident.

"Geodude, use Sand Attack at that guy's glasses!"

"Free battle," Tetsuya lazily gave the command.

This little rookie was about the same as the Geodude he had stepped on back at Mt. Moon. There was no need for commands at all.

Besides, Combusken surely understood what he meant.

Relying only on its own speed, Combusken dodged the sand Geodude had kicked up.

It then rapidly closed in. Without using any moves, it relied solely on its Physical Fitness to give Geodude a thorough beating.

The Shorts Kid shouted from the side, "Hold On, Geodude! Use Rollout to dodge!"

Unfortunately, Combusken gave Geodude no opportunity to resist or evade. Even without energy-infused attacks, Geodude quickly fainted.

"Geodude!" The Shorts Kid could not believe it.

"Leave the fossil behind. You can go back to the Pokemon Center now. Battles there are more suitable for you."

Tetsuya did not care how badly the other side had been crushed. He was doing this for the kid's own good, teaching him a lesson.

It was also the sort of thing veteran Trainers often liked to do.

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P.S. No update tonight at nine.