Pokémon: Hard work pays off, moves can be upgraded infinitely.

Newbie Battle Arena, inside Battle Arena #11.

Chu Xiaolan stood on the red side of the field, holding a Poké Ball in her hand, but her eyes kept drifting towards the rest area outside the field.

"Alright, Xiao Lan, snap out of it and focus on the battle!"

On the other side of the field, Chu Xiaolan's older brother, Chu Weihe, looked at his younger brother's expression, which was so utterly bewildered, and helplessly covered his face.

He's graduating from college this year and is currently busy with his probationary investigator exam. He's already very busy, and if it weren't for his mother asking him to come out and play house with his younger brother, he wouldn't have had time at all.

After all, it's not easy for a recent college graduate to join the patrol department and become a trainee spirit investigator immediately after graduation.

If it weren't for the fact that he joined the school team during his time at Evergreen University and achieved decent results, plus the recommendation from the team captain, he probably wouldn't have had any connections at all.

"Yes, brother!"

Chu Xiaolan shuddered and subconsciously shouted back.

..............................

Outside the venue, there is a rest area with protective barriers.

Under the watchful eyes of Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao, the two each threw out a Poké Ball, and two Pokémon, one large and one small, appeared on the field.

The smaller one is entirely blue, with a smooth, round head, a body resembling a tortoise shell, and a slightly curled tail that forms a pattern like ocean waves.

It is Squirtle, one of the three starter Pokémon of the Water type.

..............................

[Pokémon: Squirtle]

Gender: Male

[Attribute: Water]

[Level: 10 (Normal)]

【Ability: Torrent (When HP drops below one-third, the power of Water-type moves increases by 50%)】

[Moves: Water Ring, Tackle, Tail Wag, Water Gun, Retract into Shell, High-Speed ​​Spin]

【Items to bring: None】

[Potential: Dominant Level]

[Racial stats: 314]

..............................

"As expected of the expensive starter trio, they actually have the potential to become dominant. You really do get what you pay for!"

In the rest area, looking at Squirtle's data panel, Mu Yun felt a surge of emotions.

Then, he looked at another Pokémon that was much larger than Squirtle.

Its grayish-brown body is spherical in shape, and its skin is composed of uneven stones. From a distance, it looks like a large stone ball with limbs and a head.

It's the Rock/Ground dual-type Pokémon—Gollum!

..............................

[Pokémon: Golem]

Gender: Male

[Attribute: Rock + Ground]

[Level: 49 (Elite)]

【Characteristic: Resilient (Even if it suffers fatal damage, it will stubbornly persevere. After the near-death protection mechanism is triggered for the first time within 24 hours, it will recover some stamina and remain conscious)】

[Moves: Tackle, Round Up, Rock Smash, Rollout, Stomp, Landing, Knock Off, Self-Destruct (Shatter All), Invisible Rock, Rock Blast, Earthquake, Explosion]

【Items to bring: None】

[Potential: Elite]

[Racial stats: 495]

..............................

"Gargoyle versus Squirtle??"

Before Mu Yun could even see the data panel of the rumble rock, Liu Jianhao, sitting next to him, exclaimed in surprise.

As a soon-to-be senior in high school, how could Liu Jianhao not know that Golem is the final evolution of Geodude?

Although evolving to the final form of Golem only requires special means and is unrelated to level, Geodude alone needs at least a veteran level (level 20-29) to evolve into Golem.

Are there at least veteran-level Pokémon coming to the beginner battle arena?

Don't want your face?

"Don't worry, they're probably acquaintances who came to spar with each other." Mu Yun patted Liu Jianhao on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

As expected, just as Mu Yun had said.

Within the arena, Golem only defended and did not attack, allowing Squirtle to do as it pleased.

Even with a water gun attack that is four times more effective, Golem can withstand it thanks to its absolute level advantage.

The result, naturally, was that Squirtle ran out of energy.

"Match number 11, the sixth match has ended. Both sides, please prepare for the seventh match." The announcement came through the loudspeaker in the rest area right on time after the match ended.

"Let's go, it's our turn."

Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao got up and walked together toward the small corridor that connected to the battlefield.

On the way, the Chu brothers and Mu Yun passed each other. Because the corridor was narrow, Chu Xiaolan accidentally bumped into Liu Jianhao's shoulder.

Summer clothes are thin to begin with, and the warmth from the touch made Chu Xiaolan's face turn bright red. Almost the instant he felt his face burning, he lowered his head.

Mu Yun could even see the tips of his red ears.

Well, he's a rare breed of pure-hearted Xiao Chunan.

"Brother, why don't you go first? I... I'll stay a little longer."

As they walked out of the corridor, Chu Xiaolan whispered to Chu Weihe.

"Alright, but they don't look like a couple, they're childhood sweethearts. You'd better be careful. Don't come looking for me if you get beaten up. I can't afford to lose face like that," Chu Weihe said helplessly.

After saying that, he ignored Chu Xiaolan's flushed face and left the newbie battle arena.

What's so interesting about an innocent young girl who hasn't fully grown up? In my opinion, it's the cool and sassy older sister who's really exciting!

..............................

Inside the battlefield of No. 11.

After Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao separated to the red and blue sides of the training ground, a small spherical robot flew out from the charging port at the edge of the field and hovered in the center of the training field.

"Newbie Battle Arena, Electronic Referee #11, ID 01102, is at your service. Please select from the following battle modes."

"One-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three, six-on-six..."

"One-on-one," Mu Yun said.

This was something he and Liu Jianhao had agreed upon.

Although Liu Jianhao also has two Pokémon, both of them want to try random battles later, so there's no need to send them all out.

"Ding-- Received, here are the rules for the 1v1 battle mode:"

"You may use only one Pokémon in this battle. Recalling your Pokémon midway through the battle will be considered an automatic forfeit. During the battle, you may not command your Pokémon to maliciously attack trainers, referees, or other unrelated personnel...."

"Finally, please send out your Pokémon when you hear the 'Beep-, both sides send out their Pokémon' sound, and you can start the battle only after you hear the 'Beep-, the battle begins' sound."

After a lengthy introduction, electronic referee number 01102 flew away from the center of the field and hovered at the referee observation position outside the field, under Liu Jianhao's expectant gaze.

"Beep-, please send out your Pokémon!"

"Go on, Little Du!"

"Blue, the rest is up to you!"

The moment the electronic sound rang out, Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao simultaneously threw out Poké Balls, both of which were starter Pokémon they had obtained from the school.

..............................

[Elf: Blue]

[Gender: Female]

[Attribute: Fairy]

[Level: 10 (Normal)]

【Ability: Timid (When hit by Dark, Ghost, or Bug-type moves, increases own Speed ​​by 1 stage, i.e., 50%)】

[Moves: Mimicry, vocalization, Tackle, Tail wagging, Scary face, Aegis, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Bite]

【Items to bring: None】

[Potential: Dojo Level]

[Racial stats: 300]

..............................

Blue and Little Du are at the same level, both only level 10.

But Blue's move list is much richer than Xiao Du's, with a full nine moves, which makes Mu Yun somewhat envious.

Below the panel is another empty inventory slot, and...

"Dojo-level qualification???"

Looking at Blue's aptitude column, Mu Yun began to mentally sort the aptitudes from lowest to highest.

Normal, Senior, Professional, Elite, Overlord, Dojo, ...

It's two whole levels higher than the "little independent" movement!

Does this seem right?

If Blue's aptitude was only at the Overlord level, Mu Yun might think that Liu Jianhao was lucky to have obtained an Overlord-level potential Pokémon with positive mutation from a bunch of Elite-level Pokémon eggs.

However, the gym level is two levels higher than the elite level.

Mu Yun would rather believe that his father was helping him from behind than believe that this kid had incredible luck.

Even mutations should be governed by basic principles!