Pokémon: Starting with a Pokémon Ranch.

Chapter 145: The Pokémon Center Challenge - Water Pulse!

"By the way, you must be a new trainer who recently applied for your trainer certificate, right?"

"Perfect timing! Our Pokémon Center is currently hosting a challenge event that's only open to new trainers. If you can clear a certain number of stages, you can get some really great rewards. How about it, are you interested?"

Su Yu only completed the application for his trainer certificate after arriving in the pastoral area. So, all told, only three months have passed.

At this stage, most trainers are still struggling in the beginner phase, and naturally, they are included in the category of novice trainers.

Hearing Nurse Joy's words, Su Yu looked at Squirtle and Growlithe. Seeing that both Pokémon seemed interested, Su Yu nodded and said:

"Where can I participate in this event?"

……

They arrived outside the Pokémon Center with two Pokémon.

A number of new trainers have already gathered here. The vast majority of them are here to try their luck at the challenge.

"Eevee, we have to do our best today! Whether we can get the Water Stone for the grand prize and help you evolve depends entirely on whether we can clear the challenge today!"

"Butterfly, this is our last chance to pass the test. If we don't seize this opportunity, we'll really have to give up that special scale powder..."

Listening to the conversations of the trainers coming and going, Su Yu roughly understood the components of this challenge. It was probably an event specially organized by the League to promote the growth of new trainers.

Each participant has only three attempts to complete the challenge, and staff will award different prizes based on their performance in each attempt.

Su Yu glanced at the list of rewards, which contained quite a few good items, at least for a rapidly growing rookie trainer.

So he took Squirtle and arrived at the entrance to the challenge. There, many trainers were queuing up to enter.

"Did the trainer and the Pokémon enter together?"

"Moreover, the level-based system seems to be a battle mode as well."

Watching the trainers enter one after another, Su Yu thought to himself. At that moment, he also left the queue and stood to the side, saying:

"I won't go in, you two can go in."

"Anyway, with your combined strength, you should be able to complete the challenge."

Trainer? What trainer? I'm not a trainer, I'm just an ordinary rancher, okay?

I know absolutely nothing about commanding Pokémon battles; in fact, I'm just an ordinary cook. My Pokémon... that's the true essence of a trainer.

Upon hearing this, Squirtle chuckled and nodded, while Growlithe let out a "woof" to indicate that it understood.

Seeing this, a trainer who was also in line couldn't help but remind him:

"Bro, you're probably a new trainer who's been registered for less than six months, right? Don't underestimate him, this challenge is going to be tough."

"It's alright, I believe in the strength of my Pokémon," Su Yu said with a smile.

After waiting for a while, it was finally Su Yu's turn to enter. After swiping his Trainer Certificate, Su Yu watched as Squirtle and Growlithe entered.

Seeing Su Yu's strange behavior, the staff couldn't help but look up at him.

"These newbies these days are really strange. Some even let their Pokémon enter the challenge by themselves?"

People who don't take the challenges seriously probably won't get through many.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

After entering the obstacle course, Squirtle and Growlithe immediately arrived at the first level.

This level requires battling a trainer guarding the gate. Upon seeing Squirtle and Growlithe, the trainer also paused for a moment. He asked in confusion:

"That's strange, where are your trainers?"

"Squirtle, Squirtle." Upon hearing this, Squirtle shook its head, indicating that its trainer hadn't followed. At the same time, it waved its paw, and Growlithe immediately ran to its side.

For the first stage... let Growlithe represent the trainer, while I'll be in charge of the final few stages.

"You...you want to battle me?" The gatekeeper trainer was completely dumbfounded. In this day and age, even Pokémon know how to command battles?

……

Ten minutes after Squirtle entered the challenge.

"Squirrel Squirrel~!" Growlithe, Flare Charge!

At Squirtle's command, a fierce flame immediately rose from the dark passage, rushing forward at a speed that was difficult for anyone to react to.

After using Growlithe to pass the penultimate stage, Squirtle also took out a Poké Ball and put away its badly injured Growlithe.

Meanwhile, Squirtle also sustained numerous injuries. It endured many tough battles on its journey. There was even a time when it was almost eliminated.

Fortunately, Squirtle learned the move "Water Pulse" halfway through, which made the process less dangerous.

After his Victreebel was utterly destroyed by Growlithe, the trainer opposite him fell silent for a moment, a rare occurrence. Then he spoke:

"You've done an excellent job to get here without any trainers to guide you."

"With your abilities, you should be able to pass the final challenge. Now go back; I'll count it as a success."

"Jenny, Jenny?" Is that a fake "Jenny"?

Squirtle looked puzzled, while the trainer opposite nodded again and said:

"Of course it's true. My words carry some weight here."

Upon hearing this, Squirtle led Growlithe back the way they came.

Seeing Squirtle and the others emerge from the entrance, Su Yu was initially taken aback. Then, noticing their injuries, he quickly took out fruit milk from his backpack and handed it to Squirtle and Growlithe.

This fruit milk is based on the "Fruit Milk" from the game and has excellent healing effects. After drinking the fruit milk, Squirtle and the others recovered from their injuries quite quickly.

Su Yu, however, asked in confusion:

"How did you end up coming out of the exit? Did you fail the challenge?"

"Jenny, Jenny~"

Upon hearing this, Squirtle waved its hand, indicating that it hadn't failed the challenge. On the contrary, it had been a great success.

Furthermore, it learned to use the [Water Wave] during the process of clearing the levels!

"Really? That's wonderful!"

"Wait... the Water Ripple, could it really be that the Happy Water helped you understand it?"

Su Yu remembered the bizarre method Squirtle had been figuring out for learning moves yesterday.

Squirtle nodded in agreement. It would call this water ripple "Water Pulse: Fat Otaku's Happy Soup Style One!"

"...Ahem, whatever makes you happy," Su Yu said helplessly.

But... you can even learn new moves from drinking soda, that's so cool of you, Squirtle!

"Awoo~!" Seeing that Su Yu had been talking to Squirtle after passing through the level, Growlithe also expressed some dissatisfaction.

I worked really hard to get through the levels, so why is Su Yu only paying attention to Squirtle? That's not fair!

"Alright, alright, Growlithe, you're great too, okay?" Hearing this, Su Yu patted Growlithe's head.

When you touch its head, Growlithe immediately squints its eyes and wags its tail contentedly.

"Is it really that comfortable?"

Su Yu was secretly puzzled. He didn't know how Gouzi could enjoy himself so much.

(End of this chapter)