Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

"What book are you looking for? Maybe I can help you," Watari said, seeing Natsuhiko's enthusiasm for books.

"I want to know about books on training Poison-type Pokémon, specifically how to increase the toxicity of Poison-type Pokémon through some special methods," Xia Yan said somewhat ambiguously.

It did not directly state that it intended to increase toxicity by consuming the venom sacs of other Poison-type Pokémon, since this is not a method widely accepted by the League.

If you understand, you understand; if you don't, it's okay.

"You mean...that kind of extreme...method?" Watari asked hesitantly.

"Huh?" Xia Yan was taken aback. "You know?"

Du pursed his lips, his expression somewhat complicated. "The League doesn't recommend trainers use such extreme methods, but... a friend of mine mentioned this to me before. It's actually a method with a long history, primitive but effective, only somewhat cruel."

The alliance doesn't reject this, it just doesn't promote it, and those with this knowledge are a minority.

The alliance neither rejects nor promotes this method, allowing it to slowly disappear into the annals of history.

No wonder.

No wonder he had never seen such a book before; it was because not many people knew about it, not because the Alliance deliberately concealed it.

A friend of the ferryman?

Several figures flashed through Xia Yan's mind: Ghost-type Elite Four member Akiko? Her ace Ghost-type army's commander, Gengar, is a Ghost and Poison-type Pokémon.

Or perhaps... it's Akari, the current Gym Leader of Fuchsia City, who is the strongest Poison-type Pokémon Trainer Natsuhiko knows of in the entire Kanto region.

"Do you know about raising poisonous creatures?" Adu continued, "When civilization was not very advanced, some people were keen on using this method to raise poison-type Poison Pokémon. However, with the emergence of the League, this somewhat cruel method was gradually abandoned. Only some families with ancient histories still retain this habit."

"You don't object?" Xia Yan asked in return.

“I have some… resistance,” Du admitted frankly. “But it is undeniable that existence is its own justification. This method has been passed down through a long history, perhaps even thousands of years. It is the earliest form of our human exploration of spirits.”

Moreover, survival of the fittest is the essence of Pokémon survival; we trainers may be unwilling to accept it, but we cannot deny it. ...Although outsiders may not know, there are many families whose methods of raising offspring are remarkably similar to this..."

As he spoke, Watari's expression became very deep and complex, as if something had touched a vulnerable spot in his heart.

"It's probably the way the Dragon Taming Clan raises their offspring..." Xia Yan thought to himself.

call--

Du exhaled, suppressing his strange emotions, and a smile returned to his face. "The knowledge you need won't be in these books. Come with me."

With a puzzled look in his eyes, Xia Yan followed Du to the "Interesting Readings" bookshelf.

His eyes swept up and down, and he quickly pulled a not-too-thick book from the bookshelf and handed it to Xia Yan.

"Take a look at this book. My friend said it's well-written."

"A Humorous Tale of the Transformations of Gu-type Spirits," Xia Yan read the title as he took the book.

"I don't know if it contains what you're looking for, but my friend really likes this book. He says it captures the essence of Poison-type Pokémon, so it might be helpful to you," Wataru said.

The seemingly glamorous league is also cultivating top trainers in a ruthless way, with layers of selection and elimination, only it's not as obvious as an organization like Team Rocket.

Having not grown up in the Dragon Clan, Du is more aware of these things that the Alliance has concealed.

"Thank you," Xia Yan said.

Du was also a person with a story, and he sensed it.

"Alright, can we go train now? Let me see how you train the unicorn!" Wataru became excited again.

“Okay,” Xia Yan replied without further refusal.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Is this a unicorn?

"and many more."

As Xia Yan passed a clothing store, he suddenly stopped.

Du looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Just now, the two had agreed to go to the public area of ​​the Goldenrod City Pokémon Center for evening training.

Xia Yan originally intended to go directly to the Silver Elf Battle Club, since he was more familiar with the place.

But then he realized that the club might be backed by the Rockets. Du was not an investigator or a champion at the moment, so he wouldn't pay attention to the Rockets' affairs. But if he thought about it later and connected it to the innocent Xia Yan, it wouldn't be good.

In addition, he also wanted to go to the Pokémon Center to give Weedle a comprehensive check-up and treatment, to see if the high-intensity training had left any hidden dangers, and whether the two berries had had any negative effects on it.

From the moment Weedle started following him until now, it has never received the most comprehensive treatment at the Pokémon Center.

So they agreed to Watari's proposal.

"wait for me."

After saying that, Xia Yan turned around and went into the clothing store with Unicorn.

soon.

He came out with something resembling a black curtain in his hand.

"What is this...?" Du was stunned for a moment.

Xia Yan did not answer, but instead gripped the two sides of the curtain with both hands and gave it a gentle shake, revealing a black cloak.

Under Watari's astonished gaze, he draped the cloak over Watari's back.

Suddenly, Wataru, who already had a very upright appearance, gained a bit more of a knight-errant and superhero vibe with this cloak.

Looking at his masterpiece, Xia Yan nodded in satisfaction, "That way there won't be any misunderstandings."

"Misunderstand?"

Du touched the cloak behind him. The texture wasn't very good, but for some reason, he felt that he really liked this outfit.

It perfectly aligned with some of his innermost thoughts.

He always felt like something was missing, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Now he knows.

It's a cape.

A dragon tamer looks so cool with a cape!

In Xia Yan's memory, Wataru always appeared wearing a handsome cape, so he must be someone who really likes capes.

"It's nothing, just a thank you for the information you gave me, a return gift," Xia Yan said.

You can't exactly tell him that if it weren't for this cloak, he would sometimes subconsciously think that the person in front of him is Ash in a Ferry skin, right?

"A return gift?"

Du nodded and accepted the gift, feeling even more at ease with Xia Yan.

"Let's go."

Since it's located in the heart of Saffron City, the path to the Pokémon Center isn't long.

soon.

The two arrived at the Pokémon Center.

This was Xia Yan's first time visiting a place like the Pokémon Center, a place so steeped in the League's culture.

The lobby, while not extravagant, was quite simple and efficient. Trainers carrying Pokémon or Poké Balls came and went, along with professional nurses and Chansey pushing medical carts.

In the entire Pokémon Center, only Miss Joy was standing behind the counter; the rest were ordinary nurses.

The Pokémon Center represents the highest level of medical care in the League and serves as a benefit and guarantee for all registered trainers. Only registered trainers can enjoy free basic medical services at the Pokémon Center; unregistered trainers like Xia Yan have to pay for their own medical care.

Even so, the Pokémon Center remains bustling with people, because only here can Pokémon receive the most comprehensive and reassuring medical care.

Wataru led Natsuhiko through the bustling hall to the training and battle arena behind the Pokémon Center.

This is also free for registered trainers.

After Wataru showed his trainer certificate, Natsuhiko followed him to the training area in the corner without any objection.

Although the training equipment and facilities are not as comprehensive as those of a club, the lively training environment is a unique experience.

Du nodded to Xia Yan.

Xia Yan understood.

Since it's just training, the two of them should just do their own thing.

Lance opened the Poké Ball, and with a flash of red light, a Pokémon with an orange-red body, resembling a bipedal Western dragon, and with flames burning at the end of its thick tail appeared on the field.

Xia Yan's eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the elf.

Charizard!

He's affectionately known as "Old Spouter"!

Charmander, the final evolution of the starter Pokémon in the Kanto region, is a Fire/Flying type Pokémon with Dragon blood, capable of learning some Dragon-type moves.

It's obvious that Lance's Charizard has been trained exceptionally well, with its sturdy limbs, blazing flames, and confident eyes – all hallmarks of an excellent Pokémon.

Lance stroked Charizard and asked proudly, "How about it? My Charizard is excellent, isn't it? It's my first partner."

Xia Yan nodded affirmatively.

Everyone knows that Lance is the Dragon-type Champion and his Ace is a Dragonite, but they don't know that his starter Pokémon, Charizard, is also a very powerful and excellent Pokémon that has contributed a lot to his path to becoming a champion.

At the same time, Xia Yan secretly rejoiced that he had not agreed to Wataru's request for a battle.

Charizard vs. Weedle?

What do you think?

Seeing Charizard, Xia Yan suddenly remembered that Lance, who would become the future Dragon-type Elite Four member and even the Dragon-type Champion, had a Fire/Flying-type Charizard, a Rock/Flying-type Aerodactyl, and a Water/Flying-type Gyarados...

It stands out for the fact that although its name contains the character for "dragon," it has no dragon-related attributes whatsoever.

It would be better to call him the Flying King...

The name "Dodo" is truly well-deserved.

"Unicorn, let's begin training," Xia Yan said to the unicorn on his shoulder.

"Woo!" the unicorn beetle responded.

Its eyes were filled with envy as it looked at the Charizard.

So handsome...