Pokémon: The Master who emerged from the slums

After Ms. Laura announced the details of the upcoming competition, the class officially began. However, the students were clearly distracted, whispering excitedly about their first battles with their newly acquired starter Pokémon.

At lunchtime, students took out their meals from their backpacks and prepared food for their Pokémon. They gathered in the Pokémon training area, enjoying quality time with their companions.

After class, James arrived early at the training area. He looked around and noticed that Machop was diligently lifting dumbbell plates. To avoid disturbing Machop's focus, James chose to wait quietly nearby. He knew that during training, external distractions could cause Pokémon to lose concentration, affecting the effectiveness of the session.

Near James, a group of girls sat on a bench, preparing to enjoy their lunch. Their Pokémon companions waited beside them. One girl noticed James and introduced him to her friends: "That's James; his starter Pokémon is Machop."

James didn't pay attention to the surrounding conversations. As Machop completed the final training set, James approached and handed him a bottle of water. "Drink some water to replenish your energy. Later, we'll go to the shaded area on the playground to have some food."

The water bottle James held wasn't ordinary; it contained a special drink made from energy cubes, designed to help Machop recover better. He chose to dine on the playground because it was less crowded, avoiding drawing attention. After all, mid-level energy cubes were expensive, and if others noticed James using them, it might lead to unnecessary speculation.

In a corner of the playground, James took out a mid-level energy recovery cube and handed it to Machop, informing him about the upcoming match the next day. Upon hearing this, Machop excitedly patted his chest, expressing full confidence. As a Fighting-type Pokémon, Machop was passionate about battles and eager to assist James.

James mentioned that the first prize would be 5,000 Alliance Coins, a sum sufficient to purchase a large quantity of delicious berries for making tasty energy cubes. This motivated Machop even more, and he was determined to give his all in the competition.

The lunch break quickly passed. James reminded Machop to strictly follow the training plan and not to overtrain, ensuring he didn't exceed his limits. He hoped Machop would perform at his best during the competition.

After a day's classes, Machop's training tasks were completed. Today's reward was two Banana Fruits. James was pleased because this indicated that Machop's training had reached a certain level. In the game, Banana Fruits are items that can enhance a Pokémon's stamina, and they have similar effects in reality. Additionally, James received two "Guaxi Fruits," which promote brain development and enhance mental strength. These two precious fruits would provide strong support for Machop's growth.

To make better use of these fruits, James went to the mall after school and spent 1,700 Alliance Coins to purchase other berries. He planned to combine them with the Banana and Guaxi Fruits to make corresponding energy cubes, providing Machop with more comprehensive training nutrition.

Time flew by, and the next day finally arrived. In the classroom, every student's face was filled with excitement. They all wondered how they would use the 5,000 Alliance Coins if they won the championship. Each person believed they were the most likely to win. After all, everyone had just acquired their starter Pokémon, and there wasn't much difference between them.

With this nervous anticipation, the afternoon competition finally began. Today, James didn't have Machop participate in training but kept him in his Poké Ball to rest and prepare for the battle later.

There were 42 students in the class. Ms. Laura organized the competition in pairs; the winners would advance, and the losers would be eliminated, with no second chances. This competition format was similar to the annual events held by the Violet Alliance.

After drawing lots, James drew number 6. His first-round opponent was a boy numbered 17. When this boy saw James, he raised an eyebrow. James helplessly rubbed his forehead. As one of the top students in the class, James had always been the center of attention. Although he was low-key and friendly, some classmates, especially 16-year-old boys, were at an age where they were eager to prove themselves. They hoped to surpass James in real battles and demonstrate their strength.