Chapter 103: Beyond the Arena
Professor Oak's detailed explanation of the modern battle system – its emphasis on named skills, shouted commands, and audience entertainment – left Xiu processing a whirlwind of new information, his previous understanding fundamentally challenged.
He paused, a distant look in his eyes. "You have to understand, back in the early days, before the League's current structure solidified… things were rougher. Trainers pushed their Pokémon harder. Battles were often brutal, no holds barred. Injuries were frequent. Sometimes…" he hesitated, "…sometimes things escalated. People got hurt. Pokémon got killed."
He looked directly at Xiu. "Imagine trying to manage that on a regional, let alone global, scale. Impossible. Unacceptable for public safety, for fostering a world where man and Pokémon can coexist."
"So, regulating battles, standardizing skills… that can be considered a benefit?" Xiu asked, trying to frame Oak's argument positively, perhaps seeking validation for the system he himself had been trying to learn.
"Why not?" Professor Oak countered easily. "Consider the audience. Most people watching these matches now are ordinary civilians, families, and children. They lack the knowledge, the instincts, the means to protect themselves if a battle truly gets out of hand.
This structured, command-based system provides a necessary layer of safety, of predictability. It shields them." He took another sip of tea. "And frankly, most spectators don't know the difference. They don't grasp the true complexities of Pokémon combat, the potential dangers.
The League promotes this sanitized, beautified model… it makes Pokémon training seem accessible and less threatening, perfectly normal for maintaining social order."
He chuckled wryly. "Heh, back then, attending a major tournament wasn't like buying a ticket to a sporting event today. Spectator admission was restricted, often limited to other participating trainers or those with proven defensive capabilities. You were expected to be able to protect yourself if things got out of hand."
"Wait," Xiu interrupted, startled. "So when you mentioned fatalities earlier…"
"Not spectator fatalities, usually," Oak clarified quickly, seeing Xiu's alarm. "Though accidents happened, the risks were primarily for the Pokémon, and sometimes the trainers themselves if they intervened recklessly." He looked thoughtful again. "My own shift towards research… let's just say witnessing the consequences of unrestrained Pokémon combat firsthand provided… strong motivation."
Xiu felt a morbid curiosity bubble up. 'What exactly did he witness? Or participate in?' But the Professor's guarded expression made it clear that topic was closed.
"So, Professor," Xiu summarized carefully, trying to reconcile Professor Oak's critique with his apparent acceptance, "this modern 'battle' system… it's not entirely without merit then? It's just… different? A product of the times?"
"Exactly," Oak affirmed. "I haven't completely denied its utility. My critique was aimed at its limitations, at the danger of mistaking it for true, adaptive combat." He leaned forward again, his expression turning analytical once more. "In fact, since we're discussing the nuances… let's talk about the benefits the structured system brought, beyond just safety and spectacle…" He seemed ready to launch into another lecture.
"Professor," Xiu interrupted gently, sensing the conversation drifting again, "so… the way I learned," he began hesitantly, "the command style, the named skills… it was all wrong?"
Professor Oak leaned forward slightly, the earlier nostalgic softness vanishing from his eyes, replaced by a sudden, sharp intensity. His tone, previously conversational, became solemn, almost grave. "That depends entirely," he stated slowly, deliberately, "on what you ultimately intend to do, Xiu."
The shift was palpable. This was no longer a casual chat about history and theory. This felt like a test— an interrogation.
"What are your goals?" Professor Oak pressed, his gaze piercing, analytical. "Do you aspire to televised fame? League championships? Collecting badges like trophies? If that is your path, then no, what you've learned isn't necessarily 'wrong'. It's the accepted language of that particular game. You might even excel within it, perhaps better than many." He paused, letting the implication hang. "But…"
His eyes narrowed further. "What do you truly want to achieve?"
The question, the third time Professor Oak had probed his motivations, hung heavy in the air. Xiu considered carefully before answering, sensing this was a critical juncture. "Professor," he replied, his voice quiet but firm, meeting Oak's intense gaze without flinching. "I want to live. And," he added, a flicker of deeper longing entering his voice, "I want to live… freely. Unbound."
Professor Oak stared at him for a long moment, then let out a short, sharp, merciless laugh. "Freely?" he repeated, the sound dripping with cynical mockery. "Then relying solely on that sanitized, predictable battle system you've learned? You're not aiming for freedom, boy. You're just waiting to die."
Seeing the flicker of disbelief, perhaps defiance, in Xiu's eyes, Oak elaborated, his tone turning cold, clinical. "Those techniques, those commands… they work fine in controlled environments, against opponents playing by the same artificial rules. But take them out into the wild? Against Pokémon fighting with true instinct, for survival? Utterly useless."
He leaned back, his gaze drifting towards the window, looking out at the vast expanse beyond the institute grounds. "Should you face someone with genuine combat experience," he continued, voice distant now, almost lecturing, "someone trained in the old ways, someone who understands true fighting… that rigid, command-based style you have? It doesn't just fail; it gets you killed. Quickly."
He suddenly sighed, a sound heavy with weariness, perhaps regret. "This world," he murmured, more to himself than to Xiu, "is far larger, far more dangerous than the Alliance-controlled territories suggest. This world is so large… that even the mighty League, with all its resources, all its power… remains huddled within its established safe zones, its brightly lit cities and towns. It lacks the strength, perhaps even the will, to truly expand outwards, to tame the vast, untamed wilderness that still dominates most of this planet."
Xiu felt a sudden chill, despite the warmth of the tea in his hands. 'What is he implying?' The comment felt out of place, a non-sequitur, yet delivered with deliberate weight. 'Is he warning me? About dangers beyond the League's control?'
"Professor," Xiu asked cautiously, "who are these people you speak of? The ones who still fight… the 'old way'?"
Professor Oak looked back at Xiu, a strange, unreadable expression in his eyes. "Who do you think operates outside the League's laws, outside the safety of the cities, constantly battling wild, dangerous Pokémon for their livelihood?"
Xiu remained silent, looking back at Oak, waiting. The answer felt obvious, yet hearing it confirmed…
"Hunters," Professor Oak stated simply, the single word landing with heavy significance. The Pokémon traffickers, the poachers, the criminal elements Xiu had already encountered.
But Oak wasn't finished. He continued, listing other groups who relied on 'real' fighting, not sport. "The League's own elite Ranger corps operating deep in wilderness preserves. Certain specialized units within the military. The heads of ancient, powerful families who maintain private territories and traditions dating back centuries. And…" Professor Oak paused, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips as he looked directly at Xiu again.
"...people like us?" Xiu finished the thought silently, understanding the implication. Researchers working in hazardous field conditions, breeders dealing with powerful or aggressive species… anyone whose work forced them into direct, unpredictable contact with Pokémon beyond the sanitized arenas.
"Makes sense," Xiu mumbled aloud, trying to appear casual, forcing an awkward laugh. "Only those constantly exposed to the wild would need those skills…" He noticed Oak still watching him intently and quickly tried to cover his unease.
Professor Oak ignored Xiu's attempt at deflection, continuing his monologue, his tone turning reflective again. "Today's Trainer schools… they barely touch upon these things anymore. Focus entirely on the League-sanctioned system. So much practical knowledge, so many effective techniques, honed over generations… simply fading away, disappearing into history…"
"Surely not entirely, Professor?" Xiu countered, perhaps arguing more for his own hope than out of conviction. "Knowledge like that, survival skills… it has to be passed down somehow? By those who need it?"
"Need?" Oak scoffed dismissively. "No, no, you're wrong, Xiu. Why would anyone choose that path anymore? Risking life and limb in the wilderness? Why bother, when the modern Trainer path offers fame, fortune, and adoration— all within the safety of a controlled stadium?"
He leaned forward again, his voice laced with cynical realism. "Trainers today… they don't need to endure harsh physical training themselves. They don't need deep, instinctual bonds forged through shared danger. They just need a few photogenic Pokémon, a decent win record in sanctioned matches, maybe a catchy slogan. Play a few high-profile tournaments, get some media exposure… boom! Instant celebrity. Endorsement deals, sponsorships, fan clubs…"
He laughed, a dry, humorless sound. "Then, if the event organizers 'persuade' a few established figures – a Gym Leader, a retired Champion, maybe even a 'distinguished Professor' – to offer a public compliment?" He rolled his eyes. "Their market value skyrockets overnight. Millions in potential earnings." He sighed again, running a hand through his grey hair. "Do you have any idea how many aspiring 'stars' or their agents approach me every year, offering exorbitant sums, 'research grants', 'collaboration opportunities', just for a single positive quote? A staged photo-op?"
Xiu remained silent, just listening, recognizing the genuine bitterness, the deep-seated frustration in Oak's voice now. This wasn't just academic critique; it felt personal. Oak was venting, complaining about the commercialization, the trivialization, of something he clearly held sacred.
"It's… comical, in a dark way," Oak continued, his voice filled with self-deprecating irony. "Many of my own colleagues, brilliant researchers, forced to compromise their integrity, lend their names to C-list celebrities, just to secure funding for vital projects. Meanwhile, charlatans, 'Pokémon Doctors' with laughable theories peddling snake oil and quick fixes… they rake in fortunes catering to the vanity of wealthy collectors or clueless fans." He shook his head sadly.
"It's the way of the times, Professor," Xiu finally offered quietly, trying to steer the conversation back towards practicality. "Chosen by society, driven by economics. If we can't change the system, perhaps we can only adapt, navigate it as best we can. Worrying about the trend… maybe it's better to focus on the present, on our own path?" He desperately wanted to return to the question of how to fight effectively, not listen to Oak's laments about the state of the world.
Professor Oak looked at Xiu, surprised by the young man's pragmatic interjection. Then he chuckled, genuinely this time. "Haha! Wise words, Xiu! See things clearly for someone so young."
"I'm not that young anymore, Professor," Xiu countered quietly, shaking his head slightly. "I'm fourteen." An age where, in a different life, a different family, he might have been worrying about high school entrance exams, not navigating existential threats and complex Pokémon training philosophies.
"True enough," Oak conceded thoughtfully. "I myself left home at ten to start my own journey. By the time I was your age…" He paused, a distant, reminiscent look entering his eyes, seemingly about to launch into another anecdote from his past.
Xiu quickly seized the opportunity, interrupting before Oak could get lost in memory lane. "Professor," he asked urgently, leaning forward again, "if the command-based system is flawed, if 'real' fighting relies on instinct… then how should I be training my Pokémon? How do I cultivate that?"
"What's there to say about it?" Oak replied, suddenly dismissive again, waving a hand vaguely. "Like I told you. Put them in enough fights, they'll figure it out naturally."
His abrupt, unhelpful answer left Xiu speechless once more. That's it? Just 'fight more'? Something felt critically wrong, incomplete, yet he couldn't articulate why.
"Professor," Xiu pleaded, swallowing his pride, adopting a tone of earnest supplication. "Could you possibly be… more specific?"
Oak sighed, seeming reluctant to elaborate further. "Fine," he relented grudgingly. "First step? Ensure the Pokémon truly understands its own capabilities. Not just the 'named skills', but its raw speed, its physical limits, its energy reserves, how different terrains affect its movement…" He waved his hand again. "Beyond that? As I said. Experience. They learn by doing."
"Hmm~" Xiu fell silent again, processing the frustratingly vague advice. He knew there had to be more to it, techniques, methods… but Oak was clearly unwilling, or perhaps unable, to articulate them simply. He recognized the truth in Oak's words – experience was irreplaceable.
But he also felt the danger. Just throwing his Pokémon into fights unprepared, hoping they would "learn naturally"… that felt reckless, if not outright irresponsible. Especially given the potential consequences of failure in this world. 'It's not just about the Pokémon getting crippled by training,' he thought grimly. 'It's about whether they survive at all.'
"Right then," Professor Oak said suddenly, changing the subject completely. He reached into his lab coat pocket again. "Take this." He tossed the standard red-and-white Poké Ball he'd been holding towards Xiu.
Xiu caught it automatically, looking down at the familiar object, then back up at Oak, confusion clouding his features.