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Victory!
Roy made no secret of his joy as he basked in the arena's thunderous applause.
Two months of isolated special training, strategies against Marowak and Rhyhorn—against a powerhouse like Steelix, tactical arrangements had been impossible. He'd simply had to give it everything he had.
In the moment of victory, all those experiences transformed into sweet rewards.
Dust-covered Lucario leapt from the battlefield and returned to Roy's side, reaching out to support him with a concerned expression.
"Cario!"
"I'm fine, just tired," Roy assured, leaning his weight against Lucario.
The aura fusion—combining Trainer and Pokémon energy into one—was essentially a simplified version of Mega Evolution. It had taken a heavy toll on his body.
'It feels like I've run a marathon,' Roy thought. Though he'd never actually run one, he could imagine the bone-deep exhaustion.
He looked at Lucario with a sense of emotion. During his time as Riolu, the Pokémon had been only a meter tall, childlike. Now evolved into Lucario, he suddenly reached Roy's shoulders—about 1.6 meters tall, nearly the height of a grown soldier.
"You've grown up," Roy said softly, reaching out to stroke Lucario's head as usual.
Lucario bowed his head quietly just as before, expressing his obedience. But instead of the shy and happy tail-wagging from his Riolu days, he now displayed a calm, composed demeanor.
When Pokémon evolved, not only did their typing, abilities, and moves change—their personalities developed as well, sometimes even shifting to opposite extremes. Classic examples included Magikarp evolving into Gyarados or Vigoroth evolving into Slaking.
This was why some Trainers refused to let their Pokémon evolve, fearing such transformations. But Roy preferred to go with the natural flow. After all, children grew up eventually. As their Trainer, he saw himself as a parent who shouldn't hold them back—unless, of course, the Pokémon itself didn't want to evolve.
"Come on, let's get you to the infirmary."
Lucario nodded, remembering that Vulpix was still seriously injured. While Pokémon had remarkable healing capabilities, delaying treatment could leave lasting damage.
'Wait, there's also that silly Squirtle,' Lucario thought. 'He's had tough skin since hatching and can take a beating. He can take care of himself.'
After bringing all three Pokémon to the infirmary and getting them settled in treatment pods, Roy felt rejuvenated after drinking a bottle of Moomoo Milk.
In his previous school, the infirmary had been purely decorative—useless for minor illnesses like colds and incapable of treating serious conditions. Its only real purpose had been as a sanctuary for students pretending to be sick, seeking a quick nap.
But Capital University's infirmary rivaled Pokémon Centers in terms of both medical expertise and equipment.
Roy had been sitting for only a few minutes when he heard commotion outside. Soon, a nurse ran over, looking at him shyly.
"Reporters?" Roy asked.
"Yes," the nurse replied, her expression as helpless as someone struggling to unscrew a bottle cap. "There are many, many reporters here to interview you. Several professors from the university have arrived too. I've never seen a freshman treated like this before. You're truly amazing..."
She blinked expectantly, clearly waiting for Roy to proudly display his accomplishments so she could flatter him further and perhaps get his contact information.
'Your approach lacks subtlety, sister,' Roy thought as he gulped down the last of his Moomoo Milk and nodded.
"I see," he said coolly, leaving her with just those words.
At the door, Roy straightened his clothes, confirming he looked his best, and walked out with purpose. He wasn't just a Trainer but the manager of his own Pokémon team. This was his battlefield, and the reporters outside were his opponents. Defeating them would earn him popularity and points.
It was hunting time!
The infirmary door creaked open, and the swarming reporters suddenly froze, all eyes turning toward Roy. 'Finally,' their expressions seemed to say, 'good thing we didn't give up waiting.'
The security guards maintaining order looked relieved as well. If Roy hadn't emerged soon, those reporters might have stormed the infirmary.
Reporters crowded around, microphones thrust forward, questions flying.
"Please, one at a time," Roy said calmly, mentally preparing his responses.
"Roy, what is that Pokémon that resembles Vulpix?" one asked.
"My Vulpix comes from the newly discovered Alola region, a new variant not yet included in the Pokédex," Roy explained. "I assure you, everything is completely legal."
He detailed how he'd obtained the Vulpix egg, emphasizing that for at least three years, his would be the only legal Alolan Pokémon in their region.
The reporters immediately caught the keyword "only legal," their eyes lighting up as they jotted notes.
"If it's a new species, why call it Vulpix?" another asked.
Roy smiled slightly. "Just as animals have regional variants, so do Pokémon. My Vulpix and the traditional Vulpix share a common ancestor. They're the same species that adapted differently to their environments."
"That's why I call her 'Alolan Vulpix.'"
He elaborated on his views about Alolan Vulpix, boldly predicting that other Alolan regional variants likely existed. Some reporters withdrew their microphones, satisfied.
Most represented channels covering Pokémon fashion, contests, and aesthetics.
The next question came: "During the battle, many people saw strange blue light surrounding you. Are you psychic?"
Roy knew his "Aura Power" couldn't remain hidden, so he'd prepared for this.
"Yes, I'm a natural psychic. However, unlike most psychics who use 'Confusion,' my ability is called 'Aura Power.'"
Typical psychics required expensive supplements to maintain their abilities, which explained why no one had suspected Roy before—his family couldn't afford such luxuries.
He emphasized his rare gift, explaining that among thousands of psychics worldwide, only two or three possessed aura abilities, all from abroad. He was the first in China.
Roy kept his explanation brief. His personal life wasn't the point—the Pokémon were.
"How did you train Lucario so effectively? Any tips to share?" came a welcome question.
"The answer connects to my previous point," Roy replied. "As many know, Lucario is born with natural aura abilities. In ancient ruins, Lucario is depicted as the 'aura hero' who once saved the world alongside human aura messengers."
"And I am an aura messenger myself. This connection has greatly helped our training."
"Beyond that, Riolu showed exceptional talent in both aura manipulation and battling aptitude."
"Many people know I once declared on the university forum, 'My Riolu has champion potential'—some saw this as youthful arrogance."
Roy spoke confidently. "But I'll say it again here: My Lucario has championship potential! Whether these are empty words or prophecy, time will tell."
The reporters looked stunned, unaccustomed to such bold claims. Yet his words carried credibility—even Frances had never shown such brilliance at Roy's age.
Unlike the dismissive reactions on the school forum, when Roy repeated these words now, even the most informed reporters couldn't help but wonder.
In the silence, a blond foreign reporter raised a sensitive question: "As a first-year student, you've become the top candidate for the university team, setting another record. Some call you a once-in-a-century prodigy. Others claim financial groups, including foreign investors, support you. Can you address this?"
Roy glanced at him, sensing something familiar about the man.
"Elite Sebastian's son once asked me the same question. I'll give you the same answer I gave him: There is no consortium. There is no foreign capital. Everything I, Roy, have achieved today comes from my own hard work!"
After speaking, Roy mentally checked his popularity statistics. Excellent! The popularity of both Vulpix and Lucario was soaring.
He had to admit, though—one-third of the credit belonged to the system's assistance.