"If you run into something you can't solve, go find my disciple."
The line Guo Yi had tossed out back then—something Jin Peng had taken as a joke—kept echoing in his head.
Did Guo Yi… see this coming? But why tell me to find his disciple? At this level, even if he came in person, he'd get a headache…
"Whatever. I don't have any better options right now."
Jin Peng couldn't make sense of it, and he didn't have time to try.
He truly had no better move.
So he turned to Lin Feng beside him. "Lin—hold them off for a bit. Take command and buy time."
"I'm going to get support."
Before Lin Feng could respond, Jin Peng vaulted onto Dragonite and shot toward Yunlong Dam at full speed.
"Support? Is there some powerhouse at Yunlong Dam I don't know about?"
Watching Jin Peng leave, Lin Feng was completely bewildered.
From what he knew of Jin Peng, if he called someone "support" in a situation like this—it meant the person had a Pokémon capable of going toe-to-toe with that terrifying ice dragon.
But he couldn't recall anyone like that at all.
As for Jin Peng running away—Lin Feng dismissed it outright.
If he were fleeing, why would he leave his Pokémon behind?
"Whatever."
Lin Feng refused to overthink it.
All he could do now was buy as much time as possible for Jin Peng's backup to arrive.
...
"Dragonite, faster!"
Up in the sky, Jin Peng kept urging Dragonite on.
He knew it well—even with Lin Feng and their Pokémon together, they couldn't hold Kyurem for long.
"Hrrm!"
Dragonite rumbled low and pushed its speed even further.
...
At the same time—at the Shanghai Pokémon University encampment, the students were resting in their tents.
"Yan'er, what do you think happened? They actually told us not to enter the Secret Realm."
Inside one tent, a classmate asked Hu Yan'er, clearly hoping she had answers.
After all, Guo Yi counted as upper leadership for this operation, and Hu Yan'er was his disciple.
In their eyes, she should have inside information.
But Hu Yan'er could only give a helpless smile.
"I don't know either."
"Teacher didn't even tell me he was coming to Yunlong Dam this time. And so far, he hasn't contacted me once."
Hu Yan'er had said more than once that she'd come out here just to gain experience.
But no matter what, her classmates still didn't quite believe it.
When they couldn't pry anything out of her, they stopped pressing and shifted to chatting about what they'd gained in the Secret Realm these past few days—Pokémon, captures, encounters.
"Did you know? Yesterday I saw someone at the market selling a Squirtle—one of the starter trio!"
"No way. They're selling starters now?"
"What's so weird about that? With Secret Realms this huge, starters showing up isn't that rare. I ran into a Mudkip yesterday—only it got away."
"You guys mostly have Grass- and Electric-types. In a place like this, you're basically in your element."
"My team's mostly Fire types. Fighting here has been miserable."
"Heh. Then why'd you even come to help?"
"Hey, Yan'er—did you get anything good these past few days?"
"Me?"
With the conversation turning to her, Hu Yan'er pulled a Poké Ball from inside her jacket.
"My 'haul' is her."
"Come on out!"
She winked at them, then released the Pokémon inside.
"Toto!"
With a bright, cheerful cry, a small blue crocodile appeared in front of them.
Totodile!
One of the Johto starters.
Totodile had an exceptionally developed jaw. Two sharp fangs jutted from its upper jaw, while three sharp teeth lined each side of its lower jaw—its most fearsome weapons.
A pale yellow V-shaped stripe ran across its belly, stretching up toward its arms.
Four red spikes rose along its back. Its hands had five claws, and its feet had three toes.
Its pupils were red, with dark markings around its eyes.
[Totodile (Water)]
[Gender]: ♀
[Level]: lv20 (Qualified Tier)
[Ability]: Sheer Force
[Moves]: Scratch, Water Gun, Rage, Bite, Ice Fang (frequently used)
[Tutored Moves]: None
[Egg Move]: Dragon Dance
[Held Item]: None
[Potential]: Elite Four Tier
A Totodile with Dragon Dance as an Egg Move—and its Ability was the hidden Ability, Sheer Force.
If it grew up properly, it would become one of Hu Yan'er's ace Pokémon.
Honestly—as the holder of the Ash Template, her luck really was unreal.
Most people who worked themselves ragged to catch a starter ended up with potential around Ace Tier or Gym Leader Tier.
Pseudo-Elite Four was already the ceiling.
But Hu Yan'er?
A Pokémon that practically walked up to her had Elite Four Tier potential.
Elite Four Tier potential—that was one in ten thousand.
After all, even worldwide, there were only a few hundred Elite Four in total.
And Elite Four Tier potential—being the threshold to step into that rank—was naturally rare beyond words.
And Hu Yan'er's Totodile had all but volunteered to become her Pokémon… all because it was greedy.
That day in the Secret Realm, Hu Yan'er had been preparing lunch for her Pokémon.
Totodile popped out of nowhere—and actually dared to snatch food right out from under them.
As for how that ended—it went without saying.
A mere Qualified Tier Totodile got beaten senseless by Pikachu and Monferno.
And yet—even while it was getting pummeled, Totodile wore a blissed-out expression as it happily munched on the Pokéblocks it had stolen.
Sure, the Pokéblocks Hu Yan'er had prepared for her own Pokémon weren't exactly ideal for a Water type.
But—their quality was insane.
Perfect-grade Pokéblocks—bad match or not—were still pure heaven to Totodile.
Later, Hu Yan'er realized Totodile was hungry, not malicious.
So she had her two Pokémon let it go, then pulled out Water-type Pokéblocks and fed it properly.
Before coming, Hu Yan'er had expected to run into plenty of Water types.
Maybe she'd find one she liked and catch it.
So she'd prepared in advance.
But—it was fine until she fed it.
After that, Totodile latched onto her completely.
It clamped down on her pant leg and refused to let go—no shaking it off.
With no other choice, Hu Yan'er had to catch it.
The others, after hearing the whole story, stared at each other for a moment.
Then—it was like an entire sour lemon exploded in their mouths.
Was this what people meant by comparing yourself to others will kill you?
Still, they'd already experienced Hu Yan'er's absurd luck more than once.
They were only a little jealous.
Because a starter wasn't some ordinary Pokémon.
"Holy—Elite Four Jin! Elite Four Jin is here at our camp!"
In the middle of their chatter, a shriek suddenly sounded outside the tent.
Everyone's attention snapped over.
They saw Jin Peng jump down from Dragonite's back, eyes sweeping the area as if searching for someone.
With that earlier cry, more people began gathering.
Among them, Jin Peng's fans rushed in eagerly, desperate to get close to their idol.
Jin Peng's brows knit.
Time was tight—he didn't have a second to get tangled up with fans.
"Dragonite."
He spoke softly, and Dragonite immediately understood.
"ROAR!"
The chubby body stepped forward, and a powerful airwave surged out, halting the fans in their tracks.
Between Dragonite's pressure and Jin Peng's stern face, the crowd finally settled.
And the same thought rose in many minds at once—something happened.
Jin Peng ignored them and called out loudly, "Team leader—where's the Shanghai Pokémon University team leader? Where are you?"
"Th-this way!"
Hearing Jin Peng, the team leader hurriedly squeezed through the crowd.
"Elite Four Ji—"
"Where's Hu Yan'er?"
Jin Peng cut him off before he could finish.
"Huh?"
The team leader froze, not processing it.
"I'm asking where Teacher Guo's disciple is—Hu Yan'er."
When the team leader still didn't respond, Jin Peng repeated himself, sharper this time.
"Oh!"
"Hu Yan'er—Hu Yan'er!"
Finally snapping out of it, the team leader turned and shouted toward the tent Hu Yan'er was in.
It didn't take long.
Hu Yan'er stepped out and walked over.
"What is it?"
She looked completely confused.
She didn't think she had any connection with this Dragon-type Elite Four.
"No time. I'll explain on the way."
"Get on."
Jin Peng hopped back onto Dragonite and waved her up.
Dragonite lowered itself to make it easier for her to climb.
Seeing how serious he looked, Hu Yan'er didn't waste words. She stepped onto Dragonite's back.
"Hold tight!"
"Dragonite—go!"
"Hrrm!"
The moment the command fell—Dragonite beat its wings and launched skyward.
In the blink of an eye, one girl and one dragon vanished into the distance.
"Team leader… what's going on?"
Watching them leave, one of the teachers couldn't help asking.
The team leader rolled his eyes. "How would I know?"
He hadn't even gotten a full sentence out with Jin Peng—what could he possibly know?
"Alright, stop asking."
"Elite Four Jin came specifically for Hu Yan'er. It has to be something important."
"Everyone, disperse."
With the team leader and teachers organizing them, the gathered students gradually scattered.
Even so—whispers spread among them, speculation buzzing without end.
Just what did Elite Four Jin want with Hu Yan'er?
---
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