The next morning arrived.
Today was the day for the Trainers' practical assessment. Early in the morning, the Rookie Trainers from all three classes of First High had already gathered on the sports field.
On the platform directly opposite them, the school's teachers and administrators stood ready. Dominic and the training instructors from the other two classes were present as well. David even spotted Principal Arthur, a man considered a legend among common-born Trainers.
This was David's first time seeing him in person. Schools in the Pokémon world didn't hold activities like Monday morning assemblies. Although Principal Arthur had implemented many significant reforms after taking office, leading to various rumors about him throughout the school, he didn't excessively interfere with student education and rarely appeared in classes. Coupled with David's frequent absences, this marked his first time seeing the principal face-to-face.
He observed the man carefully.
Principal Arthur appeared to be around forty or fifty years old, dressed in a League uniform with temples streaked with gray. His build wasn't tall—rather slender, actually—making it difficult to perceive him as a decorated military officer at first glance.
He looked more like an ordinary retired gentleman.
However, his perpetually upright posture, straight as a pine tree, and the aura of natural authority he exuded made it impossible to truly overlook him.
"The results of this assessment are very important to you, and equally important to First High."
"I won't say much more. I'll emphasize just one point: First High will not shortchange students who perform well."
After a few brief instructions, Arthur stepped back, yielding the podium to Dominic.
Taking the microphone, Dominic surveyed the dense crowd of Rookie Trainers below and began his address.
"You all heard what the principal just said. The League intends to improve the comprehensive abilities of you, the new generation of Trainers. The results of this assessment will influence your future development."
"The League hopes to cultivate excellent Trainers who can handle wild environments and flexibly adapt to various situations—not a group of 'arena-bound' Trainers who excel only in stadium battles but prove useless in the wilderness or in Mystery Dungeons."
"As long as you perform well, not only will the school improve your benefits, but the League's evaluation of you will also rise."
The League and the school offered substantial subsidies and rewards for Trainers, especially outstanding students.
Not just Pokéblocks, but also various basic Pokémon resources and supplies.
As the first-place winner in both theoretical knowledge exams and simulated battles, David had consistently received generous scholarships and support facility resources.
Even his Riolu had been obtained as a school reward.
As far as he knew, Willow's third Pokémon and Jackson's second Pokémon were acquired through similar means.
Aside from the Riolu egg, he might not have desperately needed these resources, but they were already sufficient to help Trainers from ordinary families begin their journey toward growth.
As he spoke, Dominic scanned the crowd below.
"Benefits must be earned through your own efforts. Did you all hear that clearly?"
"Yes, sir!"
Nearly three hundred students responded loudly in unison.
"If you heard clearly, then board the buses!"
After his final words, Dominic waved his hand, signaling everyone to get on the buses.
On the bus heading toward the assessment location, everyone began discussing the upcoming test.
"David, David, where do you think our practical assessment will be held this time?"
As soon as he boarded, Miles leaned over and asked excitedly.
David could read this kid's thoughts easily—Miles was inherently drawn to thrills and excitement.
As far as he knew, ever since Miles's Growlithe evolved into Arcanine, the boy would take his Arcanine out for Pokémon racing every few days.
Now that the practical portion of the midterm assessment had become a real-life "Pokémon Battle Royale," wasn't this exactly what he'd been hoping for? At this moment, he was probably already planning how to enjoy himself later.
"Miles, don't just think about having fun. This assessment might not be as simple as you imagine."
"Don't forget those competitors we encountered at the Novice Cup. This joint exam was originally proposed by those schools, so they might team up to target us."
Seeing him treat the practical assessment like entertainment, David frowned and offered a warning.
"Exactly! David's right. Last time, those guys wanted to make things difficult for us at the Novice Cup but failed. This time, they managed to arrange this joint exam—there must be something behind it."
"They might be planning to team up and eliminate us first."
Luke, standing nearby, adjusted his glasses and spoke with a cold glint in his eyes.
During the last Novice Cup, he'd been careless and paid the price. Beldum's combat ability was indeed quite limited before evolution.
He remained unsatisfied with that loss.
If he encountered that opponent again this time... well, he'd see.
Emma then added her thoughts.
"Those competitors are also rivals among themselves—they'll probably start fighting each other first."
"Moreover, if we can think of this, the League certainly can too. They definitely won't let us form groups easily, at least not in the early stages."
"I just wonder what method they'll use to prevent it..."
Time passed quickly as they talked, and the bus had been traveling for nearly an hour.
They were now quite far from Imperial City. After truly leaving the urban area, David realized how different the Pokémon world's wilderness was from his previous life.
Aside from the roads maintained by the government—separated by guardrails and fences—other areas consisted entirely of undeveloped forests, vastly different from the world before it changed.
Even so, the League still had to expend enormous effort and deploy substantial personnel to maintain the roads and regularly clear out wild Pokémon populations.
Otherwise, even basic transportation would be difficult to sustain.
In the distance, the silhouette of a large mountain range began to grow clearer. David leaned out of the bus window to look.
"This is probably the assessment location..." he thought to himself.
However, he soon realized his assumption was incorrect.
Upon reaching their final destination, David discovered that his earlier guess had been completely wrong—he'd thought far too simply about this assessment.