Aaron examined Sceptile's updated stats, satisfaction flickering across his eyes.
After evolving, its strength had jumped straight to Advanced (Mid Stage).
Its Wood Physique had evolved into the ability Verdant Avatar.
It no longer relied on sunlight—plants rooted in the earth alone were enough to restore its stamina and heal its injuries.
On top of that, its Grass-type moves gained a massive 50% power boost.
That was seriously strong.
With Verdant Avatar combined with Grassy Terrain or Flowering Forest World—
and the Vital Seed in its grasp—
wouldn't that give Sceptile almost endless stamina and recovery?
It had become a monster in team battles.
Originally built as an assassin-type Pokémon, Aaron had deliberately reshaped it into a durable, high-damage all-rounder.
The sense of achievement was undeniable.
With a casual wave of his hand, he released the rest of his Pokémon.
"Grenin—"
"Roooar—"
"Snor—"
Greninja, Gyarados, and Snorlax immediately gathered around Sceptile to congratulate him.
They had watched their little brother grow up and had always looked out for him. Now that Sceptile could stand on his own, they were genuinely proud.
"Sceptile—"
Sceptile grinned and greeted them warmly.
It really did feel like a family.
Aaron treasured this bond—the connection between trainer and Pokémon, and the trust they shared with one another.
In a world full of chaos and complexity,
Pokémon were the purest companions of all.
Smiling, Aaron clapped his hands.
"Frog Boss, Gyarados—go catch some fish in the creek!"
"Snorlax, Sceptile—you two gather firewood!"
"Tonight, we're having grilled fish!"
At the mention of grilled fish, their eyes lit up instantly. They split up without hesitation and got to work.
Aaron pulled seasonings from his system backpack, ready to put his cooking skills on display.
Before long, Greninja and Gyarados returned with over a dozen large fish. Greninja had even created Shadow Clones, each carrying one of its own.
Snorlax and Sceptile came back hauling piles of firewood.
Aaron cleaned and skewered the fish, laying them over the flames. As oil crackled and seasoning hit the heat, a rich, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.
All four Pokémon began to drool.
Ten minutes later, the fish were ready—each one golden and glistening with oil.
The savory aroma drifted through the air, making their mouths water instantly.
It smelled incredible.
Aaron and his four Pokémon wasted no time digging in.
Of course, with Snorlax and Gyarados's size, grilled fish alone wouldn't be enough.
So Aaron mixed crushed Energy Cubes into their portions, boosting both flavor and nutrition at the same time.
Two birds, one stone.
"I'm a genius."
He grinned to himself.
After eating their fill, the Pokémon sprawled out comfortably across the grass.
Aaron leaned back against Snorlax's soft belly.
Night had fallen.
Countless stars shimmered across the sky, casting a faint glow over the darkness.
A cool breeze brushed against his face.
Maybe coming to this world hadn't been such a bad thing after all.
Still… he couldn't help wondering how his parents and younger brother were doing back on Earth.
"If I ever get the chance, I want to go back and see them."
He spoke softly, eyes fixed on the sea of stars above.
"Everyone… let's keep moving forward."
"Together, we'll reach the very top of this world."
Determination shone in his eyes as he looked at the Pokémon gathered around him.
"Grenin—"
"Rooar—"
"Snorlax—"
"Scepti—"
One boy and four Pokémon stood beneath the vast night sky and made their first vow.
The road to the summit would be long and unforgiving.
And they would walk it together.
…
Time flew by.
Aaron spent his days immersed in Gardevoir's study materials.
Before long, the classroom blackboard read:
"Days Until the Exam:"
"0"
The day had finally arrived.
Across the nation, senior students were sitting for the unified exam.
In this world, it was divided into two sections: a written test and a combat trial.
The written portion followed the traditional format, covering a wide range of Pokémon knowledge.
The combat trial, however, was far more demanding. It operated on a point-based system.
More than a hundred test zones were set up across the country, each one a vast circular stretch of grassland and forest teeming with wild Pokémon.
From the outer rim to the inner core, the difficulty steadily increased.
Beginner-tier Pokémon roamed the outskirts. Deeper inside appeared Intermediate, Advanced, Elite—even Gym-Leader level opponents.
Defeating a Pokémon earned points.
The stronger the opponent, the greater the reward.
That was the essence of the combat trial.
To score high, one had to fight.
And to fight, one had to win.
…
Aaron sat calmly in the exam hall.
The spacious room was packed with students—some wearing confident smiles, others unable to hide their nerves.
Today was the written test.
Before long, the proctor began handing out the papers.
Aaron filled in his name and student ID, then started answering.
Multiple Choice:
What is Caterpie's Hidden Ability? ( )
Guts
B. Shield Dust
C. Run Away
D. Hustle
Without hesitation, Aaron selected C.