"So luxurious... I wonder how much they're going to pay me."
Owen looked around, noticing numerous outdoor battlefields, let alone the private indoor battle rooms.
He estimated that the maintenance cost for these fields alone must be a fortune every month.
"Vee!"
Eevee was also doing the math. If Owen had money, it meant she had money, which translated to drinking higher-end juice milk.
"You must be Owen."
Before long, a strange middle-aged man walked around the corner and greeted him.
"That's me."
"I won't waste time with pleasantries. Ethan introduced you. Although he vouched for you, I still need to test your real skills. After all, Starry Battle Club isn't a charity."
"Follow me. I'll take you to a battle. Your opponent is also a rookie trainer. If you win, you can stay as a sparring partner. If you lose, you'll take today's pay and walk away.
However," Sam added, "don't worry about the private coaching. That was my promise to Ethan, and I will help you to the best of my ability regardless."
Owen nodded, though he felt a bit of pressure. It seemed Ethan's friendship with Sam wasn't quite as deep as he'd thought; whether he secured this job or not ultimately depended on his own merit.
He gathered some intel from Sam's words: the opponent was a rookie, so there was no need to fear. As long as it wasn't a Psychic or Ghost-type—opponents Eevee currently struggled to touch—their extensive special training gave them a massive edge.
"Good spirit." Seeing the expressions of Owen and the Eevee on his shoulder, Sam smiled slightly. "It seems Ethan has a good eye. Come, I'll give you the rundown on your opponent."
"He's a student at Fairview High, just like you. His starter is a Munchlax. That Pokémon has an incredible layer of fat; normal attacks barely scratch it.
Using that Munchlax, your opponent has already racked up nineteen consecutive wins at public battlefields. Of course, his opponents were all rookies from the same year, so don't be too nervous."
A Munchlax?
Owen's mind raced as he listened. He felt a wave of relief. As expected, anyone who could afford Starry Battle Club was loaded.
Munchlax is known as the "Big Eater Pokémon"; even a newborn requires nearly a hundred pounds of food a day.
Feeding it cheap crops like potatoes or corn is one thing... but if you provide high-nutrient, high-quality food in those quantities, the cost is terrifying. Most families couldn't afford it unless they "owned a mine."
With proper nutrition, a Munchlax's growth rate makes it a nightmare for most rookies. That thick layer of fat alone is enough to nullify the power of many moves. It wasn't surprising that the kid had nineteen wins.
However, while it sounded strong, Munchlax had a fatal flaw: it was slow.
"We just need to play to our strengths and avoid its defenses."
By the time they entered a private battle room, Owen already had a strategy. As he stepped onto the field, excitement bubbled up within him.
This would be his and Eevee's first official, regulated match. There was no nervousness, only anticipation. A field battle in a Secret Realm and a formal match were two completely different things.
"I'm Leo."
The chubby boy introduced himself first. He had a strong presence and seemed very confident. A Munchlax's advantages are indeed overwhelming for beginners, which had fostered Leo's nonchalant attitude.
"I'm Owen, your opponent."
Looking at the well-padded Leo, Owen thought to himself: It must be nice to be rich...
"Your Eevee is pretty cute," Leo smiled, clearly not taking Owen seriously.
"Vee~" Eevee nodded proudly.
Owen: "..."
He's mocking you for looking harmless, you dummy. Owen decided right then that Eevee would be responsible for his homework from now on—it would save her from future misunderstandings and awkward blunders.
Sam clapped his hands with a smile, interrupting the introductions. "Friendship first, battle second. We'll be watching from the stands. Have a good match."
Owen noticed a middle-aged man sitting in the spectator area. Judging by the physique... was that Leo's father?
Ignoring the distractions, Owen and Leo moved to their respective sides of the field as the referee stepped in.
"The field is a standard court. The rules are 1 vs 1, single match. Please send out your Pokémon simultaneously."
"Eevee, go!"
Eevee leaped from Owen's shoulder, her eyes curiously fixed on the Poké Ball in Leo's hand.
"It's up to you, Munchlax! Same as before—if you win, you get a deluxe feast!"
Leo threw his Poké Ball with force. The red light flashed, and the ball bounced back; Leo fumbled awkwardly before catching it, ruining the cool factor.
The Munchlax had dark blue fur and a cream-colored belly. It stood on two legs, its round eyes currently glowing with hunger.
"Mun! Mun!"
Hearing the promise of a feast, Munchlax locked its intense gaze onto Eevee.
Eevee paused, then suddenly turned her head to look at Owen. Owen felt a pang in his heart as he saw her stare.
This little rascal... she definitely wants a feast now, too.
As the battle began, Leo immediately issued a command: "Use Defense Curl!"
Defense Curl: the user curls up to hide its weak points, boosting its Defense. This move turned Munchlax into a literal ball of fur and fat.
"Hahaha, your boy is interesting. Is he going for a passive defense strategy?" Sam laughed in the stands. With his experience, he could see the Munchlax's defense was startling—it had clearly been fed top-tier nutrients.
"It's purely passive," Leo's father shook his head.
"Let's see how Owen cracks this. Normally, with Eevee's limited moveset, it's hard to damage a Munchlax. This might be a long, tough fight for him." Sam looked toward the field. Ethan had asked him to guide Owen, and he wanted to see exactly where to start.
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