The new week was even more packed than the last.
School had officially begun teaching the theory of Team Battles. Beyond that, the class schedules for every grade had undergone a massive update. This was all to accommodate the intensive selection process for the school team.
For the candidates, even though the tryouts took up a portion of their regular training classes, the intensity had not decreased. Every day of training left the majority of students exhausted and complaining.
However... while school life was more "full," these changes didn't offer Owen much of a sense of novelty. As he suspected, training with a large group was simply too inefficient.
With Eevee's physical conditioning now on a fast track thanks to the Return method, the school's standard drills were almost redundant for him. During practice, Owen usually let Eevee work on her own specialized training to pass the time.
"Did you hear? There's a Team Battle being organized this Friday."
"I heard about it ages ago. We've been studying theory for days; it's about time we see some action..."
Among the candidates, a rumor had been circulating that a Team Battle assessment would be held among the twenty-five members.
On Thursday afternoon, the rumors were confirmed. All twenty-five students were called to the gymnasium to receive the official notice.
The Fairview High Gymnasium—also known as the Training Hall or Battle Hall—was second only to the sports field in size. Currently, the twenty-five trainers from the senior class—sixteen boys and nine girls—were gathered there.
"Boss~"
As soon as Owen arrived, Leo popped out from the crowd to greet him.
"You're late," Lynnea remarked, walking over from the other side.
"I was in the club room giving Eevee a massage. It ran a bit long," Owen explained.
After much "practice," Owen's massage technique had improved significantly. While not as masterful as Mr. Lee's, it at least no longer made Eevee scream like she was being butchered. It was a cause for celebration.
Eevee, inside her Pokéball: (／‵Д′)／~╧╧
Now that Eevee no longer resisted, Owen had become somewhat addicted to the process, giving her a rub-down whenever they had a spare moment.
"You and Eevee really do have a great bond," Lynnea noted.
"Yeah, definitely," Leo nodded.
Owen accepted the praise with practiced nonchalance; he was used to hearing it by now.
Meanwhile, Leo said, "I didn't expect to dive into Team Battles so soon... I wonder if the three of us will be on the same team."
"I hope so... our thousand-word summaries weren't written for nothing! If we're together, we can finally test the combat value of our ideas," Lynnea said expectantly.
Although they hadn't submitted their papers to Zoe yet, the three of them had spent Sunday devising a combat style that covered each other's weaknesses.
"Fat chance..." Owen interrupted their daydreaming.
If the three of them were put on one team, it would be a disaster for everyone else. They would steamroll the competition and end the matches instantly.
Actually... Owen felt that even without the other two, Eevee's current level could easily crush the other candidates. A 1v2 or 1v3 wouldn't be much of a challenge. While the others were "elites," they were still only at the entry level of the Little Phoenix King Cup main stage. "Goddess Eevee" truly had reason to look down on them all.
The Formation
"The teacher is here!"
Someone shouted, and the twenty-odd students fell silent, looking toward the gym entrance.
The newcomer was Mr. Wu, the Director of Senior Grade Studies and Ms. Nina's superior. He was a seasoned veteran trainer.
Rumor had it that Mr. Wu was strictly demanding of everyone; he had even butt heads with the Vice Principal over administrative trifles. He was a legendary figure in the eyes of the students.
"Are all twenty-five present?"
He did a quick sweep of the room. "I won't waste words with small talk."
"Tomorrow, after the second period, we will hold a Team Battle assessment here. Your performance will be factored into your final selection score. I expect you to take this seriously."
"The students here will be divided into five teams. The five names I call now will step forward as Team Captains."
Five teams meant each team would likely participate in two matches. As Owen was whispering to himself, he heard his own name.
"Owen, Lynnea, Leo, Silas, and Sarah —step forward!"
He was a captain... while Lynnea and Leo were captains of other teams. They were indeed being separated. Owen wasn't surprised and walked out to the front.
Once the five stood forth, Mr. Wu continued reading the roster for each team. Owen was assigned two boys and two girls.
"The distribution is as follows. How you coordinate and what tactics you choose is now your own business," Mr. Wu concluded.
It was nearly dark, and the time remaining for the teams to bond was minimal. This was a "blind" strike assessment. Except for a few individuals, everyone on the floor immediately felt the pressure of the impending deadline.
The Strategy Meeting
Inside the gym, the five teams gathered in their respective corners. As a captain, Owen led his four teammates to a quiet spot to begin their discussion.
"Let's start with introductions. I'm Owen from Class 12. My Pokémon is Eevee."
The other four observed each other before introducing themselves.
"Arth, Class 3. My Pokémon is Shellder."
"Lint, Class 6. My Pokémon is Bellsprout."
"Lily, Class 11. My Pokémon is Buizel."
"Maya, Class 15. My Pokémon is Shinx."
Lily was a tall girl with a somewhat proud tone. "What's the plan?" she asked.
"In such a short time, it'll be hard to coordinate smoothly. Tactics... that's a long shot," Lint shrugged. Maya and Arth nodded in agreement.
They had all attended the lectures and knew teamwork was paramount, but they were strangers. It would be a miracle if they could synchronize in less than twenty-four hours.
Seeing their lukewarm attitude, Owen felt the need to correct them.
"Since you can't think of anything, how about you follow my lead?" Owen suggested.
"I know you, Owen. The 'Ruthless Pro' from Class 12. Fine! I'll listen to you. What's your 'good idea'?" Lint from Class 6, like Leo before him, used a nickname for Owen—clearly, Owen's reputation had spread.
"Winning is easy," Owen smiled.
The four of them stared at Owen, waiting for the captain's insight.
"We don't know each other well, but neither do the other teams. Everyone is at the same starting line; there's nothing to worry about."
"Given the timeframe, no team will have time to truly bond. In this situation, to get a high score, we only need to do one thing."
"What thing?" they asked.
"Don't get in your teammates' way, and give it your all. Don't seek glory—just avoid making mistakes," Owen said. In other words: You don't have to be 'God-tier' teammates, just don't be 'Donkeys.'
"Can we even call that a team?" Arth asked skeptically.
"In a single night, do you think any team here can make 1+1+1+1+1 equal more than 5?" Owen countered. "As long as you don't interfere with each other, that's already an outstanding performance for rookies like us."
"Besides, did I say we were ditching tactics entirely?"
"Once the battle starts... You four provide long-range cover for Eevee. My Eevee will eliminate the closest enemy Pokémon in the shortest time possible. We'll create a numbers advantage early, then steamroll them in one wave!"
The four fell silent. It sounded incredibly crude.
"What on earth..." Lily spoke up. "Eliminate a Pokémon instantly? Are you that confident?"
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