Chapter 7: First Victory
To be fair, Munchlax's special defense was truly high, and its stamina was plentiful. Drilbur had to use Mud-Slap nearly ten times before finally taking it down.
"Cha… ri…"
At this point, Drilbur was also panting heavily, its chest heaving like a bellows. It was a good thing that eating the Ground Gem fragment had slightly improved its control over Ground-type energy, making it more proficient at using Mud-Slap. Otherwise, if Munchlax had held on any longer, Drilbur might have been the first to collapse.
After all, in the real world, a Pokémon's stamina wasn't just depleted when taking hits; using moves also consumed a significant amount of energy.
Fortunately, Drilbur had persevered. Otherwise, how frustrating would it be for the one dishing out the punishment to collapse from exhaustion before the one taking it?
When the result of the battle was clear, all the students watching fell silent.
It wasn't that they thought Basalt and Drilbur were particularly amazing. Quite the opposite; they thought Drilbur's fighting style was… incredibly dirty!
Granted, this kind of dirty tactic was only effective against low-agility Pokémon like Munchlax. It wouldn't work against other types.
But still… it was really dirty!
At their age, the students still preferred hot-blooded, passionate, head-on battles. Dirty tactics were something they looked down upon.
"Munchlax is unable to battle. Therefore, the winner is… Basalt!"
After a long pause, the student acting as the referee finally made the call. His decisive announcement brought the watching students back to their senses, and they immediately burst into discussion.
"Munchlax actually lost?"
"It lost, but not because it was weaker than Drilbur. It lost to Basalt's dirty tactics!"
"Totally. Basalt's mud-in-the-face strategy was so cheap! How is that any different from kids fighting and resorting to eye-pokes, groin shots, and hair-pulling? It's just low!"
…
Since Basalt didn't have a good relationship with the other boys, most of them were denouncing his dirty tactics, feeling that he had won without honor.
A few of them thought that while his methods were a bit dirty, they didn't seem to violate any official battle rules and could be considered a valid strategy, so there was no such thing as an dishonorable victory. However, these students were in the minority, and though they thought this way, they didn't dare voice their support out loud.
One boy in particular, whose starter was a Sandshrew, quietly slipped out of the crowd while no one was paying attention. Once he reached a corner, he released his Sandshrew and said with an expectant look, "Sandshrew, can you use Mud-Slap too? Don't play games with me, kid, show me what you've got!"
Sandshrew: [_?]
…
Basalt was noncommittal about the accusations of using dirty tactics.
So what if it was dirty?
As long as you don't break the rules, winning is all that matters, okay?
Besides, haven't you heard the old saying… getting a little dirty is good for you?
These youngsters haven't been beaten down by the real world yet. They don't know anything!
Basalt was in a great mood. Not only had he won a 10% discount card, but his Pokémon had also won its very first battle. Life was good!
Ring-ring-ring!
Just then, the bell for class rang. The students were startled and immediately sprinted back towards the classroom.
Frank, having failed to get the better of Basalt and losing out instead, shot a glare at him before recalling his Munchlax and rushing back to class.
Basalt, on the other hand, was in no hurry. He calmly took an Oran Berry from his backpack and placed it in Drilbur's mouth. Oran Berries were a common type of berry that could restore a small amount of a Pokémon's stamina. Since his family grew them, he had plenty.
"Drilbur, you did great this time. When we get home tonight, I'll have Mom make you her braised pork!"
Basalt said with a smile, ruffling the top of his partner's head as a reward. Before the battle, he had actually been a little worried that Drilbur might be too timid to fight. Like people, every Pokémon had its own personality, and not all of them enjoyed battling. Some timid Pokémon were only suited to be companions and could never become battle-ready partners.
Fortunately, Drilbur had not let him down.
"Chari~" (o^ω^o)
Upon hearing there would be braised pork, Drilbur's eyes instantly turned into little stars. It would never forget the taste of that dish. It was absolutely amazing! It was the best food it had ever eaten… with no exceptions, for now.
After recalling Drilbur to its Poké Ball, Basalt leisurely made his way back to the classroom. Just as he sat down in his seat, the teacher arrived.
His timing was perfect.
The teacher was a woman in her mid-twenties. Her skin was slightly tan, but her features were delicate, and her figure was superb. Her long, slender legs were especially eye-catching, looking as if they had a special effect on them—long, straight, and perfectly shaped.
The moment she walked into the classroom, all the boys couldn't help but focus their attention on her. Basalt was naturally no exception.
Her face is great and all, but the key is those long legs… absolutely incredible!
"My name is Anya, and I'll be your Pokémon Practical Combat teacher. For the next year, I will be teaching you how to train your Pokémon and how to battle alongside them."
"But let me be clear, although I'm a new teacher, my training will be very strict. So, please be prepared to work hard!"
The beautiful teacher, Ms. Anya, stood at the podium. She scanned the room before speaking, her voice crisp with a hint of huskiness, giving off a cool and capable vibe.
The moment she finished speaking, whispers broke out in the classroom. The boys snickered and quietly discussed the teacher's looks and figure, feeling incredibly lucky to have been assigned such a gorgeous teacher. As for the part about working hard? Heh! The boys were thinking they'd love to experience some of the beautiful teacher's "hardship" right now.
The girls, however, were more objective and rational. They could sense that this beautiful teacher was probably not joking.
The whispering only lasted for a dozen seconds before it died down under the teacher's stern gaze. Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Ms. Anya nodded in satisfaction.
With a serious expression, she said, "But before we officially begin, I must give you all a few reminders."
Hearing this, everyone focused their attention, waiting for her to continue.
"I understand the joy and excitement of receiving your first Pokémon. You're eager to jump into battles to showcase your Pokémon's strength and your own superb command skills. But…"
"For the first one or two weeks after birth, Pokémon are still in their infancy. Their bodies are not fully developed and are still very weak. If you rashly engage in battle, one wrong move could cause serious, irreparable damage."
"Furthermore, a Pokémon's mind is also very fragile during this stage. If you win your battles, that's one thing. But if you lose, it can leave an indelible shadow in your Pokémon's heart, which could ultimately lead them to become timid and fearful of battle."
"And once a Pokémon becomes fearful of battle, I don't need to explain the consequences, do I?"
After speaking, Ms. Anya's gaze shifted to Basalt and Frank. Clearly, the new teacher had seen their earlier battle and was using it as a warning.
Hearing her words, both Basalt and Frank lowered their heads.
Their nation was a society governed by the rule of law. Laws in all areas were well-established, and the interests of Pokémon were effectively protected. Even if a Pokémon became timid and unsuited for battle, the law stipulated that you first had to provide it with psychological counseling. Only if that failed would the League approve a replacement for your starter.
The problem was, this counseling period could take about half a year.
And they were third-year high school students. In one year, they would be taking their college entrance exams, a moment that could change the course of their lives. If you lost half a year, how could you possibly compete with your peers?
As for casually abandoning a Pokémon? Heh, that was a serious crime in their country, and you could end up in jail. What about just catching and raising another one? Sorry, novice trainers were only allowed to own one Pokémon.
Seeing that everyone understood the gravity of the situation, Ms. Anya's tone softened. "Alright, let's officially begin the class!"