The second year at the academy was nearing its end. Months of rigorous study, combat training, and specialization classes had passed, and for Ray, this year had been pivotal.
Gone were the nerves of the first year. He had grown—alongside his Pokémon, his ideals, and even his ambitions.
Ranger Track – Coordination and Discipline
Throughout the semester, Ray and Kira had become standouts in the Ranger specialization.
Their training included everything from Pokémon rescue simulations to emergency response drills in hostile terrain. They learned how to track wild Pokémon, defuse aggressive behavior without violence, and navigate complex ecosystems.
Kira displayed fearless decision-making and a deep empathy for Pokémon in distress. Ray, on the other hand, brought precision and innovative thinking, always spotting optimal routes or anticipating wild encounters before they happened.
Together, they had completed every practical scenario given to them—and always with high marks.
Pokémon Status Update
The results of that effort were most visible in their Pokémon:
Pidgeotto
Combat Level: 38
Aptitude: BluePidgeotto's growth had been steady yet powerful. Having advanced from Deep Green, it had now firmly broken into the Blue aptitude range—something only a few Pokémon in the entire academy had accomplished. Its agility, aerial control, and tactical adaptability had sharpened to an elite degree. Ray could feel it: Pidgeotto was nearing the threshold of evolution.
Machoke (Kira's Pokémon)
Combat Level: 39
Aptitude: Deep BlueMachoke had become a force of nature. Its movements were explosive, but no longer wild. Each strike was calculated, each step perfectly in sync with Kira's commands. Together, they had become an ideal example of human-Pokémon synergy.
Dratini
Combat Level: 28
Aptitude: Light PurpleDratini hadn't yet reached new aptitude heights, but its combat level was steadily climbing. Though Ray still kept it hidden from the public, their private training was relentless. With its Light Purple aptitude, Dratini's potential was enormous. Ray estimated that once it evolved into Dragonair, a new surge of growth would follow. The bond between them had only deepened after the loss of Dragonite—and it was clear Dratini wanted to carry on its mother's legacy with pride.
Research Track – A Breakthrough Submission
Ray's choice to pursue the Research specialization had surprised most… especially Instructor Halden.
"No one's chosen this path in years," Halden had said with disbelief on the first day. "I hope you're ready to carry it."
Ray had not only carried it—he'd redefined it.
His first research paper was complete.Title: "A Sub-Level Framework for Pokémon Aptitude Classification"
In it, Ray proposed the now internally validated theory that Pokémon aptitudes—commonly believed to be singular color values—were actually divided into Light, Standard, and Deep sub-levels. While the general public and most professionals accepted "Blue" or "Green" as whole categories, Ray's research showed that:
Pokémon of the same visible aptitude could vary greatly in growth curve, ceiling, and potential
These differences explained why some Pokémon "plateaued" earlier than others despite appearing equal
Combat Level correlated strongly with both aptitude and sub-level classification
The paper included comprehensive data gathered over more than a year of observation. Ray had avoided naming Dratini directly, but he cited Pidgeotto, Machoke, and even Pokémon from classmates to support his findings.
He also presented a refined scale for Combat Level categorization:
Statsight Summary – Combat Level Categories:
Non-Combatant: 0–9
Beginner-Class: 10–19
Intermediate-Class: 20–39
Advanced-Class: 40–69
Elite-Class: 70–89
Champion-Class: 90–99
Legendary-Class: 100+
These groupings provided a more intuitive way to assess Pokémon capability without relying solely on anecdotal comparisons or perceived "rarity."
Instructor Halden had been stunned.
"This… This is doctoral-level analysis," he whispered, flipping through Ray's appendices. "If the League approves this... it could change the way we understand Pokémon development forever."
The Submission
Ray's final step had been to formally submit the paper to the Regional Research Board.
It included:
A methodology appendix
Comparative growth charts
Combat Level logs
Footnotes for peer review standards
A disclaimer indicating this as a "First Hypothesis Submission"
With that done, Instructor Halden clapped a hand on Ray's shoulder.
"I don't know where your journey leads, Ray," he said. "But I'm honored to say I taught you, even for a little while."
Looking Forward
Outside, as the sun dipped below the tree line, Ray walked toward the dorms. Pidgeotto flew low, wings slicing through the golden air. Dratini poked its head from Ray's jacket with a sleepy blink.
There were still things to improve.
Battles to win.Mysteries to unravel.Dreams to achieve.
And now…A world of researchers and trainers that might soon have to rethink everything they thought they knew.