Two days had passed since they returned from the research institute. During these two days, neither Ethan nor Emily went anywhere, nor did they train their Pokémon. Instead, they were organizing and refining the cultivation plans for their Pokémon, and in their free time, they played with them to foster their relationship.
The third day was when the college entrance examination results were announced. Ethan, without a doubt, became South City's top scorer with a score of 713, leaving everyone in awe. In addition, both Emily and Jake successfully reached the admission score for Southern University. Emma's score was a bit lower, but as the daughter of a Gym Leader, she had special admission privileges, so she could also enter Southern University.
"Students, after today, you'll all be scattered across the country. So, I plan to use the remaining class funds to organize one last graduation trip. The location will be near Gan Quan Lake, next to South City. How many of you are willing to go?" After the last class meeting, the old homeroom teacher looked at the students below the podium and announced.
They had been classmates for three years, and after the college entrance exam, they would all go their separate ways. Some got into Pokémon universities, some into regular universities, and some didn't get into any. But undoubtedly, from now on, their identities and statuses would be different. It would be almost impossible to sit together and play and joke around like this again. Trainers and ordinary people were inherently worlds apart, so for many, this might be the last collective activity for all classmates.
"Let's go together!" Jake wrapped an arm around Ethan and said.
"Go, go, go, sign up!" Ethan shook his head helplessly. Anyway, he had nothing to do during the summer vacation, so a trip would be nice.
"NICE! Let's go! Let's go!" Jake said excitedly, already running to the homeroom teacher to sign up.
All forty-eight students in the class decided to go. Finally, the homeroom teacher set the departure time for one week later. After the announcement, everyone dispersed. Students walked out of school in pairs and groups; some who did well made plans to go out and play, while others who didn't get into university were waiting to retake the exam or had already started looking for jobs. However, Ethan and the others stayed behind, waiting to head to the Pokémon University together.
After ordinary people fill out their college applications, they just have to wait for the results. But for students who got into Pokémon universities, there was still a very important matter: attending the registration and practical assessments of the various Pokémon universities. The college entrance exam score was just a stepping stone; the subsequent practical assessment was the real key to determining whether you could enter a Pokémon university.
This wasn't a problem for Ethan; he and Emily were Awakened, and Emma was a special recruit from a Gym, so they only needed to register and didn't have to participate in the university's practical assessment. But Jake was different; he was the only one among them who needed to take the exam, and he dragged the other three along to accompany him. Of course, Emma volunteered to go; according to her, it was to see how Jake would be crushed.
This time, they didn't have to take the bus. The school had chartered a vehicle to send students to various Pokémon universities. The practical assessments began on the day the college entrance exam results were released and lasted for a month. As long as there were still spots, those who passed the assessment would be admitted on the spot, and a teacher would take them to choose their starter Pokémon. The one or two months of summer vacation were for the school to observe the new students' ability to train Pokémon; whether they had potential or not would be clear at the freshman competition.
"What should I do? What should I do? I'm so excited! What kind of Pokémon do you think I'll get?" Standing on the training ground, watching the battles, Jake said excitedly.
Since it was the first day, many people came to take the assessment. After all, the earlier you passed the assessment, the earlier you could choose your starter Pokémon. Moreover, the enrollment quotas for each school were limited. Although it was said to be a month, schools like Southern University might not take a full month to fill up; perhaps they would fill up in just a few days.
"What's there to be excited about? If you can't even pass with type advantage, then what kind of trainer are you? Go home and inherit the family business." Emma scoffed, trying to dampen his spirits.
Emma, who had grown up in a Gym, had seen many Pokémon battles. At this moment, seeing the battles in the assessment field, she couldn't help but feel a bit bored. The assessing teachers weren't putting much effort into it, but the students being assessed were terribly weak. Despite having a type advantage, they would use Tackle instead of their own type moves, or stand on the field at a loss, not even knowing what to do. It really made her worry about the future of these people.
"Nonsense! These kinds of battles are child's play for me! Just you wait!" Jake said loudly. Just then, he heard someone call him; it was his turn for the assessment.
"Good luck!" Ethan encouraged, looking at his determined back.
Soon, the three people sitting in the stands saw the burly figure in Assessment Field 2. Even from such a distance, they could feel the trembling in his hand as he held the Poké Ball, but it wasn't fear, but excitement and thrill.
"This idiot, he won't be so excited that he crushes the Poké Ball, will he?" Emma said, covering her forehead in despair.
"Haha, you never know!" Ethan chuckled. Just then, Jake finally summoned the Pokémon in his hand, and immediately, a blue and white spherical Pokémon appeared on the field.
"Eh? Is this? Poliwag? It's a Water-type!" Ethan said, looking at the Pokémon Jake summoned.
"Hmm, the assessing teacher's Pokémon looks like? Geodude? Rock and Ground-type, a big advantage!" Emma said, looking at the opposing Pokémon, her pretty brows slightly relaxed. Although she kept teasing him, she was still quite nervous inside.
"Hmm, I originally thought the assessing teacher would use a Fire-type Pokémon, but I didn't expect it to be Geodude. It's even more afraid of Water than a typical Fire-type Pokémon!" Ethan said.
According to the data from the games in his previous life, Fire-type Pokémon only took double damage from Water-type attacks, but a Ground/Rock-type Geodude would take quadruple damage if hit by a Water-type attack. Although this calculation couldn't be directly applied to reality, it still indirectly showed Poliwag's strong advantage over Geodude.
"In that case, as long as this Poliwag has learned a Water-type move, then as long as it hits, it's basically a win," Emily, who had been silent by the side, spoke up.
"Yes, as long as it hits!" Ethan shrugged and smiled.
Why were so many candidates eliminated even with type advantage? A large part of the reason was that their moves couldn't hit the opponent.
Lacking battle experience, only knowing how to charge forward head-on. This isn't a game where you take turns hitting each other; this is a real battle. Others won't just stand there and let you hit them. It requires tactics, planning, and creating those fleeting opportunities. These are not things that these newly graduated high school students possess, which is why talent is needed—the talent of a trainer.
"Poliwag, use Hypnosis!" As they spoke, the battle on the field had already begun. The excited Jake didn't wait and made the first move.
"Using a status move first to test the waters, this Poliwag is pretty good, it's already learned Hypnosis." Seeing the invisible waves spreading out, Ethan praised. Hypnosis isn't a move every Poliwag can learn.
"Dodge, use Rock Throw!" The assessing teacher naturally couldn't be hit so easily. Poliwag's psychic abilities weren't strong, so it was easy to avoid its Hypnosis. Then, a rock was casually thrown towards Poliwag.
"Pound!" Seeing the incoming Rock Throw, Jake didn't make Poliwag dodge like other rookies. Instead, he used Pound on the flying rock.
"Beautiful!" Seeing the Rock Throw sent back, Emma immediately praised. This counterattack was truly well-executed.
It was very difficult for Poliwag, which was in the middle of using Hypnosis, to dodge this Rock Throw. The best way was to use a move to shatter the rock, but no other move would have been as good as Pound, which directly sent the opponent's attack method back at them.
Not to mention them, even the teacher assessing Jake's eyes lit up. Finally, a decent candidate had appeared. This single move was enough to admit him, but he wouldn't be allowed to win so easily.
"Geodude, charge and use Sand Attack!" Geodude is a Rock-type, so being hit by a rock was harmless. At the assessing teacher's command, it didn't dodge but instead charged forward into the rock.
Jake hadn't expected the opponent to do that, and in his momentary panic, the opponent closed in. Attacked by Sand Attack, Poliwag's eyes were already unable to open.
"Next, use Tackle, finish it!" The assessing teacher gave Geodude its final command.
"Poliwag, use Water Gun on the ground, jump up!" Seeing Geodude charging over, Jake gritted his teeth and shouted.
Hearing his words, Poliwag didn't continue to bother with the sand in its eyes. Its belly swelled, and it shot a thick stream of water at its feet, using the force to leap high into the air.
"He reacted quickly!" Seeing Poliwag successfully dodge, Emma breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"It's not over yet, the crucial part is next!" Ethan said, staring intently at the field.
At this moment, the Geodude using Tackle charged into the Water Gun stream that Poliwag had not yet dispersed, taking considerable damage. However, the sand in Poliwag's eyes had not been cleared, and it also had no ability to counterattack, unable to respond fully to Jake's commands for a moment.
"Geodude, endure, then use Take Down!" Looking at Geodude's condition, the assessing teacher knew he didn't have many opportunities left to attack. The type disadvantage was, after all, very severe. To have fought this well was already quite good; the student on the other side certainly had the qualifications for admission.
"Be careful, use Water Gun straight ahead!" Looking at Poliwag, who was still rubbing its eyes, Jake shouted loudly. Fortunately, Take Down could hardly change direction, so Poliwag just needed to use Water Gun straight ahead.
This time, Poliwag finally responded. Seemingly aware of the impending crisis, it sprayed a Water Gun directly forward, hitting Geodude squarely. However, Geodude, having used Endure, did not fall, but instead charged forward even more fiercely.
"Bang!" A violent roar erupted, and a large hole was smashed into the ground where Poliwag had been. Geodude lay in it, covered in injuries. At the same time, a blue figure slowly landed nearby; it was Poliwag, who had just been rubbing its eyes incessantly.