Eevee's success in building her sandcastle was entirely thanks to her new Sand Attack move.
Beyond its specific effects in battle, Sand Attack allowed her to manipulate sand with much greater ease, making the beach's grains much more "obedient" to her will.
This vacation had been incredibly productive. Aside from deepening his bond with Eevee, the acquisition of Sand Attack was the greatest harvest.
As of today, the nine-day-old little Eevee already mastered four moves: Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip, and Sand Attack.
While Growl and Tail Whip had some effect, Owen felt a twinge of despair after seeing Eevee use them a few times—she was just too harmless! There wasn't a hint of threat in her adorable displays.
However, Owen was comforted by the fact that he had successfully cultivated Eevee's interest in getting stronger.
He didn't know how long this enthusiasm would last, but for now, Eevee was in peak condition, eagerly anticipating the "training methods" Owen had promised.
She truly wanted to become strong, to be as cool as the protagonists in movies and battle videos, and to be the center of attention in the arena.
Splash...
After spending the whole day on the beach, Owen and Eevee immediately showered back in their room to refresh themselves.
Although it looked like they were just playing, they were both dog-tired. Eevee, in particular, had drained a lot of stamina by using Sand Attack for extended periods.
By dinner time, Eevee downed two large bowls of warm milk before letting out a satisfied burp. Now that she had entered the Growth Phase, her appetite was clearly increasing!
Knock, knock, knock...
Just as they were settling in to find another movie, there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, Owen, Eevee! Want to play cards?" Luke's voice came from the hallway.
"Vee?" Eevee blinked. What's that?
"Want to check it out?" Owen asked. Eevee nodded.
"Coming!" Owen called out. Eevee hopped onto his shoulder, and they followed Luke to the room across the hall.
"Man, what did you and Eevee do today? You both look exhausted," Luke remarked.
"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you..." Owen laughed.
Inside the other room, Owen found the rest of the group already gathered. He explained the day's events, leaving everyone wide-eyed.
"Just like that... she learned Sand Attack?" Tiffany asked, stunned. She felt like she might be a "fake" Trainer compared to him.
"My Graveler wants to hit someone. I remember it only learned that through brutal special training," Mason grumbled.
"You're too lucky," Justin added.
"I didn't expect it... the man who wants to be a professional Trainer actually has some skills," Luke mused. He could see that, despite only being together for a few days, the bond between Owen and Eevee was genuinely impressive.
"It was just a happy accident," Owen said calmly. "Maybe Eevee and I are just perfectly in sync."
"Vee!" Eevee nodded proudly.
"Stop showing off, you two," Justin joked. "You're even teaching little Eevee how to pose. Hey, Tiffany, show him that flyer we found today."
"Flyer? What flyer?" Owen asked.
"The Young Ho-Oh Cup Rookie Trainer Tournament," Tiffany said.
A Tempting Prize
A Rookie Trainer Tournament? The Young Ho-Oh Cup?!
"It's a local Shanghai tournament for students entering their third year of high school, like you," Luke explained. "All participants are rookies who just got their starters. It's sponsored by the Aurora Group, and the prizes are amazing."
"Their idea was to have you enter just to watch you get crushed," Mason laughed.
Owen: "..."
"A tournament for rookies? I don't know, Eevee and I haven't even started—wait..."
Owen's eyes shifted as he took the flyer from Tiffany.
"Holy cow! The grand prize is a Soothe Bell!"
The Soothe Bell is a bell with a comforting chime. It's a Pokémon Held Item that calms the Pokémon holding it, keeping them peaceful and focused. Most importantly, it makes it easier for a Pokémon to grow close to its Trainer.
This was exactly what Owen needed. If he wanted Eevee to evolve through friendship (Happiness) later, without relying on rare evolution stones, he needed a powerful bond.
"You know what that bell is?" Tiffany asked.
"I remember hearing that the chime can keep a Pokémon's mood serene. Online, they call it a 'sleep aid' for Pokémon," Justin added.
"But those bells are rare. Aside from the Aurora Group, I've never seen them for sale," Luke noted.
You guys have no idea... Owen thought. He decided right then: he was going to get that bell and put it around Eevee's neck.
"Grand prize: Soothe Bell, 100,000 credits in cash, and an Aurora Group Membership Card," Owen read aloud. "That's basically free loot."
"Wake up. If you want to participate, go for the experience. Don't actually expect to win," Tiffany said, tapping her forehead.
"The Young Ho-Oh Cup is famous in Shanghai. There will probably be more participants than all the students in Fairview High combined. Even the preliminaries won't be easy to pass."
Owen calmed down. She was right. Winning a tournament in a metropolis like Shanghai wouldn't be a walk in the park.
But... the Soothe Bell. He wanted it. The 100,000 credits... he needed them. The membership card would give him discounts on Aurora Group products—making Moomoo Milk much cheaper.
These people were cruel for tempting him with this, but he was definitely hooked.
"The tournament is in mid-August, right before school starts. I have about a month and a half to prepare..." Owen calculated. "If Eevee and I train hard for a month and a half, is it possible to place? Even second place gets 50,000 credits. The top sixteen all get prize money."
The club members realized Owen's financial situation wasn't great. Luke thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible. But everyone else signing up will also be training their Pokémon's battle abilities intensely. If you really want to try, you need to start immediately."
Owen nodded. He was planning to train anyway; now, he had a clear, immediate goal to motivate him.
"Vee!" Meanwhile, Eevee looked at the silver bell ornament on the flyer. It looked pretty, so she chirped in agreement.
"Then it's a deal?" Owen asked Eevee.
"Wait, I think we're getting off track," Justin said blankly. "Are we playing cards or not?"
"Forget cards! Let's help Owen figure out how to train Eevee. He's part of the Psychology Club; it would look bad if he got knocked out in the first round!"
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