-020- An Easy Victory Over the Fire Fox!

“Oh? You’re not going to take the initiative? Then I won’t hold back!” Lin Jintong had given Tong Si the opportunity to attack first, worried that the Electric Monster might not even get a chance to use its skill before the battle ended. Yet, since Tong Si failed to appreciate the chance Lin Jintong offered, she decided to let the Electric Monster charge up for free.

“Fire Fox, use Ember!”

“Fox!” The Fire Fox instantly unleashed a spark as large as a fireball, hurtling toward the Electric Monster. Lin Jintong’s Fire Fox was undeniably well-trained; though only at level ten, its Ember was impressive, far larger than the norm.

Tong Si immediately deduced that Lin Jintong must have spent considerable time raising this Fire Fox.

“Electric Monster, show them your powerful right arm! Jump!”

Unfazed, the Electric Monster planted its arm against the ground and punched hard, leaping into the air just as the Ember arrived.

Everyone watching, including Lin Jintong, was stunned. The Electric Monster had jumped so high using only its arm strength?

“This can’t be!” Lin Jintong stared at the airborne Electric Monster, her body trembling. All the trainers present were novices; how could a beginner have raised an Electric Monster with such astonishing strength?

“Fox?” The Fire Fox was bewildered as well. Its Ember skill had defeated many opponents, but this time, its attack missed entirely.

“Electric Monster, use Thunder Shock!”

While Lin Jintong was still in shock, Tong Si issued his next command.

“Beep!” A dazzling golden Thunder Shock shot straight at the Fire Fox, so fast it was breathtaking.

“Fire Fox, dodge!” Lin Jintong finally reacted, but the Thunder Shock had already struck.

“Fox…” The Fire Fox was numbed by the electric attack, wracked with pain. It had endured Thunder Shocks before, but none had ever been this powerful. Why was this golden Thunder Shock so devastating?

Accompanied by crackling static, the Fire Fox collapsed, losing its ability to fight.

“Fire Fox…” Lin Jintong cried out, unable to accept what had happened.

[Beep·Boop]
[Congratulations, Host, on your victory. Awarded ten thousand points.]

As the system’s announcement sounded, Tong Si recalled the Electric Monster. He withdrew his identity card from the battle platform, which then descended. Quietly, Tong Si left the arena.

The spectators were all stunned. Lin Jintong, the undefeated champion with twenty-three consecutive wins, had lost? And to a single Thunder Shock from the Electric Monster?

Only Tong Si himself knew the true power behind that attack. First, the Electric Monster’s energy storage: before leaving home, Tong Si had it absorb as much electricity as possible at the breeding house, though this had driven up the electric bill. But Tong Si was willing to pay for the sake of nurturing his Electric Monster.

Additionally, the Electric Monster wore a Magnet, boosting electric-type skills by twenty percent. Coupled with the Charge skill used at the start of the battle, it was a triple boost.

With these three enhancements, the Thunder Shock’s power rivaled a supercharged Thunderbolt! How could a level ten Fire Fox possibly withstand such a powerful attack?

Lin Jintong’s defeat was not undeserved; it wasn’t that she was weak, but that Tong Si was simply too strong.

After beating Lin Jintong, Tong Si could no longer stay in the arena. The nearby spectators all recognized him, and he instantly became the center of conversation.

Tong Si slipped outside the Pokémon Association. Inside, everyone knew he’d beaten Lin Jintong, but outside, the other trainers were unaware.

Tong Si then began a spree of rookie battles, defeating twelve trainers in ten minutes. Two trainers refused to accept defeat, fed their Pokémon recovery medicine, and challenged him again, only to lose even more miserably.

Tong Si soon discovered that only the first victory against each opponent awarded ten thousand points; repeat battles didn’t grant any points.

The system clarified:
[Each trainer can only award battle points once per month.]

“So I have to battle different trainers,” Tong Si muttered.

“Beep beep!” The Electric Monster was full of enthusiasm. After these battles, it had leveled up to nine.

However, no one else was willing to challenge Tong Si. The trainers outside were already weak, and after his crushing victories, their spirits were broken. Tong Si had no choice but to end his rookie battle spree early.

“Let’s head back, Electric Monster. We’ll come again another day!”

“Beep beep!” Tong Si and the Electric Monster seemed to agree.

He hailed a Doduo Express and returned to JOJO Breeding House. It was his first time riding Doduo Express since arriving in this world. The speed was incredible, even faster than Song Xin’s sedan. As Doduo ran, it brought along a warm breeze, making the summer afternoon pleasantly comfortable.

Back at JOJO Breeding House, Tong Si found someone waiting at the door.

“Zishan, why are you here again?” Tong Si sighed. Only a few hours had passed, yet Yun Zishan had returned to JOJO Breeding House. Did he never sleep?

“Tong Si! You’re finally back! I couldn’t sleep at all—I tossed and turned and just couldn’t rest!” Yun Zishan was extremely excited, pressing against the glass door, his gaze fixed on the Pokémon egg incubator inside. Any passerby would surely mistake him for a thief with questionable motives.

“Well, you can keep watch over Mareep’s Pokémon egg,” Tong Si said, opening the door. Yun Zishan rushed in first.

Tong Si fetched a small stool for him. Yun Zishan sat in front of the incubator, staring at the Mareep egg in a daze.

“At least you can help me mind the shop,” Tong Si muttered to himself, though Yun Zishan didn’t seem to hear.

In the yard, the two Magikarps were still splashing wildly.

“Kalu Kalu!”
“Kalu Kalu…”

No matter the time, the Magikarps remained enthusiastic.

In the corner, Rattata and Sentret were sleeping, and on the orange tree, Caterpie had yet to awaken.

These three little ones had simply settled in Tong Si’s yard. He didn’t mind—the yard was spacious anyway.

“Come out, Electric Monster and Eevee!” Tong Si released them from their Poké Balls.

“Bui~” Eevee puffed its cheeks in protest. It had been cooped up in its Poké Ball all morning and was feeling stifled.

“Sorry, Eevee.” Tong Si apologized, offering a Torchic-brand sausage.

Eevee forgave him instantly upon seeing the treat.

… (To be continued)