The arena still vibrated with the excitement of battle. Although the fight had ended, the impact of what had transpired remained fresh in the minds of all those present. With his unexpected victory, Kenji had accomplished something few aspirants could: not only had he defeated Renjiro, but he had also unveiled a mysterious beast that left everyone speechless.
Conversations among the students erupted instantly.
—Where did he get that beast? —one of the aspirants asked in disbelief.
—I've never seen anything like it… it looked like a bear, but its power was monstrous.
—And how is it possible for him to have two beasts? Isn't that something only geniuses can do?
Kenji walked through the academy halls alongside Hiroki, listening to the murmurs around him. Now, the looks he received were no longer filled with pity or ridicule but with respect and admiration.
—Kenji, seriously… —Hiroki broke the silence—. That was incredible! I can't believe your Ursaring completely crushed Renjiro's Shadow Venom!
Kenji smiled modestly.
—Well, Ursaring is strong, but… it wasn't easy.
—That wasn't luck! —another student interjected, approaching with enthusiasm—. Your beast crushed him without mercy!
—Yeah, but… —another boy looked at Kenji with a hint of suspicion—. I've never seen a beast like that before. Where did you get it?
Kenji remained calm. He couldn't reveal that his system allowed him to obtain Pokémon.
—That's a secret —he said with a mysterious smile.
The other aspirants exchanged glances, frustrated at not getting a clear answer, but they didn't insist.
Suddenly, Kenji felt a strong presence approaching. He turned and saw a woman with dark hair and sharp eyes walking elegantly toward them. Beside her, a beast with white feathers and an agile body followed her gracefully.
He recognized her instantly: Professor Shizuka, the one in charge of the first trial.
But what surprised him the most was Akari's reaction.
—Aunt Shizuka! —Akari exclaimed, showing a warmer expression than usual.
Kenji blinked in surprise.
"Aunt?"
He couldn't believe it. Akari, the noble family girl with immense talent, was related to one of the most prestigious instructors at the academy.
Shizuka gently patted her niece's head before setting her gaze on Kenji.
—You are impressive, boy —she said in a calm yet firm tone—. I watched your entire battle from the VIP room.
Kenji felt a slight shiver.
—Thank you, Professor Shizuka.
The woman observed him with interest before continuing.
—I hope to see you in my classes. I have high expectations for you.
Kenji nodded respectfully.
—I'll do my best.
Shizuka gave a slight smile before taking her leave.
—See you soon. Come, Akari.
Akari glanced at Kenji one last time before following her aunt.
—We'll see each other in class, Kenji —she said with a faint smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Hiroki looked at Kenji with a teasing grin.
—Looks like you've impressed some important people.
Kenji sighed.
—Yeah… I guess so.
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The following days served as a break for the new students. In just a few days, the academy would officially begin classes, and all admitted students would have to move into the institution's dormitories.
Kenji took advantage of this time to rest and enjoy his last moments with his family.
When he arrived at the academy's exit, he saw his parents waiting for him.
His mother, Aiko, seemed anxious as she watched him approach. His father, Takeshi, maintained a calmer expression, but his eyes reflected concern.
When Kenji finally stepped through the gates, his parents observed him in silence for a moment. Then, his mother burst into tears and hugged him tightly.
—Kenji! Did you do it? —she asked, her voice trembling.
Kenji smiled and nodded.
—Yeah, I passed.
His mother's emotions overflowed, and his father let out a sigh of relief before giving him a proud smile.
—I knew you could do it —Takeshi said as he gave his son a firm pat on the shoulder.
Aiko wiped her tears and smiled through her sobs.
—I'm so happy! For a moment… I thought it would be much harder for you.
Kenji understood what she meant. Months ago, when he was diagnosed as incapable of summoning beasts, his family believed his future was ruined. But now, thanks to the system, he was on the path to becoming someone powerful.
—Don't worry, Mom. I can handle it.
That night, the family celebrated Kenji's victory with a great dinner. The house was filled with laughter and joy, something that hadn't happened in a long time.
Kenji felt warmth in his chest. His family was happy for him.
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🔥 Analyzing His Pokémon
Back in his room, Kenji sat on his bed and opened the system interface. He decided to check his Pokémon's stats.
📜 System Data – Ursaring
📊 Level: 12
🐻 Type: Normal
🔥 Abilities:
• Guts: Increases strength when injured.
• Quick Feet: Boosts speed when suffering from status conditions.
• Slash: A sharp-claw attack that causes deep wounds.
• Fury Swipes: Unleashes a series of rapid claw attacks.
"Ursaring has leveled up twice since the battle… he's strong."
Next, he checked Charmander.
📜 System Data – Charmander
📊 Level: 14
🔥 Type: Fire
🔥 Abilities:
• Ember: Launches small flames to damage the enemy.
• Fire Claw: A fire-infused attack that leaves burns. (Mutated Ability)
• Smokescreen: Creates a smoke screen to hide.
• Growl: Lowers the enemy's attack power.
🌟 Passive Ability – Explosive Spark: If a fire attack lands, it triggers a small additional explosion.
"Charmander has also leveled up… he'll evolve soon."
However, what caught his attention the most was a new option in the system: Teamwork.
📜 Teamwork: Influences synchronization and cooperation between Pokémon.
🔹 Charmander – 10%
🔹 Ursaring – 10%
"Teamwork?"
Kenji recalled that in the tournaments he watched on TV, some trainers used multiple beasts simultaneously.
"If I want to be strong, I need my Pokémon to work well together."
But how could he improve that percentage?
Kenji closed his eyes, lost in thought.
He knew the real challenge was only just beginning.