After chatting briefly about Senior Ivy, Serena brought up the school team again.
The National Collegiate League represented the highest level of competition available to university students. Trainers at the collegiate level were typically classified as Senior Trainers, defined by having at least three Pokémon that reached C-level in comprehensive evaluation.
Therefore, the National Collegiate League naturally adopted a 3v3 format, most suitable for Senior Trainers. Since the school team aimed to compete in the Collegiate League, their selection standards followed similar criteria.
"If you want to be selected as a starter for Capital University's team, you must have three Pokémon with an average level of at least B+ or above," Serena explained, glancing at Roy's schoolbag—which he never left behind. She knew it contained a Pokémon egg.
"You're not counting your unhatched Pokémon among your potential team members, are you?" Serena's expression resembled someone looking at an unscrupulous capitalist exploiting child labor.
Only two months remained before the school team selection, and it was impossible to predict when the Pokémon egg would hatch. Optimistically, the newborn would have perhaps a month and a half to prepare. Pessimistically, it might be forced into battle on the very day it hatched.
"One step at a time," Roy explained. "It's not impossible for me to catch new Pokémon during this period."
Regardless of the challenges, he was determined to participate in the National Collegiate League. As the saying went, young people represented the future...
Though the National Collegiate League couldn't match professional leagues or Elite Four qualifiers in terms of competitive level and excitement, its popularity rivaled both. A strong performance in the league would instantly establish national recognition and attract investment from countless corporations. Winning the championship secured substantial government support.
The National Collegiate League was truly a gathering of hidden talents with tremendous potential.
Roy didn't assume he would definitely win the championship, but participating would earn popularity points for his Pokémon. Focusing on this goal was definitely the right move.
Time passed quickly. To prepare for the school team selection, Roy conducted specialized training every day. Even on days with academic classes, he sent Riolu and Squirtle to the training room to practice independently and monitor each other.
The intensity of their special training was so extreme that even professional trainers would have been shocked. Some might wonder: Wouldn't such rigorous training cause cellular necrosis?
This wasn't simply a matter of effort but of physical limitations. Without an adequate supply of energy cubes, such training would be completely unsustainable. As a result, Roy burned through half a million points in just one week—far exceeding his expectations.
The results, however, proved worthwhile. Riolu's comprehensive evaluation rose to C+ level, and he learned three new moves:
Nasty Plot (Dark), Quick Guard (Fighting), and Force Palm (Fighting).
Roy didn't plan to focus extensively on Nasty Plot or Quick Guard, but he found Force Palm particularly interesting.
"The principle resembles the vital point striking technique in China's martial arts," he reflected. "When striking, 'energy' is introduced into the opponent's body, causing internal damage. If it hits a pressure point, it can even paralyze the opponent..."
Roy considered further, "The energy here must refer to Fighting-type power. I wonder if it could be replaced with Aura power? I should document this idea and test it..."
Beyond the three moves naturally learned through leveling up, Riolu surprised Roy on the eighth day.
"Return? You actually figured out this move by yourself?"
Roy placed his hand appreciatively on Riolu's head and began petting him affectionately. The normally cool and mature Riolu, who maintained a reserved demeanor with everyone else, clearly enjoyed this attention—squinting contentedly and wagging his tail.
While Return wasn't particularly powerful compared to other moves available to novice Pokémon, its significance wasn't in combat power. What impressed Roy was that Riolu had grasped the fundamental concept of Return—capturing emotional energy and applying it practically. This suggested that Riolu wasn't far from producing Aura and evolving into Lucario.
Life always balanced joys with sorrows. If Riolu brought pleasant surprises, Squirtle delivered troubling news.
"Squir...tle... Squir...tle."
Squirtle lay sprawled on all fours, staring blankly at the ceiling. His entire demeanor radiated exhaustion and a clear message: "I'm so tired, I don't want to work anymore."
Roy approached with concern, picked up the motivational bell, shook it gently, and said, "Squirtle, you can't rest yet..."
As if triggered by some stress response, Squirtle instantly burst into tears. Water flowed in impressive columns, the volume astonishing. Rather than simply crying, Squirtle rolled around frantically.
Seeing this, Roy scratched his face awkwardly, recognizing that the training regimen had indeed been excessive lately.
Pokémon were intelligent creatures with pure minds and delicate emotions. Each had a distinct personality and could experience anger, laziness, arrogance, stubbornness...
Roy recognized Squirtle's reaction all too well from his own childhood. When he was young, Roy had developed an interest in playing Go. When his mother discovered this, she immediately enrolled him in weekend classes and encouraged him to play after school, while still maintaining his academic studies.
As a result, Roy, who had genuinely enjoyed Go, abandoned it within six months and even developed an aversion to the game. His mother had good intentions—at least she was willing to pay for classes and spend time playing with him, rather than cutting off all extracurricular activities in favor of academics. But her approach was misguided—too much pressure was counterproductive.
Roy quickly devised a solution.
"Alright, alright, no training today."
Upon hearing these words, Squirtle immediately stopped crying and looked up at Roy with tear-filled eyes, as if confirming whether he meant it.
"Instead, we're going to battle someone today!" Roy announced cheerfully. "We'll have a friendly match where you can show off your skills."
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle sprang up from his despondent position, suddenly energized. Soon, however, worry clouded his expression—what if he lost?
Throughout the week, he had engaged in several practice battles with Riolu but hadn't won a single match, crushing his confidence. Squirtle's poor attitude today was partly Riolu's doing.
"Don't worry, your opponent is much weaker. You'll definitely win," Roy assured him confidently.
After comforting Squirtle, Roy took out his phone, opened the class group chat, and directly tagged @Callan.
Callan: ?
Roy: Friendly match?
Callan : Get out!
Callan : What, do you think I'm a fool? Just letting you crush me?
The class group chat suddenly went silent. Chloe, who was watching the exchange, had to admire Callan's ability to express such defensiveness with such aggressive wording.
Roy: Don't worry, I won't be using Riolu. I'm sending Squirtle today.
Callan : ...the Pokémon you just got a week ago?
Callan : Are you sure? My Bulbasaur has a type advantage over Squirtle.
Roy: To be honest, I actually want him to lose. Squirtle has become too cocky, and I need to humble him a bit...
Roy: I have no doubts about your skill level.
On the other side of the screen, Callan couldn't suppress a smile.
'Roy, you flatterer!'
In reality, he didn't believe he would lose either. Bulbasaur's advantage lay in having trained longer than his opponent, and Callan knew the starters inside out.
How could he possibly lose?
A friendly match with Roy would build goodwill, earn some favors, and help discipline Roy's Pokémon—a win-win situation in Callan's mind.
Callan : Fine! I accept!
Callan : One o'clock in the battle room. Don't be late!