Chapter 367: Swamp Domain
"Senior, what is it?" Basalt ran over eagerly. He genuinely respected Bella Bai, the school team captain and his senior.
"Let me ask you: has your Cradily reached the Pro-level?" Bella looked at Basalt, her eyes filled with unconcealed anticipation.
Although conventional matches for Pro-level trainers were 6v6, one only needed three Pokémon at the Pro-level to pass the Trainer Certification. Having all Pokémon at the Pro-level was something only accomplished by veteran Pro-level trainers.
"I... I think so," Basalt scratched his head, a little unsure.
Confirming Excadrill's Attack power and Bronzong's psychic power was easy. But Cradily's case was unique; its strength lay in recovery and sustainability. The power of its individual moves couldn't compare to Excadrill's or Bronzong's, but it won through endurance. With its non-stop barrage, even the defensively oriented Bronzong felt immense pressure.
"That's great, then!" Bella clasped her hands together, visibly excited. She calculated the dates, then said seriously, "The semester is winding down, but we still have half a month until the break. Basalt, you absolutely must pass the Pro-level Trainer Certification before that deadline. Do you understand what I mean?" Bella winked at him.
"Yes." Basalt nodded. He understood completely.
Once a trainer reached the Pro-level, their biggest stage was the Professional League. Trainers joined the league for fame and profit. These two things were intertwined: fame brought profit, and profit reinforced fame.
If Basalt passed the certification before the break, he would be recognized as a freshman. If he missed the deadline, he would be considered a sophomore.
The difference between a Pro-level trainer in their freshman year and their sophomore year was enormous. A Pro-level freshman was a rare talent in the entire Alliance. A Pro-level sophomore? That number was far higher. After all, Basalt's peers, like Dante and Roman, would likely reach the Pro-level in their sophomore year, too. If Basalt missed the deadline, he would lose his unique advantage.
"Since you understand, I won't say more. Just hurry up and pass the assessment. Once you pass, you can inform Principal Mu. The school will handle the operations and publicity for you." Bella gave Basalt a knowing look.
The university's reputation was, in part, determined by its students' fame. The higher Basalt's visibility, the more advantageous it would be for Centralis University. It was a symbiotic relationship. Basalt's heart warmed at the thought. His value would instantly skyrocket.
"And once you pass the Pro-level, you'll surely enter the Professional League, right? Have you thought about which club you want to join? You can talk to me, and I can help facilitate a deal for you," Bella advised him, speaking with the tone of a seasoned veteran.
Clubs had a complete organizational system in this world. With Basalt's potential, almost every club in the Alliance would open its doors to him. Bella herself would love for Basalt to join her Divine Club, but she didn't want to influence his decision.
Basalt only had a basic understanding of how clubs worked. He wasn't in a rush to join one, as he still needed to visit the Veridian Forest Secret Realm in Saffron City first to fulfill his promise. Sylvie's request was more pressing.
"Senior, I haven't thought about that yet. Let me pass the Pro-level assessment first. If I have any questions later, I might have to bother you and ask for advice."
"Alright. Contact me if you need anything; I'll do my best to help. I have connections in this circle." Bella patted her chest, smiling confidently. As the ace of the Divine Club, Bella had influence, and with a powerful family behind her, her network was extensive.
Waving goodbye to Bella, Basalt went to collect his reward for winning the grade-wide competition: a medium-grade enhancing item. Since he had gained several already, he chose a medium-grade Smooth Rock. Numel's power was increasing rapidly, but its Rock-type skills were lacking. This Smooth Rock would allow Numel to learn the Sandstorm move. With a little training, Numel should be able to execute the Fire Sandstorm move independently. This would greatly boost its solo power and group battle effectiveness.
"Dooom~ Doom-doom~" Numel, having received the Smooth Rock, happily trotted away.
Basalt then turned his attention to Marshtomp. Out of his six Pokémon, only Marshtomp's path was still unclear. The others had established roles and training routines. Marshtomp's Swamp Domain had yet to be mastered, requiring more time and effort to develop.
At the training facility, Marshtomp placed its hands on the ground, its eyes closed, focusing its breath.
Rumble!
As Marshtomp exerted power, the ground vibrated slightly, accompanied by a faint blue light. A small pit appeared, seeping water.
But the water hadn't fully mixed with the soil. It was just water mixed with large clods of earth—not a swamp.
"Marsh-tomp~" Marshtomp sighed, disappointed with the result.
Developing the Swamp Domain was much harder than it looked. Unlike Cradily's Root Domain or Pupitar's Quicksand Domain, which involved controlling a single element, the Swamp Domain required the fusion of Water and Ground energy. The two energies had to reach a precise balance to create the desired effect. The combined difficulty factor was far greater than 1+1. It required multitasking, controlling the energy ratio, and managing the speed of fusion. That was why, even after months of trying, Marshtomp still hadn't figured it out.
"Marshtomp, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I know how hard you're working." Basalt walked over and rubbed Marshtomp's smooth head, offering comfort.
Basalt saw Marshtomp's effort. It was frustrated that the latecomer Numel had already surpassed it. But this was mainly due to the high difficulty of the Swamp Domain. It required super-strong control over two different energies, and rushing it wouldn't help. Marshtomp's foundation was already solid; it was Pro-level after only a year, just like Excadrill. Basalt could only conclude: Marshtomp, you just didn't cheat big enough! At least not compared to Numel.
"I've made a deal with Sylvie. In a few days, I'll take you to the Azure Lake Secret Realm. That place is perfect for Water-type Pokémon training. Your Water-type control should see a burst of rapid improvement."
"Then, supplemented by the Groudon Scale to boost your Ground-type cultivation, with both progressing simultaneously, I believe you will conquer the Swamp Domain eventually." Basalt spoke confidently, painting a picture of a bright future for Marshtomp.
"Marsh-tomp!" Marshtomp's eyes lit up. Azure Lake Secret Realm! Basalt had mentioned that treasure trove before. As for the Groudon Scale, that was Excadrill's most precious possession.
To help Marshtomp, Basalt was prepared to spend heavily, compensating Excadrill in other ways.
Basalt checked the Diancie cocoon; it hadn't changed much. He felt a slight pang of impatience. But then he noticed the markings on the cocoon were slowly fading, proving that the energy from the Horn of Life was being absorbed by the life form inside. This was a good sign!
"Absorb it all! The more, the better!" Basalt rubbed his hands like a giddy fanboy. As long as a Diancie hatched from the cocoon, everything would be worth it.
After one more night of rest, Basalt and Sylvie set off early the next morning for Saffron City's Veridian Forest Secret Realm.
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