002 – The Wonderful Use of the Exploratory Eye
Corrected & manga-consistent; same word count.
"Advanced card draw?"
Xu Jing's eyes flashed.
It seemed that Tongzi's system gift pack was not limited to a single reward, just like how many support systems in the Pokémon manga expanded over time.
"Use it directly!" Xu Jing commanded silently.
At once, a luminous screen unfolded before him.
Countless cards formed from condensed light points floated across the curtain of light.
However, each card shimmered in a concealed state.
Above them hovered glowing text: Advanced Card-Drawing Pool.
As Xu Jing activated the high-level draw that Tongzi had presented
The cards within the pool began to spin madly.
The rotation accelerated until it became dazzling just like the rapid swirl effect shown when Poké Balls registered new data in the manga.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host acquired: High-Quality Pokémon Card]
[High-Quality Pokémon Card: Using this card grants a clue connected to a high-quality Pokémon.]
A high-quality Pokémon clue?
Xu Jing's heartbeat surged with excitement!
If it was categorized as a high-quality Pokémon, its potential and aptitude would definitely be far above average similar to elite wild Pokémon shown in Pokémon Adventures, the kinds that drew the attention of both Trainers and researchers.
"I can use this as soon as I enter Earl Dervish's Forest!"
"Before that… let's head to the school battle arena. I should test the Pokémon Detection Eye first!" Xu Jing felt an eager itch to activate his new ability.
The school possessed a dedicated battle field for amateur Trainers who already had Pokémon. The purpose following the Academy-style setups in the manga was to let students observe more real battles and learn through experience.
The campus security department supervised the arena strictly, so there was no danger.
As Xu Jing approached the battle zone, he immediately heard an eruption of noise. It was the sharp, energetic sound of students shouting commands and Pokémon using moves clear signals of an ongoing Trainer battle. Xu Jing quickened his pace.
On the field, two amateur Trainers a man and woman in their twenties were deeply immersed in combat, with a circle of students surrounding them and watching with burning curiosity.
Xu Jing's arrival attracted no attention.
He quietly found a perfect vantage point.
"Machop, Karate Chop!" the male Trainer commanded. Following the order, Machop bent low, muscles swelling visibly just as depicted in the manga, then launched forward with explosive footwork. Its momentum split the dirt, leaving a sharp crack on the battlefield before it suddenly appeared right in front of the opposing Sandshrew.
Normally adorable and curled, Sandshrew now looked fiercely focused. Its large dark eyes locked onto Machop, and its small claws were raised slightly, displaying a readiness characteristic of its species when preparing to counterattack just like in the Johto arcs.
The female Trainer seemed far more experienced. She glanced at the angle of Machop's arm and the descending force of its Karate Chop. She judged the trajectory almost instantly, demonstrating the tactical reading often shown by seasoned Trainers in Pokémon Special. She issued a crisp order:
"Retreat to the right! Then use Sand Attack!"
"Wooo~!"
Sandshrew reacted immediately. Right before Machop's Karate Chop connected, Sandshrew twisted its body and rolled to the right. However, the Trainer's judgment, though sharp, had been a fraction of a second late. Sandshrew dodged but not fully.
Machop's hand still clipped its right shoulder.
The impact wasn't a full blow, but even the glancing strike of a Fighting-type move left a bruise on Sandshrew's sturdy hide. Its body trembled from the pain, exactly the kind of realistic physical feedback depicted in the manga's more grounded battle chapters.
However, Sandshrew still carried out its Trainer's command. Even while being struck and forced backward, its sharp claws dug into the ground. Ground-type energy surged through its body exactly as shown in Pokémon Adventures when Ground Pokémon channel terrain and it flung the gathered sand forward. Two concentrated bursts of soil infused with earthy power exploded toward Machop's face.
"Wrist!?"
Machop cried out in shock as the Sand Attack struck. Its eyes were stung and its vision blurred instantly!
The female Trainer seized the opportunity just as experienced Trainers do in the manga. She ordered Sandshrew to follow with a claw swipe, then chain into Rapid Spin. Machop and its Trainer tried to retaliate, but with its eyes blinded, Machop stumbled and could not reorient properly. In the end, it could only lose with frustration on its face.
As the battle ended, the spectators applauded warmly.
Hidden among them, Xu Jing activated the Pokémon Detection Eye, which scanned the two Pokémon and immediately fed precise data back to him:
[Pokémon: Machop (Fighting) ♂]
[Qualification: Ordinary]
[Level: LV.17 (Standard Beginner Stage)]
[Individual Talents:
HP (9) | Attack (13) | Defense (6) | Sp. Atk (16) | Sp. Def (10) | Speed (10)]
[Ability: Guts – Displays remarkable endurance; when afflicted with a status condition, its overwhelming resolve increases Attack by 50%.]
[Moves: Low Kick, Focus Energy, Leer, Karate Chop]
A Trainer in his twenties with a Machop only at level 17 definitely an amateur.
The information relayed by the Pokémon Detection Eye was incredibly thorough.
Qualifications, level, ability traits, and even the six individual talents were presented clearly. It was an outright cheat tool!
Every Pokémon possessed six individual-value talents.
Each stat was measured from 0–31.
0 meant lowest talent; 31 meant maximum potential. Competitive players like in Xu Jing's previous life called perfect 31-value stats V points!
If a stat reached 30 instead, it was designated U.
Values below like 29 or 28 had their own labels.
Naturally, everyone pursued full V values whenever possible!
As far as Xu Jing knew, even the official Pokémon Alliance couldn't measure the exact numeric talents of all six stats. They could only provide broad categories: ordinary, excellent, elite, or outstanding.
Qualifications were the same only rough estimates.
But he could see precise qualifications and individual stats instantly. This…
Xu Jing turned his gaze toward the other Pokémon.
Sandshrew's data was also returned in equally detailed format.
After absorbing the information, Xu Jing whose foundation in Pokémon studies had become solid over three years took several deep breaths. He suppressed the excitement swelling in his chest and headed home while carrying that thrill within him.
Today, he would enter Earl Dervish Forest to capture his starter Pokémon.
He was determined to obtain a partner stronger than anyone else's!
…
Half an hour later, all the students who had spent three years studying Pokémon theory boarded the exclusive school bus bound for Star City's Earl Dervish Forest.
By 11:00 a.m., the exclusive bus gradually rolled to a stop.
The students immediately buzzed with anticipation as they prepared to step off.
Earl Dervish Forest Star City's designated graduation site had arrived!
Earl Dervish's Forest was not a Pokémon Secret Realm.
It was a massive artificial forest constructed as a controlled mimic-environment, designed to replicate entry-level Secret Realm conditions. Much like the controlled habitats used by Professors in Pokémon Special for beginner Trainers, the area contained a variety of ecosystems suitable for different starter-level Pokémon.
Only seniors who had completed three years of Pokémon education were permitted entry, and only upon graduation could they capture their designated Earl Dervish starter Pokémon.
[Ding! Main Mission 1 Released: Register as an Ordinary Beginner Trainer
Reward: ×1 God-Level Card Draw]
[Note: God-Level Card Draws may yield god-tier cards; effects exceed normal imagination.]
[Ding! Side Mission 1 Released: Successfully capture an Earl Dervish Pokémon
Reward: ×1 Beginner Card Draw]
[Ding! Side Mission 2 Released: Win the first battle using your Earl Dervish Pokémon
Reward: ×1 Beginner Card Draw]
Xu Jing had barely stepped off the bus when the system interface began flashing repeatedly, filling his vision with mission notifications.
After reading each one, his thoughts shifted instantly.
The function of the God-Level Card-Drawing System was exactly this: generating tasks and rewards depending on his real-time circumstances. It felt surprisingly smooth and instinctive.
And none of the missions were mandatory.
If he ignored them, nothing bad would happen.
But if he didn't take the rewards…
he'd be letting treasure slip through his fingers!
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