010 : Corsola's Muscle Band
The student who successfully fished up Corsola was named Yang Chao.
Yang Chao and Xu Jing attended the same Pokémon Academy, but they were assigned to different classes. Xu Jing belonged to Pokémon Class 1, which focused more on practical combat and field survival, while Yang Chao was a student of Pokémon Class 2, which emphasized foundational theory and Pokémon care, as mentioned briefly in earlier chapters.
Yang Chao's family background was fairly well-off. Even if he failed to capture a suitable Pokémon in the Earl Dervish Forest during this practical training session, his family could still arrange a high-quality Pokémon for him afterward as an official partner.
However, Yang Chao had never expected that he would actually manage to fish up Corsola.
This Pokémon was notoriously difficult to encounter and even harder to subdue, as recorded in the Pokémon manga and Pokédex materials. Corsola usually lived in clean waters and was known for being sensitive to human intentions.
"Not many classmates have successfully tamed one yet. As long as I tame this Corsola, I'll definitely be the most handsome guy in the entire school!"
Yang Chao stared at Corsola with undisguised excitement, his heart pounding.
He tried his best to soften his tone, recalling the methods of approaching Pokémon that the instructor had taught during class lower yourself, reduce hostility, and establish eye contact.
Yang Chao quickly squatted down.
However, he immediately felt uncomfortable.
Corsola was simply too short.
After hesitating for a moment, Yang Chao gritted his teeth and directly lay flat on the ground.
That way, Corsola could finally be at eye level with him.
"Huh?"
Corsola stared at Yang Chao in confusion.
Why is this human acting so strangely?
And why does he keep staring at my headband?
Corsola had several branch-like coral limbs growing from its back, which were natural parts of its body, similar to how the Pokémon was depicted in the manga illustrations.
On one of those coral branches, there was a dull-colored headband wrapped tightly around it.
This headband was actually an item Corsola had stolen earlier through a sneak attack from a wild Machop near the lakeside. Machop often wore such items for training, and Corsola had found it interesting.
It looked pretty good, and wearing it made Corsola feel stronger somehow.
At this moment, Yang Chao finally spoke.
"Well… Corsola, don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Because he was so excited, Yang Chao didn't know what else to say at first. Fortunately, a classmate nearby someone who had already successfully subdued an Earl Dervish Pokémon earlier and had some practical experience quietly reminded him of the next step.
Only then did Yang Chao remember that he needed to use Pokémon food to attract and calm the Pokémon.
He hurriedly took out the prepared Pokémon food from his backpack and carefully placed it in front of Corsola.
He then gently pushed it forward, signaling for Corsola to try it.
A mischievous smile appeared at the corner of Corsola's mouth.
Without any hesitation at all, it began to eat.
"If it's willing to eat, then there might actually be a chance!"
The surrounding classmates watched the scene with envy and anticipation, their eyes fixed on Corsola and the strange headband it was wearing.
Seeing Corsola eating happily, Yang Chao immediately seized the opportunity. He quickly took out a primary Energy Cube from his backpack the same standardized recovery item distributed to students during this field exercise and tossed it toward Corsola from a safe distance, following the capture guidelines explained in earlier lessons.
Corsola was extremely welcoming and truly accepted all comers.
It opened its mouth and swallowed the primary Energy Cube in one bite, clearly enjoying the taste.
"Yang Chao, hurry up, invite it already!"
Some classmates nearby were even more anxious than Yang Chao himself, their voices filled with impatience and envy.
"Hmph, why are you all so anxious? It's not you who caught Corsola. I'm the one who wants to subdue it, okay?"
Yang Chao snorted coldly. The classmate who spoke earlier was stunned for a moment.
A trace of irritation appeared on that student's face, but Yang Chao completely ignored him.
After finishing the food, Corsola released a soft cry, almost as if it were responding on its own initiative.
Taking this as a sign, Yang Chao hurriedly spoke again.
"Corsola, eating these things will be good for your growth and future training. But if you want to eat more, you'll have to come with me. As long as you follow me and become my Pokémon partner, you'll be able to eat plenty of these from now on!"
As he spoke, Yang Chao pressed the button on the Poké Ball in his hand. The ball expanded to the size of his fist, its red-and-white surface reflecting the sunlight as he held it up expectantly in front of Corsola.
"Ouch!"
Unexpectedly, Corsola suddenly turned its head, pointed its rounded backside straight toward Yang Chao's face, and twisted slightly, clearly expressing its dissatisfaction and rejection.
"Uh…"
Yang Chao was completely dumbfounded.
The students who had been watching the whole scene immediately burst into laughter. Yang Chao felt as if he had been thoroughly played by this Corsola. His face flushed red with embarrassment, and he felt so awkward that he could practically dig out three rooms and a living room with his toes.
"Breaking mud!"
Corsola had originally intended to trick Yang Chao into giving it some extra food, but seeing that Yang Chao was now lying there motionless, it clearly lost interest and was not prepared to stay any longer.
"Damn it! This Corsola really doesn't want to be subdued by me, and it even ate my food… huh? Wait!"
Just as anger surged up in Yang Chao's heart, his gaze suddenly froze on something.
It was the headband wrapped around the coral branch on Corsola's back.
A dull-colored headband?
Could it be…
A Muscle Band, the held item that increases a Pokémon's physical attack power!?
Muscle Band was classified as a secret treasure!
"Whatever it is, this Corsola has already rejected me anyway. So it doesn't matter if I snatch that headband away. If it really is a Muscle Band, that's an item worth millions!"
Yang Chao's thoughts shifted instantly. Seeing Corsola about to leave, he suddenly climbed up from the ground and lunged straight toward Corsola!
The students who were watching screamed in shock.
"Fuck!"
What is this guy trying to do?
Is he planning to fight Corsola directly?
However, Yang Chao was just an ordinary human.
How could his reaction speed possibly compare to that of a Pokémon?
Even if it was only a juvenile Corsola.
The reflexes and combat instincts of a Pokémon were far beyond those of Yang Chao, a mere high school graduate. The moment Yang Chao rushed forward, Corsola noticed the movement. It turned around instantly and used the horn-like coral on its forehead to slam into Yang Chao with a Tackle!
Only then did the people around realize something was wrong.
Yang Chao's target didn't seem to be Corsola itself.
But the strap on Corsola's back!
Because of the distance earlier, no one had been able to see it clearly.
Now, several bolder students leaned forward to get a closer look.
One of them couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn it! That really looks like a Muscle Band! The secret treasure, Muscle Band!"
What is a secret treasure?
Even inside real Pokémon secret realms, such items were considered priceless resources!
In an instant
One stone stirred up a thousand waves!
....