Pokemon: I refuse to be a supporting character!

Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof

-----------------

The next day.

Before dawn, Li Xiang put on loose athletic clothes and set out for an early morning run with Litten and Purugly along the nearby streets.

Getting fit starts with running.

It was just past 5 a.m. The streets were deserted, with hardly any cars in sight, and the streetlights flickered dimly. The air was fresh, untainted by fog.

In this otherworldly city, environmental conservation and urban greenery were exceptionally well-managed. Factories were located far from residential areas, and there were even more green spaces than in Li Xiang's previous life. Trees lining the streets thrived luxuriantly, with abundant lawns and flowerbeds everywhere.

Nature and the city seemed to exist in perfect harmony.

"Huff… puff…"

Li Xiang paced his breathing steadily, with Litten and Purugly closely following behind.

Within the city limits, riding medium or large Pokémon in vehicle lanes was strictly prohibited, as was riding Flying-type Pokémon in the air. Violators faced hefty fines.

Even on sidewalks, it was better not to ride Pokémon, as in the event of a traffic accident, the rider was almost always held primarily responsible.

Apparently, large creatures were treated with caution in any world. Fortunately, Pokémon tended to be emotionally intelligent and responsive to their Trainers' commands, ensuring they didn't go berserk in urban settings. Otherwise, you'd likely see Arcanine and Charizard muzzled on the streets or Snorlax, Aggron, and Tyranitar outright banned from entering cities.

As for Pokémon like Onix, Copperajah, or Gyarados? The farther away they stayed, the better.

Li Xiang's destination was a park near his home. He had chatted with Lin Feng the previous night and learned that his friend wouldn't be getting his Pokémon for a few days and couldn't leave the house. So, there was no point in seeking him out.

....

Outside the park.

Li Xiang sat on a bench, breathing heavily.

Everything requires a gradual approach, and he wasn't about to overdo it on his first day of running.

"Meow~"

Purugly approached him, shaking its body. The bag on its back carried a water bottle, a towel, and other miscellaneous items.

Though Li Xiang often teased it for being fat, Purugly was surprisingly strong. Carrying a bag was no trouble at all. However, it had a laid-back personality, and this morning, it had been visibly unhappy about going for a run.

But leaving Li Xiang to go alone? That wasn't going to happen.

"No need," Li Xiang said, waving off Purugly's offer of water, then turned to Litten. "Thirsty?"

Litten, busy licking its paw, shook its head at the question. Fire-type Pokémon rarely needed much water, as the berries they consumed typically provided sufficient hydration.

Five minutes later, the trio headed deeper into the park.

Li Xiang wasn't here to battle anyone; he wanted to observe how others trained their Pokémon.

Since this wasn't an era of big data, finding detailed Pokémon training methods online was tough. Most of the information was vague and oversimplified, often lacking images or videos.

Sifting through it for useful tips was incredibly challenging, and there was no guarantee it was even accurate. If Li Xiang followed those methods and something went wrong, no one on the internet would be held accountable.

This lack of responsibility meant people online often spoke carelessly, throwing out advice without a second thought.

After some consideration, Li Xiang decided to supplement his research by observing others during his morning runs.

Although most trainers in the park were likely amateurs, they still knew more than a complete beginner like him.

More systematic and professional training methods would undoubtedly be taught when he started school, but Li Xiang saw himself as a "dumb bird" that needed to learn to fly early—on his own, if necessary.

Watching others train their Pokémon would help broaden his perspective, far better than staying at home guessing blindly.

Unlike the park near Lin Feng's home, this one had more equipment and training grounds.

Standing on a small hill, Li Xiang looked down and could faintly see the outline of distant mountains. The surrounding area was open and empty, with no tall buildings—just low trees and grass.

The scene felt more like an expansive square on the outskirts of the city.

The difference was that this square was bustling with activity.

All around, vibrant flashes of light and the crackle of small explosions filled the air. The thuds of rocks hitting the ground, the smacks of physical blows, and the low growls of Pokémon echoed nonstop.

Spectators gasped or clapped in excitement, creating an atmosphere so electric it was hard to ignore.

"Meow!"

Litten let out an eager cry, visibly energized by the scene.

Some things have to be witnessed to truly appreciate how impressive they are.

Pokémon battles weren't just captivating to humans; they also drew in battle-hungry Pokémon.

Of course, not all Pokémon enjoyed fighting. Purugly, for instance, had zero interest. If it weren't for its protective instincts toward Li Xiang, it wouldn't have bothered coming to such a place.

"Yo! Brother Xiang!"

As Li Xiang prepared to head down, a deep, magnetic voice called out from beside him.

He turned his head to see a young man with a buzz cut.

Behind the man stood a Pokémon with an orange-red body, blue circles on its sides, and two volcano-like rock mounds on its back. It looked like a cross between a donkey and a camel.

—Camerupt, a Fire/Ground-type Pokémon.

"Long time no see! Hanging out with Lin Feng again? By the way, has your dad come back yet? We didn't finish last time—oh! Is this a new one?"

The man, smiling warmly, reached out to ruffle Li Xiang's hair.

Li Xiang subtly stepped back, dodging the hand, and greeted him politely. "Good morning, Uncle Huo."

Huo Li, a close friend of Li Zhehan, was 32 years old. Li Xiang had mentioned earlier that most people training in the park were amateurs, but Huo Li was the exception.

He was a newly certified Elite Trainer; Great Ball Tier - Rank 10.

"Hey! Don't act so distant after just a few days apart," Huo Li joked, unfazed by Li Xiang's evasion. "Where's your dad?"

"He's not back yet," Li Xiang replied, shaking his head. "Uncle Huo, cut your nephew some slack, will you? I'm already 11!"

"Fine, fine, you're the boss, Brother Xiang," Huo Li said with a chuckle, waving his hand dismissively. Clearly, he didn't care much for formalities, often calling Li Xiang "Brother Xiang" in jest.

"Is this your Pokémon?"

He pointed at Litten and gave Li Xiang a thumbs up. "You didn't pick your dad's Water-type and went for my Fire-type instead. Great choice! Want me to teach you how to train Fire-type Pokémon?"

Li Xiang wasn't particularly comfortable dealing with older relatives, especially those like Huo Li, who didn't follow the usual decorum.

He pushed at Huo Li's waist lightly. "You should hurry down there. Otherwise, you might lose your spot. If I have questions, I'll definitely come to you."

Running into Huo Li was an unexpected bonus. This guy wasn't a regular at the park, splitting his time between the association's facilities and the park.

"Alright then, but don't forget to come to me! When it comes to Fire-types, I'm the expert!"

Unlike Su Yiliu, who would stick to him relentlessly, Huo Li simply turned and headed off after speaking.

Li Xiang watched him leave, noting the field he chose before turning his attention elsewhere to find what he had come for.

.....

What are ranks?

They're a system established by the Pokémon Association to assess rankings in the annual comprehensive tournament known as the Pokémon Continental Championship.

It's akin to Sword and Shield's online battles or ranked play in games like League of Legends.

The rankings, from top to bottom, are: Master Ball Tier, Ultra Ball Tier, Great Ball Tier, and PokéBall Tier.

PokéBall and Great Ball tiers start at Rank 10 and work up to Rank 1. Ultra Ball begins at Rank 5, culminating at Rank 1. Master Ball Tier is ranked solely by points.

This differs from Sword and Shield's system, which features just one continuous ranking from 1 to 10.

The title Newly Accredited Elite Trainer is a seasonal designation by the association.

Trainers are classified as Advanced, Elite, Ace (Chief), or Master, which correspond to the tiers.

The championship title isn't part of this system—it belongs to another tournament.

The association also provides financial assistance to trainers based on their titles—essentially a salary.

Champions, being at the top, set their own salaries and are a crucial part of the association.

In this world, a trainer's seasonal rank is far more indicative of their strength and more widely respected than the level of their Pokémon.

Ranks reflect many factors beyond level, including type synergy, move combinations, strategies, team roles, in-battle decision-making, and even luck.

For example, someone with a team of Pokémon at Level 50 might reach the Ultra Ball tier with excellent team synergy. Meanwhile, someone with Pokémon nearing Level 80 might remain stuck at Great Ball Tier due to various reasons.

Thus, while level advantages exist, judging a trainer solely by the level of their Pokémon is inappropriate here.

This world also has those who've been humbled by tactics involving Level 1 Aron or Shedinja, proving that brute force isn't always the answer.

Of course, most of these tactics are designed to bully beginners.

No strategy is entirely undefeatable. Even teams touted as "so strong that a win is guaranteed"—like the infamous Los Angeles lineup—have their counters.

"Flare Blitz!"

A massive bird wreathed in azure flames screeched loudly, slamming into its opponent and sending it flying!

Boom!

Fire erupted!

The pig-nosed, cat-eared humanoid creature let out a pained wail amidst the flames, unable to bear the searing agony.

"Emboar, show your determination!"

The trainer standing to its side shouted in desperation, "Hang in there! Counterattack! We still have a chance! You can do this!"

The classic morale boost.

Many scoff at such attempts, deeming them useless and absurd.

But when you're the one being encouraged, knowing someone still believes in you in a desperate situation can genuinely ignite your fighting spirit.

Though, in most cases, even with encouragement, the outcome remains unchanged.

Thud.

A soft sound signaled Emboar's collapse. It hit the ground with a faint cloud of dust as the flames around its body gradually extinguished.

It had lost the battle.

Its trainer briefly showed disappointment but quickly masked it, stepping forward to help Emboar up with a smile. "You've done your best. Take a good rest. We'll win next time."

Winning calls for praise; losing calls for comfort.

Pokémon are no less emotionally sensitive than humans.

"Skreeee—!"

The victorious Talonflame let out a triumphant cry, circling in the air and casting a cold, disdainful gaze below. Its pride was unmistakable.

Its trainer, Huo Li, grinned and clasped his hands to thank the applauding spectators.

"What do you think? Your Uncle Huo's Pokémon are strong, right?"

He puffed out his chest proudly and raised an eyebrow at the observing Li Xiang.

Li Xiang nodded lightly and showered him with praise.

"Impressive, impressive. Your Talonflame is truly powerful. As expected of an Elite Trainer! A true Great Ball Tier - Rank 10 master!"

"Hahaha! You sure know how to speak the truth!"

Huo Li laughed heartily. Nobody dislikes compliments, especially when they come from the child of a close friend—it makes the praise feel even sweeter.

It gave him a great sense of achievement.

-------------------

(Holidays Discount of 20% is now available for all new members of my Patreon joining in the month of December, at just $4/month.)