Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 212: 99.0% Retention, News from Old Qin

Based on Liu Ke's past experience, energy loss for challengers usually followed a predictable pattern:

5% on the first night

35% on the second night

60% on the third night

The final night typically saw the heaviest losses.

To achieve the 85% retention rate needed for secret realm access, a challenger would need to start the third day with at least 92-93% remaining.

Even 90% offered a slim chance, provided nothing went wrong.

Yet, when Liu Ke scanned Hikaru's Duskstone—

The mechanical voice announced:

"Detection complete. Energy retention—99.0%."

Liu Ke froze.

"Ninety... nine?"

He stared at the stone, then at the scanner, utterly bewildered.

That couldn't be right.

Yesterday's reading was 99.1%, already exceptional.

At the time, Liu Ke had been impressed but not shocked.

Some elite challengers occasionally achieved high first-day retention.

But to lose only 0.1% after a full second night?

That was unprecedented.

"Wait… Is the machine broken?"

He reset the scanner and rechecked the stone.

Mukai, standing nearby, was equally dumbfounded.

"99%? Seriously?!"

His own 85% had already frustrated him.

After slipping up on the first night, he'd allowed several Ghost-types to infiltrate his room, resulting in massive energy loss.

If he'd been more careful, he might have maintained 90% and still had a chance at secret realm access.

But now, hearing 99.0%, Mukai was speechless.

"No way... He barely lost anything?"

Liu Ke's startled gasp snapped Mukai out of his daze.

"This… This can't be right. The machine says it's fine, though…"

He tried a test scan with a control stone.

Same result.

No errors.

Which meant—

Hikaru's stone really had 99% retention.

"…Unbelievable."

Liu Ke muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

Even Emma, usually calm and composed, couldn't hide her shock.

"Ninety-nine percent…? How?"

She distinctly remembered sensing psychic fluctuations from Hikaru's room on the first night.

Clearly, he'd been fighting off Ghost-types back then.

But on the second night, she'd felt nothing.

It was as if the ghosts had completely ignored him.

Her mind raced.

Did he block the stone's energy signature?

Was it Aura manipulation?

That seemed the most plausible answer.

She knew Aura could be used for detection, but concealment?

That was advanced territory.

Still, Emma held her tongue.

Pressing him now might come off as prying.

Better to wait for the right moment.

After all, pushing too hard might backfire.

Liu Ke, still dazed, handed the stone back to Hikaru.

"Ninety-nine percent… Unreal."

Hikaru himself seemed amused, turning the stone over in his hand.

"Guess my method worked better than I thought."

Truthfully, he hadn't expected such high retention.

Clearly, the Duskstone stored more energy than he'd assumed.

Mukai, still recovering from the shock, muttered:

"Dude… That's insane."

Emma, meanwhile, watched Hikaru closely.

"It must be Aura. There's no other explanation."

But she didn't voice her conclusion.

There was no point in asking directly.

After all—

Aura was personal.

And Hikaru didn't seem eager to discuss it.

The group quickly dispersed, each returning to their rooms to rest for the final night.

But Hikaru didn't sleep immediately.

Instead, he pulled out his phone.

He had unfinished business.

If everything went smoothly, he'd clear the challenge by tomorrow morning.

After that, he'd need to return to Shuimu City.

Why?

Simple. School was starting.

Two schools—Shuimu High and Middle Youth University—had already sent him multiple messages.

Both wanted to know where the hell he was.

Flipping through his messages, Hikaru spotted one from Qin Feng, his old teacher.

Sent on September 1st.

It was now the 7th.

"Damn… I really should check my messages more often."

Opening the chat, he saw:

[Qin Feng]: Hikaru, are you there?

Hikaru chuckled.

"Knew it. They're chasing me down."

He quickly typed a reply:

[Hikaru]: Sorry, Mr. Qin. I've been busy and didn't see your message."

The response came instantly.

[Qin Feng]: No worries! Just wanted to confirm your situation. The admissions office from Middle Youth University contacted us. They need to transfer your student ID. Can you come back soon?

Hikaru sighed.

"School paperwork… Always a hassle."

[Hikaru]: Got it. I'll be back in a few days.

[Hikaru]: Crying emoji 😂

Qin Feng's reply came just as fast.

[Qin Feng]: Good. Looking forward to seeing you back."

Hikaru blinked.

"…Why is he being so polite?"

Back in the day, Qin Feng never called him 'Hikaru'.

It was always:

"Hey, kid! Get over here!"

Or—

"Stop slacking and get moving!"

Now it was "Mr. Hikaru"?

Something felt off.

As Hikaru pondered, another message popped up:

[Qin Feng]: By the way, the school is planning another assembly. They'd like you to give another speech. Think you can spare the time?"

"…A speech?"

Hikaru facepalmed.

"Here we go again."

The last time they'd done this, he'd been ambushed in the hallway.

"Hikaru, hurry up! Change into your uniform! You're giving a speech in five minutes!"

Back then, he'd stood on stage, completely unprepared, rambling about training tips while half the school napped.

This time, at least they were giving him notice.

[Hikaru]: Fine, Mr. Qin… You win. 😂

Far away, in the faculty office of Shuimu High, Qin Feng chuckled.

"That kid… Still the same."

Shaking his head, he put his phone away.

Outside his window, new students were beginning their first training trials.

Or as they called it now—

The Opening Assessment.

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