NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Umbreon: I Was Here First
As soon as Giovanni finished speaking, Umbreon stood there in shock as if struck by lightning.
Giovanni shared insights with Victor about nurturing Pokémon.
Just like how Victor trained athletes in his past life.
If you want to cultivate a football player who can kick in the World Cup, you even have to start preparing from the stage when they've just learned to walk and can't even speak yet.
And now, Umbreon is like a student who is about to take a major exam tomorrow; and yet you say you want to train her for the World Cup?
Is that realistic?
Okay, perhaps that example is a bit extreme.
But Giovanni definitely meant that.
"That Umbreon, at best, could only reach the level of the Elite Four; her potential is far too low."
Who knows how many trainers would be brought to tears upon hearing Giovanni's words.
What does "at best could only reach the Elite Four" even mean?
To be clear, that height is something 99.99% of trainers could only dream of.
But it's not surprising.
After all, Giovanni is a Champion-level trainer now, and in the future, he will be almost one foot into the Champion realm, hailed as a "master" and the "leader" of that domain.
It's normal for him to look down on the Elite Four level.
To Giovanni, Victor shouldn't be limited to just the mere Elite Four level.
"What a heartless remark, old man. You don't expect me to abandon Umbreon, do you? I don't care about the strength of my Pokémon."
Umbreon, whose head had been drooping lower and lower due to Giovanni's comments, regained a glimmer of light in her eyes upon hearing the disdain in Victor's tone.
"Ah, of course not. I'm just reminding you that there's no need to invest too much energy into a Pokémon with such low potential."
Giovanni said with a faint smile, "Just like how we Gym Leaders have some competent Pokémon to cope with novice challengers. Once you obtain a more outstanding Pokémon, that Umbreon can be benched."
Gym Leaders adjust their lineups based on the challengers' strength; this fact has long ceased to be a secret.
It's just that the anime hasn't explicitly shown this point.
But it has been confirmed later in the games and special edition anime.
Giovanni's words indeed hold some weight.
Just like in competitive sports teams.
Strong starters on the court, while the weak ones sit on the bench.
It's just that realistic.
Umbreon buried her head deep again.
Then Giovanni continued, "Coincidentally, I have some decent Pokémon, recently hatched, that you could try training, like... Dratini, for example..."
Dratini!?
Upon hearing this word, Umbreon's face turned even uglier.
Although she was just a Pokémon, having lived among humans since she was young, and didn't know much about other Pokémon.
She did hear from her previous owner and through idle chatter or TV programs about what kind of Pokémon Dratini is.
A powerful dragon-type, it takes time to grow, but once trained to its final form can outrank most Pokémon, and is hailed as a "pseudo-legendary" super Pokémon!
Umbreon bit her lip hard.
A Pokémon like that… would be far more fitting for such a perfect master, right?
"What do you say? Do you want to give it a try? If you train it, I believe you will be able to cultivate it into a Dragonite someday, rivaling the ones from Blackthorn City's Dragon Clan."
Giovanni's words felt like daggers, stabbing into Umbreon's most tender spots.
Umbreon imagined what it would be like to have such a Pokémon join her team in the future.
Then her master would pour all his concerns and love onto it.
Every night, he would hug it to sleep, showing it a caring smile and even kissing its face...
While she could only shrink back in the corner, silently watching it all.
Then she would lament, "I was here first..."
"Giovanni, it seems you look down on my Umbreon a bit too much. How about we place a bet?"
Victor finally responded, raising Umbreon's head that was nearly touching the ground.
"The next time we battle, I will have her defeat your Pokémon, using this so-called 'Eevee with low potential' you speak of."
Giovanni's expression was filled with disbelief, followed by a laugh, "Having goals is good, but you must also consider reality, young man. Every Pokémon has its limits..."
"So it's about transcending the limits of the Pokémon?"
Victor's retort left Giovanni temporarily speechless.
Recalling a "devolution" idea he had heard from Victor ten days ago.
And then seeing Victor's serious gaze now, devoid of any signs of jest.
Giovanni couldn't help but feel a rising expression of "Is this kid serious?"
At this moment, Umbreon's expression was like Chopper being saved by Dr. Hiruzen, already in tears.
Seeing Victor suddenly rise from the beachside.
Umbreon hurried back inside, lying down again.
"Don't you want Dratini anymore?"
Giovanni glanced sideways and asked.
"Rather than that, I hope you can sponsor me some money, Giovanni. I want to do thorough research on Pokémon."
Victor spread his hands, "Think of it as an investment; I'll definitely repay you in the future."
"Well~"
Giovanni couldn't help but show a look of anticipation, "Let's hope it doesn't disappoint me."
Victor smiled back, "Don't worry, this will be the most satisfying investment of your life."
In his past life, he learned so much alongside Dr. Vegapunk.
Couldn't he make something out of it?
He wasn't the type of protagonist that the author wrote millions of words for, without any growth.
...
The next morning.
Victor, who had been sleeping on the sofa, just opened his eyes and discovered that Umbreon was lying on his pillow.
Coincidentally, at that very moment, Umbreon opened her blood-red eyes too.
"Heh~ Did you end up in the wrong bed while getting up at night to use the restroom?"
Victor playfully ruffled her short yet surprisingly pleasant black fur.
Hmm, although it wasn't as fluffy as Flareon, it was still quite smooth.
"I'll go buy some things; if all goes well, I can soon find a way to revert you back to your Eevee form. Just stay at home and wait patiently."
Victor got up, placed Umbreon back on the bed, then playfully lifted her chin before quickly heading out.
Umbreon, who had been watching Victor's silhouette leave, appeared as if she wanted to say something.
She actually wanted to tell Victor that she no longer cared about her current form.
Victor had said more than once that she looked beautiful as she was now, and Umbreon fully accepted her current self, feeling proud of her state.
However… just as Umbreon wanted to express her feelings to Victor.
She suddenly recalled Giovanni's words from last night—
That Umbreon has too low of a potential.
So if her master completed his research and helped her return to her Eevee form.
Would that give her a second chance for growth, breaking through the limitations imposed by her age?
No, she mustn't seek quick success.
What she needs to do now is to reach her current form's limits first.
Set a small goal, and first reach Elite Four level.
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