Chapter 12: The First Step into the Forest
Chapter 12: The First Step into the Forest
Faculty Office, Shuimu High School – First-Year Division
"Miss Qin, how are things with your class?"
The speaker was Miss Xia, a stern-looking middle-aged woman who taught second-year students. With her sharp demeanor and reputation for strictness, she was nicknamed "The Iron Maiden" by students and staff alike.
Miss Qin adjusted her seat and replied nonchalantly, "Not bad. One student has a Bulbasaur, another has a high-potential Eevee, there's a Charmander, and…" Miss Qin hesitated, her voice tinged with disbelief, "a Dratini."
Miss Xia's head snapped up.
"Bulbasaur, Eevee, Charmander… Dratini?!" she exclaimed, her tone betraying both shock and curiosity.
Miss Qin shrugged. "I know, right? Dratini is the kind of Pokémon you can't even buy with money. Yet, here it is in my class. Must be some rich family's heiress playing the 'commoner' role for a bit."
Miss Xia frowned but didn't press further.
"Anyway, the students are boarding the buses now. I'll head to the monitoring room to keep an eye on them," Miss Qin added, standing up and gathering her things.
---
As was customary, the school monitored every field training session with live feeds from multiple cameras. This not only ensured the students' safety but also provided a way to evaluate their performance.
This year's location remained the same as previous years—a section of the Green Maple Forest, which had once been classified as a large E-rank Mystery Dungeon. Over time, it had merged with reality, becoming a part of the local landscape.
Mystery Dungeons were categorized based on size (Micro, Small, Medium, Large, and Ultra-Large) and difficulty (E to SSS). While E-rank dungeons housed Pokémon no stronger than the Normal tier, the most dangerous SSS dungeons, like the Frozen Peaks, were rumored to harbor legendary Pokémon such as Articuno.
The appearance of legendary Pokémon often created widespread chaos. For instance, the ancient battle between Groudon and Kyogre near Chinese Nation had nearly sunk the Nation. Only the intervention of Rayquaza, the Sky Guardian, had stopped the destruction.
---
For this training session, the school had taken precautions.
Each student would act independently, with the buses dropping them off at random locations within the forest.
Before entering, the teachers gave their final reminders:
"Remember, this event is designed with your safety in mind. The school has eliminated all significant risks.
"Do not leave the designated boundaries under any circumstances. If you encounter danger, activate the distress signal on your watch. Hold out for one or two minutes, and help will arrive."
After the instructions, the students began filing into the forest, eager to begin.
---
In the monitoring room, Mr. Luo, the head of the school's Pokémon team, reviewed the student profiles.
Each year, potential candidates for the school team were flagged for observation. Mr. Luo had spent the past week poring over files, narrowing the list to around fifty promising first-years.
Of course, stats alone didn't tell the whole story. Even a humble Caterpie could evolve into a Butterfree capable of reaching Gym Leader tier. Similarly, a Beedrill could become a formidable contender, even at near-champion levels.
Mr. Luo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "These kids are full of surprises."
As he reviewed the live feeds, his attention was drawn to a particular student.
"Interesting… A Growlithe that can use Flamethrower? Must be a learning machine, but still, achieving that at this stage is impressive."
On the screen, a confident-looking boy commanded his Growlithe to defeat a simulated Oddish with a well-aimed Flamethrower.
"Hmm, good potential for next year's team," Mr. Luo muttered, jotting down notes.
Then, the feed shifted to another scene.
---
"What the… Dratini?!" Mr. Luo exclaimed, leaning forward in his chair.
The camera showed a sleek, blue-and-white Pokémon resembling a serpentine dragon. With a single Dragon Rage, it obliterated a simulated Beedrill.
"This… This is definitely a top seed!" Mr. Luo said, barely containing his excitement.
Dratini was exceedingly rare, its evolution line culminating in the majestic Dragonite, a Pokémon revered for its power and versatility.
---
Meanwhile, another feed caught his attention.
"Hmm? A Charmander? Wait… Is that an advanced use of Ember?" Mr. Luo's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
On the screen, a Charmander unleashed a volley of small, fiery projectiles. The flames scattered upon impact, engulfing a wide area in a spectacular display.
"This year's batch is shaping up nicely," Mr. Luo remarked, already envisioning the future of Shuimu High's Pokémon team.
---
Deep within the forest, Hikaru stood beside Charmander, watching it incinerate a simulated Venonat with a single strike.
"How are you feeling, buddy?" Hikaru asked.
"Char! Char!" Charmander raised its head proudly, signaling that it felt no pressure at all.
The simulated Venonat, despite being Level 9, had fallen to a single Scratch. Charmander hadn't even needed to use Ember or Fire Punch.
"If only we had Flamethrower," Hikaru murmured wistfully. A single TM for that move would elevate Charmander's power significantly.
But TMs weren't cheap, and Hikaru's funds were limited.
Still, he wasn't discouraged. His Charmander was steadily climbing the ranks. Defeating a Level 9 Oddish had already earned him 50 points, placing him in the top 40.
"Time to test the Rosemary Incense," Hikaru decided, retrieving the item from his system inventory.
He carefully sprayed the fragrance on himself, then ventured deeper into the forest.
---
Moments later, he felt a pair of crimson compound eyes fixed on him.
Bzzzzz.
The sound of vibrating wings echoed through the air. Emerging from the shadows was a Beedrill, its twin needles gleaming like lances.
Hikaru's eyes narrowed, a spark of excitement igniting within him.
"A Level 13 Beedrill, huh?"
---