Chapter 36: The Blue Entry [Encounter]? No, Wish Fulfillment!
Chapter 36: The Blue Entry [Encounter]? No, Wish Fulfillment!
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After evolving into Kirlia, its strength had significantly increased.
Kirlia also learned a new move—Psychic.
Meanwhile, Charmeleon had reached level 23.
Their growth was undoubtedly rapid.
If they were to face that Machop from before, two punches would be enough to knock it down!
The seven-day National Day holiday flew by.
For most students, the holiday ended, and they reluctantly returned to their eight o'clock classes.
But for Hikaru, he received something entirely different—a notification.
Hikaru recognized this university; it was one of the top institutions in China, boasting an internal S-rank secret realm. Known for its abundant resources and dedication to nurturing its students, Zhongqing University was among the elite.
The notification offered him early admission.
However, there was a condition.
Hikaru needed to qualify for the provincial high school league within the year and finish in the top 16.
This requirement was far more demanding than the standard admission process.
That said, early admission would grant him greater access to resources within the university.
"Understood?" Miss Qin handed Hikaru the invitation letter.
"Understood." Hikaru nodded earnestly.
Miss Qin continued, "This is an opportunity the school fought hard to get for you. Of course, it's also because of your achievements."
Winning the city league championship had given him a shot at the provincial league.
However, unlike the city league, the provincial and national leagues had no grade restrictions.
As long as you were a high school student who met the qualifications, you could participate.
This meant that all competitors would be top-tier, selected from their respective regions or provinces.
The strength gap would only grow wider as the competition progressed.
At the national level, the competitors' strength was comparable to mid-tier professional trainers!
For Hikaru, though, it wasn't an issue.
With a year to prepare, he was confident. After all, that year included a yearly entry refresh, which could yield a gold-grade entry.
If that happened, it would be an instant power-up.
"All right, you may go... Oh, and think about your third Pokémon," Miss Qin added.
"Got it."
As Hikaru walked out of the office, he pondered.
If possible, he wanted a Froakie to evolve into a Greninja. But Froakies, like Ralts and Charmander, were rare Pokémon—nearly impossible to acquire.
Especially if he wanted one with exceptional talent. It was a pipe dream.
For now, he set aside the thought.
It was Monday, and a new weekly entry awaited him.
A blue light flashed.
Hikaru's eyes lit up. Lately, his luck had been exceptional. Not only had he frequently drawn green entries, but now, a blue entry appeared.
[Blue Entry: Encounter]
When equipped, the user will encounter something they desire within 1 to 30 days. After the encounter, the cooldown resets.
Hikaru examined the entry.
While it sounded grand, it was essentially a wish-based entry. He decided to equip it and silently wished for a heavenly king-tier Froakie to appear.
The autumn breeze blew past...
And his fleeting hope dissipated.
"Yeah, right," Hikaru muttered. "Wish-based entries can't be trusted."
Since learning that Hikaru had survived and seeing Butler Chen's capture on the news, Kei Hoshino had been avoiding Hikaru out of fear.
Kei had confided in his father, receiving a severe scolding in return.
The Charmeleon Kei coveted had hatched from an egg laid by a Master-tier Charizard and was the most talented among its siblings.
Kei's father, Keiyun Hoshino, was not only a high-ranking trainer in Huaxia but also a senior officer in Team Magma.
A decisive and ruthless man, Keiyun Hoshino made a rare trip back to Shuimu City after hearing about the incident.
"A Charmeleon with Fairy Wings..."
Keiyun Hoshino glanced at his unworthy son with disdain.
Currently, Team Magma was actively infiltrating Huaxia. No loose ends could be allowed.
"How could a boy with no background train two such powerful Pokémon in such a short time?" Keiyun Hoshino mused aloud.
He turned back to Kei. "Has anything unusual happened at school?"
"Unusual? Just him... Oh, and there's a girl. She's gorgeous, and her Pokémon are a Dratini and a Beldum. Oh yeah, she seems close to Hikaru."
Kei recalled the freshman trial event.
"Dratini? Beldum?!"
Keiyun Hoshino frowned and quickly pulled up footage from the high school league.
"The Hayashi family..." he murmured, realization dawning.
Dratini was a Pokémon rarely found in secret realms. Its known habitat was Dragon Island, which only maintained friendly ties with the Hayashi family—one of Huaxia's most prominent Pokémon families.
As for Beldum, its evolution into Metagross made it a standout among pseudo-legendaries.
It didn't take long for Keiyun Hoshino to piece together Sakura Hayashi's identity as a direct descendant of the Hayashi family.
And if Sakura Hayashi was close to Hikaru...
Keiyun Hoshino sighed. "Forget about the Charmeleon. It probably isn't as talented as you think."
He added, "For now, you won't return to school. I'll find a better place for you to train. The city league is just the beginning. I want you to shine in the provincial and even national leagues."
Keiyun Hoshino was fully aware of the risks of his path. For this reason, he had kept his true identity hidden from Kei, presenting himself as a professional trainer who often explored secret realms.
If things ever went south for Keiyun Hoshino, he hoped Kei could avoid being implicated.
"Got it, Dad..." Kei nodded reluctantly. But deep down, he refused to let go of his grudge against Hikaru.
Back at home, Hikaru sneezed, feeling like someone was cursing him.
He opened his phone to check the dates for the provincial high school league.
It was held twice a year: in September and in early March. Having missed the September event, his only option was to register for the spring league.
After some thought, Hikaru decided to sign up for the league nearest to him.
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