CHAPTER 22

c22: Formal Trainer and Rating

Drip, drop, drop.

Hearing the familiar notification chime of the Penguin App a popular messaging software installed on the Pokédex OS Chen Xiaoxiao, who was eating a soft-boiled egg with toast and Nanwu honey, reached over to check the screen.

"Happy birthday! Are you going to apply to become an Official Trainer today?" – Leng Yue

"Happy birthday! Same question, same question!" – He Xiaowen

These were Chen Xiaoxiao's closest friends Leng Yue, the cool and clever girl from Beifang, and He Xiaowen, the energetic water-type enthusiast from the capital. Over the past few years, Leng Yue had visited Shencheng twice to attend family functions and trainer expos, where she naturally became acquainted with He Xiaowen.

Additionally, due to the timing of the Huaxia Region's Elite Trials and the Championship Challenge which spanned almost the entire summer vacation the three girls had spent nearly two months together in the capital. Unsurprisingly, this shared time had cemented their bond. Now, they were inseparable, calling themselves the "Three Sisters of Huaxia."

"Thank you! I'm eating breakfast now, but I'll go apply in a bit." – Chen Xiaoxiao

"I'm so jealous! I can't qualify until September! Cry!" – Leng Yue

"Mine's even worse November! Crying into my Poké Puffs!" – He Xiaowen

"It's okay! I'll send you both lots of pictures and videos of the outside world. That's what good sisters are for!" – Chen Xiaoxiao

"Friendship terminated!" – Leng Yue

"Ditto!" – He Xiaowen

Seeing the synchronized replies, Chen Xiaoxiao almost choked on her milk. These two had clearly spent too much time together Leng Yue's sarcasm was definitely rubbing off on the usually earnest He Xiaowen.

"Xiaoxiao, you're turning sixteen today. So, what are your plans?"

It was her grandmother who asked, carefully peeling a tangerine at the breakfast table while sipping ginseng tea.

"I'm going to apply for my official Trainer license today," Chen Xiaoxiao replied between bites. "Then after school ends next month, I'll officially start my journey. Didn't I mention this already?"

"You did," her grandmother nodded. "But yesterday, an old classmate of mine called. He's currently part of the admissions board for the Pokémon Sciences Department at Huaqing University. After asking about your academic background and battle theory performance, he said they'd be willing to give you a spot through direct admission. He's actually in Shencheng today and wanted to meet you personally. That's why I'm bringing it up."

"Help me decline, please. Do I really need a special recommendation for college?"

Chen Xiaoxiao wrinkled her nose in distaste. She had studied hard for over a decade to reach this milestone, finally turning sixteen the age when aspiring trainers across the world could legally register. Another four years cooped up in classrooms? No thanks.

"If your performance hadn't been so noticeable at school, my classmate wouldn't have asked. When I mentioned you, I thought it'd be a good time to brag a little about my granddaughter!" her grandmother said, looking somewhat disappointed but mostly amused.

Ah. So that's what this was about. Not school, not university just grandma wanting to show off.

Chen Xiaoxiao smiled inwardly. Of course. At nearly sixty, grandma's classmates didn't care about her own status anymore. These days, bragging rights came from one's children and grandchildren.

The only problem was Chen Xiaoxiao had always kept a low profile. Despite scoring consistently at the top of her grade in Pokémon theory, tactics, and evolution studies, she rarely participated in school tournaments or regional showcases. Her Pokémon particularly Solgaleo, which was still assumed to be a mysterious "new species"—remained under wraps except for League-registered data.

So while grandma knew her granddaughter was strong, there had never been a public opportunity to prove it.

And saying outright, "My granddaughter raised a pseudo-Legendary from birth"? That would sound like pure fantasy, even to professional Trainers.

"Alright! I get it now," Chen Xiaoxiao smiled brightly, nodding with renewed determination. "I'll make you proud, grandma!"

"That's all I wanted to hear. Go on then. Since you're not going to university, at least let my old classmate meet you in person. It'll make an old woman happy."

Chen Xiaoxiao waved as she left, still chewing her last bite of toast.

---

Once outside, she buttoned up her light gray windbreaker and stepped out into the Shencheng morning air. The streets were alive with activity: Flying-type delivery drones zipped overhead, sending parcels from PokéMarts to residential apartments; children in school uniforms gathered around Poké Gyms to scan today's battle lineups; and digital advertisements on passing taxis showcased the latest regional Pokémon apps and Poké Ball tech upgrades from Silph China Division.

Hopping into a ride-share taxi, Chen Xiaoxiao entered her destination into the console: Shencheng Central League Registration Office.

Time to take her first official step toward becoming a licensed Pokémon Trainer of the Huaxia Region.

When Chen Xiaoxiao arrived in the downtown district of Shencheng, the city center was bustling with life. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a towering building, several dozen stories high, gleaming with glass panels and lined with digital displays showing real-time League news and Pokémon highlights. The building bore a massive red-and-white Poké Ball logo at its center, spinning gently like a beacon this was the Shencheng Pokémon Center, the administrative hub and medical facility combined, operated under the Pokémon League Central Administration of Huaxia.

"Hi, I'm here to register as an official Trainer," Chen Xiaoxiao said upon reaching the Trainer Management Office on the main floor.

"Please open your Pokédex and place it on the sensor pad on the desk," the staff member replied, gesturing to a black-panel interface embedded into the counter.

Drop!

Following the instructions, Chen Xiaoxiao placed her Pokédex on the sensor pad. A soft chime rang out, and a screen popped up on her Pokédex:

"Shencheng League Office requests access to trainer registry data. Allow?"

She clicked "Yes" without hesitation.

The system scanned her biometric data and Trainer ID, confirmed her eligibility having just turned sixteen, the legal age for Pokémon Trainer licensing in most regions, including Huaxia and prompted her to verify some personal information. After a few clicks, digital signatures, and payment of the standard 1,000 yuan League processing fee, a prompt blinked on the screen:

"Trainer Registration Complete. Status: Official Trainer."

"You're now officially registered. But just a reminder this office handles the registration process only. If you're looking to test your Pokémon's strength and assess your Trainer Tier, please proceed to the 18th floor," the staff member explained politely.

"Okay, thank you!"

Chen Xiaoxiao headed for the elevators, watching as a Hoothoot-shaped digital guide blinked on the wall with the message: "Testing Facility – 18th Floor. Elevator B."

---

After taking the elevator, she arrived at a reception area with wide windows, polished floors, and a long desk manned by uniformed League staff.

"Hi, I'm here for a Pokémon strength test and Trainer Rating Assessment," she said.

"Please open your Pokédex and place it on the sensor."

Drop!

Same as before. The Pokédex screen prompted for access, and this time Chen Xiaoxiao clicked "Yes" instinctively.

The attending staff member, a young man in his twenties, glanced at the display and raised an eyebrow. "It shows you were just registered minutes ago. So, you've just turned sixteen and became a Trainer today?"

He adjusted his glasses and continued, "Just to clarify, to qualify for Primary Elite Trainer status, you must have six Pokémon, with at least one at confirmed Elite-class battle strength. You're aware of this requirement?"

"I am," Chen Xiaoxiao replied coolly. "I'm here to apply for Elite-level certification."

The man gave a small laugh. "You're quite confident, little sister. Do you even know what being an Elite-class Trainer entails?"

His tone wasn't mocking, just amused, as if she'd declared she wanted to join the Elite Four tomorrow. The other staff members nearby chuckled as well—kindly, not rudely—clearly assuming Chen Xiaoxiao was another overexcited rookie with high hopes and little experience.

Too lazy to argue, Chen Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly. If I don't show my strength, everyone just assumes I'm Hello Kitty.

Without a word, she unclipped one of the two minimized Poké Balls hanging from a cord around her neck. Pressing the activation button, she tossed it lightly.

"Come out, Gardevoir. Show them your aura."

"Sha-nai!"

With a shimmering burst of psychic energy, Gardevoir emerged. Her form was ethereal, graceful—and deadly. Blue psychic energy flared across her body, condensing into visible currents of pressure that flowed around her like plasma slime, forming a loose halo around her. It was the mark of a Pokémon who had long since surpassed the intermediate stage and entered the realm of true elite combatants.

The air in the room changed instantly. It felt like a vacuum had formed everyone involuntarily held their breath as a strange pressure weighed on their shoulders. Even the League employees, trained to remain composed, subconsciously stepped back.

"That's… an incredibly powerful Gardevoir." That was the unanimous thought of everyone present.

"All right, Gardevoir, that's enough. Thanks." Chen Xiaoxiao nodded slightly. Gardevoir withdrew her pressure field but remained floating with elegance beside her.

"So," she looked back at the stunned clerk, "can we proceed with the Elite Trainer application now?"

The man coughed lightly and adjusted his collar, recovering his professional tone despite the shock still lingering in his eyes. "Yes, of course. To apply for Primary Elite Trainer, the official standard requires either one Elite-class and five quasi-Elite Pokémon, or two Elite-class Pokémon. Which evaluation type would you like to proceed with?"

He was quick to resume proper form after all, this was Shencheng, one of Huaxia's "Four Old Tier-One Cities," and its League office staff were seasoned professionals. Still, his eyebrows twitched slightly as he awaited her response.

Chen Xiaoxiao pondered briefly. If she revealed her entire team including her near-legendary Solgaleo, her powerhouse Garchomp, and her nearly perfected Flygon she could probably skip ahead to Intermediate Elite status. But… that would be too much.

No need to show all my cards. A sixteen-year-old applying for Primary Elite status is already going to cause an earthquake on HuaxiaNet. Better keep it low-key.

"Let's go with the test for two Elite Pokémon," she replied casually.

The man stiffened for half a second, then forced a smile. Inside, though, he was screaming.

"Another Elite Pokémon?! At sixteen?!"

Maintaining his professionalism, he simply nodded and gestured toward the testing hall. "Very well. This way, please. I'll escort you to the assessment chamber."

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