056 Heracross! Conversation With Xu Qian!
"Doduo."
Fomantis nodded, still in good form despite the long battles in the forest. The use of Synthesis had effectively replenished her energy, allowing her to maintain her strength.
The three Heracross didn't stand a chance against Fomantis. Qin Yun chose not to knock them out, but instead forced them back, reaching for an energy cube from his backpack.
"Hello, I mean no harm to you."
"Your little Heracross has great potential, and I want to add it to my team and help it grow stronger."
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of it."
Three Bug-type energy cubes appeared in Qin Yun's hand. The moment they were revealed, the three Heracross reacted with obvious interest. Qin Yun felt the intensity of their gaze, especially from the little one, who seemed particularly intrigued.
Despite the two larger Heracross standing back, seemingly waiting for the smaller one to make the decision, it approached Qin Yun, touching his arm as if signaling its willingness to join him.
The corners of Qin Yun's mouth curved upward. He had successfully gained a new Pokémon.
Heracross, one of Qin Yun's favorite Bug-types, was now part of his team. His excitement was palpable. The little Heracross, with high potential, was a perfect match for his evolving team. Qin Yun's standards had risen—only Pokémon with high potential could fit into his team now. He needed to be strategic about his choices.
"Very well, Heracross, we're partners now," Qin Yun said as he gently extended his hand to the Pokémon. Their partnership was sealed in that moment.
Of course, the Pokémon's potential hadn't been fully realized yet, as it wasn't officially his Pokémon until Qin Yun secured the first-place spot in the competition.
Qin Yun carefully placed Heracross into a Park Ball and sighed in relief, feeling a mix of satisfaction and accomplishment.
"Thank you," he muttered, leaving behind five Bug-type energy cubes for the others. It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with them; it was just that he knew the dangers of attracting too much attention in the wild. Excess energy could draw unwanted confrontations from other Pokémon.
When Qin Yun emerged from the forest and made his way to the competition's entrance, Xu Qian was already there, exuding confidence. His expression told Qin Yun that he'd likely caught some high-potential Pokémon himself.
"Back already, Qin Yun?" Xu Qian asked, clearly in high spirits.
Qin Yun smiled in return.
The process of the competition involved handing over the Park Balls for evaluation by official reviewers from top-tier Alliance affiliates, ensuring fairness in the event. Due to the number of participants, the results wouldn't be announced until the next day.
While waiting, Qin Yun and Xu Qian chatted. Eventually, Qin Yun steered the conversation toward the topic of gym challenges.
There were two modes for gym challenges:
Mode One was the traditional gym challenge, where a trainer faced off against the gym leader for a chance to earn a Gym Badge. This method was notoriously difficult, especially for students, as it required extensive experience and powerful Pokémon.
Mode Two had been introduced to accommodate trainers with less experience. If a trainer had been training for less than three years, the gym leader was required to use a second-tier team, which was generally less powerful than their first team. If the trainer won, they earned a Gym Badge, although it was only considered a "half-badge." To earn a full Badge, they would need to defeat the gym in the traditional challenge.
The Spring High School Competition required participants to collect eight badges in the second mode, making it a significant challenge for younger trainers.
Xu Qian sighed, "The gym challenge is too difficult. I'll probably have to wait until college to try it. Right now, it's out of my league."
"Without an elite-level team, it's almost impossible to win," Qin Yun agreed. "But I have faith in my Pokémon, and I'm not afraid to try."
Xu Qian nodded, but his expression grew serious. "If I meet a gym owner with a second-tier team, I might stand a chance. Otherwise, I'm not even sure I'd win."
Qin Yun smiled. "True, but sometimes, a trainer can surprise themselves. It's not about always winning—failure is part of the journey."
Xu Qian was taken aback. He'd been feeling the pressure of always winning, particularly since he had been groomed to succeed as the heir to his gym owner's legacy. The thought of failure had started to weigh on him.
"But you're right. Even Mr. Steven, the current Hoenn champion, has lost before."
Xu Qian's eyes widened. Steven, the Hoenn Champion, was an extraordinary trainer. He had never considered the possibility that even someone as powerful as Steven had faced setbacks.
"Thanks, Qin Yun," Xu Qian said after a moment of reflection.
"You're welcome," Qin Yun replied. He had offered advice because Xu Qian was a good person, not because he expected anything in return.
"Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to your battle with the master."
"Me too," Qin Yun said with a smile.
The two exchanged a nod, a mutual understanding between them that they were both on paths of growth.
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