Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

The Frostfang Dire Tiger's bloodshot eyes bulged. Blood surged from its wounds left behind by Hyper Voice.

Then—a barrage of blood-red ice shards shot toward the two little Mythical Pokémon in a frenzy!

"You big meanie! I hate you!"

Diancie spun around midair, pouting with visible annoyance.

She was angry now!

"Diancie's gonna smack the big bully!"

With a sharp wave of her small finger, the air around her began to ripple.

The surrounding space trembled. Layer upon layer, the atmosphere condensed—compressed by Diancie's unique power.

One… two… three… countless crystals.

In a blink, an entire galaxy of pink-hued diamonds formed between her and the Frostfang Dire Tiger—a sparkling river of jewels stretching across the sky.

The radiant pink glow enveloped Diancie, accentuating her already adorable and regal appearance. Her delicate face now shimmered with a noble grace that dazzled the eyes.

Even the thick aura of death that clung to the S-rank deathbeast's territory… seemed to evaporate under the purity of this Diamond Galaxy.

From the moment it appeared, no one could take their eyes off it.

"So… so beautiful…"

Murong Nan murmured, eyes wide, completely spellbound by the pink celestial display.

Su Bai nodded, eyes sharp.

"Beautiful, yes… but also deadly."

This was not just a spectacle.

This was Diancie's ultimate move—

Diamond Storm.

The strongest technique of this Mythical Pokémon.

Every single dazzling gemstone contained overwhelming power.

"Go—Diamond Storm!"

Diancie waved her finger once more.

The dazzling river of diamonds began to spin and swirl.

Like a cosmic spiral from the depths of the universe, the storm howled to life—sweeping toward the Frostfang Dire Tiger!

The red ice shards launched by the beast were immediately pulverized upon contact with the brilliant whirlwind.

Yet the Diamond Storm did not slow—not even a little.

"CRASSSHHHH!!"

A thunderous bombardment followed—like an unstoppable hail of meteors.

Each diamond embedded itself deep into the beast's body with surgical precision.

Its icy spikes were shattered, flying in pieces through the air.

Its previously unyielding hide—now riddled with holes like a worn-out rag.

Even its hardened muscles and bones, which could resist the full might of an S-rank combatant's strikes, were no match for Diancie's storm.

The gemstones pierced through sinew, muscle, and finally—bone.

What should've been an impenetrable skeleton now cracked like tofu under a blade.

In less than a second, the Frostfang Dire Tiger became a walking colander, its body filled with gaping holes.

And then—it fell.

Its huge form crashed to the ground in a cloud of dust, completely lifeless.

Even in death, its eyes were wide with confusion and disbelief.

How…? How could a mighty S-rank death beast… be killed so easily—by just two tiny Pokémon?

"Oh. My. GOD!"

Liu Yunlan's eyes sparkled like stars.

"That move was amazing! So flashy! So cool!!"

"And that was an S-rank death beast! Do you know what that means?!"

"And Diancie just one-shotted it! One attack!!"

"Mythical Pokémon are too strong! Ahhhhhh! I'm going to be Diancie's number-one fan forever!!"

The girl jumped up and down in excitement, violently shaking Su Bai's arm with uncontainable enthusiasm.

An S-rank death beast, the ultimate goal of countless Awakeners—and it just fell like that?!

Even more shocking—Diancie and Meloetta clearly weren't even going all-out.

Even the usually cool and stoic Pei Jingguo stared wide-eyed, sword in hand, frozen in place.

He looked down at his blade with a troubled expression.

Was I seriously planning to rush in to save Diancie and Meloetta… with a sword?

Floating silently beside him, his Honedge cast a single mocking gaze at its chosen wielder.

The entire crowd was stunned into silence by Diancie's Diamond Storm.

Looking ahead, the path carved by Meloetta and Diancie was now littered with countless deathbeast corpses.

These two adorable Mythicals were walking harbingers of doom.

Even the A-rank Awakener squad that had previously been prepared to die in battle… fell into an awkward silence.

Some of the more practical-minded students like Shi Ce—who had previously refused to raise Pokémon due to a lack of time—began to waver.

With power like this… maybe they really should try raising a Pokémon after all.

Compared to equipment, potions, and artifacts, this was in a whole different league.

And to top it off, they were so strong, friendly, and cute.

Clap. Clap.

The silence was broken by Su Bai's slow, steady applause.

Everyone turned toward him as he pointed at the two Mythicals still fending off death beasts in the distance.

"So? How much longer are you planning to stand there watching?"

"I told you—S-rank death beasts aren't that scary."

"Just fight like normal. As long as I'm here, as long as Diancie and Meloetta are here…"

"As long as it's not a swarm of S-ranks, I won't let them shift the balance of battle."

"Go. Trust your Pokémon."

At those final words, a hint of shame spread across many of the trainers' faces.

Backing down in fear of an S-rank beast… wasn't that just admitting they didn't believe in their partners?

Wang Tao patted his Grotle's shell with a grin.

"Let's go, buddy. Time for round two!"

"Grotle, use Growth! Then Withdraw!"

Grotle began to glow as layers of buffs stacked on its body.

Its form grew larger, bulkier, sturdier—transforming into a walking fortress as it stepped boldly to the front lines.

Beside it, a sluggish Hippopotas followed loyally.

Wang Tao's initiative sparked something in the crowd.

All across the battlefield, light burst into the air as Trainers began to buff their Pokémon, rallying their courage.

From all directions, powerful partners stepped up.

As Grotle charged into the death beast horde, its heavy footfall landed squarely on an A-rank beast's back—then, chomp!—it bit down with terrifying strength.

Su Bai nodded approvingly.

"When it counts, Wang Tao always reacts first."

"He's not the strongest or most gifted, but when it comes to reading the field—he's unmatched."

This was the same guy who first invented the infamous 'Sneaky Tactic' strategy.

Realizing it all without Su Bai even needing to explain—that alone was impressive.

"Come to think of it, these guys are almost ready to evolve."

"Maybe it's time I gave them a little extra challenge…"

Su Bai rubbed his chin as he watched his loyal old customers tear through the battlefield like a storm.

"A-rank death beasts… might not be enough for them anymore."