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

The figure trembling in the downpour didn't seem threatening at all.

Clearly, this wasn't someone with bad intentions. Judging by her physique and aura, she hadn't even awakened her abilities yet.

Zhou Xiaofei was instantly reminded of himself—not too long ago, trembling in fear, hiding under the eaves of the very same Pokémon Center.

Feeling a sudden sense of maturity, he approached the figure with the air of a grown-up—only to discover things weren't quite as he imagined.

The tiny figure crouched at the edge of the entrance was a young girl.

And unlike his own ragged, filthy clothes back when he had been homeless, this girl's outfit—though soaked—was a delicate pleated skirt, clearly not something a street child would be wearing.

The rain had drained her body heat. Her lips had turned faintly purple, and she trembled violently from the cold.

Zhou Xiaofei smacked his forehead, then rushed over with his umbrella and pulled the girl under the shelter.

"Hey! What are you doing out here, kid? It's pouring!"

At that moment, Zhou Xiaofei felt like such a responsible adult!

But to his surprise, the little girl pouted, on the verge of tears.

"I-I was already under the eaves… right at the door! But you suddenly came out and scared me!"

Her soft, delicate face was stubborn and indignant.

"And I'm not a kid! You're not even that much older than me!"

Zhou Xiaofei looked at her, noticing she wasn't entirely soaked—clearly she had been sheltered until just now.

Embarrassed, he scratched his nose.

Right… I guess I'm still a kid too.

He tried to recover:

"Uh… the Pokémon Center is closed now. If you want to buy a Pokémon, you'll have to come back tomorrow."

"And bring your mom or dad, okay? Pokémon aren't cheap!"

Trying to sound mature, he offered the advice without taking offense to her earlier sass.

Still, he couldn't help but frown.

This rain's so heavy… should I walk her home?

But that would mean cutting into Magikarp's training time!

What a dilemma…

Just then, something Zhou Xiaofei said accidentally triggered an emotional response.

The girl's lip quivered, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"My… my dad is gone!" she said, wiping her face.

"I came to visit my dad's Corviknight!"

"Mom is really sad and doesn't want to face Corviknight right now… but I think Pokémon are my dad's best friends! So… I snuck out on my own."

"Mom said we'd visit Dad's grave tomorrow…"

As she spoke, the tears spilled over, like a faucet turned on full blast.

Then, with sudden determination, the girl clenched her little fists, wiped her tears, and tried to cheer herself up:

"Liu Qiaoqiao doesn't cry! Liu Qiaoqiao is strong! Daddy gave his life for humanity!"

"Wait… that Corviknight was your dad's?!"

Zhou Xiaofei suddenly remembered the fierce and majestic Corviknight among the Pokémon left at the center.

Among all of them, Corviknight was the most withdrawn… carrying the heaviest sorrow.

Zhou Xiaofei exclaimed,

"Your name is Liu Qiaoqiao? I'm Zhou Xiaofei!"

"Your dad and Corviknight were amazing! And you're absolutely right—Pokémon are humanity's best partners, right Magikarp?"

He turned to his red Magikarp, proudly showcasing his weakest Pokémon to Qiaoqiao.

Liu Qiaoqiao curiously circled around Magikarp, poking it gently with her finger. Magikarp wriggled uncomfortably.

"This Pokémon… doesn't look very strong. But my dad said you can't judge a Pokémon by its appearance!"

She added thoughtfully,

"I heard the owner of this center, Boss Su, has two really strong and cute Pokémon—Meloetta and Diancie!"

"So I bet your Magikarp is strong too, right?"

Zhou Xiaofei, feeling deeply validated, placed his hands on his hips and puffed up his chest.

"Of course! My Magikarp knows Tackle! And it's even climbing waterfalls!"

"Climbing waterfalls? That's amazing!"

Liu Qiaoqiao's mood lifted instantly. Her eyes sparkled with admiration for Magikarp.

This big red fish… really that powerful?

Zhou Xiaofei rarely had such a chance to show off. Normally, he was surrounded by elite trainers like Wang Tao—one of Haicheng's famed veterans.

Still, he had always thought his Magikarp was the coolest.

"Hehe! I'm about to give Magikarp special training—want to come watch?"

"You can see Corviknight too!"

"Corviknight is so cool. Your dad must've been incredible!"

"Boss said only true Pokémon lovers can evolve their partners to the final form."

"To help Corviknight evolve in such a short time… your dad must've really loved it!"

Hearing someone speak so highly of her father made Liu Qiaoqiao's eyes shine.

Though her heart still ached with grief, in this world, people had learned to face death with courage.

Especially in her father Liu Jiantao's case—he had died an honorable death. And for Qiaoqiao, what mattered most was that his sacrifice was recognized.

Zhou Xiaofei's praise filled her with warmth.

When he invited her in, she instantly nodded like a little chick.

"Yes yes yes! I want to go! Please take me, Brother Zhou Xiaofei!"

She grabbed onto the corner of his shirt.

The girl's starry-eyed admiration and affectionate gesture made Zhou Xiaofei blush.

"Alright then, let's go. You're soaked—come in and dry off first."

He nodded with exaggerated maturity and turned to lead her inside.

But suddenly, Magikarp, who had been lazily floating in its Elemental Water, leapt up violently—splashing Zhou Xiaofei all over!

"Huh? What's wrong, Magikarp?"

Zhou Xiaofei quickly cradled his flailing Pokémon and looked toward the night.

"Is someone there?"

"Wait… something's off about the rain in that direction…"

"Is that… a person? Why isn't it raining around him?"

In Zhou Xiaofei's view—

Beneath the heavy, stormy night, rain pounded from above.

But amidst the relentless downpour, a cloaked figure slowly approached.

And eerily, a massive outline surrounded the man's body—repelling the rain entirely.

Raindrops struck this invisible shape, but instead of bouncing off, they were swallowed by an overwhelming, oppressive deathly aura.

"What… what is that?"

Zhou Xiaofei froze, his movements stiff.

He didn't know why, but he had an awful, sinking feeling deep in his chest.

Something about that approaching figure…

felt utterly wrong.