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

"Machoke is about to evolve?!"

Xiao Zhang stared wide-eyed at Su Bai in disbelief.

The Pokédex in this world worked very similarly to the one from Su Bai's past life game—it could display a Pokémon's current status, but not their evolution methods.

Su Bai nodded and activated the machine. "I didn't tell you how Machoke evolves earlier because, at the time, it wasn't possible to evolve it yet… but now it is."

"You already know that Pokémon are extraordinary creatures. Once they reach a certain development threshold, they can evolve into new forms."

"But some Pokémon evolve in special ways."

"For example, Li Xiaoyu's Eevee, Liu Yunshuang's Jigglypuff, and Liu Yunlan's Growlithe—all of them require evolution stones."

"There are even more unique cases…"

He turned his gaze to the Pawnard beside them. "Take Pawniard for example. It takes quite a bit of time and nurturing to evolve into Bisharp."

"And for Bisharp to evolve into Kingambit, the conditions are far more demanding."

"It has to defeat three other Bisharp in the wild that each carry the 'Leader's Crest' before it can evolve into Kingambit."

"As for your Machoke…"

Su Bai patted the machine beside him. "It requires this—a trade evolution!"

"Just trade Machoke to another trainer through this machine, and it'll evolve instantly!"

Su Bai's words made Xiao Zhang instinctively step in front of Machoke protectively.

"Trade it… to another trainer? Doesn't that mean…"

His face was filled with reluctance.

He and Machoke had formed a deep bond. How could he just give it away?

Su Bai simply shrugged. "If you don't trade it, you can't evolve it."

"And besides, we're all on the same side here. What are you worried about—someone won't give your Machoke back?"

Xiao Zhang's reaction had been purely instinctive. After hearing Su Bai's explanation, he finally realized: this process was basically just passing it from one hand to the other—and then back again.

He gently patted Machoke in reassurance and returned it to its Poké Ball.

Su Bai gestured toward the machine and said, "Stand over there, Xiao Zhang. Pei Jingguo, give us a hand?"

"Of course," Pei Jingguo nodded.

Xiao Zhang, a bit tense, placed Machoke's Poké Ball onto the Pokémon Trade Machine.

The machine verified the trainer IDs on both ends and began its operation.

The machine had a dual-interface design, like a head-to-head arcade cabinet. The Poké Ball on Xiao Zhang's side transformed into a hologram, and on Pei Jingguo's side, Machoke's image appeared on the screen.

The system resembled the one from Su Bai's memories.

The machine even allowed one-way trades, meaning the other trainer didn't need to offer a Pokémon in return.

This humane design prevented unnecessary suffering. After all, if the system had required both parties to offer a Pokémon, many trainers would've caught low-value Pokémon just for the sake of trading—and those Pokémon would likely have been neglected afterward.

"Once you confirm, we'll just trade Machoke back again. The whole process ends there."

Su Bai explained while guiding them. "Trade Machines like this one won't only be available in the Pokémon Center—once the outside Adventure Stations are built, you'll be able to use them there too."

"Even if you're in completely different regions, as long as both of you are standing in front of a Trade Machine, you can complete the exchange."

"But this kind of use—purely to trigger an evolution—is a special case."

"I've said before: trainers and their Pokémon are a team."

"Even though Pokémon won't become weaker from being traded, if they're handed over to a trainer they don't trust, they'll refuse to obey."

"In more serious cases, they may even run away—and not just a small chance, either."

If the bond isn't strong, if the trainer lacks authority—or worse, mistreats their Pokémon—those Pokémon will leave.

In fact, under the system's rules, the chance of Pokémon running away was greatly increased.

It was a deliberate design choice, especially with the Pokémon Era about to fully begin…

"Oh! It's done!"

Wang Tao, who'd been watching from behind, shouted, "Machoke's back!"

Sure enough, as Su Bai explained, a new Poké Ball appeared in front of Xiao Zhang.

The trade was complete!

"All done. You can let Machoke out now—or should I say, Machamp."

Su Bai smiled and patted Xiao Zhang on the shoulder in encouragement.

Xiao Zhang was still visibly anxious. Even though it had only been a short while, the feeling of having Machoke temporarily out of his possession had been unsettling.

He stood there, clutching the Poké Ball, frozen in place.

"Go on, Xiao Zhang," Su Bai urged.

Snapping out of it, Xiao Zhang gave a nervous nod. "R-right, Professor Su!"

He lightly tossed the Poké Ball into the air.

Instead of the familiar form of Machoke, a brilliant white light burst forth—and in that glow, Machoke's shape began to shift and change.

A thick, light-blue arm emerged from the light.

Then a second.

Both arms wrapped tightly around Xiao Zhang.

Then, to everyone's shock, a third and fourth arm reached out—and with a strength that surprised even Xiao Zhang, lifted him clear off the ground!

"Wha—what the hell?! Four arms?!"

Wang Tao stared in shock as the now fully-evolved Machamp clung to Xiao Zhang with affection. "She's so freaking jacked!!"

And he wasn't the only one stunned.

Everyone present was awestruck.

This creature before them—it wasn't just muscular. It was an outright muscle monster.

Compared to the wrestler-like Machoke, this Machamp was on a whole different level!

Even more, Xiao Zhang's Machamp was clearly a large-sized individual. Over two meters tall, her body bulged with rope-like muscles and exuded a terrifying aura of raw strength.

The golden belt on her triangle shorts now gleamed even more brightly.

Her thick white lips and three ridged plate-like growths atop her head gave her a fearsome appearance.

"Uhh… I think she's pretty upset you traded her away, even if just temporarily…"

Su Bai winced as Machamp continued to squeeze Xiao Zhang tightly.

He could practically hear the creaking of bones, yet Xiao Zhang still forced a smile and patted Machamp's head affectionately.

Truly a display of resolve…

Indeed, a female Machamp—no matter the species, females always seemed to come with a bit more personality…

"Alright!" Su Bai clapped his hands, ignoring Xiao Zhang's struggle as he launched into a brief lecture.

"As you've all seen, Machamp's four arms give her incredible advantage in close-quarters combat."

"This species thrives on tough opponents—the stronger the enemy, the more fired up they get."

"In some Pokédex entries from the Pokémon World, it's said Machamp can punch an unlucky opponent clear off the horizon."

"She's even strong enough to move an entire mountain."

"…Uh, Machamp, maybe ease up a little—Xiao Zhang looks like he's about to pass out."

Su Bai grimaced, finally intervening to halt the overly affectionate display.

Xiao Zhang's face had turned red as a tomato. If this continued, he might become the first trainer hospitalized from hug injuries caused by his own Pokémon…

Machamp finally let go, tossing her head in tsundere fashion and placing Xiao Zhang back down.

Wobbling slightly, Xiao Zhang forced a proud grin and gave a shaky thumbs-up. "As expected of Machamp!"

Everyone who witnessed the scene couldn't help but shake their heads.

Female Machamp… absolutely terrifying.