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

Growlithe's evolved form was none other than the "legendary" Pokémon—Arcanine.

Arcanine, famously partnered with Officer Jenny in the games and anime, was designed to mirror a loyal police dog.

Even putting that association aside, Arcanine's appearance alone was already off-the-charts cool.

The moment it completed its evolution, Liu Yunlan couldn't help herself—she launched forward and hugged it tightly!

Arcanine, thrilled by its own evolution, playfully turned its massive head and began licking Liu Yunlan's round, baby-faced cheeks.

Off to the side, Wang Tao and Zhang Qun practically drooled in awe.

"Damn… That's insanely cool!"

"Honestly, it feels on par with Zeraora…"

Wang Tao glanced at the bored-looking Zeraora sitting beside Su Bai, then back at the energetic and majestic Arcanine.

Zhang Qun, clutching his awkwardly cute Goomy in his arms, stared with envy practically pouring from his eyes.

Wang Tao's team consisted of Hippopotas and Torterra—both tanky types, but definitely not known for their looks.

Zhang Qun had a Gabite, which was decently cool, but it couldn't compare to Arcanine just yet. Maybe once it evolved into Garchomp it'd stand a chance.

As for poor little Goomy? With those derpy eyes and gooey body… yeah, no competition there.

"No doubt. That's one fine-looking Pokémon…"

Even Su Bai couldn't resist nodding in approval.

This was his first time seeing an Arcanine in real life—and its popularity was definitely well-earned.

To be honest, it had just as much presence as a Mythical Pokémon like Zeraora.

Its majestic mane of pale flaxen fur framed its face with a dignified elegance.

Black-and-orange tiger stripes ran across its body, giving it a regal and wild air.

The thick fur around its neck resembled a lion's mane, radiating authority and nobility.

Its legs were wrapped in soft clouds of fur, and its massive tail floated behind like a plume of smoke.

But most striking of all… was its size.

Even Su Bai—who stood at nearly 1.85 meters tall—had to reach up to pat its head.

Arcanine stood a full two meters tall.

That, combined with its fluffy coat, made it look like a walking embodiment of majesty.

"Oh my god… this is my baby Arcanine! So majestic! So handsome!"

At under 1.7 meters, Liu Yunlan looked tiny next to her evolved partner.

She was practically swallowed up by Arcanine's thick fur.

Seeing this, Arcanine lowered itself, gently opened its mouth, and lifted Liu Yunlan onto its back.

"Waaaah~ This back is so wide! I could roll around on it forever!"

Liu Yunlan giggled and buried her face into Arcanine's warm back.

Back when it was just Growlithe, she had ridden it before—but with its small size, it had always been a little awkward.

Arcanine, though?

It was born to be a mount.

If an ordinary horse was the equivalent of a bicycle, then Arcanine was the Lamborghini of rideable Pokémon.

No matter how flashy a car was—it could never match the sheer swagger of this majestic beast!

"Mmm~ Even I'm getting jealous now…"

Su Bai quipped, watching Liu Yunlan nestled on Arcanine's back.

Charizard, resting nearby, snorted in protest and released a puff of flame from its nostrils.

Su Bai laughed and gave it a pat.

"Well, looks like Arcanine really enjoys giving rides to its trainer."

"I've got to admit, Yunlan made the right call."

"Having a fast, rideable Pokémon like Arcanine will definitely boost exploration efficiency."

To be honest, Su Bai was more than a little envious.

According to the current update version, the world outside mirrored the environment of Generation I—Red and Green.

Su Bai had played that game as a kid. His memories were a little fuzzy now, but he still remembered vividly the bike he used to zip around.

Once you'd experienced the difference between walking and biking, there was no going back.

And now, in real life, you could ride Pokémon like Charizard or Arcanine?

Su Bai wasn't jealous of the Arcanine itself—he was jealous that Liu Yunlan had this kind of setup so early in her adventure!

Compared to his own childhood, bumbling around without even understanding the language in the games, this was like cheat codes in real life.

"That's right! Hmph, Arcanine is super strong, isn't it?!"

Just minutes ago, Liu Yunlan had been mourning her lost training points.

Now, she was completely elated.

Still perched on Arcanine's back, she kept calling out excitedly:

"Come on, come on, Su Bai! Say more nice things about my Arcanine!"

Wang Tao and Zhang Qun exchanged glances—still salty, but trying not to show it.

"What about the lesson, Professor Su? Weren't you going to teach us something?"

"And look around—tons of people are watching!"

Su Bai finally noticed the crowd that had formed around them.

Arcanine's evolution had drawn everyone's attention.

The impressive creature stood like a flame-haired lion in the center of the Pokémon Center.

Though no one dared touch it, their eyes practically sparkled with admiration.

Su Bai sighed and raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Looks like my little Pokémon lecture is back in session…"

"Alright, let's talk Arcanine."

"First off—stats. Arcanine has a base stat total of 555, which is even higher than Torterra's."

"Both its physical and special attacks are quite strong, making it a solid dual-attacker."

"But as I always say, stats are just a guideline."

"With a name like Arcanine, you'd expect top-tier Speed, right?"

"But in reality, its base Speed is only 95."

"Not bad by any means—but definitely not the fastest."

"And yet, in legends, Arcanine is renowned for its incredible speed."

"They say it can run over 10,000 kilometers in a single day and night."

"Its internal flame fuels its boundless power."

"Countless people have fallen for the elegance of its running form…"

"And all of this comes from one key move it learns after evolving—"

Su Bai gave Arcanine's head a hearty pat and turned to the eager crowd.

"That move is called Extreme Speed!"

"A powerful priority move with a base power of 80!"

"Other than Fake Out, it's one of the fastest moves you can use."

"Combine that with Arcanine's naturally high Speed and strong Attack…"

"And you've got a nightmare for any fragile, fast-moving opponent."

"Very few Pokémon are capable of learning this move…"

Note:

Arcanine is not a legendary Pokémon, though its Pokédex entry since Generation I has labeled it as the "Legendary Pokémon".