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

"Ahhh... he really got it in the end..."

Liu Yunlan looked on enviously as the massive Poké Ball-shaped object slowly opened, unable to stop herself from fantasizing about what could be inside.

"Is it an evolution item? A battle tool? Or maybe a TM?"

"Ughhh, I'm so jealous!"

Ding Yue stared at the treasure chest with equal longing.

He and Zhang Qun had flexed their wealth the entire previous day.

TM machines were the hot new thing. In just 24 hours, they'd triggered a full-blown pay-to-win frenzy among the trainers of Haicheng.

Each TM draw cost 500 nurture points. That may sound steep, but most trainers could afford four or five attempts.

And who could resist the gamble?

Some even pulled just to resell the TMs. After all, a high-tier TM could fetch hundreds of thousands—millions, even!

That kind of money could buy you another Pokémon.

For civilian trainers, this was one of the fastest paths to profit.

Sure, TM values would eventually stabilize. But for now, they were worth a small fortune.

It explained why the Pokémon Center was packed to the brim the day before.

And as two of Haicheng's most well-known rich kids, Ding Yue and Zhang Qun had gone all out—snapping up any TMs they could find, regardless of price.

But even with their bottomless wallets, TMs that actually suited their Pokémon were still few and far between...

So watching Wang Tao open a treasure right in front of them? Of course they were jealous!

Su Bai, listening to their chatter, gave a sly smile.

"Don't you guys think… that 'treasure chest' is a bit too big for a simple item drop?"

"TMs, evolution stones, held items… none of them need a box that size, do they?"

Everyone fell silent at that, exchanging puzzled looks.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Liu Yunlan blinked. "Isn't it a treasure chest? It looks like one!"

Su Bai pointed toward Wang Tao—whose swollen, bloated face was now lit with glee as he pressed down on the object's large round button.

"Emm... Sometimes your eyes can deceive you, y'know…"

Following Su Bai's finger, the crowd turned to look.

Wang Tao was practically dancing with joy as he caressed the surface of the giant Poké Ball.

"Hahahaha, mine, mine! All mine!"

"Wait a second... Why does this thing feel kinda weird? It's warm?"

He frowned.

Treasure chests were supposed to be cold, weren't they?

This one felt... alive.

And it wasn't like the sun was baking it—it was shaded by trees.

Plus, he'd already pressed the button, so why wasn't it opening?

A thousand question marks swirled in his head.

And then, right before his eyes—

The "treasure chest" moved.

A seam cracked open across the red upper half of the ball.

And two furious eyes stared out at him from the gap.

"Wh-WHAT THE—?!"

Wang Tao's jaw dropped.

Only now did he realize—the "button" was in the wrong place.

A regular Poké Ball has its button along the red-white boundary.

But this one?

The button was smack in the middle of the red half.

And that wasn't a button.

It was the forehead of the creature staring back at him!

It had been peacefully sleeping—until Wang Tao rudely woke it up.

In that moment, its body crackled with a surge of electricity.

ZAP!

Wang Tao's swollen face instantly went super-saiyan—his hair standing on end, his whole face blackened by the jolt.

He opened his mouth slightly—and a small plume of black smoke drifted out.

"W-What the hell is this thing...?"

Before he could say anything else, the furious creature sprang into action, launching a sudden charge straight at him.

A textbook Tackle attack!

Only now did Wang Tao realize—this wasn't a treasure chest.

This was a Pokémon!

"OH MY GOD!!!"

Wang Tao shrieked through his puffed-up lips and bolted as fast as he could.

Luckily, Torterra remained loyal and vigilant—rushing in just in time to block the Electrode's Tackle with its massive body.

From afar, Su Bai nearly fell off his Charizard laughing.

"Wang Tao, did all your luck go into catching that Torterra?! Hahahaha!"

Tears streamed from his eyes.

"That thing's no treasure chest—it's an Electrode!"

"An Electric-type ball Pokémon. And yeah, its temper? Not exactly what you'd call mild!"

He'd held in his laughter for so long—just waiting for this moment.

Wild Electrode weren't strong enough to seriously hurt Wang Tao. That's why Su Bai hadn't stepped in.

No, he wanted to watch this.

And now he was thoroughly enjoying the show.

The other trainers began to realize what had happened too.

Wang Tao might have sharp eyes—but his luck? Questionable at best.

"HAHAHA! Wang Fatty, trying to act cool again, huh?"

"Still think wild Pokémon are pushovers?"

"Hey, that Electrode looks really pissed—better run faster!"

"Beedrill's back too! You're done for, Wang Tao!"

Laughter and heckling echoed from the other trainers.

If this had been a Deathbeast attack, they'd have rushed in immediately.

But against a Pokémon? A relatively "gentle" one?

And with Su Bai backing things up?

This was a rare treat—a chance to watch their friend get owned.

In this dangerous world, moments like these were precious.

Even Pei Jingguo cracked a rare smile and joined in the teasing.

In the midst of the chaos, Wang Tao looked up—and instantly broke into a cold sweat.

Li Xiaoyu hadn't been lying—those Beedrill really were back.

And they looked even more furious than the Electrode!

Each one brandished its giant stinger, flying straight toward him with vengeance in their eyes.

"DAMMIT! Stop laughing and HELP ME!!"

Wang Tao nearly cried.

He'd never been jabbed with needles this thick before.

Even with his thick skin, a hit from that would hurt like hell—or worse.

This was not fun and games anymore!

In the games, Hippopotas's Sand Stream ability automatically triggered on entry.

But in the real world, it had a cooldown period—it couldn't be used again so soon.

And neither Torterra nor Hippopotas had any skills they could use immediately to protect him again…

Wang Tao gritted his teeth, glanced at his mocking friends—and made a shocking move.

He struck a dramatic pose, hands on hips—and raised two Poké Balls into the air.

In an instant, he withdrew both Torterra and Hippopotas.

The sudden action stunned even Su Bai.

The crowd of trainers was confused too.

"Huh? Why'd he pull back his Pokémon?"

"Is he trying to force us to save him?!"

"Wait—no… Is that what I think it is?!"

"A Speed Boost Serum?!"

"He's trying to drag us down with him!!"

Sure enough, to everyone's shock, Wang Tao yanked out a vial and chugged it without hesitation.

A Speed Serum—not cheap by any means.

He wiped his mouth—and then took off like a rocket, sprinting straight toward the others.

Behind him, a cloud of furious Beedrill and a very angry Electrode gave chase.

"If I'm going down—we're ALL going down!!"

Wang Tao's swollen face twitched with determination.

If his so-called "friends" wanted to laugh at him?

Fine!

He'd drag every last one of them into this chaotic mess!