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

"Grotle, remember to go easy! Meloetta's so tiny—if you go all-out, Su Bai might cry!"

Wang Tao grinned cheekily as he gave Grotle's massive head a pat.

Grotle stared at Meloetta with its usual dopey look, clearly eager to begin.

Su Bai couldn't help but laugh at his shameless best friend.

"Don't come crying when you lose!"

Back when they were younger, Su Bai and Wang Tao competed in all sorts of games. But after Wang Tao awakened his powers—and Su Bai didn't—the subject became a silent truce between them.

Despite his goofy exterior, Wang Tao was sharp. Su Bai knew that well.

And today, challenging Meloetta like this? Su Bai understood the meaning behind it.

He's giving me a stage to shine again…

After living two lives, Su Bai still felt grateful. At least when it came to brotherhood—he'd gotten it right.

He smiled and turned to Meloetta.

"Meloetta, let's use Pirouette Forme this time."

Meloetta's Aria Forme was Psychic/Normal, while Grotle was a Grass-type. There wasn't any major type advantage either way.

But Grotle's Special Defense was lower than its Defense. Technically, Aria Forme's special attacks would be more effective.

Still, Su Bai wanted to spare his best friend a little face.

"Melo~?"

Meloetta tilted her head, clearly confused. She knew she'd win more easily in Aria Forme.

But the trainer's command… was absolute.

She nodded obediently and twirled mid-air.

"Melo~ Meloetta~~"

A hauntingly beautiful melody filled the air.

"Whoa… that's beautiful!"

"She just started singing out of nowhere, but—wow, what a voice!"

"I've never heard anything like this…"

"So that's what Meloetta's singing voice sounds like… I want one just to sing for me every day!"

Though the song had no lyrics, it needed none.

Meloetta's voice had the power to soothe souls.

If she wanted to, she could stir the emotions of everyone present with ease.

After all, this was her Ancient Song—the melody that heralded her transformation into Pirouette Forme!

Gulp.

A stunned gasp escaped from Liu Yunshuang, herself a celebrated A-rank diva.

"S…SS-rank? No… even higher!"

Even though Meloetta hadn't meant the song as an attack, the pressure in her voice was immense.

Liu Yunshuang's eyes sparkled with awe as she looked at both Meloetta and Su Bai.

Before, she had merely assumed the shopkeeper's Pokémon was strong.

Now she knew it.

So this is what it's like to raise a truly well-trained Pokémon... amazing.

While others in the crowd couldn't fully grasp the deeper power behind the song, they were still mesmerized.

And not just by the voice—Meloetta's movements were just as enchanting.

As she spun mid-air, her previously green hair deepened in color and twisted elegantly atop her head.

Her flowing dress unfurled like flower petals.

Her entire appearance changed—from green to a vibrant reddish-brown.

One last twirl—and she had fully transformed.

Meloetta gracefully touched down, lightly bouncing on her toes.

She struck a martial-arts stance, then raised a hand at Grotle—beckoning him forward with a "come at me" gesture.

"Melo~ Meloetta!"

The dazzling transformation lit up the crowd.

Li Xiaoyu, wide-eyed, exclaimed:

"So cool! I wonder what my Eevee will look like when it evolves…"

Liu Yunlan's eyes were sparkling too:

"So this is the Pirouette Forme Su Bai mentioned? I never imagined Meloetta could look so heroic!"

Some people in the crowd even switched sides, cheering Meloetta's name instead.

It was hard not to.

If Aria Forme was adorably serene, Pirouette Forme was the embodiment of elegant strength.

Cute and fierce in one? Absolutely unbeatable!

Su Bai smiled to himself.

This feeling… it's incredible.

In the games, Meloetta couldn't switch forms so freely.

And even then, her stats were always a trade-off.

But not his Meloetta.

Su Bai's Pokémon came directly from the System—perfect in every way.

Balanced stats, flawless builds. Just as he expected.

"Hmph! I thought she'd get bigger or something…"

Wang Tao snorted.

"Fine then! Since I get to move first—no holding back!"

"Grotle! Use Growth!"

Grotle blinked in disbelief.

Still, it hesitated only a moment before powering up.

Its body shimmered with a metallic gleam, growing even larger.

Grotle, already massive, swelled in size once more.

The crowd nearly fainted.

This guy is seriously playing dirty!

Meloetta's tiny and cute, and you go full tank mode?!

By size alone, Grotle looked like it could swallow ten Meloettas in one gulp!

Even Ji Wei, an experienced A-rank warrior, couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth.

Sure, maximizing your strengths was good strategy…

But this? This was shameless.

They give you the first move—and you spam Growth?!

Even Su Bai almost facepalmed.

"Unbelievable. Did we really grow up together? How is someone so sneaky trapped in such a round body?"

"Melo~?"

Meloetta glanced up at her trainer.

So… do I beat up the big turtle now?

Su Bai chuckled, ruffling her hair.

Then he raised his voice:

"Hey, Fatty! You can use Growth up to six times, right? Go ahead—I'll wait!"

"Throw in a few Withdraws while you're at it too. Wouldn't want you whining later that it wasn't a fair fight!"

Meloetta's base stat total was 600.

Grotle? Far below that. On paper, it was a one-sided match.

Of course, raw stats weren't everything.

But there was no denying the gulf in potential between a mid-evolution Pokémon and a mythical one.

Letting Wang Tao max out his buffs? Totally fine.

Su Bai didn't want him to lose too miserably.

"Heh! Don't mind if I do!"

Wang Tao didn't hesitate.

In his eyes, Su Bai was ten times the schemer he was.

He'd learned most of his tricks from Su Bai!

Trying to act polite around him? No way!

The backyard echoed with Wang Tao's voice:

"Growth!"

"Growth again!"

"More Growth!"

"Withdraw!"

"Withdraw! Withdraw!!"

"Grow and hide, Grotle! Grow and hide!!"

With every shout, Grotle swelled larger, darker, heavier.

The gleaming metal sheen on its body intensified.

What was once a dopey-looking turtle had become a towering fortress.

Its face now radiated silent ferocity.

After six Growths and full Withdraw stacks, Grotle had doubled in size.

It radiated pure power, its body wrapped in layers of gleaming dark energy.

"Six Growths... Honestly, even with five, I doubt I could've cracked that shell."

Pei Jingguo, silent until now, spoke up—his tone serious.

He had faced Grotle firsthand.

He understood how terrifying this setup really was.

Even Ji Wei, the A-rank warrior, nodded gravely.

"With this kind of defense… even if I went berserk, I might not break through."

In the games, Growth just raised Attack and Special Attack.

But here in reality? It changed everything.

Larger body. Heavier weight. More force. Greater momentum.

Things a game could never fully replicate.

Looking at them now, Grotle and Meloetta seemed like fighters from two different leagues.

It honestly looked like Grotle could crush her with a single step.

Yet Su Bai didn't flinch.

As the giant Grotle stomped toward them, shaking the ground, he laughed.

He patted Meloetta's head.

"So, ready?"

"Time to show them what you've got."