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

The day after the siege, three figures rested in a single-occupancy ward at Haicheng Central Hospital: City Lord Zhu Jianyuan, old headmaster Lu Liangpeng, and Su Bai himself.

Lu Liangpeng had faced three S-Rank Death Beasts alone on the battlefield. The final bearshaped monster's "War Stomp" had disrupted his mana, and he'd been knocked from a height, though not fatal, it required urgent care. Mage don't rely on physique, and he was well past his prime. Hence, their conversation had to occur bedside.

The After-Action Report

Zhu reviewed the data before him, breathing steadily:

"Casualties weren't too high, most occurred during close-quarters combat early on. From a results standpoint, we held the city with clear success."

His voice brightened at the next point:

"After that… that monster's attack reshaped the land. The area outside the gates is now known as 'Cliff-Edge Valley.' It used to be a B-Rank Death Beast breeding ground, but no beast dares enter anymore."

He paused, glancing between the resting headmaster and Su Bai.

"Headmaster, you ordered the retreat preemptively. What exactly is that creature?"

Principal Lu had called it "our reinforcements", but if humanity truly possessed such a weapon, they'd have used it long ago. Only beasts had ever held the upper hand.

The Explanation

Principal Lu opened his eyes and said softly:

"That reinforcement… is not a human secret weapon. It's called… a Pokémon. Isn't that right, Su Bai?"

Finally, Su Bai nodded, expecting the moment.

Su Bai's Story

He sat up a little, looking between them respectfully:

"Yes, that is among the strongest Legendary Pokémon. After returning, I awakened a hidden class—Pokémon Trainer. I can commune with another dimension, and under certain conditions, summon creatures called Pokémon."

He paused as Zhu's face grew pensive.

"But summoning something as powerful as Groudon… that's not easy. There are strict limits—I can't do it at will."

Zhu's expression reflected disappointment and wonder. He'd heard of hidden classes—rare awakenings among noble-born geniuses. Su Bai's S-Rank power could indeed justify such claims.

Zhu pondered further: If Trainers could summon legendary Pokémon freely, humanity might reclaim lost lands. But he knew, nothing so violent escapes limits.

He cleared his throat:

"I presume your class carries a heavy price—no such power comes without sacrifice. You're only eighteen, correct? To use this power… you surely risked something grave."

Zhu's eyes shone with deep respect.

"You—you are truly… extraordinary."

He reached out, placing his hand over Su Bai's.

"If you ever face difficulty, please alert the City Lord's Office. We will support you to the utmost, Mr… Su Bai."

He addressed him formally, no longer as a student, but as a hero who risked everything for Haicheng.

Su Bai's Response

Su Bai offered a wan smile and eased away from Zhu's supportive grip:

"Headmaster, City Lord, you saw how well the other Pokémon performed, all of them remarkable."

Zhu's face grew serious once more:

"Your class allows you to summon Pokémon. But Pei Jingguo is a genuine Magic Swordsman, he didn't awaken Trainer class. Still, he commanded Pokémon. And those Haicheng students, why could they use Pokémon too?"

Zhu thoughtfully tapped his folder:

"Summoners can't spontaneously conjure Pokémon, they must capture them."

Principal Lu and Zhu both pondered the strange affinity displayed by the students.

Su Bai inhaled, steeled himself, and replied carefully:

"I can—forge a bond between humanity and Pokémon by bridging that other dimension. Those who establish that connection call themselves Trainers."

A New Era

Su Bai paused—his voice well-measured.

"We are building a Pokémon Alliance."

He settled his posture—ready for the next phase.