The surprise assessment came to a close.
After two consecutive team battles, Owen's team had claimed easy victories using the exact same "blitz" method. In the second match, Owen happened to face Leo.
Leo finally understood what it felt like to be surrounded by "pigs" for teammates. He spent the entire match feeling suffocated and frustrated. Afterward, he dejectedly approached Owen.
"Boss, when I'm by your side, do you feel this way too?" Leo wanted to gauge his standing in Owen's heart—specifically, if he was also categorized as a "pig teammate."
"Absolutely not," Owen said with a straight face.
It was true. Even if Leo were a pig teammate, he'd be a golden one—the shiny, premium kind. And in all honesty, Leo's Munchlax was a formidable fighter; thanks to its Thick Fat ability, even Lynnea's Growlithe couldn't gain the upper hand against it at this stage.
"Then I'm relieved," Leo sighed.
Before they could chat further, Director Wu gathered everyone to critique the battles. The gymnasium fell silent. While the Director spoke at length, most students let the words go in one ear and out the other. His points were valid, but the delivery was essentially a scare tactic—a classic teacher's move.
His persuasion skills are a bit subpar... Owen thought critically as he watched Director Wu spray spit from the podium. This isn't how you motivate students.
"Cha~"
After school on Friday, Owen took Eevee to the training grounds for another special session. Now, Eevee no longer felt sharp pain after the training, but she was still bone-weary. This exhaustion invariably led to her wanting to sleep.
Eevee: (-_-)
The Return training method is incredibly efficient, Owen noted. But it'll likely lose its edge soon.
Looking at the yawning Eevee on his shoulder, Owen smiled. The core of the Return method was using emotional energy to unearth latent potential. The burden of that process was traded for rapid growth, but the amount of potential unearthed depended on her mastery of Return.
After using this method three times, Eevee's legs and tail had adapted to the load. This was why she wasn't as sore as the first time. The first use provided the peak result; as the body adapted, the efficiency dropped.
To maintain that rapid growth, Eevee needed to refine her control over emotional energy—essentially, she needed to level up her mastery of the move Return.
"To keep this advantage, we have to study the move itself. Step by Step (Following the standard routine) for physical training is just too slow... It's a waste of time."
Carrying the tired Eevee, Owen arrived at the Pokémon Center. The nursing, medical services, and regular check-ups here were the bedrock of Owen's training philosophy. Every time Eevee finished a high-intensity session, the Center resolved any lingering physical concerns.
As a member of the Rising Star Project, Owen's expenses at the Fairview Pokémon Center were entirely waived for his senior year. This made the Center's "price-to-performance" ratio unbeatable.
Finish the nursing care, go home to prep nutritional supplements, let Eevee watch her shows while Owen gave her a massage, and by the next morning, her physical stats would have leaped forward. Owen had Eevee's life scheduled down to the minute, ensuring she stayed firmly on the path to becoming "Goddess Eevee."
"Number 09, Owen."
Half an hour later, the nursing was complete. Owen went to collect Eevee.
"Vee~~" On the cart, Eevee shook her body, letting out a cry that sounded like a long stretch, before crawling back onto Owen's shoulder.
"Next... let's head home."
Owen checked his mental list; everything seemed done. They started toward the exit, but suddenly, Eevee's lazy expression turned sharp. She sensed a threat.
Whoosh!
Eevee's tail whipped out, striking a palm that was reaching toward her tail.
At the same moment, Owen felt someone behind him and instinctively turned around.
"Good power," the man behind him remarked, rubbing his palm.
"Ethan?" Owen said, surprised.
It had been a while since he'd seen Ethan, as Zoe had been primarily responsible for the Rising Star Project's daily affairs.
Ethan nodded. "You're heading back to the mountains behind Southview Town for field training tomorrow, right?"
"Yes..." Owen nodded.
Ethan glanced at Eevee on Owen's shoulder. "En. Follow me for a moment."
Owen and Eevee exchanged a confused look but followed. Soon, they were led to a high floor and entered a room that looked like a private collection or storage vault. Ethan flipped on the lights, rummaged around for a while, found an item, and tossed it to Owen.
"An ointment. Every day after Eevee trains her tail strength, dilute this with water and spray it on."
"Huh?"
"Your Eevee is practicing Iron Tail, isn't she? I can tell from her posture. Her physical growth is very balanced. Normally, the tail is an Eevee's weak point; only through specific training can the fur attain that kind of luster and the muscles that kind of tone."
Ethan had noticed the abnormality in Eevee's tail the moment he saw her. An Eevee's tail simply doesn't look that powerful without dedicated work.
Owen nodded again.
"However, you've only been training the tail's speed and strength. The most important part of Iron Tail is Steel-type energy. Without that, even if her strength and speed are up to par, she won't easily master the move."
"This ointment will accelerate her process of grasping Steel-type energy."
Owen took the ointment. He knew energy was the key, but he had no idea where to find the specific training resources.
Moreover, Eevee's tail strength hadn't been sufficient before, and since Iron Tail wasn't an immediate priority, he had just let her practice on her own.
He hadn't expected someone to hand-deliver the resources for Steel-type training. This kind of ointment definitely wasn't sold online; it had to come from a specialized channel. He wondered if he'd ever get access to those channels himself.
"Don't look at me like that," Ethan said, feeling creeped out by Owen's gaze. "There are many ways to grasp Steel-type energy; this ointment is just one.
It was formulated by a Breeder in our association. It can help non-Steel types learn Steel moves and can also be used to maintain the bodies of actual Steel-type Pokémon."
"Oh, I see." Owen nodded. Breeders are awesome!
That meant Mr. Lee might be able to mix stuff like this, too? Probably—the Pro Breeder exam includes move-teaching topics.
"There will be more field training in the future. Mastering Iron Tail will make you safer. However, Iron Tail isn't the move Eevee needs most.
Wait a bit longer; I'll do my best to find a learning method for Shadow Ball for you," Ethan added.
"Thank you." Owen felt a jolt of excitement.
Zoe had also mentioned teaching it, but it seemed the Fairview Trainers Association didn't actually have a manual for Shadow Ball on hand yet. It was currently a "blank check" that they needed to go out and fulfill.
Still, Owen felt lucky he had stayed in Fairview. If he had gone to a big city like Shanghai, he might have gotten a tuition waiver, but he wouldn't have had this level of personal resource access.
Supplements, Iron Tail resources, Shadow Ball promises, and free Pokémon Center access... in less than a month, the benefits were already piling up. This would be a massive boost to Eevee's strength.
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