The next day.
After pondering what his second Pokémon might be all night, Roy suffered from insomnia and woke up late.
Following a hasty breakfast, he rushed out immediately.
At the intersection, Roy encountered the Mu siblings waiting for him.
"Well, well, if it isn't our chief recommended student?" Reece leaned forward, playfully punching Roy's shoulder, and said with exaggerated formality: "Your Highness has arrived. My sister Serena has been waiting for ages. Allow me to ensure your safe passage."
Roy brushed his hands away, straightened his clothes, and lifted his chin proudly:
"No need for formalities. I am but a humble servant."
"Whatever."
Reece hadn't expected such shamelessness.
Roy turned to Serena standing nearby, his demeanor completely transformed as he spoke gently:
"Sorry I'm late."
Serena shook her head to indicate she didn't mind, and the three walked toward the university together.
Roy's family and the Mu family lived near Capital University, so they both chose to commute daily.
Along the way, Roy and Reece did most of the talking, discussing university matters.
"I wonder which class I'll be assigned to," Reece sighed. "You two geniuses are so fortunate, both chief recommended students who'll definitely enter the advanced class... Unlike me, I can only accept my fate. Well, I just hope the girls in my class are pretty."
Yes, two chief recommenders.
The Breeder professional examination was conducted through written tests.
Serena had successfully claimed first place with the highest total score, becoming the chief recommended student for the Breeder major.
Unlike the high-profile Trainer track, the Breeder path received relatively little attention.
The Trainer profession had high entry requirements and was resource-intensive. After graduation, passing the [professional trainer assessment] was the only path to success.
Without passing the professional assessment, you remained just an ordinary Trainer—no status, no authority, no income, and the high cost of raising Pokémon.
Many Trainers who failed the professional assessment either returned home to take over family businesses or found positions as coaches at clubs to train the next generation.
Whether one could pass the professional assessment varied greatly depending on circumstances.
It resembled thousands of troops crossing a narrow bridge, or carp attempting to leap over the dragon gate.
The Breeder path was different. It didn't rely on external resources. With intelligence and diligence, one could succeed, and career options were plentiful.
After graduating from the Breeder program, students could become entrepreneurs like successful business magnates, or work for companies where employees with extensive Pokémon knowledge were highly valued across industries.
They could also pursue the path of 'Pokémon Researcher,' aiming to become a Pokémon Professor.
In summary:
—Trainer: high threshold, high risk, high reward, potential to reach positions of power, attracts attention and fame.
—Breeder: low entry barriers, low risk, many career paths. Though they lacked access to power, they could earn substantial income, despite receiving less recognition.
Many people from ordinary backgrounds chose the Breeder path.
People like Roy who chose the Trainer path were essentially "gambling" on their future.
As the school gate came into view, Serena tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing delicate earlobes, and asked suddenly:
"Have you decided what your second Pokémon will be?"
"I'm going to choose one of the regional starter Pokémon," Roy answered honestly.
There were no legendary Pokémon in the official Breeding House.
The so-called legendaries referred to Pokémon whose potential and talent were recognized as second only to mythical beasts.
Such Pokémon were too precious to be visible to the public, and their habitats remained unknown.
The legendary Pokémon known to people typically came from famous professional-level Trainers.
If legendary Pokémon's talent and potential were considered first-tier, then starter Pokémon were undoubtedly second-tier.
Roy's thinking was clear: if he was going to choose, he'd select the best available in the breeding house.
Which starter it would be depended on what he would see with his own eyes.
During this conversation, the three arrived at Capital University's entrance, checking their names on the class schedule posted on the bulletin board.
Roy's placement was unsurprising—he was assigned to the advanced Trainer class, Freshman Class 1.
When he entered the classroom, he immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"The chief recommender is here too."
"Obviously—we're the advanced class. Recommended students are always assigned here."
"Roy, Axel, Callan, Chloe... Looks like Cade is the only one missing from the recommendation list."
"Haha, if I were him, I'd be too embarrassed to show up."
The students whispered among themselves, but due to Roy's "champion aura," no one dared approach him directly.
When discussing Cade, however, they became animated.
After the entrance exam, video of the final battle was uploaded online, generating substantial views.
But the most popular figure in the video wasn't Roy or Riolu, but Cade.
Someone had daringly edited Cade's expressions of "Maniacal Arithmetic Laughter" and "I'll end this battle instantly" into a viral video posted on a popular streaming platform.
With his "wildly laughing" attitude, Cade became infamous across the entire site.
His personal social media accounts were discovered.
The comments below were filled with mockery: 'Can you do that again? I'll end the match in a flash, hahahaha...'
In the corner of the classroom, Callan, Axel, Chloe, and Jordan sat together, exchanging knowing glances.
'Cade, we understand your pain.'
The four eagerly anticipated a conversation with Cade, hoping he would lead an alliance against Roy.
Unfortunately, Cade didn't appear before the class bell rang.
...
Roy's first university class was Pokémon Ecology.
The instructor was his acquaintance, Professor Christian.
"A century ago, a mysterious alternate dimension descended upon Earth. Initially, there was only one spatial passage leading to this dimension. Over time, this alternate space gradually merged with Earth, and the magical creatures called Pokémon became fully integrated into our world."
"The alternate dimension contained not only Pokémon but also remnants of a certain civilization. Research indicated this civilization was created by humans from other worlds, with striking similarities to our own."
"We refer to this alternate dimension as the 'spirit realm'..."
"The fully integrated portions of the spirit realm constitute safe zones where even ordinary people can freely enter. The 'spirit realm' areas not yet fully integrated are unsafe zones. Only Trainers with special permission are allowed to enter these regions."
"To this day, new Pokémon continue to appear, and humanity is far from understanding the complete picture of the Pokémon world."
"Just last month, a new 'spirit realm' manifested. After researchers deciphered the text, we confirmed the original name of this 'spirit realm' and designated it the 'Alola spirit realm'—"
Roy, who had been diligently taking notes, froze.
Alola?