NOVEL NEXT Chapter 86: The Training Grounds
"Huh, I never knew Chatot was so overprotective of us guild apprentices."
In the Wigglytuff guild's sleeping quarters, Dante was lying on the straw pile as he recalled what happened earlier.
"Yes. Now Skuntank and the others will have to spend three years in prison, not to mention their exploration team status being suspended."
"Too bad Officer Magnezone denied our request for compensation from them. So many items, it's a waste!"
Pikachu rolled around the floor and complained.
When Magnezone and his Magnemites came to take the unconscious Team Skull away, Dante had asked what they would do with the items the team stored in Kangaskhan's storage.
As the team mainly responsible for arresting Team Skull, Dante had hoped to gain at least some part of their stash. However, according to Magnezone, Exploration Federation protocols state that all the items Team Skull had will be inspected.
Those deemed stolen from others will be returned, while the ones left will remain as Team Skull's property and will be returned to them after they get out of jail.
"Meh, it's not like they would have anything important anyway. Come on, let's go back! At the very least, we don't have to deal with their stink during the expedition next week."
"Fair. Master Wigglytuff looked extremely disappointed earlier after learning about them."
Dante nodded in agreement as he operated his menu and chose to return to the human world.
—
"As Rookie Trainers, it's important for you to choose the direction of your growth in the future. Whether it's a Sand Team, Sun Team, or even a Space Team, starting from now, carefully consider which Pokemon best fits your lineup…"
It was the last class of the day. Dante sat sleepily as he listened to their Pokemon Theories Professor Evans discussed a general introduction about team building.
On his right, Shinobu was seriously listening and taking down notes on some of the important things the Professor was saying. Meanwhile on his left…
Dante secretly glanced at Focalors' calm expression. After their group met this morning, she didn't show any particularly special behavior even after what happened last night.
For the rest of the day, her interaction with him remained the same as before. However, Dante had noticed that she was trying to avoid meeting his gaze.
*Ringgg*
The school bell rang, and the students in class silently cheered. Professor Evan also paused what he was saying, and gave a final reminder.
"Remember what I told you. For your assignment, I want each of you to formulate the best team you could think of while keeping in mind your current Pokemon. It doesn't matter whether that Pokemon is rare, or even if it's a Pseudo-Legendary. As long as you think they can strengthen your team, then include them. That's all, class dismissed."
While leaving the classroom, Dante began to think about the Professor's assignment.
'Looking from a team-building perspective, my Pokemon already has some synergy. Pikachu's Lightning Rod Ability removes one of Azumarill's type weaknesses. He is also in charge of attacking from a distance while Azumarill is in close-ranged combat. As for Ursaluna in the future, hmm, he can team up with Azumarill.'
"So? What's the plan? Should we have another party?"
Candice stretched her arms above her head, her generous figure highlighted through her clothes. She had a cheerful smile as she looked at her new friends.
"Really? Right after what happened to you and Furina yesterday?"
Shinobu looked in disbelief after hearing her roommate's suggestion. If it weren't for Dragonite's Heal Bell, Furina wouldn't have even been able to get out of bed due to a hangover.
Candice laughed as she remembered Furina's solemn promise at lunch today that she would never drink alcohol again.
"I'm just joking. How about we head to the training grounds, then?"
"Indeed, that sounds more agreeable."
"I'm up for that. How about you, Dan?"
"I don't know, I think having another party sounds nic- hahaha, alright, alright, let's go to the training grounds."
Seeing Shinobu's narrowed gaze, Dante laughed. While he doesn't need to train his Pokemon, he is curious to see what the inside of the university's training ground looks like.
With an agreed-upon plan, the group headed towards the high-tech-looking structure next to the main building.
No guard can be seen watching over the gate. Instead, there was an ID scanner right beside the imposing metal door. When Dante pressed his ID against it, a loading sound effect was triggered, before a speaker hidden behind the scanner announced:
[BEEP! I.D. AUTHENTICATED. TRAINER STUDENT IDENTITY CONFIRMED. ENTRY REQUEST GRANTED.]
The metal gate made a series of clanging sounds before separating from the middle and slowly opening with a *whoosh*.
"...this is way too over the top. I hope they put as much effort inside as on the outside."
Shinobu complained. This whole structure reminded her of what her uncle would design if he were given the chance to ever build something.
"The door's already open, don't we also need to scan our ID?"
"No need, look, there are cameras around. The scanner is probably there just to ensure it has enough time to check our appearances."
"...It's best if we just scan our IDs."
"Ehehe, you're right."
As they entered the training ground, they saw students in various parts of the room training their Pokemon. Some were using weights, and others were on the treadmill. Then there were those dodging balls on the side, on balancing platforms, etc.
Dante also saw people entering a set of rooms on the right side of the training ground. At the entrance of those rooms, he saw a school staff member operating something on a computer.
"What are those?"
"Probably the gravity and space chamber, environment simulation rooms, and resistance rooms."
Focalors answered Candice as she looked around the training ground in quiet disappointment. While she had expected it, the equipment here was worse than the ones in their home. Not to mention, by the looks of it, she would also have to share the space in the gravity chamber.
Her eyes quietly glanced over Dante, a hint of determination mixed with confusion hidden within.
When her family learned that the Diancite Neuvillette obtained was from another Diancie, chaos erupted. As a family that guards and worships Diancie since the advent of the Pokemon era, knowing there was a copy of their deity out in the world made them not know how to deal with it.
After consulting Diancie, they decided to find the other Diancie first. Therefore Dante, who sold the Diancite, became a crucial lead. They already visited the site Dante told Neuvillette where he found the Diancite.
However, after seeing no clue there, they began suspecting that either Dante was lying, or the other Diancie had also met some accident which forced it to separate from its Mega Stone…
"Focalors, Focalors! Are you listening?"
"Oh! My apologies, I had spaced out. What was that again?"
Shinobu looked at her skeptically but still repeated the question.
"We're asking which room you plan to go in? Candice will go to the environment simulation room, Dante wants to try the gravity chamber, and I'll go to the space chamber."
"I see...then I'll join Dante in the gravity room. Dragonair grows faster under constant stress."
"Alright then, let's meet with each other outside. Hmm, how about at 7?"
"Certainly, 7 sounds good. We can go together and have dinner after."
After making an agreement, Shinobu and Candice waved as they scanned their IDs and entered their rooms. Only Dante and Focalors remained, a silence forming between the two.
"So… you usually train Dragonair under gravity back home?"
"Yes. Father had one installed in our house. It's where Dragonair and I mostly practice."
"Huh, that's neat."
Dante and Focalors scanned their IDs before entering the room. Seeing them, a staff member at the side smiled and approached.
"New faces, you must be freshmen! Do you want an explanation of how to use this room?"
"Thank you, but no need. We'll just have the bracelet."
While Dante had no experience inside a gravity room, he had heard Shinobu's experience from using it in Erika's gym.
From her description, the gravity chamber had some sort of advanced mechanism in its core. While inside the chamber, as long as a Pokemon wears the corresponding bracelet, they can adjust the gravity surrounding their body.
"Sure! But please remember that Pokemon are not allowed to release moves here except for stat-boosting ones. Any violation of the rules can result in penalties from paying fines to being permanently banned from this place."
The staff warned as she gave both of them a bracelet.
"Please give me two, I have another Pokemon with me."
The staff raised her eyebrows in surprise at Dante's request. He was just a first-year student yet he's already training two Pokemon?
She skeptically looked at him before her eyes suddenly widened.
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Dante! Here, please take as much as you need!"
The smile on the staff's face became much wider as she handed Dante another bracelet.
"Uh, thanks, I'll take another extra one then."
Dante thanked the overenthusiastic staff member before he and Focalors released their Pokemon.