Trainer Academy – Sunlight Room
Gengar hopped on the floor, handing its Pokédex over to the elderly facility manager.
Its trainer had always emphasized good manners, so instead of floating, Gengar stood firmly on the ground and handed over the Pokédex with both hands.
"Hello there." The old man smiled kindly. "Where's your trainer?"
"Gengarr!"
Gengar enthusiastically gestured with its stubby arms.
"Oh, so he'll be coming by later? No problem!"
The old man chuckled and placed the Pokédex onto the scanner.
Beep!
His eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity.
A new staff member… but this Pokédex…
It was an extremely rare model, one he had never seen before.
Returning the Pokédex to Gengar, the old man muttered under his breath, "Looks like Principal Michael has recruited an incredible trainer this time."
The Sunlight Room, as the name implied, simulated Harsh Sunlight using an artificial sun.
Under this bright environment, training Fire-type moves or practicing Sunny Day was far more efficient.
The old man watched as Gengar walked in, leading a small Growlithe by its side.
Not even thirty minutes later, just as he was about to take a nap in his rocking chair—
"Gengarr! (￣▽￣)ﾉ"
Gengar strutted out of the Sunlight Room, dragging a singed Growlithe behind it.
"Y-you're done already?!" the old man stammered.
"Arrooo! (｀0´)" (Hmph! A mere Blast Burn? Not a challenge for me! Just give me a hundred days or so, and I'll master it for sure!)
Growlithe wagged its slightly charred tail and let out a proud howl.
"Gengarr."
Gengar tilted its head, hands on its hips.
Whose genetics did this little guy inherit?
That was such a basic move—should've learned it in half a day!
Oh well. At least laying the foundation would make future training easier for its trainer.
"Gengarr!" Gengar nodded, then pointed toward the distant Thunder Room.
The old man hesitated for a second before quickly saying, "No problem, I'll open the door for you!"
---
Meanwhile…
"Huh? Gengar's already training in the Thunder Room?"
Lu Ye glanced at his phone, where Gengar had messaged him through the Pokédex.
It was break time.
Students were gathered in groups, enthusiastically playing Pokémon cards.
Many of them eagerly approached Lu Ye, hoping to add him to their contacts—only to be ruthlessly denied.
"Only students with good grades can add me. That's just how I roll."
"Damn it! I have to qualify for the League!" A Bug Catcher Kid clenched his fist.
"Teacher, you wait! I'll become the Duel King and prove it to you!"
A spiky-haired boy, clearly experienced in card battles, declared with conviction.
"Teacher! The card pack drop rates are way too low! Are you sure you guys didn't tweak the settings?!"
Lu Ye's face twitched.
Why do kids these days have so many complaints?!
Glancing at Giselle, who was hunched over a desk, painstakingly copying the Type Matchup Chart, he nodded in satisfaction.
She might be arrogant, but she's definitely trainable.
---
Class had ended.
Lu Ye's main task had been demonstrating a few battles using the classroom's simulation system.
These machines had appeared in the original series as well, resembling a game interface but enhanced with virtual projection technology—making battle tactics and commands feel far more immersive.
His airtight defensive plays, dazzling predictions, and disgustingly efficient strategies…
If only his luck wasn't so awful, he'd be even better than Miss Lijia.
By the end of class, the students had already divided into two factions:
"Teacher Erika Camp" (mainly boys)
"Teacher Lu Camp" (mostly girls)
No need for further elaboration…
"The reason I made you memorize the Type Matchup Chart," Lu Ye coughed lightly, silencing the noisy classroom, "is because battle strategy is largely an art of type matchups."
"Of course, if the power gap is big enough, even type disadvantages can be overcome."
"These theories exist to make your path as Trainers smoother."
"But don't treat them as rigid rules."
"Whether it's simulations or theory, in the end, everything comes down to real battles."
The students listened intently.
A subtle gleam appeared in Giselle's eyes.
"And most importantly—"
Lu Ye smiled faintly.
"Trust your Pokémon."
"If you trust them in battle, they'll respond to you—standing up, holding on… that's their way of answering your trust."
"In short!"
Lu Ye suddenly slammed the desk, jolting the students back to attention.
"If you have questions, ask your teacher, Miss Erika. Don't come bothering me, got it?"
He delivered the cold statement with a warm smile.
"No way!"
"Teacher Lu explains things so well…!"
"I think he's even better than Miss Erika!"
The classroom filled with groans of despair.
Meanwhile, Giselle lowered her head and clutched her Poké Ball tightly.
Trust… in my Pokémon?
Her eyes sharpened with determination.
Cubone… in the Inter-Academy Tournament, let's prove ourselves to Teacher Lu!
---
"Everyone, stand up!"
"Goodbye, Teacher Lu!"
As the students bid him farewell, Lu Ye casually waved and headed toward the Thunder Room.
Technically, it was only a forty-minute class… nothing could've gone too wrong, right?
Then, he suddenly stopped.
Right in front of him—
The building had a giant, gaping hole in the middle.
It looked like it had been struck by lightning, the edges scorched black.
Gengar and Growlithe stood outside, staring at the hole with very different expressions.
"Gengarrﾍ(;´Д｀ﾍ)…" (Looks like I'm getting a pay deduction…)
"Arrooo! (｀0´)" (As expected of me!)
"What the hell happened?!" Lu Ye turned to the elderly administrator.
The old man looked utterly exhausted.
Do you really have the nerve to ask me that?
Your Pokémon were too strong for the training facility to handle…
Of course, this was the only possible outcome!
Lu Ye sighed. "Do you have security footage? It's not about compensation—I just want to understand how I died."
The old man's face twitched before reluctantly nodding and leading Lu Ye to the security room.
---
On the monitor, the Thunder Room crackled with weak, controlled lightning bolts—meant to stimulate Pokémon and help them master Electric-type moves.
Gengar cautiously extended a hand into a lightning column… and froze.
That's it?
"Gengarr!（๑`▽´๑)۶"
It began dancing around the room, shaking its hips, attempting to absorb Thunderbolt.
Meanwhile, Growlithe, though unevolved, had started learning Wild Charge, using the lightning to coat itself in electricity and recklessly charging around the room.
And then…
Something must have broken.
The power engine malfunctioned.
Lightning surged, turning into a raging storm—
And blasted a massive hole through the Thunder Room's ceiling.
Gengar and Growlithe exchanged looks.
Freeze frame.
Lu Ye's expression darkened.
First day on the job… and I already blew up the school?!
You two really outdid yourselves!
And Gengar was only warming up with Thunderbolt—
Once Growlithe evolved into Arcanine, would the school even survive?!
Lu Ye sighed, glancing at the dejected Growlithe.
"So… how much will this cost?"
"We'll wait for the principal to decide," the old man muttered nervously.
---
Principal Michael finally arrived but simply stroked his beard and said, "Well, we needed new equipment anyway. Blowing it up works too."
Lu Ye teared up.
Principal, you're a good man!
Michael patted him firmly on the shoulder.
"Train the students well. If you blow up a few more rooms, it's no problem!"
"Understood! I'll find the best students!"
Lu Ye thumped his chest confidently.
…Wait a minute.
Didn't Giselle still owe him thirty copies of the Type Matchup Chart?
Lu Ye stroked his chin, deep in thought.