"Is that a skill-point depletion? Like a cooldown?"
"No, it looks more like a physical energy bar. See how the Squirtle was panting? In the Action and VR versions, the Pokémon actually get exhausted if you spam high-intensity moves."
The viewers weren't calling it a bug. After weeks of watching the anime and playing the "Lite" versions, they understood the internal logic. Julian had built a world where biology mattered.
On screen, Guinaifen was still spinning in a circle, clutching her Jigglypuff. "We did it! We actually did it!"
Professor Oak watched with a grandfatherly smile. "A fine display of spirit. But remember, the bond is a journey, not a destination. I look forward to seeing how much stronger you both become."
Gary, however, wasn't as gracious. "Tch. A fluke, Guinaifen. Enjoy your win while it lasts. Next time, I'm bringing a strategy you can't just tank through!" He turned on his heel and stormed out of the arena, his cape fluttering in the wind.
Guinaifen finally noticed her chat again. "Fans... you have no idea. During that fight, the HUD just... vanished. I didn't see a single comment. It was just me, Jigglypuff, and the dirt. If you can afford it, you have to get a VR rig. It's not a game anymore. It's a life."
In the Arceus Studio, Julian Reed disconnected from his observer terminal. Guinaifen had done her job—the "Real" version was now the most wanted piece of tech in the sector. The deep-tier mechanics, like IV breeding and EV training, would remain hidden for the players to discover. For now, the spectacle was enough.
He lay back in his own testing pod, ready to decompress, when a notification flashed: [Challenge Request: Silver Wolf]
"Want to see if your 'pro' knowledge holds up against a real gamer?" her voice echoed in the private lobby.
They weren't using starters. For testing, they had unlocked a variety of mid-tier Pokémon. Julian accepted. He knew Silver Wolf was a mechanical god, but he had twenty years of competitive Pokémon meta-knowledge in his head.
Ten minutes later, Silver Wolf disconnected, her avatar vanishing from the digital arena.
In her neon-lit room on a distant planet, Silver Wolf took off her headset and let out a long breath. "Unbelievable. His reflexes are mid-tier at best, but his predictions... it's like he knew exactly when I was going to switch."
She wasn't annoyed. She was thrilled. For the first time in years, she'd found a game that she couldn't just "hack" or "speedrun" through raw input. It required a soul.
"I'm going to beat him," she whispered, a predatory grin on her face. "I just need to figure out his type-coverage logic."
Her Jade Abacus chimed. A message from Kafka.
"Silver Wolf, mission start. Don't let the game distract you. Elio is waiting."
"Fine, fine. I'm coming," Silver Wolf grumbled. She looked at the VR helmet longingly. "Let's finish this quick. I've got a team comp to refine."
"Another record to break?" Kafka asked as they met in the hangar.
"This one is different," Silver Wolf replied, her eyes bright. "It's a game that actually fights back. Even Sam would like it—it's all about growth and tactical 'efficiency.'"
Across the star rail, the Astral Express was currently drifting through a quiet sector. March 7th was slumped on the velvet sofa, her phone held inches from her face.
"Himeko! Why isn't the open beta out yet? I'm literally dying! Look at this Jigglypuff! It's pink! It's round! It's me!"
"Patience, March," Welt Yang said, peering over his glasses at the screen. He had been following the Pokémon anime at March's insistence. While he usually preferred mecha, the idea of a "journey of growth" resonated with his own history.
"Uncle Yang, do we have any VR gear on the train?" March asked, pouting.
"We have holographic projectors and standard VR goggles," Welt replied. "They won't have the 'Full-Dive' immersion of the Luofu rigs, but they should work once the game launches. You'll just have to ask Himeko for the power allowance."
"Ugh, but I want the real thing," March groaned. "I need to earn some serious Credits. Maybe the next planet has a bounty?"
Welt smiled, his gaze returning to a high-end hardware catalog on his own terminal. He looked at his personal savings—the 'Stash' he usually kept for rare model kits.
I suppose a VR rig is technically an educational investment for the crew, Welt thought, his finger hovering over the 'Pre-order' button for a luxury Arceus-branded terminal.
The galaxy was waiting. And Julian Reed was about to give them exactly what they wanted.
"The servers are at 99%," Julian whispered back at the studio. "Open the gates."