In the end, Yun and Eevee had decided to participate in the Little Phoenix Cup.
And their ambitions were quite high.
Although, truthfully, no one expected much from them.
After that, the Psychology Club's five-person trip in Modu (Magic City) lasted another two days, making it a total of four days.
The first day… was normal fun.
The second day, Yun spent time alone with Eevee, during which Eevee learned the move "Sand Attack."
During the last two days, they didn't gain anything particularly new—mostly they just got to know the city of Modu better and had a relatively calm time.
Yun and Eevee also went to observe a nearby dojo, but only from the outside—outsiders were not allowed into important training grounds.
Still, it had to be said: the atmosphere in Modu was much better than Pingcheng. The trainer culture here was clearly more thriving.
Winning the Little Phoenix Cup wasn't going to be easy…
"We're heading home."
"Bui~" (Eevee's cry)
On the afternoon of the fourth day, the five of them boarded the magnetic levitation train back to Pingcheng, chatting and laughing along the way. Yun was repeatedly reminded to keep the Psychology Club running.
Of course, Yun wouldn't refuse. After all, he still had to continue studying after returning to Pingcheng, and club activities were a legitimate excuse to skip non-exam-related classes—something he'd done plenty of before.
"Yun, make sure you and Eevee train hard once we're back."
"If you make it into the Top 16, we'll be able to watch you on the livestream," Du Ai joked.
"Yeah, and if you have questions during training, don't forget to ask us. We've already told you all the training routines the school provides," added a senior.
Everyone laughed together. They didn't have high hopes for Yun, thinking that unless Eevee evolved within the next month or so, there was little chance of him achieving good results.
That was the only possibility the group had come up with.
No matter how you put it, in people's minds, Eevee wasn't suited for battle—especially not one that had just entered its growth stage.
"No worries… Just wait and see me in action. I'll definitely remind you when the time comes," Yun said helplessly.
There was nothing else to do—boast first, see how the results turn out later.
The group had a pretty good relationship and could joke freely, but this kind of bond was common in high school. Once they all went to different cities for college, the connection would gradually fade.
They arrived in Pingcheng, and it was time to part ways. Little Eevee perched on Yun's shoulder, watching the others leave with him.
Yun exhaled and headed straight home without lingering outside. Though it had only been four days away, he still found home more comfortable. He couldn't even imagine what life in college would be like.
"But with little Eevee by my side, it feels a lot better."
Yun sighed. No matter how the surroundings changed, at least Eevee was always with him.
They arrived home quickly. The house was still empty, but Yun was used to it. After changing clothes, he rushed straight to his bedroom.
As for little Eevee… he left it in the living room to watch TV.
Yun now had an important task to do—one that would determine how far he could go in the Little Phoenix Cup.
In the past two days, Yun had compiled a special training plan. He combined his own understanding, knowledge from games and anime, and some real-world insights to create a development template.
Training without a clear goal is inefficient—everyone should know that, and Yun certainly did.
He had jotted down bits and pieces of the training plan on his phone. Now, he needed to organize them properly on his computer and on paper.
"If we're aiming for the Little Phoenix Cup, then Eevee and I will be facing a wide range of opponents—Rock types, Ghost types, Psychic types… all troublesome. With Eevee's small body, if we want to beat those tough Pokémon, we must train comprehensively…"
Yun believed…
A Pokémon's combat effectiveness depended on its basic attributes and proficiency in moves.
This was the conclusion he came to after careful thought.
Basic attributes include stamina, physical strength, speed, explosive power, coordination, and for some Pokémon, mental strength as well.
Stamina affects a Pokémon's endurance in battle.
Physical strength influences both defense and offensive power—like how Tackle's strength depends on body toughness. Some Pokémon's body parts also store energy, but that's another topic.
Speed is a broad concept, encompassing reaction time, movement speed, and the speed of energy buildup.
Explosive power is also critical and varies with species and training methods.
Coordination, in Yun's view, is equally essential.
In the anime, there's a profession called "Coordinator," which doesn't exist in this world. Coordinators focus on enhancing a Pokémon's appearance and mental state and also practice stylish battles. As a result, the top Coordinators are highly skilled at combining their Pokémon's characteristics and moves with flexibility and elegance. In a more direct sense, coordination is control.
Control over body movements, energy manipulation, and move forms…
It's closely related to all the basic attributes. Greater body control could lead to stronger explosive power. Better energy control enables faster move preparation!
"If basic attributes are the foundation, then moves are the elevation of those foundations—they are the key to victory."
It's a simple principle. For example, Harden enhances a Pokémon's body strength, improving defense; Agility boosts movement speed, increasing mobility.
Why do moves determine the outcome of battle? Because they're a Pokémon's main means of attack.
Without offense, don't even think of winning—unless your opponent collapses from exhaustion.
A Pokémon's mysterious abilities are typically applications of energy, and moves are the manifestations of that energy.
Blizzard… Thunderbolt… Fire Spin… Vine Whip…
Yun highlighted this in his notebook: every basic attribute must be trained, but move training could be selective, since a Pokémon's energy is limited.
Learning a move is hard.
Mastering a move is even harder.
Developing a move to its full potential? Extremely difficult.
Eevee had just been born, and all its basic attributes were below standard. To reach average levels, it would need more nutrition and time to grow. Some attributes would naturally improve with time, and others could be brought up with some focused training.
But with limited time, Yun had to take shortcuts.
"There's a place where all the basic attributes can be trained at once and where Eevee could potentially learn new moves… the only question is whether we can still get in…"
"If we can, it'll save a lot of time."
Yun cared deeply about this special training plan. He planned to discuss it with his parents once they got home…
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