c2— System Ran
"…" The Magikarp eyed the small wooden stool in Xiaohui's hand and instantly flopped onto the sand, feigning death.
Xiaohui smirked, took out a Poké Ball, and said, "Let's save each other some trouble. No need to waste strength, right?"
"Magii~karp…" The fish Pokémon gave a resigned gurgle, as if admitting defeat, and ceased struggling.
Whether captured peacefully or battered into submission, the result would be the same.
"Gotcha Magikarp, captured!"
Xiaohui burst into laughter. This was no ordinary catch—this was a Magikarp with elite potential, the kind of growth ceiling only seen in rare Pokémon like Lapras or in fully-evolved battlers.
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[Trainer Notice]
[As you have acquired your first partner Pokémon (Earl Dervish Pokémon), please choose a specialization path. Based on your Pokémon's typing, evolutionary line, and egg group classification, the following options are available]
1. Water-type Specialization
2. Flying-type Specialization
3. Dragon Egg Group Specialization
4. Water 2 Egg Group Specialization
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"...Goldfinger?!"
The words made Xiaohui's heart race. Without hesitation, he chose Dragon Egg Group Specialization.
---
[Specialization Confirmed: Dragon Egg Group]
[Attribute Bias: Dragon]
[Unique Blessing Loaded — Dragon's Might (Yulong no Chikara)]
[System Detachment Imminent]
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"Wait detachment? Why leave now?! And what's the point of Dragon's Might? There's no such thing in the original canon!" Xiaohui demanded, panic rising.
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[This system exists only to deliver gifts. Dragon's Might grants influence over Dragon-type Pokémon, enhancing affinity and obedience. Even proud species such as Salamence or Dragonite will acknowledge the wielder's presence. In addition, all Dragon Egg Group Pokémon under your care will experience accelerated growth.]
[System transfer complete. Farewell.]
---
At once, Xiaohui's mind cleared, like a constant weight had lifted. The silence was almost unsettling.
Then, a faint current stirred within his body. Though weak, the sensation was undeniable.
Focusing, Xiaohui willed the new power into his right hand. Scarlet energy flared to life, turbulent and raw.
"Karrrrp! Karrrrp!"
In the nearby waters, hundreds of Magikarp surged to the surface, drawn to the aura of Dragon's Might. Their glassy eyes gleamed with overwhelming Covet, crowding so thickly that some were forced onto the shore.
Xiaohui pulled back the power, and the school gradually scattered. Yet two Magikarp remained one at level 8, the other at level 10 both radiating excellent potential, their fins trembling with instinctive desire.
He stepped forward, pressed his palms gently to their heads, and shared a fragment of Dragon's Might. Instantly, their struggling ceased, and they gazed up at him in reverence.
Xiaohui tossed two Poké Balls—this time, both captures succeeded.
He exhaled deeply, then set off toward the Pokémon Center. He abandoned all the miscellaneous gear behind. Though unhurt, his body remembered the exhausting standoff with the first Magikarp, which had flopped on land for over ten minutes.
Letting the Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center examine and heal Magikarp had cost him dearly. The base treatment fee for a weak Pokémon like Magikarp was already 500 yen, but once Nurse Joy's professional services and medical checks were added, the price multiplied five- to tenfold.
When Xiaohui finally walked out of the Pokémon Center, his face twisted with pain. That one visit had devoured nearly half a month's relief money in an instant.
To prepare properly, he stopped at the local Poké Mart and spent 7,000 yen on supplies two bottles of nutritional calcium supplements and five bags of specialized Water-type feed.
Arms heavy with the purchases, Xiaohui made his way back to the resort beach and slipped into a modest seaside restaurant tucked against the boardwalk.
Every evening, Xiaohui helped out here. In exchange, he received three free meals daily small kindnesses that had saved him tens of thousands over the years.
The restaurant's owner, Jin Gu, looked up as Xiaohui entered and raised an eyebrow. "Eh? Xiaohui, you're early today. Something happen?"
Without a word, Xiaohui held out a Poké Ball. "I finally caught a Magikarp that meets my standards. I don't need to fish anymore—not until this Magikarp evolves into Gyarados."
He added, almost reverently, "Once I raise it to Gyarados, I'll finally be eligible to apply for a Trainer's license."
Jin Gu's eyes widened. The boy had been fishing nearly every day for almost five years. By his rough count, Xiaohui had hooked close to 100,000 Magikarp in that time. Even factoring in repeats, at least 10,000 unique individuals yet not one had ever satisfied him. Statistically, finding such a specimen was like winning a one-in-a-million lottery.
He chuckled and gestured toward the shallow pool built beside the restaurant for guests' Water Pokémon. "Then show me, oh master Magikarp angler. What kind of Magikarp finally impressed you?"
The pool contained only a single Goldeen at present, about level 20 with nothing more than common-grade potential capped at 30 a ceiling too low to ever surpass mediocrity. At best, if it evolved into Seaking at level 33, its potential might rise to excellent, but never beyond.
"Alright," Xiaohui replied. He walked over, flicked open the Poké Ball, and released his prize. A nearly one-meter-long Magikarp splashed into the pool, scales gleaming brilliantly under the light.
Unlike the dull reds of common Magikarp, this one's scales carried a lustrous sheen with faint, intricate patterns along its flanks clear markers of its elite potential.
Jin Gu whistled softly. "A fine Magikarp… no wonder you chose him."
Xiaohui hesitated briefly, then released the two additional Magikarp with excellent potential he had captured earlier. He pulled out the calcium supplements he'd purchased and carefully fed five or six tablets to each of the three.
"You three stay here and play for now," he instructed.
"Karp… karp…" The three Magikarp gurgled cheerfully before swimming in circles, though all kept a wary distance from the older Goldeen.
Satisfied, Xiaohui picked up a rag and began wiping the tables methodically. When the work was done, he sat back quietly, waiting for the evening guests to arrive.
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