- A little TOO MUCH!

Ronin glanced at Vajk, a hint of concern in his eyes as they made their way toward the Pokémon class after his regular school. Ronin's father had already spoken with the school administration, and while they had agreed to accept this late bloomer, they had strongly recommended that he start with the basic course first.

However, Vajk was determined to finish his Pokémon education as quickly as possible, insisting on joining the class of soon-to-be graduates. Ronin, having been in the program for years, knew just how challenging the material could be, especially for someone with no prior knowledge.

As they walked, Ronin turned to Vajk, his voice filled with friendly caution. "Hey, Vajk... A-Are you really sure you want to dive right into this advanced class? The c-concepts can be pretty mind-bending if you don't have a solid foundation to build on."

He paused, trying to find the right words to express his concern without coming across as discouraging. "I-I mean, I've been studying this stuff for y-years, and even I still get tripped up sometimes. It n-might be better to start with the basics and work your way up, you know?"

Ronin knew that Vajk was eager to prove himself, but he also didn't want to see his friend get overwhelmed and discouraged by the complex material. He hoped that Vajk would take his advice to heart and consider starting with a more beginner-friendly course.

Vajk smirked, his eyes glinting with a confident sparkle. "Nah, I'd catch up!" he declared, his voice dripping with self-assurance, crossing his arms behind his head as if he hadn't a care in the world.

Ronin raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism on his face. "If you say so," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "J-Just... don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, o-okay?" Ronin added, giving Vajk a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

TIMESKIP

The chalkboard loomed before Vajk, a daunting mosaic of equations and symbols that seemed to dance and blur before his eyes. He squinted, trying to make sense of the alien language that was Pokémon mathematics.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Vajk's mind screamed in panic. "THIS IS WORSE THAN IN UNIVERSITY!"

Vajk shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the hard wooden chair digging into his back as he tried to focus on the lesson at hand. He was in Ronin's Pokémon math class, surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar faces and feeling completely out of his depth.

The chalkboard at the front of the room was covered in a dizzying array of equations and symbols, each one more incomprehensible than the last. IVs, EVs, STAB bonuses... it was like trying to read a foreign language. Nothing could have prepared him for the complex mathematical concepts being taught in this class.

The teacher, an older woman with steel-gray hair pulled back into a tight bun, surveyed the room with a sharp gaze. She seemed to zero in on Vajk, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she noticed the new student.

"Ah, Vajk!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying across the room. "I'm so glad to have you joining us today. I've heard great things about your potential as a Pokémon trainer. I can't wait to see what you're capable of!"

Vajk felt his face flush with embarrassment as every head in the class swiveled to stare at him. He tried to sink lower in his seat, wishing he could disappear entirely.

"What the fuck?" Vajk thought to himself, his mind racing. "Who the hell told her I had 'great potential'? I don't know the first thing about being a Pokémon trainer!"

Suddenly, a realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "Johnson," he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "That man must have said something to her. Probably trying to make me look good... It is an honorable deed, indeed, but not LIKE THIS!"

Vajk could feel his face burning even hotter now, a mixture of embarrassment and anger coursing through him. "Great, just fucking great," he thought bitterly. "Now I'm going to completely humiliate myself in front of everyone because he couldn't keep his mouth shut."

He glanced around the room, taking in the curious and expectant faces of his classmates. They were all waiting to see what he would do, what kind of incredible potential he supposedly had.

But Vajk knew the truth. He didn't have any potential at all. He was just a clueless idiot who had been thrown into this world with no idea what he was doing. And now, thanks to Johnson's big mouth, he was going to have to face the consequences of that ignorance in front of an entire classroom full of people.

Vajk clenched his fists under his desk, feeling a wave of helpless frustration wash over him. He was completely screwed, and there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do was sit there and wait for the inevitable moment when he would be called upon to demonstrate his nonexistent skills, and then watch as everyone realized what a complete fraud he really was.

The teacher clapped her hands together briskly, drawing everyone's attention back to the front of the room. "Alright, class, let's dive right in. For today's lesson, we're going to practice calculating a Pokémon's stats. I want you all to determine the defense IV of a level 5 Rattata.. Oh, and I almost forgot, please forgive me, class. The rattata has perfect health IV."

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. "Now, we know that this particular Rattata takes exactly two hits from a level 10 Cyndaquil's Tackle attack to be knocked out. The Cyndaquil in question has maximum Attack IVs and no EV investment. Furthermore, its nature does not affect either its Attack stat or the Rattata's Defense stat. Got all that?"

There were scattered nods and murmurs of assent from around the room. Vajk felt a bead of sweat trickle down his spine as he stared blankly at the chalkboard, trying desperately to make sense of the word salad the teacher had just unleashed.

"You have fifteen minutes," the teacher announced. "Let's see what you can do. Begin!"

The room erupted into a flurry of activity as the students bent over their desks, pencils scratching furiously against paper. Vajk glanced over at Ronin, who was sitting a few seats away. The other boy was already scribbling away, his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked through the problem with ease.

Vajk looked down at his own blank sheet of notebook paper, feeling a rising sense of panic. He had absolutely no idea where to even begin. IVs? EVs? He didn't know what any of it meant, let alone how to use that information to calculate a Pokémon's stats.

The minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness as Vajk stared helplessly at his paper, his pencil hovering uselessly over the page. Around him, the other students were already finishing up, some of them even double-checking their work. Vajk felt like a complete idiot, a grown adult trapped in a child's body and completely out of his depth.

As the teacher called time, Vajk's stomach churned with dread. He knew he was about to be called out in front of the entire class for his complete lack of understanding.

The teacher began making her way around the room, glancing over each student's work with a critical eye. She paused at Ronin's desk, giving him an approving nod before moving on.

Finally, she arrived at Vajk's desk. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in his blank sheet of paper, her mouth tightening into a disapproving line.

"Vajk," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "Would you care to explain why you haven't even attempted the problem?"

Vajk felt his face burn with shame as every eye in the room turned to stare at him. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. What could he possibly say? That he was actually a grown man from another world who had never even heard of IVs and EVs before today?

The teacher sighed heavily, shaking her head. "I have to say, I'm extremely disappointed," she said. "I was told you had great potential, but it seems you haven't been paying attention at all. This is basic material that any ten-year-old should be able to handle with ease."

Vajk clenched his fists under the desk, his knuckles turning white as he fought to keep his composure. Inside his head, a storm of furious thoughts swirled and raged.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" he screamed internally, his inner voice dripping with venom. "Basic material for a ten-year-old? This is some college-level bullshit right here!"

He could feel his blood boiling, the injustice of the situation threatening to overwhelm him. How dare this teacher talk down to him like he was some kind of idiot? He was a grown-ass man, not a child to be scolded and patronized.

"Fuck this shit," Vajk seethed, his mental tirade growing more heated by the second. "I didn't sign up for this goddamn Pokémon PhD program... I never thought this will be this hard and shit! What the hell do they expect from me, anyway? For Christ's sake!"

He glared at the teacher, his eyes smoldering with barely contained rage. It took every ounce of self-control he had not to stand up and flip his desk right then and there.

"You know what? Screw this," Vajk thought bitterly, his inner monologue dripping with sarcasm. "I'm just gonna sit here and pretend like I give a shit about these stupid-ass equations. It's not like anyone actually uses this crap in real life anyway."

He paused, his mind suddenly racing with a new realization. "Or do they? In a fucking Pokémon battle, where every little second counts? Is that when this bullshit actually matters? Is there even time for that?"

Vajk's brow furrowed as he considered the implications. He had always assumed that Pokémon battles were just about brute strength and simple tactics, but maybe there was more to it than that. Maybe all of these complex calculations and stat adjustments were the key to gaining an edge over your opponent.

"Fuck me," Vajk muttered under his breath, his anger giving way to a begrudging sense of curiosity. "If that's true, then I'm even more screwed than I thought. How the hell am I supposed to compete with these kids who've been studying this shit for years?"

He glanced around the room, taking in the focused expressions on his classmates' faces. They all seemed to understand the importance of what they were learning, the way it could make or break them in a high-stakes battle.

"Goddamn it," Vajk thought, his frustration mounting once again. "Why couldn't I have just stuck with the basics? At least then I'd have a fighting chance."

As the teacher droned on, Vajk's mind continued to race with furious thoughts and biting insults. He knew he was being irrational, that his anger was only making things worse, but he couldn't help it. The frustration and humiliation were just too much to bear.

"I swear to God, if she calls on me again, I'm gonna lose my fucking shit," Vajk thought, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. "I don't care if I get expelled, I'm not putting up with this bullshit anymore."

He glanced at the clock, counting down the minutes until he could escape this hellish classroom and retreat to the safety of his own thoughts. Until then, he would just have to sit there and stew in his own rage, silently cursing the unfairness of it all.

"Fuck this class, fuck this teacher, and fuck these goddamn Pokémon," Vajk thought bitterly, his inner voice dripping with venom. "I'm done with this shit."

As the teacher continued to lecture, Vajk's mind drifted back to his earlier conversation with Ronin. He could still picture the concerned expression on his friend's face as he warned him about the challenges of the advanced class.

"You just had to be a fucking know-it-all, didn't you?" Vajk mentally berated himself. "Ronin was trying to help you, and you just blew him off like the arrogant prick you are."

He thought back to the confident smirk he had given Ronin, the way he had brushed off his friend's concerns with a casual wave of his hand. It all seemed so foolish now, so naïve.

"'I'll catch up,' my ass," Vajk thought, his inner voice thick with self-loathing. "More like I'll make a complete and utter fool of myself in front of everyone."

He could feel the weight of his classmates' stares pressing down on him, their judgment and pity suffocating him like a thick blanket. Vajk's cheeks burned with humiliation as he imagined what they must be thinking of him.

"Look at the new kid," they were probably saying to each other. "He thinks he's so smart, but he can't even handle basic math. What a joke."

Vajk's hands trembled with barely suppressed rage as he pictured their mocking faces, their whispered insults echoing in his mind. He wanted to scream at them, to tell them all to go fuck themselves and mind their own damn business.

But he couldn't. He was trapped in this nightmare of a classroom, forced to endure the shame and embarrassment of his own failure. And there was nothing he could do about it.

As the minutes dragged on, Vajk's anger slowly gave way to a cold, creeping sense of despair. He was way over his head, and he knew it. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to catch up to his classmates. He was doomed to fail, to be forever branded as the clueless idiot who couldn't cut it in the world of Pokémon.

"Maybe I should just give up," Vajk thought, his inner voice tinged with hopelessness.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, Vajk knew he couldn't do it. He had made a commitment, and he was going to see it through, no matter how much it hurt. He owed it to Ronin, to Johnson, and most of all, to himself... He had to give his best... using his past math knowledge to figure something out.

"Alright, you little shits," he thought, his inner voice taking on a tone of grim determination. "You might have a head start on me, but I'm not going down without a fight. I'll figure out this EV and IV crap if it's the last thing I do."

With a deep breath, Vajk turned his attention back to the chalkboard, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the jumble of numbers and symbols. It was going to be a long and brutal journey, but he was ready to face it head-on.

"Bring it on, Pokémon math," Vajk thought, his pencil poised over his notebook. "I'm not afraid of you anymore."

He began to scribble furiously, his hand cramping as he tried to keep up with the teacher's rapid-fire snippets of explanations to some of the kids who somewhat lagging behind. He gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain, his fingers flying across the page as he struggled to make sense of the alien concepts being thrown at him.

"Come on, you idiot," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the scratching of his pencil. "You can do this. You have to do this."

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked, his shirt sticking to his back in the stuffy classroom. His mind raced as he tried to keep track of all the different variables and equations, his thoughts jumbling together in a chaotic mess of half-formed ideas and desperate guesses.

Vajk stared down at the paper in front of him, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the problem. He knew he had to calculate the defense IV of a level 5 Rattata that could survive two hits from a level 10 Cyndaquil's "Tackle" attack. The Cyndaquil had maximum Attack IVs and no EV investment, and its nature didn't affect either its Attack stat or the Rattata's Defense stat.

Taking a deep breath, Vajk began to break down the information he had been given. "Okay," he muttered to himself, "so the Cyndaquil's Attack stat and the Rattata's Defense stat are the key variables here. Everything else is just noise."

He scribbled down the two stats on his paper, labeling them "CynAtk" and "RatDef" respectively. Then, he paused, his brow furrowing as he considered how to proceed.

"Okay, let's see," Vajk muttered, scratching his head as he stared down at the problem. "I don't know much about this Pokémon stuff, but I know I need to figure out this Rattata's Defense IV somehow."

He tapped his pencil against the desk, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a solution. "The Cyndaquil's Attack stat is maxed out, right? And it knocks out the Rattata in two hits. So, the Rattata's Defense must be just enough to survive one hit, but not two... so it would do half or a little bit more."

Vajk jotted down a few notes, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I guess I could start with the base stats and work from there. The Cyndaquil's base Attack is 52, and the Rattata's base Defense is 35. But how do I factor in the IVs and level differences?"

He paused, his eyes widening as an idea struck him. "Wait a second... what if I assume the Rattata's Defense IV is zero, and then work backwards from there? If I can calculate how much damage the Cyndaquil's Tackle does with zero Defense IVs, I can see if it matches the two-hit knockout condition!"

Vajk scribbled furiously on his paper, his pencil flying across the page as he tried to put his idea into practice. "Let's see... I'll start with the Cyndaquil's Attack. If I add the maximum IV of 31 to its base Attack of 52, I get... 83. Yeah, that seems right... I don't know"

He moved on to the Rattata's Defense, his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated. "Now, for the Rattata, I'll assume zero IVs if this doesn't work I have to work with higher numbers, with this its Defense stays at the base value of 35. But how do I account for the level difference?"

Vajk tapped his chin thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the chalkboard for any clues. "Maybe I could use the level values as multipliers or something? Like, multiply the Cyndaquil's Attack by its level of 10, and divide the Rattata's Defense by its level of 5?"

He jotted down the new equation, his pencil scratching against the paper as he worked through the calculations. "So, 83 times 10 is 830, and 35 divided by 5 is 7. That means the Cyndaquil's effective Attack is 830, and the Rattata's effective Defense is 7."

Vajk paused, his heart pounding as he realized he was getting close to a solution. "Okay, now I just need to figure out how much damage the Cyndaquil's Tackle does with those values. But how do I do that without knowing the actual damage formula?"

He closed his eyes, trying to visualize the problem in his head. "Let's see... Tackle is a basic move, so it probably doesn't have any fancy modifiers or anything. Maybe I could just divide the Cyndaquil's Attack by the Rattata's Defense and see what happens?"

Vajk quickly jotted down the equation, his hand shaking slightly as he plugged in the values. "830 divided by 7 is... about 118. That seems way too high, though. The Rattata would be knocked out in one hit with that much damage!"

He frowned, his mind racing as he tried to figure out where he went wrong. "Maybe I need to scale down the damage somehow? But how do I do that without knowing the exact formula?"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. "Wait a second... what if I divide the result by some arbitrary number, like 50 or 100? That might bring the damage down to a more reasonable level!"

Vajk quickly scribbled down the new equation, his heart pounding as he plugged in the values. "Okay, let's try dividing by 100 first. So, 118 divided by 100. "118 divided by 100 is... 1.18. Hey, that actually might work! If the Rattata has just over 2 HP, it would survive the first hit with just under 1 HP left, and then get knocked out by the second hit!"

Vajk's eyes widened as he realized he had stumbled upon the correct answer. "Holy crap, I think that's it! If I assume the Rattata's Defense IV is zero and divide the damage by 100, it matches the two-hit knockout condition perfectly!"

He quickly wrote down his final answer, his hand trembling with excitement as he circled the number zero. "The Rattata's Defense IV has to be zero for it to be knocked out in exactly two hits by the Cyndaquil's Tackle. I can't believe I actually figured it out!"

Vajk sat back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face as he savored the feeling of triumph. He knew he had taken an unconventional approach to the problem, but somehow, through a combination of guesswork and intuition, he had stumbled upon the correct solution. It wasn't pretty, but it worked, and that was all that mattered.

Vajk leaned back in his chair, a triumphant grin spreading across his face as he basked in the glow of his accomplishment. "That's why I've done 12 years of math!" he exclaimed, his voice ringing out with pride. "It all comes in handy eventually."

The teacher approached Vajk's desk, a curious expression on her face as she observed his relaxed demeanor. "You seem quite confident, Vajk," she remarked, raising an eyebrow. "May I see your work?"

Vajk handed over his paper with a flourish, his eyes sparkling with excitement as the teacher scanned his calculations. "Sure thing, teach. I think you'll find that my answer is correct."

The teacher's eyes widened as she looked over Vajk's work, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Well, you did arrive at the correct Defense IV of zero," she said slowly, "but your method is quite... unorthodox."

She tapped the paper with her finger, pointing out the various equations and assumptions Vajk had made. "For one thing, a Rattata should never have just 2 HP by any calculations, even at level 1. And dividing the damage by arbitrary numbers like 50 or 100? That's not how the damage formula works at all... and I have many many questions like how did you manage to pull this out, but I want to make things clear."

Vajk's grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "Hey, it got me to the right answer, didn't it? Sometimes you gotta think outside the box a little."

The teacher sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "Vajk, while I admire your enthusiasm and creativity, this problem could have been solved much more simply by using the standard damage formula."

She walked over to the chalkboard and picked up a piece of chalk, quickly jotting down the equation. "You see, the damage a Pokémon deals is calculated using a formula that takes into account the attacker's level and Attack stat, the defender's Defense stat, and the base power of the move being used. In this case, the formula would be..."

The teacher scribbled furiously on the board, her hand flying across the surface as she filled in the variables and constants. "Damage = ((2 * 10 / 5 + 2) * 40 * (83 / (35 + 10 * 5)) / 50) + 2, rounded down. With perfect Attack IVs and no EVs, that comes out to exactly 10 damage while the given rattata has 19 health points if you calculate its health points prior."

She turned back to Vajk, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and admiration. "So you see, Vajk, while your method was certainly... innovative, it was also unnecessarily complicated. You could have arrived at the same answer with a single equation."

Vajk let out a long, monotonous sigh, his shoulders slumping as he stared at the chalkboard with dull, tired eyes. The excitement and pride he had felt just moments before had evaporated, replaced by a deep sense of exhaustion and frustration.

"Great," he muttered, his voice flat and emotionless. "So I just wasted all that time and energy on a bunch of unnecessary calculations, when I could have just plugged the numbers into a single formula and been done with it."

He shook his head slowly, his gaze never leaving the board as he thought to himself. "You know, it would have been really helpful if you had just told us about this damage formula before we started working on the problem. Would have saved me a whole lot of trouble."

Vajk's tone was devoid of any anger or accusation, just a weary resignation that seemed to seep into his very bones. He felt like a complete idiot, having poured so much effort into an overly complicated solution that could have been avoided altogether with a little bit of guidance.

He sighed again, his eyes glazing over as he stared blankly at the chalkboard. "Whatever. I guess I'll just have to remember that formula for next time. Assuming there is a next time..."

Vajk slumped back in his seat, his entire body radiating a sense of defeat and weariness. He felt like he had just run a marathon, only to find out that he had been going in the wrong direction the entire time. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

"Thanks for the lesson, teach," he said dully, his voice devoid of any real gratitude. "I'll try to keep that formula in mind for the future. Assuming I even have a future in this class, after today's performance."

Vajk could only look down at his own paper for the whole class a mess of scribbled equations and hastily made assumptions. It was far from perfect, but it was surely a start. A tiny, fragile spark of hope flickered to life in his chest as he realized that maybe, just maybe, he could do this after all... IF THE FUCKING TEACHER TEACH THE DAMN THING HE NEEDS!

As the bell rang and the students began to file out of the classroom, Vajk felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Ronin standing over him, a small smile on his face.

"H-Hey," Ronin said softly, his voice filled with understanding. "I saw you struggling up there. You okay? Teach said you did the problem so... strangely."

Vajk swallowed hard, his throat suddenly tight with emotion. He wanted to brush off Ronin's concern, to pretend like everything was fine and he had it all under control. But something in his friend's eyes stopped him, a glimmer of genuine care and compassion that cut through all the bullshit.

"No," Vajk admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "No, I'm not okay. This... this is a lot harder than I thought it would be." Even though now he understands this calculation. "But I'll manage just fine..."

Ronin nodded, his expression serious. "I know," he said. "B-Believe me, I've been there. But you're not alone, Vajk. I'm here for you, and I'm going to help you get through this... O-or I try..."

As Vajk and Ronin were about to stand up and take a walk around the school, a high-pitched, mocking voice cut through the air. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my little Ronin!" The voice belonged to Amara, the class prodigy and self-proclaimed queen of Pokémon battles. She stood with her hands on her hips, flanked by her two loyal lackeys, Jade and Saffron, who snickered at her every word.

Amara flipped her long, sleek black hair over her shoulder, her emerald eyes glinting with malice. "Looks like we've got fresh meat today, girls, the one with great potential my butt, he can't even solve baby-level math properly," she sneered, eyeing Vajk up and down. "I bet he doesn't even know how to hold a Poké Ball properly."

Jade and Saffron erupted into a fit of giggles, their high-pitched laughter grating on Vajk's nerves. He clenched his fists, feeling the anger rising within him, but Ronin placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"J-just ignore her," Ronin muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of Amara's taunts. "She's always like this, t-thinking she's better than everyone else just because she wins a few b-battles."

Vajk nodded, trying to keep his composure, but Amara wasn't finished. She sauntered up to Ronin, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Aww, look at little Ronin, trying to be a good friend," she cooed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Too bad he can't even s-s-speak properly, let alone battle! He's so pathetic, even the Pokémons don't want to listen to him!"

Jade and Saffron howled with laughter, pointing at Ronin and mimicking his stutter. Ronin's face flushed a deep shade of red, and he lowered his gaze to the ground, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Jade and Saffron cackled, their laughter echoing across the classroom like a swarm of angry Beedrill. "Remember when he got so nervous during the pop quiz that he couldn't even say his own name?" Jade asked, her eyes glinting with malicious glee.

"Oh, and what about the time he was so deep in his own thoughts that when the teacher called on him, he just sat there like a Magikarp out of the water, his mouth opening and closing without a sound?" Saffron chimed in, her voice filled with mock pity.

Ronin's lower lip trembled, tears streaming down his face as he tried to shrink into himself, desperate to escape their cruel words. His hands shook at his sides, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Amara stepped closer, her face mere inches from Ronin's as she continued her verbal assault. "You're nothing, Ronin," she hissed, her voice low and venomous. "You'll never be a real Pokémon trainer. You can't even speak in front of the class without turning into a stuttering mess. How do you expect to command your Pokémon in battle?"

Ronin's shoulders shook with silent sobs, his eyes squeezing shut as if he could block out the world and all its cruelty. Vajk felt his heart break at the sight of his friend's pain, his own anger rising to a boiling point.

"That's enough!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the laughter like a knife. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Picking on someone who's already down, using their insecurities against them like some kind of twisted weapon?"

Amara turned to face him, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down with disdain. "And who are you supposed to be?" she asked, her voice dripping with contempt as she already forgot about him.

The other classmates quickly whisper his name to her as she raises her eyebrows. "Huh?! Vajk? What kind of ridiculous name is that? Did your parents hate you or something?"

Now, that was below the belt.

Jade and Saffron snickered, their laughter grating on Vajk's nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Maybe he's not even human," Jade suggested, her voice filled with mock curiosity. "Maybe he's some kind of alien freak who crash-landed here and got stuck in a human body."

"He's just a loser who thinks he can play hero," Saffron added, her lip curling in disgust. "Look at him, standing there like he's some kind of tough guy. I bet he's never even been in a real fight before."

Vajk clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. "You know what? I have had enough of your bullshit," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you're untouchable because you're the queen bitch of this class? I'm not going to let you keep tormenting my friend like this."

Amara's lackeys, Jade and Saffron, took a small step back, their earlier bravado faltering in the face of Vajk's raw anger. They exchanged nervous glances, suddenly unsure if they wanted to continue this confrontation. Vajk's words had struck a chord, his voice filled with a powerful conviction that seemed to shake them to their very core.

But Amara herself stood firm, refusing to be cowed by Vajk's outburst. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, a defiant smirk playing across her lips. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice dripping with mock admiration. "Looks like you grew a backbone. I have to admit, I'm almost impressed. Not many people have the guts to talk to me like that."

She took a step forward, closing the distance between herself and Vajk until they were nose to nose. Her emerald eyes bored into his, searching for any sign of weakness or hesitation. But Vajk held his ground, his gaze unwavering as he stared back at her with a fierce intensity.

"You think a few curse words are enough to scare me?" Amara scoffed, her voice low and menacing. "I've heard worse from my own mother. If you want to impress me, you'll have to do better than that."

Vajk's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting with a fierce determination. "You'll have to do better than that?" he repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's rich, coming from someone who relies on cheap insults and playground bullying to make herself feel superior."

He took a step closer, his face mere inches from Amara's as he stared her down. "You think you're so tough, so untouchable, but I can see right through you. You're nothing but a scared little girl who hides behind her lackeys and her reputation because she's too afraid to face the truth: that she's just as vulnerable and insecure as Ronin may be."

Amara's eyes flashed with anger, her fists clenching at her sides. "Watch your mouth, newbie," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "You have no idea who you're messing with. I can make your life a living hell with just a snap of my fingers."

But Vajk just laughed, the sound harsh and mocking in the tense silence. "Is that the best you've got? What will happen?" he taunted, his voice filled with bitter amusement. "More empty threats and posturing? Come on, Amara, I thought you were better than that. If you're going to talk the talk, you'd better be ready to walk the walk."

Amara's hand flew to her belt, her fingers closing around a sleek, expensive-looking Pokéball. With a flick of her wrist, she enlarged the device, holding it up for all to see. The crowd gasped, their eyes widening in a mixture of awe and fear as they realized what she was about to do.

"You want me to walk the walk?" Amara hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Fine. Let's see how brave you are when you're facing down a real Pokémon."

With a fierce cry, Amara hurled the Pokéball into the air, the device splitting open with a blinding flash of light. The crowd gasped and stumbled back as a powerful Gible materialized before them, its scales gleaming like polished steel in the sunlight. The dragon-type Pokémon let out a guttural growl, its eyes narrowing as it focused on Vajk with a predatory intensity.

The crowd murmured in astonishment, their eyes darting between Amara and her Pokémon. It was common knowledge that Amara's wealthy parents had pulled some strings to get her a Gible of her own, even though it was against school rules for students to have their own Pokémon without a proper license.

"I'M HERE!" The Gible stated after its menacing growl, only understandable to Vajk as he glared at it.

Vajk felt his heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat as he stared at the formidable creature before him. He had never seen a Gible in person before, but he know this may be some serious shit. This one looked particularly powerful, its muscles rippling beneath its armored hide as it pawed at the tiles, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Amara smirked, a triumphant gleam in her eye as she watched Vajk's reaction. "What's the matter, tough guy?" she taunted, her voice dripping with mock concern. "You look a little pale. Don't tell me you're scared of a little Gible."

Ronin's eyes widened in horror, his face paling as he realized the gravity of the situation. "V-V-Vajk, stop!" he pleaded, his voice trembling with fear. "You don't know what you're doing! Amara's not bluffing, she really will hurt you!"

The Gible turned its head slightly towards Vajk, a mischievous glint in its eyes. "Ha! Scared of me, are you? You ALL should be! I'm gonna enjoy this!" it taunted, its voice filled with cocky bravado.

She stepped forward, her hand resting possessively on the Pokémon's head. "This Gible was a gift from my parents, imported all the way from the Sinnoh region. It's been trained by the best of the best, and it's never lost a battle. In fact, it's the reason why no one dares to challenge or defy me around here. They know that if they cross me, they'll have to face the wrath of my Gible."

The Gible puffed out its chest, a smug grin on its face. "You hear that, punk? I'm the top dog around here. No one messes with ME or MY trainer!"

Amara's eyes took on a dreamy, far-off look, her voice softening as she continued. "I've always admired Cynthia, the Champion of the Sinnoh League. She's the reason why I fell in love with Gible in the first place. I used to watch her battles on TV, marveling at the way she commanded her Garchomp with such grace and power. I knew that one day, I wanted to be just like her."

Her expression hardened, her gaze snapping back to Vajk with a fierce intensity. "But enough about me. Let's see how you handle a real Pokémon battle or rather, a Pokémon beatdown, shall we?" She smirked devilishly.

She pointed at Vajk, her voice ringing out like a thunderclap. "Gible, use Tackle!"

The Gible let out a roar, its powerful legs propelling it forward with lightning speed. "Time to put you in your place, weakling!" it snarled, its voice filled with a savage glee that sent shivers down Vajk's spine.

Vajk barely had time to react before the Pokémon slammed into him with the force of a speeding truck, sending him flying backward into the wall of the classroom.

Pain exploded through Vajk's body, his vision swimming as he struggled to catch his breath. He could hear the crowd gasping and murmuring around him, their voices distant and muffled as if he were underwater.

Amara's laughter cut through the haze, her voice filled with cruel amusement. "Not so tough now, are you?" she mocked, her Gible standing triumphantly by her side. "I told you, Vajk. You have no idea who you're messing with. I am the queen of this school, and anyone who dares to challenge me will face the consequences."

She recalled her Gible with a flick of her wrist, the Pokémon disappearing back into its ball in a flash of red light. "Consider this a warning, newbie. Stay out of my way, or next time, I won't be so merciful."

With that, she turned on her heel and strolled away gracefully, if there were a problem because of this, her parents would solve this issue with one word: "money", her lackeys trailing behind her like obedient dogs. Vajk lay there on the floor, his body aching and his pride shattered, wondering what he had gotten himself into. He had thought he could stand up to Amara, to put an end to her reign of terror as a fucking adult in mind, but now he realized just how outmatched he truly was. He turned to Ronin, who was staring at him with a mixture of awe and gratitude.

"T-Thank you," Ronin whispered, his voice hoarse from crying. "No one's ever stood up for me like that before."

Vajk struggled to his feet, wincing as pain shot through his battered body. He could feel the eyes of the crowd on him, their gazes a mixture of pity, admiration, and fear. He knew that he had just made a powerful enemy in Amara, but he couldn't bring himself to regret his actions. Someone had to stand up to her, to show her that she couldn't just bully and intimidate everyone into submission.

He turned to Ronin, who was still staring at him with those wide, grateful eyes. "You don't have to thank me," he said softly, reaching out to squeeze the smaller boy's shoulder. "I did what anyone should have done. No one deserves to be treated like that, especially not someone as kind and gentle as you."

Ronin's eyes filled with tears, his lower lip trembling as he tried to hold back his emotions. "B-But now she'll come after you too," he whispered, his voice filled with fear and concern. "She'll make your life a living hell, just like she promised. Maybe even worse than before."

Vajk's jaw clenched, his eyes hardening with determination. "Let her try," he growled, his voice low and fierce. "I'm not afraid of her or her overgrown lizard. I'll take whatever she throws at me and give it back tenfold."

As Vajk and Ronin stood there in the aftermath of the confrontation, the shrill sound of the bell echoed through the classroom, signaling the start of the next period. Ronin flinched at the noise, his nerves still raw from the traumatic experience. He turned to Vajk, a look of concern etched onto his face.

"L-Listen, Vajk," he stammered, his voice trembling slightly. "I know you're new here, and you probably don't know much about how things work in this class. But you need to be prepared for what's coming next... So I shall give you some advice"

Vajk frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice still hoarse from the exertion of the fight. "What's happening next?"

Ronin took a deep breath, his eyes darting around the room as if he were afraid of being overheard. "This class is Pokémon Battle practice," he explained, his voice low and urgent. "We're supposed to pair up and practice battling with the Pokémon that the teacher gives us. It's supposed to help us learn how to strategize and put our knowledge into practice."

Vajk's eyes widened in surprise, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He had never battled with Pokémon before, and the thought of doing so in front of the entire class was more than a little daunting. "But I don't know the first thing about battling," he protested, his voice filled with uncertainty. "I've never even held a Pokéball before."

Ronin gave Vajk a reassuring smile, his eyes filled with understanding. "Don't worry, Vajk. I know it's a lot to take in, especially since you're new to this. But I promise, it's not as scary as it seems. T-The t-teacher will go over the basics before we start for you I'm sure, and I-I'll be right there to help you every step of the way."

Vajk felt a small sense of relief wash over him at Ronin's words, but the nervousness in his gut remained. "What if I mess up?" he asked, his voice small and unsure. "What if I make a fool of myself in front of everyone, especially Amara and her gang? I don't want to fuel her already-bursting ego further."

Ronin shook his head, his expression serious. "Vajk, l-listen to me. You stood up to A-Amara when no one else would. Y-You showed courage and strength in the face of her cruelty. That's the kind of spirit t-that makes a great Pokémon trainer. Y-You may not have the experience yet, but you have the heart. A-And that's what really matters... Or at least I-I think!"

Vajk felt a warmth bloom in his chest at Ronin's words, a sense of determination and purpose washing over him. He nodded, his jaw set with resolve. "You're right, Ronin. I can't let my fear hold me back."

Ronin grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "T-That's the spirit! Now, l-let me give you a few tips before we get started. First, always pay attention to your P-Pokémon's type. E-Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and knowing how to use them to your advantage c-can make all the difference in a battle. Second, d-don't be afraid to think outside the b-box. Sometimes, the most unexpected strategies can catch your opponent off guard and t-turn the tide of the battle. And finally, trust in your Pokémon. T-They're your partners, and they'll give it their all for you if you believe in them."

Vajk nodded as he took in Ronin's advice, committing it to memory. This was all so new, but also thrilling. He felt ready to take on this challenge.

"I won't let you down, Ronin," Vajk said. "And I won't let my Pokémon down either." He quickly realizes what he said is totally out of a cartoon. "Huh... this is really weird saying it aloud now that I think about it."

Ronin clapped Vajk on the back. "H-Hey, don't worry about it! Now let's get started!"

- TO BE CONTINUED -