Chapter 21: Green Trait [Blood Drain] and Intermediate Breeder Certificate

Chapter 21: Green Trait [Blood Drain] and Intermediate Breeder Certificate

September 13th.

Hikaru's luck struck again when his daily trait reward revealed a green-tier trait.

[Green, Upgradable Trait (Blood Drain)] – Each physical attack restores 10% of the damage dealt as HP and energy.

An upgradable trait! It was the first time Hikaru encountered such a feature. The potential was obvious—restoring health and energy during battles was a game-changer, especially as the trait could improve over time. Even at its current level, it added a significant sustainability boost to any physical attacker.

Over the past few days, preparations for the High School League had intensified. Coach Luo Hoshino had sourced information on competitors from other schools and even held a pep talk for the team.

"Just give it your best out there," he had encouraged them, lightening the pressure of expectations.

Meanwhile, Charmander and Ralts continued their intense sparring sessions.

Ralts, now equipped with the Mind Band, had grown much stronger. It had even learned a new skill: Substitute, which allowed it to create a decoy that mimicked its physical form using life energy. This added a layer of strategy to its battles, making it a formidable partner for Charmander.

Despite the progress, the training sessions between Charmander and Ralts remained challenging. Their battles were growing increasingly balanced, with victories often hinging on strategy and stamina.

Hikaru had a strong sense that Charmander was close to evolving—perhaps during the upcoming tournament.

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On September 14th, Miss Qin summoned Hikaru to her office.

When he arrived, he was surprised to see Sakura there as well.

"So, you're both here," Miss Qin greeted them warmly. "It's funny how, as a first-year teacher, I'm dealing with students participating in both second- and third-year competitions."

She handed them each a form.

"This is your tournament registration form. Fill it out with your Pokémon information. Once submitted, you won't be able to change it."

Miss Qin's pride in them was evident. It wasn't every day that first-year students made it into the High School League.

Sakura, with her impressive team, was almost guaranteed to dominate the third-year bracket. And Hikaru, despite being a first-year, was seen as a strong contender in the second-year division.

"Third-year?" Hikaru raised an eyebrow, glancing at Sakura.

She gave him a playful wink, her mischievous nature shining through.

"Got it, Miss Qin~" Sakura chirped as she filled out her form.

Curious, Hikaru peeked at her entries: Dratini and Beldum.

What else could he say? These weren't just Pokémon—they were titans.

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon might have a reputation for being "late bloomers," but that was only relative. Their early growth might be slower than others, but once they started to mature, their potential was unrivaled.

And with the resources available to families capable of raising pseudo-legendaries, any minor growth delay was irrelevant.

Hikaru chuckled to himself.

"Just what kind of background does she have?"

After completing his own form, Hikaru followed Sakura out of the office. As usual, she naturally hooked her arm around his.

"You've been so busy lately, haven't you, big brother?" she teased, her tone light and casual.

"And yet you seem to come to school every day," Hikaru shot back, smirking.

"I get bored otherwise," she replied, pouting.

Hikaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Want to guess what I've been busy with?"

"Training your Pokémon, of course," she said without hesitation.

"Bingo," Hikaru said, chuckling. "But no prize this time."

Without thinking, he reached out to flick her nose—a habit he'd carried since their childhood. Whenever Sakura got herself into trouble, he'd flick her nose to cheer her up.

Sakura scrunched her face in mock annoyance. "You still treat me like a little kid!"

Releasing his arm, she strode ahead with exaggerated indignation. After a few steps, though, she stopped and turned back, her expression softening.

"Actually, Hikaru… if you ever need anything, you know you can come to me, right?"

Her voice was quieter this time, more sincere.

She had been observing his Pokémon closely. A Charmander and a Ralts—both full of potential, but their training and care must have been costly.

From the sparse furnishings in Hikaru's apartment, she could tell he wasn't living extravagantly.

"You now have two Pokémon to care for," she continued. "Good energy cubes are essential for their growth. And with their talent, they deserve the best."

She began ticking off points on her fingers.

"High-quality energy cubes cost thousands per box—and even those aren't the best. If you'd like, I can introduce you to some professional breeders who can customize cubes for your Pokémon."

Hikaru listened quietly, touched by her concern.

When she finished, he smiled. "Sakura, do you really think your big brother can't provide for his own Pokémon?"

"...Your apartment is so small, and there's barely any furniture..."

Hikaru laughed, impressed by her perceptiveness.

"Do you think I've made no progress in the past three years? Let me show you something."

Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a certificate and handed it to her.

It was an Intermediate Breeder Certificate.

The name on the certificate was unmistakably his, and the accompanying photo showed a confident, sharp-faced Hikaru.

Sakura stared at the document, wide-eyed.

Obtaining an Intermediate Breeder Certification was no small feat. If passing the Beginner Breeder exam was akin to getting into a prestigious university, the Intermediate level was like graduating with top honors.

"Big brother, you're amazing!"

Her admiration was clear in her sparkling eyes.

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