Chapter 7: Eevee’s Training Plan

"Name?"

"Ethan Brakes."

"Age?"

"Sixteen. I'm a student."

The next day.

At the Trainers' Association office in the old district of Riverhaven City, Ethan was registering his Eevee.

To ensure proper management and prevent crime, every citizen's Pokémon must be registered with the association to be considered legal.

Given the effort and responsibility required to care for Pokémon, the League has set an age restriction for new trainers.

After all, this isn't some child-centric fantasy world where a ten-year-old runs around with Pokémon—no matter how you look at it, that's just not realistic.

"Hmm, sixteen is just right. Now, your ID, Eevee's birth certificate, and its health certificate."

The clerk, busy typing away on the computer, didn't even glance up.

"As for the birth certificate, this Eevee is a stray I found in the city. It doesn't have one. Here are my ID and Eevee's health certificate."

Ethan handed over the health certificate he had obtained the previous day at Rosa Clinic. Despite its small size, the clinic was well-equipped, making such processes quite convenient.

"I see. The League doesn't usually recommend new trainers start with non-bred Pokémon. Where are your parents?"

Ethan replied calmly, "They went missing in an accident. I live alone now."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You must be 'that' Ethan, right?" The clerk finally looked up from her screen, her face apologetic.

In this small old district, Ethan—an orphan with both parents missing—was somewhat of a local "celebrity," often cared for by kind-hearted neighbors. This clerk was one such person.

"Well, technically, using a wild Pokémon as a starter requires parental consent. But given your situation, and considering your Pokémon is an Eevee... I'll make an exception for you."

Taking his documents, she resumed typing on the computer.

Ethan and Eevee exchanged a smile. From this moment on, they were officially recognized as a legitimate trainer-and-Pokémon duo.

Although it was summer vacation, Ethan was just as busy as when he was in school.

Starting in their third year of high school, students aspiring to become professional trainers majoring in Pokémon Science must gradually engage in practical battle training.

For those aiming to enter top-tier universities, the two months before the school term are a critical time to get ahead.

In fact, many families prepare a starter Pokémon as a birthday gift for their children as soon as they turn sixteen.

The real goal, of course, is to give their child a head start.

The earlier they start training Pokémon, the more likely they'll stand out among their peers during the college entrance exams.

But everyone thinks this way, leading to a highly competitive environment.

If not for the League's strict regulations on starter Pokémon for new trainers, wealthy families might even give their kids fully evolved Pokémon from the start.

Ethan, now sixteen and a half, was determined to make the most of his remaining summer vacation. Otherwise, he might end up at the bottom of his class.

After completing the registration process, Ethan brought his Eevee to Silph Co.'s Pokémon department store.

This company, originating from the Kanto region, is a leader in Pokémon-related technology.

From breeding and training to healthcare and battle items, they have everything a trainer might need, from beginner to expert.

The downside? It's expensive.

The 100,000 Pokedollars Ethan had saved would only last Eevee until graduation.

Riverhaven City, being one of the few cities in the Valora Region with a gym, hosts a large Silph Co. branch.

It took Ethan an entire morning to gather all the supplies Eevee would need for the summer.

Initially, he planned to purchase a few fun training tools to pique Eevee's interest in battles.

Unexpectedly, Eevee showed extraordinary enthusiasm for more advanced, specialized training equipment.

Strength training, endurance drills, balance and evasion exercises, speed improvement—Eevee quickly adapted to and excelled with each tool, earning praise from the staff nearby.

With such a hardworking partner, Ethan knew he couldn't fall behind.

He gritted his teeth and decided to buy some of Silph Co.'s newly developed advanced training equipment. But he could only afford two items with the student discount, leaving just enough money for daily expenses and emergencies.

After much deliberation, Ethan chose tools for balance and evasion training as well as speed training.

His vision for Eevee's evolution was the yet-undiscovered Fairy-type evolution: Sylveon.

Sylveon excels in special attack and special defense, with decent endurance. However, its physical attack, defense, and speed are lacking.

Physical attack wasn't a concern, but its weak physical defense and speed needed to be addressed through training.

This world didn't have the concept of "base stats," but even if such a thing existed, it would only represent an average baseline for each species.

Through training and nurturing, a trainer could significantly alter a Pokémon's capabilities.

Otherwise, what's the point of a trainer's efforts?

Ethan decided to address Sylveon's shortcomings by focusing on speed and physical defense.

For defense, he avoided harsh impact training.

First, Ethan couldn't bear to put his young Eevee through such grueling exercises, which would do more harm than good.

Second, Eevee's physique simply wasn't built for it; no amount of training would make it as tough as an Aggron.

Pushing in the wrong direction would only lead to failure.

Instead, agility and evasion training suited Eevee's small frame, compensating for its weak physical defense.

In real battles—unlike in turn-based games like Pokémon—the hit rate isn't so rigid.

Except for homing moves like Swift and Aura Sphere, even highly accurate moves can miss.

This makes evasion and movement highly valuable skills in real combat.

Additionally, these exercises complement speed training, making them perfect for Eevee.

After finalizing his purchases and seeing his bank balance reduced to a fraction, Ethan felt no regret.

A trainer must make sacrifices to achieve success.

Though Ethan's home was old, it was spacious.

Situated in the heart of the old district, it was a three-story building with a yard, spanning several hundred square meters. If the property were ever redeveloped, he'd be a billionaire.

After lunch, Ethan and Eevee worked under the blazing sun to clean up the overgrown yard.

Unable to afford professional training facilities, this would serve as Eevee's training base.

For now, it was sufficient. In the future, Ethan could add more equipment, turning it into a space rivaling any professional facility.

By the end of the afternoon, with help from Silph Co.'s delivery staff, the equipment was installed in the yard.

It had been a long day.