Although James's comment made Gabriel a little embarrassed, he still maintained a calm expression as he looked at James.
As the saying goes: If you're not embarrassed, it's the others who will be.
Being stared at by Gabriel's indifferent gaze, James awkwardly scratched his head.
"Well… I guess it's not really your fault. I just wasn't strong enough…"
What an honest kid!
Gabriel help but sigh inwardly. Kids like James, who are so easy to handle, were rare these days!
"All right, all right, let's drop it. The teacher's coming,"
king cut off their conversation and motioned for them to sit. The three of them took their seats, and shortly after, a young male teacher entered the classroom, scanning the room as he stepped in.
"Which one of you is Gabriel?"
Why is he calling me out? This is so awkward!
Despite his reluctance, Gabriel stood up with a somewhat displeased expression.
The teacher nodded with a smile and looked at Gabriel approvingly.
"So young and already accomplished. A real rising star. As expected from a champion. Everyone—if you ever need help or guidance, feel free to ask Gabriel here. I'm sure someone with championship experience has their own insights into battles. Learn as much as you can."
As the teacher finished speaking, every student in the classroom turned to look at Gabriel—some with admiration, others with jealousy. Though it was slightly awkward, Gabriel had faced large audiences before. He was able to tune out the stares.
"All right, let me introduce myself. I'm your homeroom teacher for the first-year Battle Division. You can call me Mr. Kim. If there's anything you don't understand, come talk to me—or, if you're shy, you can ask Gabriel."
Teacher, do you have to keep emphasizing that?!
Mr. Kim smiled as he addressed the class, completely ignoring Gabriel's discomfort.
"I'll be teaching you battle theory going forward. But since this is the Battle Division, our ultimate goal is to turn all our efforts into power. The golden rule here is: 'The strongest is the leader!' So our classes will be as close to real combat as possible."
"For our first lesson, we're heading outside. Everyone, to the training field!"
With that, Mr. Kim briskly left the classroom, leaving the students momentarily stunned.
James sighed as he looked at his frozen classmates. He reached over and tugged at King and Gabriel.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!"
Then he pulled the two of them out of the classroom. Only after the trio left did the rest of the class start reacting, trickling out one after another.
The academy's training field was packed with students from other Battle Division classes—it seemed this outdoor training style was standard at Jindu Academy.
Eventually, Gabriel and the others found Mr. Kim waiting for them, checking his watch with a sharp eye.
This doesn't look good…
Gabriel immediately felt a sense of foreboding, which Mr. Kim's next words promptly confirmed.
"Nope, nope! Took you five minutes just to gather at the field! What are you, Slowpokes? Why are you all dragging your feet?"
Mr. Kim scolded the group sternly. No one dared talk back.
"Everyone—ten laps around the field. Start now!"
Yep. Classic power move.
Gabriel gave a bitter smile as he glanced at the enormous training field. He hadn't exercised at all in the past two months—ten laps might just kill him!
But judging from Mr. Kim's stern expression, there was no way he'd let anyone slack off.
Apparently, Gabriel wasn't the only one who'd gotten a little too comfortable over the break. But to his surprise, James and King not only finished first—they barely looked winded, their faces just slightly flushed.
How did these two get so fit?!
After everyone completed their laps, Mr. Kim stepped forward and shook his head at the group.
"Look, I get that we're in the Battle Division, and strength often comes from your Pokémon. But in the real world, a trainer's own physical condition is often just as important. With the state most of you are in, even a wild Rattata could be a life-threatening encounter."
Mr. Kim gave them all a disappointed look.
"I'm not saying you need to be bodybuilders, but at the very least, don't become a liability in the field."
Gabriel felt like his lungs were about to burst, and Mr. Kim's words hit him even harder. But he had no choice but to admit that the man had a point.
"Now that we've got the warm-up out of the way, let's begin the first practical session: the arena battle."
As he spoke, several battle rings were activated on the training field. The digital boundary lines lit up in blue light, forming hexagonal arenas commonly used in formal academy matches.
"Today's rules are simple: challenge the strongest. And by default, that's our champion—Gabriel."
…What?!
Gabriel, still catching his breath, nearly choked.
Mr. Kim continued with a completely straight face, "Whoever can defeat Gabriel will become the temporary class leader."
Didn't I already get assigned as class leader?!
Gabriel wanted to protest, but the murmurs and excitement in the class drowned out his thoughts.
Mr. Kim turned to him, smiling.
"Gabriel, as the regional champion, I'm sure this is no big deal for you. You'll take on anyone who challenges you today. Of course, if you lose, the title goes to the next winner. Fair, right?"
This wasn't a suggestion. It was a command.
Gabriel glanced at James and King, only to see them both backing away slightly—not from cowardice, but out of respect.
James gave him a thumbs-up.
"Don't worry, I won't challenge you yet. I still need to train more."
King laughed. "Same. Watching you fight is more fun than getting wiped out in two moves."
Gee, thanks. Really appreciate the support.
And with that, the arena battle was about to begin—whether Gabriel liked it or not.
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2 chapter done today have a nice day guys see you in 2 days happy reading..
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