N currently felt quite hesitant.
Ever since his father and the others decided to liberate Pokémon, N had left the forest and come to the city.
During his travels through the wilderness, he discovered that indeed, there were many Pokémon who did not like living with humans.
He also saw many Pokémon get injured in battles just to help humans.
In N's view, many of these Pokémon tragedies could have been avoided.
So he kept wandering around the city, trying to integrate into this world to see if his father's ideals were right or wrong.
A month ago, he discovered that there was an incredible place on the Unova continent and heard that the Pokémon there were all being kept in captivity by humans.
N had a feeling that maybe only by coming here could he find out whether Pokémon were truly willing to live alongside humans.
So he resolutely came to Blueberry Academy and passed the special entrance exam.
After arriving here, N found that his heart became more resolute.
What his father was doing, might truly be right.
Many Pokémon living with humans were not all that happy.
Some Pokémon had to train day and night; some were "trapped" in the Terrarium and could only come out if they found their trainer.
Especially the Pokémon in the polar region, those made N feel heartache even more.
'As Pokémon, they actually have to earn money?'
N had communicated with them, and those Pokémon all said that earning money was the only way to increase their strength.
But in N's eyes, this was exactly what Ghetsis had said.
Too many Pokémon had been forced to integrate into human society.
Originally... they could have been lying flat in the forest, but were helplessly drawn into the human world, becoming beasts of burden for it.
Just now, Ghetsis sent word, saying that there was someone whose Pokémon were actually going into a match without their trainer.
He asked N to see if he could find a way to rescue those two Gyarados and Duraludon.
N accepted the task without hesitation.
'Letting Pokémon go into battle on their own, this trainer must be someone who crazily exploits Pokémon.'
'If that's the case, then let me rescue you!'
———
The moment N stepped onto the arena stage, Axel blinked hard.
'What's going on, why did N come to Blueberry Academy?'
'System, next time you send me into another world, could you pick one that's a bit more... normal?'
Axel felt complicated emotions about N.
In Pokémon Black and White, he was a rather tragic character.
He was said to be a child of Pokémon.
He loved Pokémon deeply, to the extent of seeing himself as one of them.
But he was manipulated by the sages of Team Plasma, told that Pokémon could never be happy with humans.
Thus, he stepped onto the path of world domination.
Axel knew full well N's capabilities, he was someone who could grab random Pokémon off the roadside and still rival or even surpass Gym Leaders.
That kind of power, neither Ash nor Red had ever displayed it more than once under very specific conditions.
But for N, that power seemed to be permanent.
If this guy entered the Terrarium and, like the Glastrier, took control of the Polar Region, and then took over the other three regions, then there'd be no need for Zekrom and Reshiram to even appear.
Just N leading the Dome's Pokémon would be enough to sweep across Unova...
Thinking this, Axel instinctively patted Gardevoir's thigh.
If N wanted to make a move on Blueberry Academy, then he might have to get N to change sides. Of course, if N didn't intend to do that, then Axel wouldn't bother controlling him for no reason either.
After all, N was a victim too, the real villain was that guy Ghetsis.
["Master... he seems like he's about to fight Gyarados and the others. Should I... go up there and take care of him?"], Gardevoir looked at N with burning eyes.
In her previous life, this guy once tried to manipulate the Black Dragon to stop its invasion of Aurient, but failed.
If her master was willing, Gardevoir felt she could make N escape that whirlpool early.
"No, absolutely not," Axel hadn't sensed the deep thoughts in Gardevoir's heart. He thought she used her Perfect Trait to sense danger from N and was about to eliminate him, he immediately waved his hand in refusal.
If the opponent were Ghetsis, Axel wouldn't hesitate at all, he'd just send out Mewtwo.
But N was innocent...
"Let's observe first, see what kind of person N really is."
"Gard~"
Sensing Axel's thoughts, Gardevoir lightly nodded and looked toward the arena.
———
"Are both sides ready?", the referee asked.
"ROAR!", Dragonair cried out in a babyish voice.
N looked a bit surprised at Dragonair, a flash of doubt in his emerald eyes.
He had thought Dragonair and the others were being forced, but from the looks of it now, Dragonair was clearly full of fighting spirit.
'Could it be she isn't being forced, and really likes being with her trainer?'
"N, are you ready?", the referee asked again.
"Oh, I'm ready," N was startled by Carmine's voice and waved toward the edge of the stage. A small Rattata leaped lightly onto the arena.
The Rattata looked very ordinary, just like a wild Pokémon found on the roadside.
Everyone in the audience was dumbfounded.
"What's going on? Rattata on the field? Are we sure it won't get blasted by Gyarados?"
"Bro, that's not 'blasted', that's splashed! You don't even see where Gyarados is shooting water from..."
"Poor little Rattata, just left Newbie Village and already meets the final boss!"
Hearing the crowd's chatter, N didn't react much. His power allowed Pokémon to perform beyond their normal strength.
Though the opponent was strong, he wasn't weak either.
Carmine confirmed once more, "You want to use Rattata against Gyarados?"
"That Gyarados is a Totem Pokémon, its battle power isn't on par with an ordinary Gyarados."
'If you fight like this, Rattata might get hurt for nothing."
"Don't worry, it won't," N's eyes were firm, filled with extreme confidence.
"Alright then...", Carmine saw she couldn't persuade N, so she stopped trying.
As someone with a younger brother, Carmine knew full well what these little boys were like.
Saving face was normal, one harsh defeat and they'd snap out of it.
"If that's the case, then let the match begin!"
"Still 3v3 format, but since one side is fielding a very weak Pokémon..."
"In order to ensure that trainers protect their own Pokémon, and don't treat them as cannon fodder, I reserve the right to modify the rules."
"In this 3v3 match, Pokémon can be freely switched. But once even one Pokémon enters a near-death state, the trainer immediately loses."
Carmine looked seriously at N, "So, if you want to win, you must protect your Pokémon. Understood?"
A smile appeared in N's emotionless eyes. He looked deeply at Carmine.
"This rule is excellent. I'll remember it!"
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