Kaito watched, captivated, as the battle unfolded on the screen. Aaron's Exeggutor, a dual Grass and Dragon type, was caught in a raging tornado. Above it, Nina's Pidgeot soared, readying for an attack.
"Damn it!!!" Kenji roared, breaking Kaito's concentration. He nearly dropped his phone in surprise.
On screen, Aaron stood atop Exeggutor's head, his face tense as he attempted to use psychic power to calm the storm. But the fierce winds raged on.
The commentator chimed in, "Aaron should have been more careful. Exeggutor's Grass typing is weak against Pidgeot's Flying type. He's been relying on Dragon-type moves, but Nina saw the opportunity for a surprise attack. Now Aaron's in serious trouble."
As the commentary continued, the excitement in the arena heightened. "What's happening now?! Nina's Pidgeot is glowing!" the host exclaimed.
The expert commentator added, "Could this be Brave Bird? Did she teach her Pidgeot that move?"
"Brave Bird?" the host questioned, confused. "Isn't that a move that takes time to charge? By the time she's ready, Aaron's Exeggutor would have landed."
"No, look at her item," the expert explained. "With a Power Herb, the charging is instant. That's why it's rarely seen in matches!"
The camera zoomed in as Pidgeot transformed into a streak of white light, shooting straight toward the tornado. Exeggutor, unable to escape, was struck directly.
**Boom!**
Exeggutor collapsed, its giant body crashing to the ground, pinning Aaron beneath it. The camera quickly shifted, focusing on Nina triumphantly soaring in the air.
"Congratulations to Nina for scoring a point for Battle King!" the commentator announced. "The score is now tied 2-2. Can Battle King come back after being down 0-2?"
The audience erupted into cheers, but Kaito's mind replayed the image of Exeggutor with a gaping hole and Aaron falling from such a height. Would they be okay?
"Hey…" Kaito nudged Kenji, who was still glued to the match. "Are Aaron and Exeggutor going to be alright?"
Kenji barely looked away from the screen, "Pokémon aren't like humans. With the right healing equipment, even severe injuries aren't an issue. And since Aaron has six Pokémon, he's tough enough not to die from a fall like that."
Kaito felt a mix of awe and concern. Were these Battle Trainers even human anymore? They seemed more like formidable creatures than people.
Not wanting to distract Kenji further, Kaito returned to his search online. In the anime world, Poké Balls were everywhere, easy to buy. But in this reality, Battle Marks were a different story—they were rare and precious.
To get a Battle Mark, you had to visit special places called "Battle Mark Inscription Centers." Each attempt was costly, starting at 80,000 yen, with chances of failure. Special marks, like "Priority Mark" or "Healing Mark," were even more expensive.
This scarcity meant that Battle Trainers were rare. Most people, like Kaito, could only keep non-aggressive Pokémon as pets, forming bonds over time to help them with simple tasks. Without Battle Marks, real combat was impossible—untrained Pokémon were likely to flee or disobey commands.
Not all Pokémon were created equal. For example, a wild Pidgeot would stand no chance against Nina's trained one. Without mark enhancements, a trained Battle Trainer could snipe opponents before they even had a chance to react.
Kaito kept reading, discovering that to become a Battle Trainer, you first had to graduate middle school, completing nine years of education. If you successfully got a Battle Mark before turning 18, you could join a "Pokémon Training Camp." Graduates earned the title of Battle Trainer.
He didn't delve deep into the rankings—there were many levels—but the fighters on the screen were already top-ranked. Both Aaron and Nina had the maximum of six Battle Marks, each commanding a team of powerful Pokémon, cultivated through rigorous training.
With such abilities came privileges. Battle Trainers enjoyed tax reductions, housing funds, and generous loans. They could even secure jobs at power plants, earning millions.
As Kaito absorbed the information, he couldn't help but wonder about the complex world of Battle Trainers and the incredible power they wielded. The battle was just beginning, and he was eager to learn more.