allendalepharm Page 10
Page 10
He placed the notification letter solemnly on the table, but his gaze did not linger on it for long.
His heart had already flown to the next goal.
The next morning, Lin Che arrived at the city's trainers association.
The magnificent building exudes a modern feel, its glass curtain walls reflecting the rising sun. Inside, people come and go, electronic screens scroll through the latest League news, and the air is filled with the soft hum of Poké Balls being transferred.
He skillfully submitted his identification, college entrance examination score report, university admission notice, and a series of complicated forms.
"Approved."
The staff member's voice was emotionless, but the action of stamping the seal was crisp and powerful.
A card with a metallic sheen was handed out.
Trainer Card.
It feels cool to the touch. The card features the Alliance's Moltres emblem in the center, with his name and unique ID number below.
At this moment, he was no longer just an armchair strategist.
"Please place the Poké Ball that needs to be registered in the scanning area."
Lin Che took out the Poké Ball that contained the potential of a Champion-level Pokémon and solemnly placed it on the sensor.
A red light swept across.
A 3D image and basic data of Growlithe immediately appeared on the screen.
[Login successful. Trainer Lin Che's first Pokémon: Growlithe.]
Only then did he become a truly recognized junior trainer by the league.
There is still more than a month until the start of university.
Lin Che wasn't going to waste a single second of this golden opportunity.
He set his sights on a red marker on the edge of the city map.
A hidden realm of volcanic ash.
A beginner-level secret realm open to the public, renowned for its Ground and Fire-type Pokémon. The environment there is hot, dry, and full of unpredictability, but it is the perfect natural training ground for Fire-type Growlithe.
When he brought up the plan at dinner, as expected, his mother's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.
"No, it's too dangerous!"
Her voice was filled with undisguised worry, "Aren't there enough news reports of trainers going missing in secret realms? You've only just obtained your trainer qualification..."
Lin Che did not refute, but simply took out a thick stack of printed documents from his bag and placed them in the center of the dining table.
"Mom, Dad, this is the safety plan I made."
The ten-page document covers everything from the terrain and landform analysis of the secret realm, the habits and coping strategies of common wild Pokémon, and a list of supplies, to planning multiple evacuation routes in case of emergencies, and even includes a record of possible sudden weather changes.
Every detail was meticulously crafted.
"Furthermore, I will rent an additional Pokémon as a safety precaution."
He added a final sentence.
The father silently flipped through the plan, his surprise growing stronger with each page. He looked up and saw no longer an impulsive teenager, but a meticulous and responsible adult who had taken his choices very seriously.
Finally, he nodded.
"Go."
Three days later, Lin Che, carrying a professional mountaineering backpack that was almost half his height and stuffed full, boarded the bus to the secret realm alone.
The cityscape outside the car window slowly receded, eventually being replaced by endless ochre-red wilderness.
The vehicle arrived at its final destination.
The moment the car door opened, a unique smell, a mixture of sulfur, scorched earth, and dry dust, violently filled my nostrils.
We've arrived at the supply town at the entrance to the secret realm.
The town is small, but every inch of it is full of vitality.
The streets were lined with all sorts of shops, their signs adorned with images of Poké Balls, medicine, and tents. Trainers, fresh from the secret realm, gathered in small groups, their battle suits covered in dust, their faces weary, but their eyes unusually bright, as they loudly discussed their day's gains and encounters.
A young man with a bandage wrapped around his arm was excitedly showing off a piece of igneous rock he had just dug up to his companions.
Several newcomers, carrying huge backpacks, nervously checked the map, confirming the route again and again.
The air was filled with the authentic scent of "adventure," a mixture of sweat, dust, and dreams.
This aura made every cell in Lin Che's body tremble with excitement.
He gripped the shoulder strap of his backpack tightly.
This is where he should be.
Instead of rushing toward the distant, faintly visible entrance to the secret realm, he turned around and headed straight for the largest department store in town.
The sign above the gate reads "Pioneers' Station".
He knew that thorough preparation was the first principle of wilderness survival and adventure.
My first trip to this secret realm must not be a failure.
Chapter 12 Fully Prepared, a Reliable Burrowing Mole!
Inside the largest department store in the supply town of the volcanic ash secret realm.
The air conditioning was blasting, shutting out the scorching hot air outside.
Lin Che pushed a metal shopping basket as he walked through the outdoor goods section. His gaze was sharp and focused, sweeping across the rows of shelves like a sophisticated scanner, quickly filtering out the items he needed.
He had read no fewer than twenty expert trainer guides about the Volcanic Ash Secret Realm online, and had already memorized the shopping list compiled from those hard-won lessons.
"Insulated waterproof jacket..."
He stopped in front of a rack displaying various jackets and reached out to touch a dark gray windbreaker labeled "Volcano Level 3 Protection." The fabric had a peculiar toughness to the touch, and the lining was a metallic silver coating. The label stated that this coating could reflect most of the heat conducted from the ground.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Che took out the size that fit him and put it in the shopping basket.
He then walked to the other side, where various sprays and medicines were displayed.
He picked up bottles of cooling spray bearing the snowflake logo and carefully examined the ingredient list on the back. He skipped over the flashy but impractical models that emphasized a refreshing mint scent, and finally chose a military-grade product that was odorless but had the highest evaporation rate.
These fully enclosed sand-proof goggles prevent volcanic ash from entering the eyes. The lenses have a thick silicone ring around the edge, which fits the eye socket perfectly without leaving any gaps.
Dozens of large-capacity bottles of purified drinking water.
And three boxes of special ointments for burns caused by lava and flames.
He picked up each item, checked it, and placed it in his shopping basket. The whole process was smooth and efficient, without a single unnecessary movement. He didn't seem to be shopping; it was more like he was checking ammunition for an impending war.
Only when the shopping basket was completely full did Lin Che push it toward the checkout counter.
Material preparations have been completed.
Next, the final and most crucial step.
He walked through the bustling streets of the town and headed straight for the elf rental center at the other end.
Unlike the modernity of a department store, this place is more like a bustling logistics hub. Trainers come and go, their faces showing either the weariness of returning from an adventure or the excitement of an upcoming journey. The air is filled with the mixed smells of hay from Pokémon food and disinfectant.
"Hello, I would like to rent a Pokémon to assist with exploration in the Volcanic Ash Secret Realm."
Lin Che walked to the front desk and spoke to a staff member who was entering information.
The female staff member looked up and gave a professional smile, but her eyes revealed a hint of fatigue from being busy.
"A Water-type Pokémon, right? Let me guess, Squirtle or Poliwag?"
She seemed quite used to this request.
The staff member shrugged helplessly and pointed to an electronic screen behind him covered with "Rented" signs.
"I'm sorry, sir. It's peak summer season now, and all the water-type Pokémon, even those with average potential, were pre-ordered a week ago."
"The last Squirtle was just rented by a student this morning."
Lin Che's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
The plan encountered its first unexpected setback.
Just as he was pondering alternative plans, the staff member seemed to notice his predicament, leaned forward, lowered his voice, and enthusiastically offered another option.
"Sir, if you are not fixated on attribute counters, I personally strongly recommend that you consider our 'Underground Expert'."
She pointed to a glass room in the corner of the hall, covered with soft sand.
A tiny creature, about the size of a palm, covered in dark blue and white fur, was curled up in a ball, fast asleep in the sand, its nose twitching occasionally with each breath.
Burrowing mole.
The staff member's tone carried a hint of pride.
"In the volcanic ash wilderness, the type advantages and disadvantages in textbooks can sometimes be misleading. The scorching heat on the surface and the ever-present quicksand traps are the biggest threats to trainers."
“And this little guy,” she said, pointing to the burrowing mole, “sometimes plays an even bigger role than the water-type spirit in that environment.”
"It can use its 'digging' ability to take you underground, perfectly avoiding the deadly heat on the surface. More importantly, it has an extremely good underground reconnaissance ability, which can help you discover dangerous wild elf nests in advance, or... find some good things buried underground."
Lin Che's gaze was instantly drawn to it.
Avoiding the surface environment, conducting underground reconnaissance.
These two words precisely hit the spot for what he values most deep down—safety and efficiency.
A barely perceptible stream of blue data silently swept across the depths of his eyes.
[Eye of Truth] activated.
In his field of vision, the information panel about the burrowing mole clearly appeared.
[Sprite: Burrowing Mole]
[Potential Assessment: Average]
[Note: Experienced and familiar with the terrain of most areas of the Volcanic Ash Secret Realm.]
The potential assessment is only "average," which means its growth potential is extremely limited.