Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

Atop the snowy mountain, the sudden appearance of another Articuno threw the trainers into a state of high alert.

Unbeknownst to them, under the guidance of a certain shameless tamer, Charizard had quietly landed and taken cover in the nearby forest, keeping a strategic distance. With Zeraora's speed, they could easily intercept the new Articuno before it could make a move.

But from the trainers' perspective, they had no clue.

They didn't even know that Charizard and Zeraora had arrived!

All they saw was the sky—recently returned to its serene blue—once again darkening under a suffocating pressure.

"Buiii~!"

The new Articuno slowly rose higher, casting a vicious glare at the trainers.

An icy wind swept through the summit, and everyone felt as if they'd been plunged into a freezing abyss.

"We can't win this one!"

Ding Yue clutched her Poké Ball tightly. Talonflame was already down, completely incapable of fighting. Only Nidorina and Ponyta stood at the ready, bracing themselves.

Without Talonflame's overcharged Flare Blitz, how could they possibly defeat another Articuno?

"Damn it… looks like it's my turn!"

Wang Tao stepped forward, holding a Poké Ball aloft and shouting at the hostile Articuno, "Ice-type, huh?! Think you can just bully my Torterra with a quadruple advantage?!"

"Well, you're not the only one with type matchups on your side!"

"Today, I'll show you what it means to be a truly versatile trainer!"

The group behind him exchanged glances.

Versatile trainer…? Has Wang Tao gone mad?

This was Articuno, after all.

Even if this one hadn't attacked yet, everyone knew just how fearsome a legendary like that could be.

What the hell was this chubby guy doing now?!

Articuno tilted its head, clearly puzzled as it eyed Wang Tao.

Feeling the pressure of that piercing gaze, Wang Tao began to sweat bullets.

Pei Jingguo quietly stepped forward, tapping his sheathed sword against Wang Tao's back.

"Maybe come back over here…? I've got a really bad feeling about this."

He glanced nervously at the first Articuno—still calmly observing the newcomer with a tilted head, clearly not interested in fighting anymore.

What was this, a domestic dispute? Did the husband just arrive on the scene?

"Don't try to stop me."

Wang Tao elbowed the sword away and whispered, "I'll buy you guys time. Run while you still can."

"Don't worry… I've got an Electric-type."

With dramatic flair, he flicked his wrist and released a Pokémon.

A round, shiny Voltorb materialized in front of him.

"Voltorb is Electric-type. It should be able to stall it a bit!"

Wang Tao said with steely determination, "Now's the time. GO! Everyone, RUN!"

"Voltorb, use Electro Ball!"

He pointed at the looming Articuno while waving behind him like a heroic martyr ready for sacrifice.

The moment that second Articuno showed up, he'd already made up his mind.

He knew he couldn't win, but if he could just buy a few seconds… that might be enough.

Despite his usual goofball nature, hiding his scheming behind a bumbling exterior, Wang Tao was fiercely loyal to his friends.

If he hadn't been, he wouldn't have become best friends with Su Bai—a guy everyone else had written off as a useless non-awakened "failure."

Now, drained and battered, this was all he could do for the team.

"Bzzzt—"

Voltorb turned to glance at Wang Tao with disdain.

Since being captured, it had spent all its time inside its Poké Ball with barely any fresh air.

And now the moment it's summoned—it's face-to-face with Articuno?!

Is this guy insane?!

Wang Tao stood proud at the front of the group, his mind painting a grand image of him and Voltorb unleashing their final explosion of cosmic energy to stall the legendary Pokémon and secure his friends' escape.

So cool.

He even closed his eyes dramatically.

Behind him, he heard soft footsteps fading into the distance. His teammates must've trusted him deeply.

His sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.

The elite youth of Haicheng City would live on!

Truthfully, Wang Tao was already among the top trainers in Haicheng—but unlike Su Bai, he didn't transmigrate from another world.

As an Awakened One, his talent was actually pretty mediocre. Among all the Awakened students in Haicheng, he was practically bottom-tier.

Even Su Bai had at least scored top marks in theory exams. Wang Tao, meanwhile, was just… bad at everything.

And Pei Jingguo and the others? Star pupils of Haicheng First Academy.

Wang Tao always felt a little insecure in this group of geniuses.

He truly believed: if trading his life meant saving these gifted teammates, then it was worth it.

"…Sorry, Dad."

As heavy footfalls retreated into the distance, he stood firm with solemn resolve.

But just as he was drowning in righteous self-pity…

"Wang Tao gege? Why is your Voltorb… charging at you?" came Liu Qiaoqiao's confused voice from afar.

"That's super dangerous! Gege, what are you doing? Run!"

"…Huh?"

Wang Tao opened his eyes in a daze—just in time to see a round, sparking orb rolling toward him at full speed, electricity crackling violently.

"AH?!!"

His face went blank. "You're supposed to charge at Articuno, not me! What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you betraying me?!"

Voltorb's face twisted into a devilish grin.

Sure, Wang Tao was technically its trainer—but who said you couldn't attack your trainer?

Voltorb had a bone to pick. Ever since it was caught, it had been locked up, ignored, forgotten.

And now the nerve—to throw it out like cannon fodder?

Now it was payback time.

Wang Tao panicked, waving both hands.

"You're mad because I kept you in the ball, right?! Wait—hold on! I had my reasons, okay?! You have to understand—!"

But his voice turned shrill as he kept backing away in terror.

This newly caught Pokémon… was not playing by the rules.

Then—THUNK—Voltorb hit a stray chunk of ice.

Its spinning face froze in confusion as its whole body flew up into the air.

Mid-air, a huge burst of energy suddenly erupted from it.

BOOM!!

Electric currents surged in all directions as Voltorb's power multiplied several times over.

The blast launched Wang Tao off his feet like a ragdoll.

Coughing up smoke, Wang Tao trembled as he raised one hand and recalled the now-critically injured Voltorb into its Poké Ball.

A black cloud puffed from his mouth.

"I let you out just once… and you self-destructed…"

"Whose side are you even on…"