NOVEL WEB Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - Graduation
Hours passed and Dante was engrossed in reading a book about the basics of Pokemon.
In this world, Pokemon's are known to have six major stats: Health, Physical Attack, Physical Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
The reference for such division was said to have come from the data that was brought back from a Pokemon laboratory ruins during a PokePortal exploration.
It was also said that the laboratory quantified the stats of each Pokemon according to their racial limit. The racial limit is the 'hard cap' that the Pokemon's stat can naturally reach by training and eating healthily.
While the racial limit of each Pokemon can only be accessed through the official Pokemon Alliance database after becoming an official Alliance member, the textbooks contained the picture of each Pokemon that had their racial limit publicly available.
Caterpie (Bug)
Health: 45 Attack: 30 Defense: 35
Sp. Attack: 20 Sp. Defense: 20 Speed: 40
Seeing the available example, Dante was a little surprised. After checking the four other available examples, he became more sure of his guess.
'So, the so-called racial limit is the base stats of each Pokemon in the previous world?'
Although the book did not mention any other numerical stats of the Pokemon, it revealed information in which stats the Pokemon is good and bad at.
For example, a passage says: "Onix is a Rock and Ground type Pokemon. With an adult reaching an average height of 8.8 meters and a weight of 210, Onix's are considered to be one of the largest Pokemon, with its evolved form Steelix being known as the largest land Pokemon. Onix's are known to possess a high physical attack and physical defense. Conversely however, their health, special attack, and special defense are quite low, being below the average. Above ground, their movement speed and attack speed are also below the average. Only when they are underground will their movement speed reach a higher speed than majority of other land Pokemons"
Dante was still in a state of realization when he read the part about the Onix having a high physical attack.
In the game, due to being a Pokemon that beginner's will face early on, Onix was 'nerfed' into only having a high physical defense but low health, attack, special defense, and speed. Some players had complained about Onix, with such a huge and hard body, having very low physical attack.
'It looks like some things are different here from what I know from the games. But that's understandable. After all, when making games, the developers had to consider how to balance the Pokemon's in order to make the game more playable.'
'It looks like I can only make a reference from my previous knowledge in this new world. I really need to study more about the Pokemon knowledge of this world.'
Dante picked up his textbook and got ready to study again when his mother shouted from downstairs.
"Dante! Lunch is ready!"
Dante got up from the chair and replied that he was coming to his mother. In this family, it was a tradition that everyone had to eat together during lunch and dinner.
Dante picked up his phone to check for messages and proceeded to go downstairs. Seeing none, he just searched the Pokenet for more information regarding Pokemons and Pokemon Trainers.
At the table, the family of three put their hands together for the prayer that was led by their father. After the prayer, the five began to eat. Luna, who was on the side, also started eating her Pokemon food.
After a while, Mrs. Zulueta began to inquire about her son's future path again.
"How about it Dan, have you thought about what course to take?"
"Yeah, I want to become a Pokemon trainer."
Silence. What greeted Dante's words was dead silence. His mother's smile froze on her face, his father had his eyebrows raised, and Luna…was still continuing to eat.
"...Why? There are safer and more comfortable jobs that you can choose. You can't even earn enough money by becoming a Pokemon trainer, not to mention how unsafe it is!"
Mrs. Zulueta had a look of disappointment on her face. Her words weren't false. For the majority of people, especially those from the middle and lower class, becoming a Pokemon trainer is a huge time and money sink.
Not to mention the daily nutrients and equipment for training, just obtaining a good starter Pokemon already sets them back from the upper class.
In addition, Pokemon Trainers can only get subsidies from the government only after they get the first Gym badge. And the subsidies they get is only enough to barely survive.
Pokemon Trainers can only rely on themselves and their family in order to train their starter Pokemon to become strong enough to defeat the first Gym. Most establishments also only hire Pokemon trainers that have proven themselves through the number of their Gym badges or winning championships.
"Well, why not? Don't worry, I won't ask you for money for my initial Pokemon and for training them. I'll try to apply for scholarships and even get a part time job."
Luckily, training Pokemons in this world have no need for the use of rare resources like Elemental stones and the like in the early stage.
Using rare resources at the early stage will only allow the Pokemon's to at most grow faster than others of the same age. Rare resources are only needed in order to break through the Pokemon's racial limit after they have developed their utmost potential.
From the Rookie to the Gym-level, Pokemon battles mostly rely on tactics, team composition, as well as the racial limit of the Pokemon used.
Pokemons that have broken through the racial limit are mostly seen only at the Elite Four and Champion level. The most famous among them is the Italian champion Giovanni and his Beedrill which can compete even against the ace Pokemon of other Champions.
Mrs. Zulueta was about to speak further when Mr. Zulueta held her back.
"Dan, if you really want to pursue being a trainer, you need to first pass the Pokemon trainer exam after a month. If by then, you still want to become a trainer, then we'll support you."
"Thanks pa! Don't worry, I'm very sure I won't regret my decision."
After that, dinner passed by with the family back to having a normal conversation.
(Later that night in the master bedroom)
"Pa, do you really want our son to become a Pokemon trainer? You know how dangerous being a Pokemon trainer is."
"Don't worry ma, I think he's just going through a phase. He'll grow tired of it after some time and choose another course. And if the worst situation comes, we still have some savings to help him choose a strong starter Pokemon."
"Well, I really hope so…"
—
The night passed and it was the beginning of the weekday. Even though it was not mandatory to attend classes anymore, Mrs. Zulueta still forced Dante to go to school, saying:
"It's the only remaining month where you can accompany your high school classmates. Cherish your remaining time with them."
And with that, Dante inserted one day of the week playing with his high school friends in the computer shop. There, he first saw the game League of Pokemon that replaced a certain other game from the other world.
For the rest of the weekdays however, Dante mostly goes to the library in order to study. There, he had access to the basic knowledge such as the elements of each known Pokemon, to the advanced knowledge like the mechanism behind attribute advantage and attribute restraint.
A month passed in a flash with this constant routine and it was soon the day of graduation.
On the stage, Dante had a smile, taking a picture with his parents while holding his diploma. He hugged and celebrated with his classmates, promising each other to keep in contact and hoping the best for everyone.
Getting home after the graduation, Dante's family had a small private celebration of their own which lasted late into the night.
Laying down on his bed, Dante had a smile on his face. He was looking at his phone that shows a successful registration for the Pokemon Trainer examination next week.