Pokémon: Starting With An Overpowered Gameboy Advance

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After the exam, Chris took Togepi and Delibird on a plane back to school that afternoon.

There was no reason to stay in the mountain city. The exam results would take some time to be published online. If admitted, the Breeders Association would send the "Junior Breeder License" directly to the address Chris provided during registration.

Chris had applied to Dragon University this time, so he waited at the school.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, Chris returned to Dragon University. The campus was quiet, as most students were likely still in the mountain city.

Passing by the cafeteria, Chris treated himself to a leisurely meal as a reward for completing the exam.

Afterward, he took Flygon back to his cottage and released his Pokémon one by one.

After preparing their dinner, Chris threw himself onto the bed to rest. He ordered some takeaway, realizing with a laugh that he had forgotten to drink the milk tea he bought earlier.

Finally, he could breathe a sigh of relief! Chris stretched, grabbed the remote control, and tuned into a variety show to relax. The Junior Breeder Qualification Exam was over, and for now, he could put aside his books.

The Intermediate Breeder Exam focused more on practical application, requiring candidates to venture into dangerous areas. For now, though, all Chris needed to do was focus on his daily knowledge accumulation.

He reached for his handheld console and powered it on.

"Let's see, where was I with 'Breaker'?" Chris muttered, sitting up.

Whenever he had free time, Chris would play on his handheld, exploring to see if any adventures awaited on the ship.

For nearly a month, though, nothing new had happened.

"Huh?" Chris exclaimed in surprise. Today was different. Steering the protagonist to the deck, he found the ship docked at a bustling harbor surrounded by other similarly sized vessels.

Surprisingly, there weren't many people on the Wave Breaker.

"Is this already the Johto Region?" Chris wondered, heading to the captain's room.

The captain wasn't there either.

Finally, Chris found a sailor at the disembarkation area and learned the details.

It was true—the Wave Breaker was on its way to the Johto Region. However, at the moment, it was docked in Alto Mare, as Wanda and Riley wanted to take wedding photos there. Alto Mare was reputed to be the most beautiful city in the world.

The ship was taking a short break here, not just for the wedding photos but also to restock after over twenty days of sailing. Supplies had to be replenished.

The captain decided the Wave Breaker would stay in Alto Mare for three days, plenty of time for Riley and Wanda to take their pictures.

Today was the first day.

"Alto Mare?" Chris murmured, familiar with the name.

"Alto Mare is also called the Capital of Water! It's known as the most beautiful city in the world!" the sailor explained.

"The Capital of Water?!" Chris perked up.

If he remembered correctly, wasn't this the setting where Latias and Latios resided?

It was also the main stage of the movie "The Guardian of Water: Latias and Latios."

This was perfect! Being part of the animation universe, the map didn't exist in the game, so Chris eagerly got off the boat to explore Alto Mare.

"Have fun! But make sure to be back by five o'clock the night after tomorrow!" the sailor called out as Chris left.

Disembarking, Chris stepped into Alto Mare.

The scenery around him shifted, and Chris found himself immersed in the game's world.

"Magnificent!" Chris strolled along the reception area, marveling at the picturesque scenery that seemed straight out of the theatrical version. The breathtaking views truly earned Alto Mare its title as the most beautiful city in the world.

Alto Mare was an isolated city interwoven with small canals running throughout its landscape. Less of an island and more like a city suspended on water, its architecture was uniquely crafted on the waterways—one of the many reasons it was celebrated as the Capital of Water.

In Alto Mare, boats were the primary mode of transportation. They were everywhere, and countless residents made their livelihood ferrying people across the canals.

For a modest fee, boatmen would take Chris to any corner of the city he wished to explore.

Chris was just about to hop onto a boat for a leisurely wander when an urgent growl broke through the air. 

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" a voice shouted from the right side of the canal.

Chris and the boatman quickly moved aside just in time to see a Totodile zoom past them at incredible speed. It was tethered by a sturdy rope held firmly by a young girl. She stood on a semi-elliptical boat that Totodile was pulling at a remarkable pace.

It was astonishing to see the small Totodile, no bigger than a puppy, hauling the girl—easily a hundred pounds—so swiftly!

Hot on her trail, another pair—a man and a woman—raced behind her in similar boats. However, their Pokémon weren't Totodile but Starmie and Mantine.

They raced with unbridled enthusiasm, pushing their Pokémon to their limits.

"What are they doing?" Chris asked the boatman, watching the thrilling scene.

"They're training for water races," the boatman explained with a smile. "It's a traditional sport here in the Capital of Water, much like horseback riding competitions on land. But this is even trickier. The Trainers have to skillfully command both their Pokémon and the boat they stand on."

The boatman gestured toward the racers. "If you're interested, you can join in. There's a competition happening soon, and there are prizes for the winners."

"Really?" Chris's curiosity was piqued.

With no set plans for the day, this sounded like the perfect opportunity.

"Take me there!" Chris exclaimed.

"Right away!" the boatman responded enthusiastically, steering the boat in the opposite direction from where the racers had disappeared. Unlike the sleek racing boats, the boat Chris sat in was a more traditional craft—a long, narrow punt designed for leisurely travel. Its elegance allowed the boatman to glide great distances with a single stroke of his oar.

After passing through several quaint streets, the boatman brought Chris to Alto Mare's central square.

In the distance, Chris spotted the iconic statues of Latias and Latios, standing proudly in the middle of the plaza.

The people of Alto Mare revered Latias and Latios as the city's sacred guardians. According to legend, the two Pokémon had once saved the city from an evil Pokémon's wrath. Since then, Latias and Latios had remained hidden somewhere in the city, silently watching over Alto Mare.

Disembarking from the boat, Chris eagerly made his way toward the square.

"You can sign up for the water race at the center of the square," the boatman called out as Chris walked off. "Make sure you don't miss it!"

"Thanks!" Chris waved back without turning around, already captivated by the possibilities awaiting him.