Age of Elves: I started flashing with my handheld.

The dazzling light of the foam and the scorching sparks collided in mid-air, making a small explosion inevitable. At the same time, the combination of water and fire produced mist, which spread rapidly from the point of impact.

Suddenly, the croaking frog burst out of the mist and delivered a perfect "slap".

Are the same tactics used against Electabuzz also being used against Torchic?

Without needing the south wind to command it, the Torchic's battle instincts had already guided its body to make a dodging maneuver.

But this time, the croaking frog didn't just deliver a simple slap; it unleashed a barrage of slaps.

If the Torchic dodges your right hand strike, then use your left hand. If the left hand is dodged, then use your right hand.

If it weren't for the fact that the Frog's movements weren't particularly fluid, Nanfeng would have thought it had mastered the "serial slap" technique.

The turkey nimbly dodged, its movements becoming increasingly swift and effortless. In the game, the Speed ​​Boost ability increases speed by one level per turn, but in reality, it's a linear, continuous increase!

"That's about enough," Nanfeng pondered, then suddenly gave the order. "Impact!"

After dodging a "slap" attack, the Torchic paused, then lunged forward like a cannonball, fiercely crashing into the Froakie in front of it.

"Boom!" The croaking frog was blasted away, flying more than three meters before it immediately stopped with its powerful hind legs. Gritting its teeth, it charged forward again and delivered another "slap".

"Your physical strength and willpower are both excellent," Nanfeng said with great satisfaction. "Avoid! Then crash into them!"

Torchic easily dodged Froakie's attack, following up with a "Tackle" move. Having surpassed Froakie in speed, Torchic's superior battle awareness allowed it to easily overwhelm it.

This time, the frog couldn't stop in time and was knocked into a tall tree not far away.

Slipping to the ground, the croaking frog still had the ability to fight, but it could only support itself with one hand, and its strength was completely depleted.

Not only the turkey's two attacks, but also its continuous attacks were consuming its own energy.

The current Frog is already at its last gasp.

It's about time to subdue it.

Nanfeng picked up a Poké Ball and threw it over. "Go, Poké Ball!"

10. Bond Transformation

Perhaps Froakie was too exhausted to resist, or perhaps it had accepted Nanfeng as its master. The Poké Ball that held Froakie inside didn't shake violently, and the capture was completed.

Nanfeng picked up the Poké Ball containing Froakie and immediately opened the handheld console to check its panel.

【Froggy Frog (Water)】

【Level: 7】

【Characteristic: Bond Transformation (No bond was established, effect unknown)】

Individual Values: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (25), Special Defense (27), Speed ​​(31)

[Skills: Bubble Beam, Slap, Shout]

[Items to carry: none]

"Only level 7?" Nanfeng was a little surprised. The fighting power shown by the Froakie was not at all like what a level 7 frog should be like.

Fortunately, it was only level 7; otherwise, my Torchic, which I leveled up to level 10 in just over 5 hours last night, might not have been able to defeat it.

The individual value is 4V. The two individual values ​​that are not V are 25 and 27 respectively. They are still defensive types, so it's not a big problem.

The key point is its characteristics.

Bonds transform.

Froakie has only two abilities officially recorded in the Pokédex: one is "Torrent," which is common to most Water-type starter Pokémon, and the other is its Hidden Ability "Alterity."

As for Bond Transformation, if Nanfeng hadn't come from the world of the Pokémon anime and manga, he wouldn't have known about this ability.

This is because this ability is the same as that of Ash's Greninja. It's also the reason why Greninja can fight alongside Ash.

In the manga, Hua Yi, the female protagonist of X/Y, also possesses a Greninja with the ability to "transform through bond." (Hua Yi's appearance is exactly the same as Serena's; tsk tsk, birds of a feather flock together.)

With such excellent individual values, it also possesses the "protagonist" treatment of bond transformation.

It would be a waste of its abilities not to raise this Froakie as the main character!

"Looks like it's not so bad to occasionally wander into dangerous areas," Nanfeng muttered to himself.

Zhang Tianming had already run up from behind and gave Nanfeng a heavy blow to the shoulder. "Damn it, Brother Feng, what's going on!"

"When did you get a turkey?! And it's so powerful!"

Zhang Tianming looked Nanfeng up and down, as if he were seeing him in a completely new light.

“A scholar who specializes in Pokémon research asked me to take care of it the day before yesterday,” Nanfeng replied. He wasn’t lying; Torchic was indeed given to him by Professor Birch.

Zhang Tianming didn't suspect anything and didn't investigate further. He excitedly patted Nanfeng on the shoulder, happy for his buddy's good fortune, but still said indignantly, "No way! You got the turkey the day before yesterday, and you made me worry for so long yesterday. You have to treat me to dinner!"

"Let's go!" Nanfeng waved his hand and readily agreed.

We have 38,000 yuan in our pocket right now, what can't we afford to hire?!

Nanfeng and Zhang Tianming returned to Ancheng and found a hot pot restaurant near their home. It was just past noon; they had only set off for Yunshui Wetland at 7 a.m.

In the round trip, I caught a croaking frog, and only 5 hours had passed.

This is much easier than farming Ralts.

After ordering their food, Nanfeng and Zhang Tianming ate and chatted.

"Brother Feng, now that you have your starter Pokémon, what are your plans for the future?" Zhang Tianming asked.

In this day and age, students actually have four paths to choose from after graduating from high school.

The first path is a regular university, the choice for those not pursuing a career related to elves. The prospects remain broad; elves can carry people through the air and across the sea, but airplanes and ships have also been created. The existence of machines naturally has its rationale, and they can serve even more humanity.

Even graduating from an ordinary university can lead to a decent job.

The second path is the Pokémon University, which encompasses all Pokémon-related professional disciplines, including Pokémon breeding and Pokémon battles, and is the choice of most trainers.

The third path is the dojo. In the thirty-four provincial-level administrative regions of the Dragon Kingdom, there is a dojo in each provincial-level administrative region, and the head of each dojo runs a school in his own dojo.

However, each dojo master takes in about one hundred students each year, so thirty-four dojos only have three thousand four hundred students. Compared to the millions of students who graduate every year, this is just a drop in the ocean. Therefore, only a few "elites" can enter the dojos to study.

The fourth path is the army.

"I'll probably apply to an elf university," Nanfeng said thoughtfully. He hadn't seriously considered what path he should take in the future. After all, before discovering the handheld console, he was prepared to go to an ordinary university.

Now that handheld consoles are available, it's natural to embark on the path of becoming a trainer.

Joining a dojo is virtually impossible without connections.

As for the military, Nanfeng didn't think he could play games freely once he joined the army.

It seems that Elf University is more suitable for me right now.

My initial plan is to apply to a relatively relaxed and professional breeder academy.

It would feel like a waste of the handheld's capabilities not to open a Pokémon ranch; I still have a bunch of Ralts in my inventory.

When I get home, I'll see if there are any specialized breeding schools.

"And you?" Nanfeng asked in return.

"I'm going to participate in the Chiba Dojo selection in a few days. My dad helped me with the connections," Zhang Tianming shrugged, not at all trying to brag.

Chiba Gym, located in Taihang West Province, is led by a veteran gym leader who specializes in Grass-type Pokémon. Zhang Tianming's first Pokémon was a Grass-type Bulbasaur, and now he's joining a Grass-type gym, indicating his intention to become a full-time Grass-type Pokémon trainer.

"That's great, having connections is really helpful," Nanfeng said enviously. If given the chance, who wouldn't want to follow the path arranged for them by their elders?

"How about it? Want to come with me? It's just a selection process, we might not even get in," Zhang Tianming invited.

"No, Pokémon University is more suitable for me." Nanfeng shook his head. Even selection opportunities are not easy to obtain. It's a Grass-type gym, and he doesn't even have a Grass-type Pokémon. It's not suitable for him at all, so he shouldn't join in the fun.

11. Breeding house

After having hotpot with Zhang Tianming, the two went home separately.

Before heading home, Nanfeng stopped by the "Farmer's House." He'd promised to prepare a special set of Pokémon food for Torchic and Zigzagoon, and now he'd added a Froakie to the mix.

The closest breeding house to home is called "Green Grassland".

Because of the name, Nanfeng really wanted to go see their sheep, Mare and Derubi.

"Guest, what would you like to order?" The person who greeted Nanfeng was a sweet-looking girl with a white headscarf and a bib with the breeding house's logo.

"I'd like to buy some Pokémon food. Do you have any price ranges available?"

The girl introduced herself with a smile.

Our Pokémon food comes in three grades: low, medium, and high.

"The low-end Pokémon food is made according to your Pokémon's type, and is a universal Pokémon food. It costs 200 yuan per serving."

"For mid-range Pokémon food, we will create a universal Pokémon food based on your Pokémon species. The price is 1,000 yuan per serving."

"For high-end Pokémon food, our professional intermediate breeders will conduct an individual assessment of your Pokémon and then create a customized food. The price varies, but it generally ranges from five thousand to thirty thousand."

How long can one serving last?

"One serving is enough for one week. Within that week, we will deliver one serving to your home three times a day, morning, noon, and evening, to ensure the freshness of the food."

Even though Nanfeng had been mentally prepared before coming, he still couldn't help but curse in his heart when he heard the price, "Isn't this ridiculously expensive?"

A standard amount of Pokémon food, four servings a month, would cost four thousand dollars a month even with mid-range Pokémon food. That's about the monthly salary of an average worker, no wonder people say that ordinary workers simply can't afford to raise Pokémon.

If it's high-end Pokémon food, then add six more Pokémon.

The minimum monthly expenditure is 120,000, and the maximum is 720,000....

Only someone with a fortune could afford such high-end elf food!

"Then... let's order a high-grade elf food for both of my elves."

Coincidentally, Nanfeng's family does indeed own a mine, and it's newly opened.

Snake-striped bear, forever a god!

However, this treatment only applies to his main Pokémon. As for Zigzagoon, he'll just buy some low-grade food to take back with him when he leaves.

Snake-striped bear: ? ? ?

"Please wait here for a moment, I'll go and call the breeder in the store right away." When she heard that he wanted to buy high-end Pokémon food, the girl in charge of reception immediately lit up. After asking Nanfeng if he wanted tea, a beverage or coffee, she walked away in her high heels.

Two minutes later, a girl of similar age to Nanfeng came out of the incubation room and brought Nanfeng a cup of green tea.

"Hello sir, my name is Li Qianqian, and I am a junior Pokémon breeder at this shop. I will be in charge of preparing the food for your Pokémon. Now, could you release your Pokémon so I can take a look?"

Nanfeng quickly released the Torchic and Froakie.

"Chirp chirp! o(^▽^)o" The turkey hopped around happily, always full of energy.

"Crunch!! ←_←"

In contrast, the newly captured Froakie was much calmer. It simply watched the Torchic's movements quietly, its arms crossed and its face expressionless.

"You've raised both of your Pokémon very well!" Li Qianqian's eyes lit up when she saw Torchic and Froakie, and she immediately took them.

"The turkey's feathers are smooth and of a very healthy color. Its muscles are firm, and it looks energetic and full of vitality. It must have been given very proper and efficient exercise. I'm sure you've put a lot of effort into raising it."

"If you're going to customize Pokémon food, it depends on your training goals: do you want to improve its speed, strength, or the power of its moves first?"

"This Froakie must have been recently caught. Although it's robust, it has quite a few hidden injuries, probably from living in the wild. Its hind limbs are exceptionally strong, making it very fast."

"If you're going to customize its diet, I suggest starting with nutritional supplements to ensure it has all the necessary nutrients, and then considering its breeding direction and making minor adjustments to the diet accordingly."

Li Qianqian's analysis was very logical and she also gave suggestions for further cultivation.

It's clear she's a truly skilled breeder. However, Nanfeng hasn't put much effort into raising Torchic; it's Nurse Joy from the Pokémon Center who's taking good care of it.

"We'll customize the Froakie as you suggested, and for the Torchic, let's start by improving its strength," Nanfeng said thoughtfully.

Nanfeng's plan for Torchic and Froakie is to use a two-pronged approach. Both Pokémon's base stats and individual values ​​are very supportive of this training method, so Nanfeng doesn't intend to waste this advantage.

Start by improving strength, then we can make other changes later.

"I just don't know about the price..."

"As for the price, a serving of turkey feed costs 22,000, because it uses relatively rare berries."

"A serving of Froakie's Pokémon food should only cost 10,000. Purely nourishing berries and ingredients aren't expensive right now."

“If you want to customize it, sir, I can make the rounding down to 30,000,” Li Qianqian offered a discount.