Chapter 139: The Drawing Is About to Begin

The step of resonance is considered a major hurdle because, for the vast majority of Pokémon and trainers, achieving true mutual understanding and opening their hearts to one another is incredibly difficult.

However, for Tang Yi and Ralts, this step was the simplest, especially now that Ralts had begun to develop the ability of telepathy. Thus, the only thing remaining that required serious practice was the final step: the diffusion and manifestation of the condensed energy. When broken down this way, the process was significantly streamlined—a simplified version of skill liberation.

Although time was short, the goal was now clear. Tang Yi and Ralts began practicing the final stage of their coordinated skill liberation. While the condensation and diffusion of energy were tasks for Ralts, Tang Yi remained the guide. In Fang Tianze’s words, this process required the joint effort of both Pokémon and trainer; neither could succeed without the other.

A full day passed without any real progress. This was an inevitable outcome; even in its simplified form, this technique was not something one could master after just a few attempts. Fang Tianze did not hold out much hope either. "Just do your best. The fact that you managed to grasp energy perception and guidance in such a short time already exceeded my expectations. Even if you can't learn it for now, I believe you will see results within a few years."

This was already high praise. After all, a month ago, Fang Tianze had not believed that Tang Yi could accomplish this at all.

As evening approached, Tang Yi prepared to head home. "I’ve calculated the time, and I likely won't be coming back here before the tournament ends," Tang Yi said thoughtfully. "I’ll complete my remaining practice at school or somewhere near home."

Fang Tianze agreed. "Your choice is correct. The most important aspect of this technique is the coordination between you and Ralts. I have nothing left to teach you, and the commute is a hassle." It was indeed remote, and the two-hour round trip was a waste of time.

"I won't be visiting the orphanage during this period, either," Tang Yi added after a moment. "I'll have to trouble Big Sister Butterfree to help look after Feebas." He knew Ralts was concerned about Feebas, but he simply had no time to spare for that right now.

"Very well, prepare well for your exams," Butterfree nodded.

"Then, I wish you both success in the tournament. Don't get eliminated in the first round!"

Carrying the berries prepared by the Jumpluff and the well-wishes of everyone, Tang Yi finally departed. He made it home just in time for dinner. Having arrived slightly late, he faced a bit of grumbling, but Tang Yi kept the details about Fang Tianze to himself, so his parents assumed he had just been out wandering to clear his head.

During the meal, Tang’s mother chatted about her day. "When we were eating at the office today, I think I saw a group of wild Pokémon girls flying in the sky."

"What’s so rare about that?" Tang’s father replied dismissively.

Tang’s mother curled her lip and continued, "Oh, but today was different. It was a huge group of them! Many people at our office came out to watch and even took photos. Let me find them for you."

Tang Yi and Ralts exchanged a subtle glance. Soon, the photos were pulled up. Tang Yi took a look; although it was an overcast day, he could still vaguely make out that they were indeed the Jumpluff.

"This even made the news today. It’s been many years since we’ve seen such a large group of wild Pokémon girls," his mother marveled.

"Were there many before?" Tang Yi asked curiously.

Tang’s father smiled with nostalgia. "Your generation hasn't seen it. Back then, cities weren't as big as they are now, and there weren't all these skyscrapers. We lived in the countryside when we were kids. Back then, whether it was in the rivers or the sky, all kinds of wild Pokémon girls would be playing. Sometimes they would even play with us children."

"Only you men enjoyed playing with Pokémon," his mother said with a scoff.

Tang Yi imagined the scene; it must have been spectacular.

"It's a pity you can't see that anymore," his father sighed. "In the last two years, seeing even one wild Pokémon flying in the city makes the news. Back in the day, that was just an everyday occurrence."

After dinner, Tang Yi returned to his room and searched online with Ralts. Sure enough, he found similar reports in the local news. There were sightings of a large group of Hoppip flying through the sky, and the government had issued a warning, advising citizens along the flight path to be mindful of risks while avoiding any aggressive actions.

With the continuous expansion of cities, wild Pokémon had become increasingly rare. From a safety perspective, many did not want to see too many wild Pokémon frequently appearing in human settlements. After all, no one wanted to be walking down the street and suddenly have a Fire or Lightning skill drop on their heads. Consequently, the government usually relocated nearby wild Pokémon to be kept and properly housed within the city.

Naturally, opinions online were divided. Supporters believed that since Pokémon had become humanoid, allowing them to enjoy the conveniences and comforts of human life was actually helping them. Opponents argued that this interfered with the Pokémon's natural environment and disrupted the ecological balance, noting that while wild Pokémon had humanoid appearances, their habits and living requirements were still closer to their primitive roots.

There were many differing opinions, but none could alter the overarching trend. What relieved Tang Yi was that there were no reports of anyone attacking or intercepting the group of Hoppip. Calculating the time, the Hoppip should have already left the urban area by now.

He hoped they would all find a new habitat safely. Tang Yi had checked online; Hoppip could fly as long as there was wind and were generally content to drift along. They might even migrate through many places throughout the year. Therefore, Tang Yi believed that in his lifetime, he would likely never see that group of cute and simple-hearted wild girls again.

From then on, Tang Yi and Ralts poured all their energy into the college entrance selection tournament. Two days later, the drawing ceremony finally arrived.

The third round of selection was handled directly by the Provincial Department of Education, and the level of attention had risen significantly. Before the draw, major news media outlets began various analyses, as these participants were considered the top rookie trainers in the province. As the officials put it, among these individuals, there might well be future world champions in the years or decades to come.

Unlike the previous two rounds, there was a wealth of information available online and in reports for almost all of the thirty-two contestants, so there was no need to collect intelligence on one's own. Furthermore, starting from the Round of 32, while there would still be no live audience, every match would be broadcast on television, complete with professional commentary.