It's a line that was considered the pinnacle of Pokémon battling philosophy by fans.
"Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites..."
Yes.
Beast Master are like Pokémon Trainer.
From the moment they contract a Spirit Beast, they bear a lifelong responsibility toward it.
Would you abandon your partner who fought for you with every breath they had left, all for the sake of your victory, just because they were weak?
Ash knew she never could.
Weakness was never a valid reason to abandon anyone.
The old man's face softened with a satisfied smile as he noticed Ash's thoughtful expression, as though she had just resolved something deep within herself.
He believed that it wouldn't be long before this young girl embarked on a path to becoming her own kind of strong.
"Go home," the old man said. "It's getting late."
...
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, over half a month had gone by since Ash returned from Azure Bay Mountain.
During this time, Ash's life hadn't changed drastically, even with the over 20,000 Beastdolalr she earned from selling the Ripple Fruits.
She still attended school and worked part-time jobs at various markets to cover her living expenses, just as she always had.
However, her days were no longer as quiet and lonely as before, thanks to the arrival of a new companion.
"Larvaine, I'm heading to school now! I left the window open, so if you don't feel like staying home and want to go outside, just don't wander too far, okay? Otherwise, I might not be able to find you when I get back."
"Larvaine~"
"Good, good. Be patient, and I'll play with you after school, alright?"
"Larvaine~ Larvaine~"
"Alright then, I'm off. See you after school!"
"Larvaine~"
With the sound of the door closing, Ash's figure who is carrying her schoolbag, slowly disappeared down the dappled path to school.
Her conversation with the old man half a month ago had been immensely enlightening for her.
Over the past two weeks, she had started spending her free time at internet cafes, researching topics she had never explored before—like the highly sought-after Beast Master Department and the upcoming practical exam that would be scheduled about six months later.
Truth be told, the old man's words had stirred something within Ash.
If there was a chance to live a different life, who would willingly settle for being just another ordinary person at the bottom of society?
Everyone has an innate desire to climb higher, and Ash is no exception.
Fortunately, it was only November, and there were still more than six months before the practical exam for the Beast Master Department.
That was plenty of time for her to gather information and decide whether or not she wanted to participate in the Beast Master Department Practical Exam.
She had watched some battle videos online.
The video was uploaded by seniors from various universities during their practical exams.