For a Pokémon, there are only three ways to grow:
Breeding, training, and battling!
Battling is the most dangerous, but also the fastest way to grow, especially in life-and-death situations where the spirit, will, and soul of a Pokémon are fully concentrated. It is in these intense moments that a Pokémon is truly tested.
Proper nutrition, effective training, and appropriate combat training are all essential for training a strong Pokémon.
As Aron looked at Torchic and Beldum in front of him, he decided it was time for a close battle.
Today is July 15th, the weather is fine, and it has been six days since Aron caught Beldum. Today, Beldum has just reached Level 10 reaching normal level. Meanwhile, Torchic is at Level 15, only one step away from evolving.
"Of course, this is reality after all. Pokémon evolution doesn't always follow the exact levels as in the games. It's normal for evolution to come earlier or later," Aron thought to himself.
After this period of training, both of his Pokémon had laid a solid foundation. Their physiques and skill proficiency had greatly improved, and now they were ready for the next stage of training: Pokémon battles.
Although there are some enthusiastic rookies like Joe in the gym who provide experience points, as their levels increase, the experience from such opponents no longer meets the growing needs of Torchic.
The other more experienced apprentices' Pokémon are much stronger than Torchic's, so Aron can't fight them either.
Therefore, Aron decided to visit the battle club for some real combat training.
The "Battle Club" is an organization governed by the Pokémon Association, which provides battlefields and suitable opponents.
The battle club in the center of South Riverland City was Aron's destination.
---
"Hello, welcome."
When Aron entered the battle club's lobby, a young female receptionist greeted him with a smile.
The lobby was bustling with activity, with over ten receptionists at different desks and Trainers of various ages standing in front of them.
"Hello," Aron said calmly, walking over to the front desk.
He wore a simple white T-shirt, and his youthful energy was evident. At eighteen, he had a handsome appearance and a slender figure that stood out, even more so with the sunlight streaming in through the windows.
The receptionist froze for a moment before flashing a bright smile. "Hi, sir. How may I assist you?"
"I'd like to have a Pokémon battle," Aron replied.
The receptionist nodded with a smile. "Sure, our battle club can provide a battlefield. You can choose to battle against a sparring partner or other Trainers."
"A sparring partner is an experienced staff member of the battle club. They can send out Pokémon according to your needs, but this service costs 500 pokedoller per hour."
"If you'd like to battle other Trainers, they're just like you—regular Trainers. We just act as matchmakers and provide the venue. This costs 100 pokedoller per hour."
Aron's expression remained calm as he considered the options. After a brief pause, he said, "I'll go with the 100 pokedoller option first, and then I'll try the sparring partner afterward."
The receptionist's eyes lit up with approval. "Alright, please fill out this form, and we'll arrange a match for you right away."
Aron took the form, filled it out carefully, and handed it back to the receptionist.
Name, ID number, Pokémon species, Pokémon strength.
Since he was planning to battle with Torchic, who was close to evolving, Aron noted down its species and strength.
Once he finished, the receptionist smiled again. "You can wait in the lobby for a bit. When we find a suitable opponent, the screen will display your name and the battle venue."
"Okay," Aron nodded and found a seat to wait.
---
Meanwhile, a thin boy with square-rimmed glasses was also registering at the front desk.
Name: Lian
Pokémon Species: Squirtle
Pokémon Strength: Normal Level
After filling out the form, Lian looked excited. His Squirtle had excellent potential and had been growing stronger at a fast pace.
He had asked around in his class group yesterday and found out that his Squirtle was the first to reach the normal level in his entire class!
But Lian wasn't arrogant—he wanted to improve even faster.
"According to my cousin, Imperial Capital University is full of talented Trainers. My small progress is nothing compared to them..."
"To stand out at Imperial University, I need to take the first step here, in the Battle Club!"
---
Back in the lobby, Aron closed his eyes and rested, quietly waiting for the match to be arranged.
There were many Trainers, mostly teenagers, and some girls around his age. They all seemed excited and curious—probably fresh high school graduates, as only rookies would display such enthusiasm.
A couple of minutes later, the message appeared on the screen:
"ID7777, Trainer Aron, please proceed to Battlefield 09..."
"ID7778, Trainer Lian, please proceed to Battlefield 09..."
Aron stood up when his name appeared on the screen and followed the signs leading to the battlefield.
---
When Aron and Lian arrived at the battlefield, a young referee was already waiting for them.
This indoor battlefield was specially built with durable materials that could withstand battles up to semi-Elite level.
"Hello," the referee greeted them as they approached.
"You must be Aron and Lian, right?"
"Yes," both replied.
The referee smiled. "I'm the referee for Battlefield 09. You have one hour to use the field. When you're ready, we can begin the match."
Lian, eager to test his skills, spoke up. "I'm ready to go."
Aron nodded calmly. "I'm ready too."
The referee nodded and walked to the center of the field.
Both Trainers stood at opposite sides of the battlefield, looking at each other with determination. Neither spoke, as they each focused on their upcoming battle.
The referee raised his flag and announced, "The battle format is 1v1. The battle will end when one Pokémon loses its ability to fight."
The referee lowered the flag and declared, "Let the battle begin!"
---
Both Trainers threw their Poké Balls at the same time.
"Go, Squirtle!" Lian called out.
"Go, Torchic!" Aron shouted.
The battle was about to begin!