"You're dreaming. There's no way you're pulling a Dratini with that face."
Before Ren could even speak, Emma snapped angrily at Lily.
"What did you say,?" Lily froze for a second—then exploded.
"You can insult my intelligence, but you do not insult my looks!"
"What's wrong with my face? I'm gorgeous!"
"Heh."
"What's with that laugh, you stinky woman? If I hadn't looked down on you with pity since we were kids, do you think you'd be known as some campus beauty now?"
Lily's voice shot up immediately.
"Oh please," Emma crossed her arms smugly. "The alumni have sharp eyes. My support count on the forum is over a hundred votes higher than yours. Where do you even get the confidence?"
"Hah? You really don't know how you got those hundred votes, do you, you scheming woman?"
"So what if I posted a few pretty hanfu selfies to pull votes? I've put up with you for a long time!"
"You want to fight today?"
"Fight? Who's afraid of who? Are you just mad you lost to me earlier?"
The voices of the two fair-skinned, beautiful college girls grew louder and louder, neither willing to back down.
Even Larvitar, Vulpix, and the other Pokémon were startled and instinctively hid behind their trainers.
Meanwhile, Squirtle and Charmander stared at each other fiercely, chests puffed out, clearly unwilling to lose either.
Jason: "..."
Lucas: "..."
Ren: "..."
"These two… have a great relationship," Lucas said dryly, wiping sweat from his forehead.
As the eldest son of a top tycoon in Seaflow City, Lucas had heard plenty about Emma and Lily—the famous rich girls from Seaflow No. 1 High.
He'd only ever heard about their achievements. This, however, was a first.
"This is my first time watching girls argue up close," Jason said with fascination.
"It's terrifying."
"Arguments between best friends strengthen their bond," Ren said calmly, blinking.
"Let them be. They'll be fine later."
Then Lucas glanced at the cracked, uneven battlefield and spoke up.
"Boss, I'll cover the repair costs."
"Huh?" Ren was startled, then waved his hand with a smile.
"No need. This is easy to fix."
Easy?
Before Lucas could ask—
"Diancie, use Earth Power."
Still holding the camera, Diancie let out a soft cry, raised one arm, and pointed toward the battlefield.
"I—what the hell?!"
Right before Lucas and Jason's eyes, the ground itself seemed to come alive.
The dirt rippled like ocean waves. Cracks sealed themselves as if guided by invisible hands. In just a few breaths, the shattered battlefield smoothed out completely—flat, clean, pristine, as if it had just been renovated.
The ground fell silent again.
"This…" Lucas stared as though he'd seen a ghost.
Even Emma and Lily, who had been mid-argument, fell silent and stared in shock.
"Earth Power," Ren explained calmly.
"It's a Ground-type move that draws on the power of the earth. It's quite destructive—but with precise control, it can be used like this."
For Diancie, reshaping such a small area was effortless—even though it wasn't a Ground-type Pokémon.
"That's ridiculous…" Lily muttered, clicking her tongue.
The earlier wave-like motion of the soil had been breathtaking—and Diancie looked like it hadn't even tried.
Emma nodded in agreement. Too strong.
"Amazing," Lucas said after a long pause, taking a deep breath.
"I've really learned a lot today."
After everything he'd witnessed, it somehow felt… natural.
After all, his Larvitar could already manipulate rocks.
"Boss," Lucas lowered his voice, suddenly serious.
"I know it's not really my place, but… you might want to report this to the authorities."
"These Pokémon are extraordinary. If you get official backing, your business will grow much more smoothly."
"And… it'd be best to prepare in advance."
He frowned slightly.
This power was too close to magic.
"I've already thought about it," Ren replied, nodding. He understood exactly what Lucas meant.
Once Pokémon began appearing openly in Seaflow City, contact with the authorities was inevitable.
Even with the system's concealment effect, creatures wielding elemental powers couldn't stay unnoticed forever.
If handled poorly, fear could lead to suppression—and that was the last thing Ren wanted.
"If you need help," Lucas said after a moment,
"I can ask my father to arrange a meeting with the city secretary."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
Good connections.
"If necessary, I'll contact you," Ren said with a smile.
Then Lucas hesitated, glanced at Larvitar, and asked carefully:
"So… can my Larvitar learn Earth Power like Diancie just used?"
The move was strong. Flashy. Dominating.
He liked it.
Ren: "…Hmm."