"You're getting cocky," Ethan said, a line of black veins practically throbbing on his forehead.
While he was satisfied with Owen's confidence, he knew this opponent was no joke. It was true that Fairview was a small place... but that didn't mean every other city in the province was the same.
The educational resources of certain high schools in this province were on par with those in the capital cities of Shoreline or Imperial.
In those massive hubs, the fame lay with the universities, but in the provinces, the high schools were the battlegrounds.
"Well, you're the one tempting me with resources..." Owen muttered.
But in truth... he really was confident.
With the help of the ointment Ethan provided and the data collection sessions for Siyu during the National Day break, Eevee had successfully mastered Iron Tail. Furthermore, she had essentially fully digested the current stage of the Return Training Method.
Eevee's physical stats had skyrocketed over the past half-month. Aside from Owen, probably no one truly knew the full extent of her strength.
Owen smiled at Zoe... and promptly got glared at.
Zoe now viewed Owen with a mix of resentment and admiration. Since the Beedrill mission, Owen (and Eevee) had led Lynnea and Leo through another field assignment with ease. Although Lynnea and Leo had performed well, Zoe felt that... it was Eevee who was doing the heavy lifting.
If Zoe knew that Eevee had only revealed a fraction of her power at the time, who knows what she would think?
Currently, Eevee's physical foundation—aside from mental strength—was exceptional. Compared to her time at the Little Phoenix King Cup, her physical condition had leaped to a whole new level. This was the dividend of the Return Training Method!
Beyond that, the newly learned Substitute and Iron Tail were useful, but the core was still Return...
The offensive version of Return was Eevee's ultimate trump card. Owen's hypothesis had been correct; after rigorous training, Eevee's Return had officially entered the Third Stage.
Stage 1: Capable of exerting the power of Tackle.
Stage 2: Capable of exerting the power of Take Down.
Stage 3: Capable of exerting the power of Take Down with the speed of Quick Attack.
This was the direct result of unearthing her leg potential. A Return move that combined both speed and power could now effectively replace Quick Attack.
In reality, the raw "power" of the move hadn't increased much since she first learned it; the improvement was purely technical.
After her legs adapted to the "overload" potential, Eevee successfully integrated the explosive force of Quick Attack into the execution of Return, drastically increasing its technical ceiling.
Owen didn't believe that any rookie trainer at this stage could stand up to Eevee's Return. Combined with the Counter Shield, Owen felt Eevee's strength had already surpassed the realm of a "rookie."
No matter how strong those students were... could they be stronger than the psychic prodigy from Heaven's Heart Dojo? Besides... Owen and Eevee weren't the same as they were back then.
Ethan stared at Owen for a long time. Seeing that Owen's expression didn't waver once, he laughed and shook his head.
"You said it! If your performance satisfies me, I'll help you apply for all the resources needed for Shadow Ball and Reflect!" Ethan roared with laughter, seeing how eager Owen was.
In his eyes, Owen was the same as the day they met: talented, confident, and hardworking. He truly was the rookie Ethan had high hopes for.
Owen went home.
He didn't rush into studying Shadow Ball and Reflect. Instead, he put his entire focus on the upcoming exchange between Fairview No. 1 and Riverside No. 1!
While Owen was confident, he wasn't blindly arrogant. He and Eevee needed to prepare seriously... after all, those high-level resources were non-negotiable prizes in his mind.
"The publication date for the paper is after the exchange..."
"Two days until school starts. For these two days, I'll have Eevee practice Counter Shield, Quick Attack, Double Team, and Substitute."
Owen mused that in actual combat, the Counter Shield would definitely steal the show. As for Quick Attack and Double Team—one was Eevee's most used mobility move, and the other was her primary distraction.
The synergy between the two was incredibly deceptive. Now, with the addition of a "real" Substitute hidden among the "fake" Double Teams, the tactical depth was staggering.
If the opponent didn't know his tricks, they'd be played to death!
"Iron Tail and Bite are for coverage... as for Return..." Owen smiled.
A Take Down-level impact with Quick Attack speed wasn't just a Take Down anymore. After all... speed is power. The accumulation of the two meant the destructive force of Return would be terrifyingly high.
While Owen prepared, Lynnea and Leo also received notice from Ethan. They both threw themselves into training, determined not to lose and embarrass Fairview No. 1.
"I've been having Growlithe practice Flamethrower, but it's still not consistent. I'm worried about leaving an opening during a match..."
"Argh! My Munchlax still hasn't learned Sleep Talk... my dad paid the Breeder extra again. I hope he learns it before we hit Riverside."
Aside from the official Rising Star group chat, the three of them had a private group—no Ethan, no Zoe. Every time Owen opened it, he saw Lynnea and Leo fretting.
"What are you guys so nervous about..." Owen shook his head. He was the one who should be nervous; he had a "salary" to earn!
Three days later, Riverside City.
Riverside No. 1 High School.
The fact that Riverside No. 1 had maintained its top-tier status in such a fiercely competitive environment spoke volumes about its teaching strength.
Faced with the provincial notification regarding the High School League, the Riverside Trainer Association had placed a heavy bet on this school, pouring in massive resources.
However, neither the school nor the local association expected that two professional trainers—Ethan and his old rival—would let their personal grudge match bring Fairview and Riverside together so early...
On the surface, it was a "friendly exchange." In reality, everyone knew the score.
As the Fairview No. 1 school bus slowly rolled through the gates of Riverside No. 1, the rookie trainers of Riverside knew...
The party crashers had arrived!
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.