Chapter 28: Darkrai Gets Into Trouble
Zuo Hang, who was sparring one-on-one on the Sports Field, had no idea about a certain senior student’s terrible mood at the moment.
The girl standing opposite Zuo Hang was Heichuan Nagi, the Natu Trainer who battled Wang Wenchuan last night, and also the elegant beauty sitting next to Zuo Hang in Class A Classroom.
Nagi is a Japanese kanji character, “few” radical with “stop” underneath, implying calm and tranquility.
Heichuan Nagi’s demeanor was just like her name; even though Zuo Hang had shown impressive combat power a few minutes ago, she didn’t show a surprised expression like the others in Class A. Her pupils were like a still ancient well, calm and profound.
The situation in Class A was similar to what Hoshino Ryuji had said when he first talked to Zuo Hang; everyone was unexpectedly aloof, both teachers and students.
Moreover, they seemed like a group of guys with excessive self-awareness, each harboring their own thoughts.
Natu charged at Zuo Hang from a height of a few meters off the ground.
Blocking in front of Zuo Hang was Fletchling; peck versus slap. Natu was slapped askew by Fletchling’s Wings and plunged headfirst into the Grass Turf, a bit miserable.
Sparring against Class A, Zuo Hang definitely had to use Fletchling; if Pikachu went up, the trainer-Pokémon coordination practice would lose its meaning.
Heichuan Nagi’s incoming Hand Blade was easily caught by Zuo Hang. He counter-grabbed her Wrist and threw her out just like Teacher Ren had demonstrated, face-down like Fletchling.
When she stood up again, Heichuan Nagi’s Hair and face were covered with some Grass debris, but she didn’t mind it. She assumed an Attack stance, changing Hand Blade to straight punch. But the result of the offense was the same as before.
This Heichuan Nagi.
Feels a bit dumb.
Matches well with the naturally aloof-faced Natu.
On the other side.
Zuo Rou’s opponent was also a girl.
A bit shorter than Zuo Rou.
If he remembered correctly, it should be number 003 in front of Hoshino; he had no impression of her specific name. Class A hadn’t even done a simple self-introduction since the start of school.
Both were quite clumsy; punches were sloppy, counters and such… they seemed to have a long way to go.
Hoshino was paired with squinty-eyed Lin Ping; this guy was also a martial artist. Hoshino threw a punch and was easily flung away by him, face-down, eating a mouthful of grass.
Whether Hoshino’s fall was real or fake, Zuo Hang couldn’t be bothered. Anyway, he absolutely wouldn’t pair with this number 002 who hadn’t learned any Fighting.
That evening at eight o’clock.
Training Ground 5.
Zuo Hang didn’t book two training rooms separately again; it was only the second day of school, and his remaining Contribution Points no longer allowed it.
Darkrai’s Training Ground was changed to White Dragon Sports Field, but it was eight o’clock now, peak crowd time. Darkrai lurked in his own Dark Void, planning to come out when fewer people were around.
He roughly understood he was a “rare species”; coming out would likely result in being surrounded by a crowd. Darkrai thought about it and figured he could send everyone on the Sports Field into the Dark Void; he’d been researching Nightmare Space lately and was short on humans to test it.
As he thought, Darkrai suddenly stopped thinking. Looking at the people running on the Sports Field and those practicing pull-ups was like watching a group of lab rats waiting for experiments.
Electric Mouse stood in front of the Vending Machine at the edge of the Sports Field, staring blankly at the top-row Moo Moo Milk.
Zuo Hang was at the Training Ground, Huohuo was who-knows-where; it seemed no one could help him get the milk from the Vending Machine.
“pika~” A spark lit up on his short paw. No one on the Sports Field seemed to notice this side; he hoped that anime hadn’t lied—zapping a Vending Machine would really make a Beverage drop out.
Suddenly, a Shadow deeper than the night appeared under Pikachu’s feet.
Oh no~, trouble.
Pikachu jumped, landing on the Vending Machine. When he looked back, none of the Trainers and Pokémon on the Sports Field were standing normally anymore.
The dual-colored electric light precisely avoided the crowd, striking straight at the top of Darkrai’s Head.
This was bad; the Sports Field was surrounded by Cameras, so Darkrai was definitely caught on them.
【White Dragon Academy prohibits attacking or harming other Trainers or Pokémon in non-battle situations for any reason; once discovered, punishment is given.】
Electric Mouse didn’t remember the specific punishment, but anyway Zuo Hang had told him not to fight casually on campus. He usually stayed outside and had sporadically attended Teacher Xi Ran’s classes, knowing that fighting inside White Dragon was a pretty serious offense.
What’s more, Darkrai had taken down so many people at once.
On the other side, Training Ground 5.
Zuo Hang sat in the corner of the Training Ground reading a book, while Zuo Rou nervously watched Turtwig.
The two Pokémon had similar strength, perfect for sparring.
But similar strength was only on the surface; Fletchling now mastered peck, slap, and grab, while Turtwig only knew one move ‘Slap’ and couldn’t fly.
Faint electric light surged on its Wings; Fletchling’s Speed suddenly increased, and at the same time, Slap’s Skill Light lit up on its Wings.
A high-speed lateral slash swung with Wings, Quick Attack + Slap Combination Technique. Turtwig was swept in the abdomen by the Feather at the wingtip; the soft Feather actually left a cut on him.
“Piplup!” Zuo Rou hurriedly went forward.
“Come back.” Zuo Hang pulled his sister’s arm. “Just a small injury; why panic? Turtwig can still fight.”
“It’s not… Huh?? Is it just a small injury? It’s bleeding.”
“Yesterday you trained Turtwig to the Pokémon Center; now a little blood and you’re heartbroken? A Trainer’s Pokémon are inevitably tied to Battle; injuries and bleeding are routine. You’re in Class A; an effortful Pokémon is only passable—only one that goes all-out can be excellent.”
“pika~” A cry from the Doorway suddenly interrupted Zuo Hang’s lecture.
The panicked Pikachu started gesturing in front of Zuo Hang.
“pika!! pikapipi!! qiu~~~pika!!!”
“What? You say Darkrai opened a Dark Void on the Sports Field, and everyone on the Sports Field fell asleep??”
Zuo Hang rubbed his brow, his head aching.
“Where’s Darkrai?” Zuo Hang asked, face ashen.
“pika!!” Electric Mouse pointed toward the Doorway; the guilty Nightmare God was hiding behind the door, only half his Head showing, looking terrified.
“Sigh.” Zuo Hang sighed helplessly. “Too lazy to deal with you. You weren’t caught by Cameras coming in, right?”
Darkrai shook his head; he had turned into a Shadow to enter. Only the Sports Field Cameras caught him; the Training Hall Cameras should have only gotten Pikachu.
Zuo Hang recalled Darkrai to avoid more Cameras catching him.
Leaving the Training Hall for the Sports Field.
Good grief.
Trainers in White Dragon School Uniforms and various Pokémon lay sprawled on the Sports Field, many with distorted faces, likely trapped in Darkrai’s fabricated Nightmares.
Huh? Anyone there? Anyone?
