Pokemon: I refuse to be a supporting character!

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Afternoon.

Practical Training Class.

Or more accurately, Battle Class.

The thirty students in the class stood in a 5x6 formation, each accompanied by a Pokémon, loosely scattered across the large school field, basking in the sun.

At the front of the lineup stood a burly man with a stern face full of scars.

—The practical training teacher, Luo Wei.

Beside him loomed a massive, intimidating figure, at least 2.5 meters tall—a Dusknoir.

—A pure Ghost-type Pokémon.

Its appearance was striking, with a golden, button-like antenna on its head, a cylindrical gray face, black sclerae, and crimson pupils.

Beneath its head was a plump, coffee-colored body with a wispy, spectral tail reminiscent of traditional Japanese ghost imagery.

At the center of its torso was an almond-shaped eye marking, with a yellow zigzag below it, resembling a disguised face.

But Li Xiang knew better. The "mouth" on that thing wasn't just for show—it could open wide and spew fire directly at an opponent's head.

Inexperienced trainers were easy prey for its tricks.

According to lore, Dusknoir could receive signals from the spirit world, guiding lost souls to the afterlife.

But to this day, no one had proven this online, and even the existence of the spirit world remained questionable.

Li Xiang just treated it as another over-the-top "flavor text," like Machamp throwing a thousand punches in two seconds or single-handedly moving mountains.

The first day of class.

No one knew what to expect.

"Mr. Luo's rank should be Great Ball Tier 1. If I'm not mistaken, he's the highest-ranked trainer in the school," Song Jie whispered to Li Xiang. Beside him, his Aron was eyeing the other Pokémon.

Great Ball Tier 1?

Just one step away from Ultra Ball Tier!

Impressive.

Li Xiang's face lit up with awe.

To someone at his beginner level, a seasoned trainer seemed almost unattainably distant—especially one knocking on the door of Elite Trainer status.

"You're pretty well-informed, aren't you? Got anything else to share?" Li Xiang asked, noticing Song Jie's impressive knowledge.

Song Jie neither confirmed nor denied it, calmly adding, "If I'm not wrong, this first class should be…"

Before he could finish, Luo Wei spoke up from the front.

"For today's first class, let's use this opportunity to get to know each other better with a little game—a test of courage."

His concise words immediately sparked a flurry of chatter among the students.

Li Xiang blinked, turning to Song Jie.

The latter nodded. "Looks like my guess was spot on."

A test of courage.

The phrase was self-explanatory—a challenge to measure one's bravery.

At first glance, it didn't seem to have much to do with being a trainer. But in reality, courage was a critical stepping stone to becoming strong.

At higher competitive levels, seasoned Pokémon often carried an inexplicable aura.

This was the result of hundreds, even thousands, of grueling battles—a buildup of experience and time that couldn't be bypassed.

Like a veteran soldier who had survived countless wars, this aura might not always be visible, but it became undeniable in the heat of battle.

Moreover, three fascinating abilities came to mind: Intimidate, Unnerve, and Pressure.

The first was self-explanatory. The second, Unnerve, prevented opponents from consuming held Berries.

The third, Pressure, drained the opponent's PP faster.

These were iconic traits, often found among Legendary Pokémon.

In Li Xiang's world, however, these abilities had an additional, extraordinary effect: psychological impact.

That's right.

An unconventional form of mental attack that was especially effective against humans—trainers in particular.

Once again, Legendary Pokémon's status soared to new heights.

Litten hadn't exhibited such traits yet because it was still young and hadn't fully matured.

When it eventually evolved into an Incineroar, Li Xiang would naturally come to understand the power of Intimidate.

Thus, both Pokémon and trainers needed to develop strong wills.

Otherwise, the Pokémon might not falter, but the trainer could end up shaking with fear.

The test of courage began.

Following the formation, six students stepped forward at a time.

The rest were instructed to stand at least ten meters away to avoid accidents.

Those not yet called waited quietly, forming a loose circle around the action, watching intently from all angles.

As a teacher, Luo Wei had prepared thoroughly.

Alongside the Pressure-ability Dusknoir, Luo Wei also released a massive, clawless serpent-like Pokémon with a blue back, yellow underbelly, three long azure horns on its head, and a fearsome maw.

—A Gyarados with the Intimidate ability.

Li Xiang estimated its length to be over nine meters, far surpassing the norm for Gyarados.

Now, only the Unnerve ability was absent from the trio.

Surprisingly, the Gyarados was grounded. Li Xiang had expected it to take flight, much like its inspiration—the carp streamers seen during festivals.

Of course, it might very well be capable of low-altitude flight but simply chose not to bother.

"Have you experienced anything like this before?" Song Jie suddenly asked.

Li Xiang shook his head. "Not at all. I haven't had the time."

Having only been training and raising Pokémon for two months, there were still plenty of things he hadn't done yet.

But wasn't attending school meant for doing all this?

Otherwise, what was the point—showing off?

....

In the distance.

The horror began.

It was hard for outsiders to understand, but the student in close proximity to the Dusknoir screamed and collapsed to the ground, trembling visibly.

Their face turned pale, as if they'd eaten something foul.

Their Pokémon mirrored their fear, staring at the Dusknoir like a terrified little creature.

The onlookers burst into laughter.

To them, the student's exaggerated behavior seemed as fake as a martial arts performer in a bad skit.

But as more students reacted similarly, some even abandoning the test entirely and fleeing despite being called back, coupled with the deafening roar of the Gyarados…

The spectators gradually fell silent, their faces tightening with unease.

One person overreacting could be dismissed as acting, maybe even funny. But when ten, twenty, even those who were laughing earlier became gripped with fear—it became genuinely unnerving.

Only a handful of students managed to stay composed, standing their ground without faltering.

As it continued, the faces of those waiting for their turn grew increasingly grim, as though heading to an execution at high noon.

Meanwhile, the students who had finished the test were clutching their chests, sighing in relief, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

The sight left the rest feeling anxious.

The only silver lining? So far, no one had wet their pants, indicating that the intimidation had its limits.

"...You seem quite experienced," Li Xiang remarked out of boredom while waiting, striking up a conversation with Song Jie, who appeared equally at ease.

Song Jie didn't seem nervous at all, as if he were just waiting in line to fetch water.

"I've just practiced this at home," Song Jie replied calmly. "Doesn't really count as experienced."

Wow, keeping it low-key, huh?

Li Xiang figured Song Jie's family must've hired a professional trainer for private lessons.

Wealthier families often employed high-ranked trainers—usually starting at Great Ball Tier—to serve as personal tutors.

Some didn't even need to attend basic academies, opting instead to directly apply to advanced institutions.

Unfortunately, while Li Xiang's current family situation was leagues better than his past life, affording a high-ranking trainer was still out of reach.

With those thoughts in mind, it was finally time for the last row—his row—to step forward.

"Keep your composure. If you're prepared, it's really not that bad," Song Jie whispered as he walked up confidently.

At his feet, the Aron shot a cold glance at Litten, as if looking down on it.

This Aron was quite arrogant—it wouldn't even acknowledge Litten when it tried to engage.

Li Xiang nodded slightly and adjusted his breathing, calming his mind for what was to come.