-119- Learning Through Travel? (Please subscribe!) (2/3)

Red-Brown Energy Cube
Primary effect: Permanently increases a Pokémon's physical attack (with a cap).
Secondary effect: Briefly increases a Pokémon's physical attack during battle (temporarily breaking the cap).
Additional effect: Satiety.
Side effects: None.
...
This was the description of the Red-Brown Energy Cube on the data panel.
Tong Si took out his notebook and silently added: "Also increases the Pokémon's muscle mass and strengthens power for a short time."
Looking at the muscular Shuckle and Eevee before him, Tong Si was left somewhat speechless.
He had not expected the effect of the Red-Brown Energy Cube to be so astonishing.
The output chute of the Berry Blender had produced a total of nine red-brown energy cubes.
In other words, a single production run yielded only nine finished products.
The cost was indeed a bit high.
After the muscular Shuckle consumed the red-brown energy cube, Tong Si tested several of its moves.
"Wrap" became a "macho hug," with a noticeable increase in power.
"Rollout"? Sorry, without its shell, Shuckle couldn't roll. (Unable to use.)
"Rock Throw" was finally no longer a single small stone, but a downpour of pebbles.
Compared to the Rock Throw used by other Pokémon, it was still a bit weak, but overall, the power had improved.
"Bug Bite" was a special move and did not see any improvement; Tong Si planned to test it again after exchanging for a multi-colored energy cube capable of boosting special moves.
It is worth mentioning that Shuckle's initial Fighting-type move, "Reversal," finally demonstrated its true effectiveness after being hit by Electivire's "Brick Break" and triggering its "Sturdy" ability.
One hit!
It nearly knocked the Electivire flat.
One had to admit, the effect of this Red-Brown Energy Cube was truly potent!
As for Shuckle's defensive moves, Tong Si did not test them.
They were mostly geared toward special moves and required the shell to be used.
Shuckle indicated that after becoming a muscular hunk, it didn't need its shell anymore!
However, in less than half an hour, Shuckle wilted.
"So it only stays 'pumped' for twenty-five minutes!"
Tong Si recorded this time in his notebook.
"Bachi..."
After shrinking back down, Shuckle wrapped itself around Tong Si, begging frantically for another chance to become a muscular hunk.
Helpless, Tong Si had to brush it off by saying that one could only eat one per day, and eating more would be useless.
Of course, in reality, the Red-Brown Energy Cube, like the Pink-Blue Energy Cube, could be eaten a second time on the same day, but the effect would be diminished.
(The same day refers to a twenty-four-hour period, not finishing one before 23:59 and counting midnight as the next day.)
Next, Tong Si had Electivire and Eevee each consume a Red-Brown Energy Cube.
When Electivire ate the Red-Brown Energy Cube, it, like Shuckle, found it tasted like wax.
Eevee, however, ate it with great pleasure, as if savoring a gourmet meal.
Tong Si couldn't help but praise Eevee: "You really aren't a picky eater? You're definitely a good baby."
After eating the Red-Brown Energy Cubes, both Pokémon's physiques grew noticeably larger, covered in bulging muscles.
Tong Si conducted a series of tests on both.
After eating the Red-Brown Energy Cube, Electivire could move freely even while wearing its sixteen-pound gravity-training vest.
It was evident that its strength had increased significantly in a short period.
Next were the skill tests.
Whether it was the Fighting-type "Brick Break," the Fire-type "Fire Punch," or the Ice-type "Ice Punch," the force behind them seemed much stronger than before.
"If only I had a Fighting-type Pokémon..."
Tong Si imagined the scene and couldn't help but find it terrifying.
Fighting-type Pokémon are already masters of physical attack; if they were supplemented with the Red-Brown Energy Cube, wouldn't their force double?
Following this, Tong Si tested Eevee's "Dig" and "Take Down" moves.
After eating the Red-Brown Energy Cube, Eevee's speed while digging increased noticeably, and the perimeter of the hole it dug grew larger.
The force of its "Take Down" also increased slightly.
The only pity was that neither Pokémon seemed to have any change in speed.
Tong Si looked toward the remaining multi-colored energy cubes in the system shop.
"If only I could redeem all the multi-colored energy cubes!"
Tong Si sighed.
If he mastered the production methods for all the multi-colored energy cubes, wouldn't his Pokémon be able to improve in every aspect?
One must know that the Pokémon raised by wealthy families, setting aside their natural potential, were fed vast amounts of supplements to become so formidable.
But every medicine has its side effects; Tong Si's energy cubes, however, were completely side-effect-free.
Improving strength without side effects—who wouldn't love that?
Thinking of this, Tong Si secretly made up his mind to go earn a wave of points first.
Once he had enough points, he would properly browse the system shop and go on a spending spree.
Anything produced by the system is guaranteed to be a premium product!
...
The next day.
Tong Si had originally wanted to skip class.
In the Breeding Department, there wasn't much he could learn in the short term.
The freshman curriculum consisted mostly of theoretical knowledge regarding breeding, along with practical classes like making energy cubes and rescuing wild Pokémon.
Tong Si wasn't interested in these courses.
Mainly because he already knew it all.
Tong Si went to the Academic Affairs Office, prepared to apply for "travel-style study."
When the Dean, Mr. Gu, learned that Tong Si wanted to pursue travel-style study, he fell into deep thought.
Of course, there were not a few students who applied for travel-style study each year.
However, at this point in time, it was exactly three months after the college entrance exams.
Tong Si was the first student to apply for travel-style study this year.
"Student Tong Si, you're really in a hurry, aren't you? You just received your (Newbie) badge, and you're already off to travel?"
Mr. Gu frowned slightly; in fact, he wanted to persuade Tong Si to stay.
Within the academy, most of the head teachers hadn't given up on the idea of poaching Tong Si for their own classes.
This matter had been bothering Mr. Gu for a while.
But he hadn't expected that Tong Si, the person involved, would so innocently want to go off on a journey?
"Mr. Gu, I believe the knowledge I can learn by staying in the Breeding Department is currently limited. Traveling, on the other hand, will allow my strength to improve significantly."
Tong Si spoke his mind bluntly.
Mr. Gu adjusted his glasses and remained silent for a long time.
He had no reason to refute Tong Si.
To apply for travel-style study, students generally had to meet two conditions.
First, professional theoretical knowledge must meet the standard; second, the Pokémon's practical combat ability must pass.
Speaking of these two points, one had to mention the placement exams at the start of the semester.
This exam seemed unimportant, but it was actually crucial.
Students who wanted to go for travel-style study had to achieve good grades in these two exams.
If you were a bottom-tier student, how could you have the audacity to tell the school authorities that you weren't learning anything and wanted to go for travel-style study?
They’d twist your head off!
...(To be continued)