CHAPTER 16: THE SIMULATION EXAM

Ehveret's Monologue

Director was right, I needed the vacation...

I never felt...happy since Shelley had died five years ago.

It's time to return to work...

What's that sound?

Huh, why is Growlee attacking that boy?

Tsk, tsk. Are they doing something inside the office again?

They commanded the poor pup to attack anyone? They'll really get it from me after I save the kid.

Clearly a beginner. But what's that Pokemon?

He just passed through that tree like a ghost? Shit, it used Flash.

Interesting kid...the fight was brief but decisive. The only thing I didn't like was his cruelty.

Annoying brat...such a poisonous tongue...

And he's hungry?

Wow, where did all the food go?

Another missing? And this time from a son of suspicious individuals. Well, time to do my first job.

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"Winning does not mean everything. What is more important for us is how you 'do' the exam. We'll be giving you 30 minutes to study your refresher. Good luck."

Archer never expected that the random job he chose could be so troublesome. His confidence sank after hearing Mr. Furtido. He stooped down to massage his legs because it felt stiff after the earlier fight and all that running just to arrive on time. Nevertheless, getting overanxious was not his style. All he had to do was to rely on his brain, maybe Girana on the 2nd exam, and get this over with. If he couldn't make it, then it meant that the job was not for him. You've gotta do what you've gotta do.

He was about to go to the cafeteria to buy some food when a laidback guy raised his hand, as if calling the attention of Mr. Furtido.

"Yes, Mr. Joel Humphrey?" Frank asked.

"Sir, I'm just curious about the combination skills. Five years ago, combination skills were nonexistent, and the strongest power that one could have in unleashing the full potential of a Pokemon and a Trainer is through the help of the mysterious Z-Power, which combines the wishes of Pokemon and Trainers to unleash the full strength of both." Joel explained, seemingly satisfied with what he said, and continued on his speech. "My question is this: Is the combination Skill and Z-Power related to one another, or is it the result of the previous Planka Invasion?"

Frank stared at them, scanning all the silent people, and took a deep breath. "Before I can answer you that, let me tell you a story about how Z-Power came to be. The origins of Z-Power are largely shrouded in mystery. However, information by Professor Kukui indicates that Z-Power may be related to the energy produced by Ultra Wormholes. It was detailed in the biography of Wicke, speculating that Lusamine's losing consciousness after fusing with Nihilego in Ultra Space may have been due to the Z-Power surrounding her. Alolan legends found in the Malie Library also indicate that Solgaleo or Lunala gifted the Tapunium Z to the guardian deities after fighting against them.Back in Alola, the Ultra Recon Squad reveal that the Z-Power that surrounds the user and their Pokémon when using a Z-Move as well as the aura surrounding Totem Pokemon are a result of Necrozma's light shining down on Alola long ago.

But something happened after the Z-Power had been used by Trainers. It was five years ago when a rift opened somewhere in Alola, and they suspected that the culprit behind it was the Ultra Wormoles. I can't name the exact place, but it is the area where the first alien invaders appeared, the one known as Plankas. They began to devour people and Pokemon, and brought great devastation to the land.

But something happened as one of the Trainers who fought in that war somehow linked his Pokemon Attacks, thereby producing the first ever combination skill. He was shocked and excited, and tried many things, thereby making more advanced area attacks that helped them won. It was a Pyrrhic Victory. Many great heroes were lost, even my closest friend, the Pokemon Professor of Hoenn, Professor Birch, got...consumed, and his daughter, May Birch, is missing, together with the first combination skill user. Until now, they weren't found, and not a single clue could tell of his whereabouts."

"May we know who is the discoverer of the combination skills?" Archer interrogated.

"Ash Ketchum." Frank answered glumly.

Archer heard everyone gasped. And he perfectly understood why they were surprised because they didn't know that the hero the Trainers looked up to was currently missing.

"So yes, combination skills appeared the same time as the Plankas. We don't know if they are related with each other, but all I can say is this: the reason why we are looking for assistants is because we want to know more about the combination skills, and maybe used them to totally extinguish the Plankas," Frank explained, his eyes gleaming. "So, everyone, please do your best and join us in this worthy endeavor."

Everyone clapped their hands as they cheered for the scientist. The morale was high in the area, and everyone rightfully dispersed to do the things they thought could help them.

Everyone except Archer, because his hunger was striking back at the worst time.

Luckily, there were lots of food sold just outside the auditorium. There were meat and vegetables, and pills that could heal negative status. He counted his Poke and bought ten egg sandwiches, three liquid milk, and five meatballs. Everyone was giving him a strange look but he didn't mind. He was starving, and their opinions of him couldn't satisfy his hunger.

NOM! NOM! NOM!

Archer gobbled them all, sparing not even a single thing. Now satiated, he was in his best element to study again.

Pokessence Chart: Strengths and Weaknesses

Every Pokemon Trainer must know the advantages and disadvantages of using a certain Pokemon type in a battle. It could spell a difference of victory or defeat. Pokessence affects the constitution of a Pokemon. As a general rule, a Pokemon having 25% of a particular Pokessence Type exhibits the same body properties like that of its Pokessence.

A Pokemon has its own strengths and weaknesses when fighting against other types of Pokemon. It all boils down to their Pokessence Nature. As stated earlier, A Pokemon that has 25% Normal Pokessence has Normal-type body properties, thus hurting them more if they encounter a Pokemon that they are weak with, which is the Fighting Type. Sometimes a Pokessence just absorbs other Pokessence, thus, making it null.

For instance, a Ground Pokessence absorbs Electric skills, making it null, but a Ground skill is very hazardous against Electric Pokessence, thereby damaging it more. While a Flying pokessence absorbs Ground Skill, making the skill useless, but is very susceptible against Electric Skill.

There is also what we call Double Weakness and Double Damage.

Double weakness are those that have Dominating Pokessences that are weak to the same Skill Type. A Fire skill can easily destroy a Paras, a Bug-Grass Dual Type Pokemon.

Double strength are those that have Dominating Pokessences, which are resistant to the same Skill Type. A Fire skill can hardly damage an Omanyte or a Kabuto, both having a Rock-Water Dual Type Pokessences.

Pokessence Type Strong Against Weak Against Enemy Attacks that Does Double Damage Normal -

Steel, Rock,

Ghost (null)

Fighting Fire Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel Fire, Water, Rock, Dragon Water, Ground, Rock Water Fire, Ground, Rock Water, Grass, Dragon Electric, Grass Electric Water, Flying Electric, Grass, Dragon, Ground (null) Ground Grass Water, Ground, Rock Fire, Grass, Poison, Flying, Bug, Dragon, Steel Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug Ice Grass, Ground, Fly, Dragon Fire, Water, Ice, Steel Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel Fighting Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel Poison, Flying, Psychich, Bug, Fairy, Ghost (Null) Flying, Psychic, Fairy Poison Grass, Fairy Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Steel (Null) Ground, Psychic Ground Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel Grass, Bug, Flying (Null) Electric, Ice, Rock Flying Grass, Fighting, Bug Electric, Rock, Steel Electric, Ice, Rock Psychic Fighting, Poison Psychic, Steel, Dark (Null) Bug, Ghost, Dark Bug Grass, Psychic, Dark Fire, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Steel, Fairy Fire, Flying, Rock Rock Fire, Ice, Fly, Bug Fighting, Ground, Steel Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel Ghost Psychic, Ghost Dark, Normal (Null) Ghost, Dark Dragon Dragon Steel, Fairy (Null) Ice, Dragon, Fairy Dark Psychic, Ghost Fighting, Dark, Fairy Fighting, Bug, Fairy Steel Ice, Rock, Fairy Fire, Water, Electric, Steel Fire, Fighting, Ground Fairy Fighting, Dragon, Dark Fire, Poison, Steel Poison, Steel

I guess I have to memorize it. This will be useful especially when I participate in a Pokemon battle.

Archer sighed in exasperation as he heard the jabbers and chats of the people. All the examinees were busy reviewing their refreshers as they waited for the test to start. Talking with their respective Pokemon, it seemed like they were planning some sort of strategy, perhaps with an intention of passing the exam with flying colors. Trilling music filled the entire room, setting the mood in suspense. It lasted for 30 minutes before a robotic voice reverberated across the entire area.

EVERYONE, PLEASE BE READY. THE SIMULATION TEST WILL BEGIN SHORTLY. ALL THE EXAMINEES ARE RECOMMENDED TO GO TO THEIR ASSIGNED ROOMS AND WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THANK YOU.

It repeated the messsage for about three times before the warbling music played again.

Archer gave the form a once-over, and saw his room number. Following the directions posted on the wall, he found the room he was supposed to be in. He went in, not knowing what to expect.

The place was furnished with floral decorations and paintings. A table and two chairs were set at the center. The floorings and ceiling were tiled with matching patterns. He could still smell the nauseating smell of paint from the walls. It was not wide, just enough for two to live in.

Archer sat down and reviewed his notes while patiently waiting for the person in-charge.

Combination Skills

They are skills that require a Trainer to think outside the box. There are three factors that one must consider in order to successfully create a combination skill. They are the Initiating Pokemon, Linking Pokemon, and the Containing Pokemon.

Archer stopped studying as he saw the door opened, and a lady in white garb entered while holding several folders on her hands.

"Hello, Mr. Archer Sullivan," she greeted enthusiastically. "My name's Dolores."

"Hi, Dolores."

"Please follow me. It is your turn next."

"Then please lead the way," Archer cooly replied.

They walked along a narrow hallway as footfalls echoed across. After five minutes, they arrived at a room with see-through laminated glass and electronic door.

"Please open the door. Mr. Archer Sullivan is here," Dolores spoke over the mic.

The door made a buzzing sound and the hatch was unlocked. Archer whistled as he gaped at the modern facility inside. LCD screens of different sizes were positioned at the walls. A supercomputer of some sort, like what the scientists used back on Earth, was situated at the center of the circular room.

"Mr. Archer Sullivan, I presume." A voice behind him asked.

Turning around, he saw Mr. Frank Furtido came in, accompanied by five male personnel in lab suits.

"Yes, Mr. Furtido."

"Before we start, let me just remind you that every single thing you do inside the Virtual Reality are recorded in our System. We can see you real-time and judge everything in accordance with our agreed criteria.

You will not be in danger, so feel free to create skills you think are devastating enough to amaze us. Remember, the more complex it is, the higher your scores will be. Although simple skills are rated high as well, depending on its application. So are you ready?"

"Yes, Mr. Furtido."

Frank smiled at him. "Then please take a sit just beside the Simulation System and attach this contraption on your head. And don't forget to relax."

Archer nodded and went to the rotating chair.

He probed his fingers along the helmet and gave a deep breath. "Such an exquisite device." Lifting the contraption, he then equipped it on his head and his vision went dark.

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It was pitch-black all around. Archer was too antsy because of the unnerving silence. He tried talking but no sound came out of his throat. Floating like an astronaut, he felt as if he was walking on moon's surface.

A speck of light appeared. It became bigger, swirling around a certain mass, like a planet. Suddenly the darkness was overwhelmed, and what replaced it was blinding light. Then the light subsided, until he could clearly see that he was at a coliseum.

He saw a giant digital display infront, hovering as it flickered nonstop, until a face he recognized appeared on the screen.

"How are you, Mr. Sullivan?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Furtido. It was a bit stomach-churning but I can handle it."

"That's good to hear. Anyway, you are now inside the Skill Simulation Room. There are two things that you have to do in order for us to see your 'wild imagination'."

"What is it, Mr. Furtido."

"First is the Random Type. You will be given a set of Pokemon and all you have to do is create a combination skill out of it. Remember, the Simulation System is the one who generates your team, so everything is based on luck. What is possible here may not be doable outside, so please consider it as a theoretical examination. Any questions before I proceed to the next part?"

"Yes, Mr. Furtido. Do we have some sort of Pokedex here so that I can easily see their stats and description?"

"Of course, not. You are applying to be a Pokemon Research Assistant, we expect you to know many Pokemon."

"Ah, that's...reasonable, I guess. How about the target? Where would we blast the skill?"

"Don't worry. A Pokemon, maybe three...strong enough to handle any kind of damage will appear infront of you."

"Very nice. No more questions, Mr. Furtido."

"Then let us proceed to the Second part, which is called the Fix Type. You will be asked to pick six Pokemon, of any type, to be included in your team. Each Pokemon will only have two skills that they can learn; no restrictions on what kind of Skills, any will do. Then the rest would be the same with the Random Type. Is it clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Furtido."

"Okay. Let's proceed to the Random Type. As your visual guide, I'd like to give you a sample of three Pokemon with its corresponding skills to attack with combination skill."

List of Attacks Description Mareep + Diglett + Pidgey

Initiating Pokemon = Mareep (Thundershock)

Linking Pokemon = Diglett (Sand-Attack)

Containing Pokemon = Pidgey (Peck)

Paralyzing Peck

Flying, Electric

(Rank B)

Initiating Pokemon Mareep Attacks Diglett w/ Thundershock Linking Pokemon Diglett Immediately Attacks Pidgey w/ Sand-Attack Containing Pokemon Pidgey waits for half a minute, then use Peck

"This would help you as a clue. Now here are the 7 Pokemons. You may start now. The test will last for an hour inside this simulation."

Pokemon First Type (Att) Second type First (Supp) Second (Supp) Deino (Dark, Dragon) Crunch Dragon Breath Rowlet (Grass, Flying) Razor Leaf Peck Synthesis Beldum (Steel, Psychic) Iron Head Zen Headbutt Iron Defense Helioptile (Electric, Normal) Thundershock Pound Charge Dwebble (Bug, Rock) Fury Cutter Rock Blast Rock Polish Ghastly (Ghost, Poison) Shadow Ball Confuse Ray Croagunk (Poison, Fighting) Venoshock Revenge

"Mr. Furtido, could I ask you some things?"

"Yes, you can, Mr. Sullivan?"

"Could I have some notepad of some sort so I can record my findings? I want to use this to experiment to find out more about the combination skill."

Frank genuinely smiled and nodded. "Good luck."

Fuck. I don't know any of these Pokemons. And these attacks, what the hell are they? Well, the names of attacks generally tells us what kind of skill it is. The next two columns are damaging types and the last two are the Status changing kinds. If I'll consider Deino which is a Dragon-Dark Dual type Pokemon, the second column is Dragon Attack, the third is Dark Attack, fourth is Dragon Support, and the last is Dark Support.

Beldum and Ghastly and make a Confusing Head? Dang, that sounds...confusing.

Like hell would I get this. Fuckers, I'll just try my best.

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CHAPTER 17: RECIPE FOR DISASTER (1)