Chapter 38: Youth Training Camp
"A professional player left a comment for me?"
After asking, Arthur quickly took out his phone, logged into Star Blog, and indeed found a verified account with a red V in the message clutter.
It was Bella, a professional player from the Sea Carp Club.
However, in addition to regular encouragement, this 24-year-old professional trainer also wanted his WeChat account and personal photos in the private messages.
What's with a pro player asking for my personal photos? Arthur instinctively felt that this was a bit unreliable.
"Is this Bella very famous?" he asked Eleanor Vance.
"Yeah, she's a main team member of the Sea Carp Club, the best rookie of the last league season, and before she stepped onto the pro scene, she set the record for the fastest graduation from the youth training camp."
Now that Arthur had a better grasp of common knowledge, he understood what the youth training camp was.
Simply put, it's a melting pot that helps amateurs undergo a complete transformation to officially enter the professional ranks.
Don't think that getting into the youth training camp guarantees promotion to professional. That's impossible. The gap between amateur and professional is so vast, how could there be no attrition rate?
In fact, the attrition rate of any professional club's youth training camp is extremely high. Most players use all their strength just to graduate, let alone set a record for the fastest graduation.
Arthur then asked, "How long did it take her to graduate from the youth training camp?"
Eleanor Vance replied: "One year and ten months, less than two years."
"That's very impressive."
Arthur nodded in understanding.
Then, in a voice only he could hear, he sighed softly, "I wonder how long it will take me..."
Although the end goal of the training was different, these youth training camps couldn't help but remind him of the war training camps he had experienced.
They were similarly known for their high standards, high intensity, and high attrition rate. The war training camps he attended were no less intense than the youth training camps of today. On the contrary, they were even more brutal.
Because the trainers trained in those camps weren't heading for a sports arena, but a battlefield!
However, back in that era, Arthur's graduation speed also set an all-time record for the alliance.
But after two hundred years, such detailed records were long forgotten.
...
Soon, the previous match finished, and the post-match interview segment began.
Arthur also left the stands at this time and headed to the player tunnel to prepare to enter the field.
In the player tunnel, he unexpectedly encountered his next opponent.
Since it was already the second round, everyone had been on stage before. Even if they hadn't watched the matches live, they could watch the replays, so the players generally recognized each other.
Arthur recognized that the man's name was William, a middle-aged man nearing forty, the oldest player in this Golden Autumn Cup main competition.
The other party also recognized him, the fifteen-year-old internet sensation, tied with another fifteen-year-old as the youngest player in the current competition.
Their upcoming match could be considered a battle across generations.
"Young friend Arthur, you're here early."
William smiled and greeted first.
Arthur also smiled and nodded in greeting.
Personality-wise, Arthur wasn't fond of small talk before matches, but the other side seemed quite talkative.
"Young friend Arthur, are you also aiming for a spot in the youth training camp?"
Arthur glanced at him, looking a bit surprised.
At this point, a spot in the youth training camp meant aiming for the top four.
And given the current competition situation, even Arthur himself knew that not many people were optimistic about him making it to the top four.
At most, he was a source of discussion and interest.
But he himself didn't act humble, nodding calmly and saying, "Yes."
Regardless of how others saw it, Arthur had always clearly aimed for the professional ticket.
"Youth training camp... it's not easy to get in, and it's even harder to graduate."
William put on an experienced expression, his face etched with melancholy and the vicissitudes of life.
Arthur gave him an odd look.
He instinctively sensed that the other party was waiting for him to ask a question.
"Have you been in the youth training camp before?"
Sure enough, upon receiving this question, William's expression immediately brightened.
"Hehe, young friend, you have a good eye. To be honest, this is my third time trying to get into the youth training camp. In the previous two attempts, I spent a total of over four years in different clubs' youth training camps. Alas, unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the professional level in the end and had to leave to find work."
"..."
Arthur could see through it. This uncle just couldn't resist showing off his past experiences of entering the youth training camp twice. The previous melancholy was probably all acting.
He couldn't help but complain in his mind: Being forty years old and still trying to squeeze into a "youth" training camp, doesn't that feel a bit awkward?
"Actually, I think finding work is quite promising."
Arthur's words almost killed the conversation.
"Cough cough."
Uncle William coughed awkwardly.
"It seems that young friend Arthur has adapted to modern life quite quickly. You even know the term 'finding work,' given you just came out of the mountains."
He had obviously heard the rumors about Arthur being the Son of Suicune and knowing that he had just come down from the mountains.
Arthur didn't respond.
So the conversation died right there...
But before going on stage, William said seriously once more, "Young friend, remember to feed your Pokémon something good after the match. He's going to suffer a lot."
When Arthur turned to look at him, this uncle with a youthful spirit smiled confidently, "I'll let you see what a player who has been through the youth training camp is like, compared to you amateurs."
Then, without waiting for Arthur's reply, William proudly strode out of the player tunnel, into the arena, greeted by the cheers and applause.
Arthur, left behind, chuckled lightly. He remained relaxed.
Just how much can being in the youth training camp change someone? He was also curious.
But it was only limited to curiosity.
To truly shock him, or even make him suffer, was probably not enough.
Then he also stepped onto the stage.
The two quickly took their positions on their respective commanding platforms.
For this match, Arthur's Pokémon was still Froakie as always.
And the opponent turned out to be one of the few players who had more than one main Pokémon. Arthur had watched his previous match recordings and knew he had two Pokémon he could use.
This match, the opponent chose Machop.
A Fighting-type Pokémon that resembled a muscular human.
As a side note, the black part around Machop's waist that looks like underwear is actually just their skin color. According to the match rules, Machop is not allowed to carry any weapons or accessories onto the field.
This included clothing...
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