Chapter 250: Classmate The passengers inside the train listened anxiously to the sounds of battle coming from outside, accompanied by the occasional jolt of the train. Fear and panic began to spread through the compartments. "Don't be afraid, the security team is still here" A mother whispered softly to her trembling child in her arms, though her own voice carried a hint of unease. "Why did the security team leave?!" A passenger, glancing out the window, suddenly exclaimed in shock upon noticing that all five security team members had left their positions. Panic quickly spread through the crowd. Despite the train attendants' efforts to calm the passengers, their reassurances were only marginally effective. Incidents of wild Pokémon attacking trains were not uncommon in Drakoria, occurring a handful of times each year. While casualties were rare, they weren't unheard of. Now, as the battle outside intensified and even the five security team members had vacated their posts, the passengers—many of whom were no fools—grew even more alarmed. "Ladies and gentlemen, the situation ahead is urgent. Are there any trainers with pseudo-Elite Pokémon onboard? If so, please proceed immediately to assist." The conductor's voice, tinged with urgency, echoed through the train's announcement system. While there were some trainers among the passengers, none of them had Pokémon at the pseudo-Elite level, as requested. It was true that the "Top Five Academies" boasted numerous pseudo-Elite students, but that was a unique standard. Outside those institutions, even senior students from other universities might not have reached the pseudo-Elite tier. In Drakoria, the number of registered pseudo-Elite trainers totaled just over 200,000—a relatively small figure given the country's size. For such a request to be broadcasted, it was clear how dire the situation outside had become. Several Advanced-level trainers among the passengers stood up, willing to contribute despite the request specifying pseudo-Elite trainers. It was common knowledge that a group of well-coordinated Advanced trainers could take down a pseudo-Elite Pokémon. However, some Advanced trainers chose to remain silent, reluctant to get involved. Meanwhile, the train had already sent an emergency assistance signal to the outside world, and reinforcements were on their way. In the business-class car, Julian heard the announcement and let out a sigh. "Open the door. I'll handle it," Julian said to the nearby attendant. "Mr. Walker, I'll inform the conductor to open the door immediately," the attendant replied excitedly. She had seen Julian's matches in the Hundred Schools League, even attending the finals in person. When the conductor learned that Julian—a standout figure in the league—was aboard their train, he was overjoyed and promptly instructed the doors of the business-class car to be opened. "Good luck, King Julian!" As Julian stepped off the train, the attendant's voice called out to him. "King Julian" was a nickname his fans had given him. Despite not being active on social media platforms like TikTok, Julian's exceptional performance over the past year had earned him a considerable following. Most of Julian's fans were young people, and he had recently earned the title of being the top prodigy of Drakoria's younger generation. The conductor quickly broadcast the news that Julian was onboard the train and had already stepped out to handle the wild Pokémon causing trouble ahead. Many passengers were familiar with Julian's name. For those who weren't, others eagerly filled them in. In short, with Julian there, they were certain they would be safe. After all, he was a trainer capable of defeating an Elite while still being at the pseudo-Elite level. As Julian exited the train, a few doors from other carriages opened as well, and five young men and women stepped out. "It's him! It's really King Julian! Do you see him? It's 'him'!" One of the girls spoke excitedly, grabbing her friend's arm as her face lit up with joy. The girl named Chase appeared calm, but the excitement in her eyes was just as intense as her companion's. "Let's go say hello" One of the young men suggested expectantly. "Yes! Let's go together!" The first girl immediately agreed. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎 Julian noticed the group of five but didn't pay much attention to them. His focus was on a cluster of Geodude approaching the train from a distance. It was clear the security team hadn't managed to stop them. Regardless of a Pokémon's level, any wild Pokémon—unless it was freshly hatched—posed a significant threat to humans, with a high likelihood of injury or even fatality from their attacks. "King Julian! King Julian!" Just as Julian was preparing to deal with the advancing Geodude, he heard excited voices calling out to him. The nickname "King Julian" always felt a bit pretentious to Julian. Every time he heard it, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. The three young men and two women quickly approached him. "It's been a while" Julian said, recognizing a familiar face among them. "Chase, you know him?" The first girl exclaimed, staring at her companion in disbelief. She couldn't fathom that her friend actually knew the famous Julian. "Chase and I were high school classmates. We were on the school team together," Julian explained. Chase nodded, her emotions clearly overwhelmed. She seemed unsure how to greet Julian properly in this moment. "Chase! You knew King Julian and never told me!" "Taylor, I didn't mean to hide it," Chase quickly responded, flustered. The other two young men looked at Chase with envy, unable to believe that she not only knew Julian but also seemed to have a close connection with him. Meanwhile, the third young man in the group noticed the way Chase looked at Julian. His expression darkened with jealousy, though he dared not say anything. "Can you guys handle these Geodude?" Julian asked directly, not wasting any words. Since the five of them had stepped out, it meant they were at least prepared to battle. "No problem! It's just a few--" Taylor was about to respond confidently, but her voice faltered as she noticed the increasing number of Geodude approaching. The words stuck in her throat. After all, they were just first-year university students. People like Julian, who were already renowned even as freshmen, were a rarity across Drakoria. Most freshmen were ordinary trainers. The more outstanding ones might have Pokémon at the early Advanced-level, but the majority were still at the Ordinary-level, with Pokémon between levels 21 and 40. Among the five, only Chase and the boy with the jealous glint in his eye had Pokémon at the Advanced level. That was just two out of the entire group. Julian, noting their levels, spoke plainly: "Think before you act like heroes." With their current strength, stepping up to stop the wild Pokémon was nothing short of suicide. If they fell, it wouldn't just be their own lives at stake—it could shatter the fragile hope of the passengers in the train cars behind them. Seeing these students step out confidently might give the passengers a brief moment of relief, believing they were saved. But if they were quickly overwhelmed and defeated, it would bring even greater despair. And if these trainers couldn't handle the situation and ended up retreating, they would leave the passengers to face the wrath of the enraged Pokémon alone. Taylor and the others blushed with embarrassment. They had rushed out without thinking things through. The allure of playing the hero had clouded their judgment. After all, who wouldn't want to be seen as a hero?