"Gym leader Pug, please explain your actions to the elite four committee." Stated our noble champion on top of her high seat.

The wonderful thing about her position... she doesn't need to use one type or wear a certain gimmick. Sure, you'd seen a few stick to a kind of theme, but they never dealt with the challenges of young trainers. Those hopefuls who were just starting out on their journey, and so easily disheartened... or squashed.

"Well, Champion Bella, I don't think they need explanation." I retorted with a growl.

The stupidly shrill voice of Mala cut through the air, "No explanation? You've knocked out every opponent who came to your gym."

"Your point normy?" I retorted back.

Gosh, did I hate her. She relied on status conditions to win most of her matches, and her plan for fighting types was easy to counter. Half her team were flying types after all. Any kid with an electric and fighting type could knock her whole team out. Course, if she used an Ursaring it would solve her whole problem.

"Her point is you're the FIRST gym. You're not supposed to be hard." Interjected Fitz. "Your job is to give them the confidence to start their journey."

My eyes slowly turned to the right while I said, "That's not how I see it light bulb."

Ha, that was a good one. The fat man certainly possessed the body type, and he used electric pokemon. Something a trainer could easily wall with a Sandslash. The man didn't bother to cover for this weakness. Sure, he possessed an Emolga, but how hard was that to fight? Come to think of it, his whole team were electric mice pokemon. Guess it explained his weird cheek make up.

"Then how do you see it?" A calm voice said as she folded her hands on her lap.

This one was different. In all rights, she should be the champion. Her team was a collection of poison types. All of them with dual natures to give the challenger... well a challenge. Whether it was her Glimmora who could set up toxic spikes by move or hit in the beginning, or her Toxapex which stopped the momentum of a battle... She made a trainer think on their toes.

"Miss Gall, I believe we're going to easy on our challengers." I stated flatly.

A collection of snorting and laughing came from a tall man wearing a long trench coat and fedora. This clown, named Noc, he knew too well, always pretending to be the edgy guy when he was a softy.

"Easy? Clearly, you haven't been here to see our battles." Noc said in between laughs.

I smirked while saying, "That's true. After all, I wouldn't have let so many beat me."

The room was finally quiet from these loud mouths. All staring down at me with fire in their eyes.

"Let's be real. Our region isn't known by the rest of the world. You wanna know why? Cause our battle system is a complete joke. Our current regulations continue to get easier and easier as years go by. We aren't the only region facing this problem mind you... but we are the ones most affected by it. Not a single one of our trainers who've made it through possessed a strong showing in an interregional tournament. That is unacceptable. Our kids need to toughen up or get out of the way... plain and simple." I stated while staring straight back.

There was a hush murmur among the fools. Their monitors glowing while they double checked the information. Of course, it was true. Why else would he bother to be here? As each came to look up to speak in rebuke, the champion motioned them to stop.

"What would you have us do?" She stated calmly.

With a toss of my pokeball, I unleashed my Heracross. With the touch of my mega band, he mega evolved in a brilliant flash. With a stomp of his feet, the floor below cracked and splintered their podiums.

"A reevaluation of every trainer in our organization, starting with you five. I'm sure Miss Gall will pass with flying colors, and I'm almost tempted not to test her. But the rest of you need a wake-up call. So, send out a pokemon and you'll see how big the power difference is."

It wasn't long before a Noctowl, Emolga, Houndoom, Dragalge, and a Darmanitan emerged from their balls.

"Four on one. Hardly, seems fair four you five." I laughed as the battle began.

It's funny. Reading a book among people, I do believe, was considered rude before the invention of phones or social media. It's still considered rude to take a phone call in the middle of a conversation, and when I was a kid, it was rude to text. Somehow, the latter changed in previous years. I suspect it may be in relation to how social media and technology drives our society. Businesses now use a chunk of their marketing on those platforms, so the social norm became new due to that need. Coupled with the fact we now can acquire many services from our phones, I think it looks more like a necessity tool to be present in any moment.

That said, I've definitely been around family who were all on their phones and I pulled out a book. When they say it's rude, I immediately fire back they're doing same thing digitally. Most times it ends up with both parties either putting down their distractions or moving on XD

Greetings from a self-published author here. Yes, you are right, books are more expensive. It is due in part to the materials needed to print them or cost. For example, with my book the cost to print it and distribute it costs me about 21 dollars per hardcover book sold. That's not including the money invested for a book cover designer, editor, formatter, obtaining ISBN, reviewers, obtaining the copyright, upkeep of writing software, and various marketing expenses. It adds up pretty quick XD However, I don't need to pay the print and distribution cost for the ebook version. Part of the reason why you find these much cheaper. If you're looking to get multiple books within a $25 kind of budget, I might suggest looking at ebooks.

Anyways my apology if it sounds like an excuse. XD Just wanted to let you know what my experience was with this.

"This isn't a power." The young man argued to a taller female.

She was of immense size, easily doubled his height. Her skin was covered in scales and fingers replaced by claws. Her glare could make the heartbeat of a lion stop and her roar could make a croc dive under water for cover. At present time she was picking her sharp teeth with her claws while chiding her student.

"Yes, it is if you've got a brain. I've taught you better than that. Besides, this is just the first one. You get another one at 21."

"Yeah, but you taught me to use martial arts and sword fighting. What use is affluence?"

"Oh, there's a use. You're just being stupid as usual and not thinking about it. I'm sure it will come to you later Slone. Don't bother me until it does." She waved him off before disappearing in a blur.

There he was left alone with this thought. Punching the wall out of annoyance and anger. She always talked down to him and he hoped he could finally be her equal today, but it was his own fault really. He pestered and begged her to take him on as a student... so far so he risked his own life to do it. Now, was his chance to prove himself. Stupid power or not. His brain raced as he made his way home.

Wrapped up in his thoughts, he was almost home when his phone dinged. One of the channels he liked on Clock Shock posted a new video. This time something about setting buzzers on people's doorknobs and watching them come home to it. It was childish, but it made him laugh. Astounding, how such a concept was raking in so many views. Even more mindboggling was the fact this channel got paid to show such simple things. I mean he could do the same with a camera and a...

The thought rang in his brain. Affluence huh? Taking very little time, he signed into his account to create his first video. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he needed to test his theory. The record button was hit and all he said was "Hi" before ending the video.

That's it. There was nothing else to it. Surely, he'd be proven wrong right?

Yet his phone pinged again and again and again. One thousand views in under a minute coupled with a message from the platform to monetize with them.

Making money is so easy. With funds like this I could live an easy life and finance in whatever I wanted to do. I could start a business, purchase stocks, or I could...

Another light bulb went off in his brain. He searched through his contacts and found Generys's name.

"What do you want kid? I'm kind of busy here." His teacher said sipping some sort of liquid.

A small smile formed on his lips as he said, "I figured it out teach."

"Aw look at the little baby. He looks like he's going to pee his pants."

Billy was shoved onto the ground again. The same three bullies cornered him under the stair well. Funny how teachers never saw them as the terrors they were to him. Every time he went to one of them, they'd write him off and tell him they didn't mean it. Well, if they weren't going to help him, then he needed to help himself. So, it was the reason he stole his father's book of spells the previous night. He needed something to stop this pain and humiliation from happening every again. He didn't care he was breaking rules to reveal magic. With not a second thought, he slowly rose up to the wall. Muttering as he drew a glowing red circle on the wall.

"H-hey Billy. W-what are you doing man?"

Oh, this felt good. He could feel their fear washing over them. The clicking of their knocking knees filled him with such glee. Such so, he turned with a wicked smile to them.

"Repaying what you've done to me for so many months. Now! I call you, Oracula!"

They didn't have the gall to stay. Like frighten rats before a cat they fled through the hallways with squeaks. He'll enjoy watching them eaten in front of him.

"Go now! Kill them!"

"You want me to do what?" He heard coming next to him.

When he looked, he saw an older demon about his dad's age. He towered over him in full armor, a blood-stained blade at his side, and a bow with arrows over his shoulders. His skin possessed a burnt purple tint and his eyes glowed ever so slightly in the shadow of the stairwell. His four arms were crossed while glaring at his summoner.

Ah yes. He will show those bullies. Thought Billy.

"I want you to go kill them. They are my enemies."

The demon laughed so hard the ground seemed to shake. Casually, as he could be the demon strolled down the hallway towards the cafeteria. Billy was shocked. The demon didn't try to go after his enemies like he should, maybe he needed to be forced? Grumbling and fuming to himself, the new summoner followed his demon. When he entered, he saw all the humans were frozen in time. There sitting in the kitchen was his demon eating box upon boxes of pizza. Billy stamped into the room pointing towards him.

"Oracula! You've disobeyed your summoning. I shall punish you for such actions!"

"Easy kid." The demon said between bites. If you could call them that. "I just came off of a battlefield burning calories equivalent to at least a thousand of your gym classes you high school punks complain about. And! Refreshingly, it isn't one of your father's stupid adventures."

"But, you have to listen to me. I'm the summoner!"

The demon laughed again. "It's called a contract. Both sides need to agree to the terms. I don't believe in killing little kids for bullying. Scare them? Yes, but not kill. Here's what I'll do for you. I'll help you get stronger both physically and magically to show those bullies a thing or two while providing the light show we just pulled off. In the meantime, you only summon for this purpose or if I need to relax. The little mark on your forearm should vibrate when I need it. Does that sound good to you?"

Billy pulled up his sleeve to see the glowing circle on the spot. He figured it would look more like a tattoo when the demon left.

"And if I refuse and force you to go through with what I want?"

The demons face turned into something of a rabid animal. His brow heavy, eyes to slits, and fangs dripping.

"You possess nowhere near the power to force even a low-level demon to pick up a scrap a paper. You're lucky I was the one summoned or you'd be dead. Besides that... I'll tell your father what you were up to." His face softened once again as he laid against the pile of empty pizza boxes. "Deal?" Oracula asked while extending his hand.

"D-deal." The whole displayed frightened the young man to a shaking doe. Adding the fact of how unreasonable his father could be when angered. He could end up in Tarturas with this demon. He shook his hand realizing how he could be crushed in an instant.

"Good. Now, I better be off. Thanks for the lunch, and good luck explaining this." With a snap Oracula was gone, and everyone began to move again.

Billy realized what was done. Quickly, he turned to see the cafeteria staff angrily pointing ladles at his direction and accusing him of eating all the food.

I've got myself a trouble trainer don't I?