Name: Grovyle
Ability: Overgrow
Strength: Superior
Potential: Elite-level
Moves: Leech Seed, Solar Beam, Sunny Day, Leaf Storm, X-Scissor
Aoki examined Grovyle's updated status screen and couldn't help but marvel.
The sheer variety of moves Grovyle had learned was astonishing. Whether it was Solar Beam or Leaf Storm, both were incredibly powerful Grass-type techniques. Sunny Day was also an excellent move, capable of reducing Solar Beam's charge time, making it an even deadlier attack.
Moreover, Leech Seed provided strategic sustainability in battle, allowing Grovyle to sap an opponent's strength over time while continuously regenerating. This move set was truly luxurious.
"Alright, Grovyle, return for now. Let's get out of here," Aoki said, recalling Grovyle into its Poké Ball.
He then turned to the unconscious Loudred, kneeling beside it. Placing a hand on its body, he activated his Viridian powers. A warm, green light enveloped Loudred's body, accelerating its natural recovery.
It wasn't long before Loudred stirred awake. Sensing the healing energy, it surprisingly didn't act aggressively this time. Instead, it nudged Aoki's arm lightly, as if expressing gratitude.
"Alright, eat something first. Once you're full, I'll take you to the forest. There are too many people here—it's too dangerous for you to stay."
Aoki handed Loudred a handful of Pokéblocks. The Normal-type sniffed at them before eagerly devouring them. After finishing its meal, it appeared much more energetic.
With Loudred following along, Aoki exited Rusturf Tunnel. At the tunnel's mouth, he gave a final wave. Loudred, seeming to understand, gave a cheerful cry before disappearing into the wilderness.
Once out of Rusturf Tunnel, Aoki reentered the dense forest. He still had some distance to travel before reaching Dewford Town, but there was no rush.
Grovyle had just evolved—it needed time to familiarize itself with its newfound strength. Along the way, Aoki planned to let it engage in more battles to adapt.
Several days later, Aoki emerged from the forest and arrived at the coast. The next step required crossing a stretch of sea to reach Dewford Town.
Aboard a cruise ship, he leaned against the railing, holding a fishing rod. He had always been proud of his fishing skills—after all, his greatest catch was Frogadier.
This time, perhaps he'd reel in another rare Pokémon. Though realistically, the odds weren't great.
As he fished, he caught several Water-types, but none particularly interested him.
Magikarp, Goldeen, Poliwag, Carvanha…
Since his fishing rod was obtained from a treasure chest, it had a much higher success rate than normal rods.
"Young man, your fishing skills are truly impressive. I admire your talent!"
An old fisherman standing nearby couldn't help but praise Aoki. He had been fishing for hours without any luck, while Aoki reeled in Pokémon one after another. It was enviable.
"It's not much," Aoki replied modestly, glancing at another Magikarp flopping on the deck. "These aren't exactly rare Pokémon."
As he spoke, he casually tossed a Poké Ball, catching the Magikarp without hesitation.
The old fisherman: "…?"
Did he really think I was gullible? If it wasn't good, why did he catch it?!
In truth, Aoki wasn't particularly interested in Magikarp. He already had Frogadier, so Gyarados wasn't a priority.
However, there was an undeniable reality—most Magikarp were weak, but a select few had the potential to become terrifyingly strong.
Among the countless Magikarp, only a handful ever reached Elite-level potential. The odds were astronomically low, likely one in 100,000, or even rarer—perhaps one in a million.
Yet, the one he had just caught possessed Elite-level potential. Naturally, he couldn't pass up such an opportunity.
Name: Magikarp
Strength: Intermediate
Potential: Elite-level
Moves: Splash, Tackle
Aoki immediately transferred Magikarp to Professor Birch's research institute.
While he had no intention of raising it himself, it could prove useful in the future. If it evolved into Gyarados, it would be extremely difficult to control, making it inconvenient to give away.
Instead, he planned to keep it in reserve—it might be useful for recruiting certain individuals later. Strong Gyarados were highly sought after.
Just as he was thinking, the fishing rod in his hands suddenly jerked violently.
The force was so strong that Aoki had to brace himself. Whatever was on the other end of the line wasn't going to be reeled in easily.
Through the clear water, Aoki caught a glimpse of the struggling Pokémon.
Name: Sharpedo
Strength: Superior
Potential: Gym-level
"A Sharpedo? Interesting."
Without hesitation, Aoki called out, "Grovyle, use Sunny Day, then follow up with Solar Beam!"
Grovyle swiftly leaped into the air. Its body emitted a soft glow, and the sky above grew brighter, intensifying the sunlight. The already warm weather became scorching.
Then, Grovyle absorbed the sun's energy. The white light around its body intensified—Solar Beam was ready.
"Grovyle!" it cried, releasing a devastating beam of solar energy into the water.
Boom!
The force of the Solar Beam sent a shockwave across the ocean, causing seawater to spray into the air. The cruise ship trembled slightly from the impact.
"What a powerful Solar Beam… That Grovyle is incredibly strong!"
The old fisherman was in awe, as were several onlookers. Aoki's Grovyle had demonstrated remarkable strength, leaving even experienced trainers astonished.
In the water, Sharpedo let out a pained cry before floating to the surface, unconscious.
Aoki reeled in the fainted Pokémon and placed a hand on it, using Viridian healing once more. Within moments, Sharpedo regained consciousness.
Instead of capturing it, Aoki released it back into the ocean.
Sharpedo was a strong Pokémon, but with only Gym-level potential, it wasn't worth raising. Aoki had higher standards for his team.
At most, he'd reserve high-potential Pokémon for his captains and elite subordinates. Average trainers wouldn't receive anything too special.
This battle wasn't about capturing Sharpedo—it was about giving Grovyle a strong opponent.
Recently, Grovyle had shown an insatiable appetite for combat. Aoki wasn't about to disappoint it.
His Grovyle wasn't just powerful—it was fiercely competitive.
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