A Pokemon Egg

Sato didn't know whether it was a habit left over from the past, but he liked walking peacefully along a city's clean, tidy streets. At the same time, he disliked the noise and restlessness.

After leaving Jihua City, Sato headed west toward Ecruteak City, then onward to Goldenrod City, Johto's most prosperous city.

Yet behind Goldenrod City's prosperity thrived a large gray population, constantly testing the boundaries between legality and illegality.

Pokemon trafficking, counterfeit TMs, reselling items and Evolution Stones... Every business related to Pokemon brought enormous profits, so far too many people chose to take risks.

Strictly Speaking, Sato was also part of that gray population. But as a small-time seller like him who could not even sell a few Pokemon in a year, the League could not be bothered to care as long as he did not catch them in a Nature Preserve.

There were plenty of Trainers like Sato who occasionally moonlighted as Pokemon Hunters. Any adult with a little money wanted to prepare a better Starter Pokemon for their child.

The problem was that most Pokemon on the Black Market had been captured through brutal methods, so they harbored varying degrees of fear and hatred toward humans.

Pokemon captured through Trainer battles, on the other hand, would not have a worse attitude toward humans than before being caught. Perhaps it was because they all believed that Strength is Respected.

With a way to make a living, Trainers whose lives were relatively tight naturally chose to catch Pokemon and earn some extra money.

On the road from Jihua City to Ecruteak City, Sato mainly trained Larvitar. The number of Bug-type Pokemon in the forest was terrifying.

Caterpie, Weedle, Pineco, Spinarak, and the like appeared almost every few steps. Their evolutions were plentiful as well, and he could even occasionally spot one or two gentle Heracross.

Sato did not use Dark Power. Although it could detect the talents of Bug-type Pokemon, constantly enduring the disgust emanating from Dark Power was actually quite unpleasant.

Besides, due to their species limitations, even if the first few Pokemon possessed Pseudo-Elite Four-level talent or higher, it would be difficult for them to reach such heights within their short lifespans.

Only when he occasionally encountered Heracross or Pinsir would Sato try using Dark Power to sense them.

Stopping and starting along the way, Sato boldly led Larvitar onward, accepting every Pokemon that took the initiative to provoke them.

The closer they got to Ecruteak City, the more Bug-type Pokemon filled the forest, and the stronger they became. For Rock-type Larvitar, it was a good place to train.

"Sss!"

A Spinarak abruptly shot a mass of tough String Shot at Sato, but a small stone swiftly and precisely severed it! "Larvitar, Small Rock Slide!"

"Lar!" As it answered, a sharp rock had already shot out like a bullet and struck Spinarak at high speed, killing it in a single blow! "Sss!" "Sssss~"...

Groups of Spinarak soon appeared, surrounding Sato and Larvitar. The pincers in front of their mouths clicked as they waved them about.

The sole Ariados among them was clearly the leader. Without even thinking about it, the Spinarak that had ambushed them had Should Be arranged in advance.

Larvitar instinctively stepped closer to Sato, but then felt that it was beneath a pseudo-legendary's dignity. How could it be afraid of a bunch of bugs? "Don't Panic, Catch the thief by first catching the king! Larvitar, Rock Slide!"

"Lar!" Larvitar immediately understood. Its modified Rock Slide was unleashed in the blink of an eye. The scattered stones seemed Completely Did Not have a target as they flew in all directions, yet they were even more intimidating.

The Spinarak led by Ariados scattered and fled.

Unfortunately, Rock Slide had undergone special training. The Fastest, strongest, and Heaviest rock slammed viciously into leader Ariados's abdomen!

"Sss!"

Ariados rolled in pain, kicking up clouds of Smoke and Dust. A single move had nearly crippled it.

"Again, Powerful Rock Slide!"

"Lar!"

For an instant, Larvitar seemed to possess Tyranitar's mighty bearing. Rock Slide activated, and the rocks that had originally scattered in every direction began to gather, gradually forming a massive stone ball!

With world-destroying force, it smashed down viciously upon Ariados and the Spinarak that had failed to escape in time.

Sato's eyes lit up. Larvitar had only comprehended this move much later in his previous life. Clearly, its progress was accelerating.

"That's it, Step By Step. First, catch up to your combat strength from your previous life!" Sato gave the exhausted Larvitar a precious High-Grade Energy Cube and led it deeper into Ariados's nest.

Ariados had always been deceitful and cunning, often using Poison Web to capture every creature that wandered into its territory. Once poisoned, it was difficult to eradicate without a special antidote.

Therefore, Ariados's threat level in the wild was Not Low. Perhaps he might find something worthwhile.

Inside the Bug Hole, several young Spinarak huddled trembling in a corner. Sato sensed the Dark Power within his body, but there were no particularly talented ones, so he could not be bothered with them.

After passing another corner, he reached the place where Pokemon Eggs were incubated. White String Shot formed a huge nest, with green and purple Pokemon Eggs scattered messily throughout it.

An uncomfortable sense of rejection came from Dark Power. Sato's eyes brightened, and after approaching, he carefully searched for its source.

"This intensity Should Be Pseudo-Elite Four potential. Not bad luck!" Sato Picked Up an unremarkable Pokemon Egg from among them, and the disgust within Dark Power grew More Intense.

Momo withdrew Dark Power, worried that he would be affected by it and accidentally damage this precious Pokemon Egg. That would be More Loss Than Gain.

He carefully placed the Pokemon Egg into his backpack. After searching once more and finding nothing else valuable, he decided that the Pokemon Egg alone was enough.

After leaving Ariados's nest, Sato ignored the Ariados that had crawled out from beneath the boulder but did not dare approach, and calmly departed.

"Lar!"

The restorative effects of the High-Grade Energy Cube were powerful. It was Larvitar's first time using such a mighty Rock Slide, and it was still in a daze, Eyes Lifeless as it recalled its heroic appearance from moments ago.

Only after seeing Sato leave did it scamper after him. Yet halfway there, it resumed its serious, steady posture. Exhaustion was unimportant; the bearing of a pseudo-legendary was what mattered most.

"Do you want to rest for a while?"

"Lar~"

Larvitar firmly shook its head. It could feel its improvement in battle. Since it had joined later than the others, it needed to Catch Up To their progress as soon as possible.

"All right then, Larvitar, Screech!"

"Lar!" Although it did not understand Sato's sudden command, Larvitar still immediately let out a terrifying cry.

Then, less than thirty centimeters ahead of them, a Spatial Ripple suddenly appeared before vanishing again!

Sato noticed it at once. Without Hesitation, his fist wrapped in Dark Power smashed viciously into the ripple, directly knocking a black figure to the ground!

"It's Misdreavus! Larvitar, Bite!" Sato never wasted words on Pokemon blocking his path. First knock them down, then slowly find out why!