Add a Buff for Getting Stronger First

"Do you want to become stronger too?"

"Chirp."

Weedle gave an affirmative response.

That seemed to be a buff in the anime too. He would just take it as a bit of consolation.

However, the information about Weedle fed back by his cheat was far from ideal. In his memory, Weedle, as a Poison type Pokémon, should have been able to learn Poison Sting, yet it currently only knew the non-offensive move String Shot.

As for its innate talent, that was even harder to describe. It had all initially been low-grade, but after being nourished by the Viridian Force, its physical ability had risen to mid-grade. That was what gave Shu Tong hope.

According to the notes from his cheat, innate talent was divided into five grades: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, top-grade, and Transcendent Tier. As for just how great the differences between them were, he had no idea. He could only slowly find out in the future.

Without the Viridian Force, anyone who saw Weedle's attributes would probably have collapsed in despair.

He wondered what attributes other Pokémon had. The thought stirred Shu Tong's curiosity.

As dusk gradually fell, Shu Tong stood and looked around. There truly were no Pokémon nearby. Thinking about it, that made sense—if Pokémon wandered around a perfectly ordinary park, how could people's safety be guaranteed? Not every Pokémon was so gentle and friendly.

He had originally planned to take a look at the woods in the northern suburbs, the place where a Mystery Realm invasion would occur in two months according to the "Recent Turning Point."

Unfortunately, it was already late, and Weedle had only just survived a disaster. It was not suitable to recklessly enter at night. To be safe, they would go tomorrow morning.

He said, "Weedle, let's head back first. You narrowly escaped death today, so let's help you calm down."

"Chirp."

Shu Tong nodded and recalled Weedle into its Poké Ball.

As Shu Tong walked home, the road was still as familiar as ever. Creek Town, Apricot County, Auspicious City, Su Province—his hometown. Only his grandfather and grandmother lived at home now. His father lived in the county seat year-round and worked at the Apricot County Wastewater Treatment Plant.

He attended Apricot City No. 1 High School, the only high school in Apricot City focused on Pokémon-related majors. The first and second years emphasized theoretical instruction, supplemented by physical training. By the first semester of the third year, their schedules were nearly filled with intensive physical training and some basic combat technique classes.

At the end of the semester, students could receive their first Pokémon from the school. Of course, the school only offered Caterpie and Weedle. Families in better financial circumstances bought their own, and the only legitimate place to buy them was the Pokémon Nursery under the Trainers Association. As for the prices, they were enough to make anyone recoil.

It had already been a month since the new semester began, and there were only four months left until the college entrance examinations. Originally, for the first three months, the teachers gave everyone basic special-training materials, after which they trained on their own. The school did not have enough equipment for so many Pokémon to undergo special training, unless one was a key student being specially cultivated by the school. Clearly, Shu Tong belonged to the group that had been left to fend for themselves. Still, he had to return to school for one week at the end of every month for a review.

Shu Tong had only just returned from school. The first month's review had been nothing but a beating. Weedle's attributes and combat power were at the very bottom in every respect.

When he returned to his family's rural courtyard and saw the four- or five-meter-tall ginkgo tree in the yard, Shu Tong suddenly had an idea. Perhaps he could use it to better understand Weedle.

He took out the red-and-white Poké Ball and pressed the button. Weedle appeared before him.

Pointing at a branch more than two meters off the ground, Shu Tong said, "Weedle, use String Shot on that branch."

"Chirp."

Weedle nodded, its gaze resolute, and a white thread shot toward the branch.

"Chirp."

Weedle exerted every ounce of strength it had, but the silk still fell twenty to thirty centimeters short of the branch. Even so, Weedle did not give up and continued to persist.

It had been beaten black and blue in the school's end-of-month review battles, and Persian had nearly beaten it to death because of the wager. All of that had deeply stimulated Weedle.

Keep going. I can do it!

Shu Tong's Viridian Force read Weedle's feelings, and he could not help but be moved. He had never expected Weedle to possess such tenacity.

After holding on for roughly two minutes, Weedle fainted on the spot.

Shu Tong did not slack off in the slightest. After using the Viridian Force, he staggered a little, but Weedle was lively and vigorous again.

"Come back and eat!" Grandma called.

Her call also interrupted Weedle's desire to continue using String Shot.

"Coming," Shu Tong answered, then brought Weedle inside.

Grandma had already placed all the dishes on the table: stir-fried cured pork, scrambled eggs with Chinese toon shoots, stir-fried vegetable hearts, and Grandpa's personal drinking snack—peanuts.

Grandpa had already filled his wine cup.

"Sit down and eat. You've been tired all day. Being a Trainer is hard work, isn't it? Your grandma is getting Weedle's dinner," Grandpa said.

Shu Tong smiled awkwardly. If Grandpa found out that I lost the money for raising Weedle, would he be furious at his disappointing grandson?

"Here it is, Weedle's dinner." Grandma came over carrying a plate with two boiled eggs, fresh tender vegetable leaves, and a bottle of pure milk.

"Chirp."

Weedle responded excitedly.

Shu Tong looked at Weedle's food. It looked decent enough, but it all came from ordinary animals. Weedle had been eating it for a long time, and it could be said that it did little for its growth. No wonder Miltank milk was so expensive.

Grandpa took a swig of wine, smacked his lips, and exhaled a breath of alcohol. "Drinking alone is no fun. Tong, you're almost eighteen. Want some?"

"How could you even think of that?" Grandma glared at him.

Shu Tong also said, "I don't like the taste of alcohol."

"Chirp."

Weedle had already finished all its food and suddenly made a sound.

"No way, you want to try some?" Shu Tong could hardly believe that he had understood Weedle's thoughts correctly.

Weren't bugs supposed to be soaked in liquor?

"Chirp chirp."

Weedle again confirmed that it wanted a taste.

Shu Tong said, "Fine, have a taste. A little alcohol might help calm you down too. I figure you'll only drink it once, and then you won't want it again."

Grandpa and Grandma looked at each other, clearly indicating that they did not understand Pokémon.

Shu Tong poured two taels of liquor and placed it in front of Weedle. Weedle first took a deep sniff. "Chirp ヾ(≧▽≦*)o"

Then it downed all two taels in one gulp. "Chirp ︿(￣︶￣)︿"

Shu Tong was stunned. It actually looked like it was enjoying it?

Grandpa and Grandma were dumbfounded too. "It drank it all?"

After drinking, Weedle immediately crawled toward the courtyard, and it was noticeably faster than before.

Shu Tong hurried after Weedle, thinking that it had better not get drunk and cause trouble. He gripped the Poké Ball in his hand, ready to recall it at any moment.

When Weedle reached the ginkgo tree, it fired String Shot and, in one go, wrapped up the very branch it had been targeting earlier.

No way, right? Shu Tong rubbed his eyes.