Choosing a starter Pokémon 2

In fact, the two of them had agonized over these two Pokémon for a long time while planning their teams. The scarcity of Dark-type Pokémon severely limited their options. Unless they were lucky enough to find one of the exceptionally rare ones, Ye Ling's team would almost inevitably lack a main heavy hitter. That was why Xiao Ran had ultimately set his sights on Litten's final evolution—Incineroar.

Honestly, a Fire-type starter Pokémon was not the best fit for Ye Ling. Quite apart from how poorly Incineroar's conspicuous bulk suited the Way of Assassination she studied, Sneasel's Ice typing would also create serious friction between the two. Even a Pokémon Trainer would struggle to manage hostility rooted in their types.

However, among the relatively accessible Dark-type Pokémon they could choose later, there were few powerful heavy hitters. Most were known for their tricky, unconventional tactics instead. That made Incineroar a better choice than Greninja. After all, plenty of Dark-type Pokémon excelled at assassination, but almost none specialized in large-scale destruction. Of course, obtaining an extremely rare Pokémon would change things—Tyranitar, for example, which was known as a demigod. But that would be far, far too difficult.

Leaving those considerations aside, Greninja really was a better choice than Incineroar. It suited the Way of Assassination Ye Ling had learned in the Hall much better, and alongside Sneasel, it would maximize her early advantages. Unfortunately, once she reached the Late Stage, the lack of a powerful Pokémon capable of large-scale destruction would leave a glaring weakness in her team.

"It's fine. Who can say what will happen in the future?" Ye Ling said firmly. Team composition aside, she had always leaned toward Greninja herself. Perhaps being unable to obtain Litten now was simply fate.

"All right, then. Please take us to see the Froakie!" Xiao Ran said helplessly as he looked into Ye Ling's determined eyes. Inwardly, however, he resolved to find some way to fill that gap in her team in the future.

"It sounds like you already made up your minds. Follow me!" After listening to their conversation, Shen Yan could tell that these two youngsters had probably chosen their paths long ago. That did not surprise her; Xiao Ran's skill as a breeder was far beyond her own, after all. She said no more and simply led them to choose the Pokémon they wanted.

The research institute had plenty of Froakie. Whether for research or to provide beginners with starter Pokémon, it maintained large reserves of starter species. In the Virtual Environment where the Froakie were raised, over a hundred unevolved Froakie lived alongside quite a few Frogadier. Seeing so many Pokémon at once turned the last trace of Xiao Ran's displeasure into excitement.

"So many Froakie!" Xiao Ran cried excitedly, plunging into the Virtual Environment. The starter Pokémon at the institute had all been raised around people and would not attack humans indiscriminately.

"This is the Froakie's territory. You can choose whichever one you like, as long as it's willing to go with you," Shen Yan said with a smile. Anyone would be excited to see so many Pokémon at once. Choosing a starter Pokémon, however, was not just a matter of a Pokémon Trainer selecting a Pokémon—the Pokémon was choosing its Pokémon Trainer, too.

"Lingling!" At Shen Yan's words, Xiao Ran turned and called to Ye Ling. The girl nodded, then closed her eyes. A faint, dark ripple immediately spread outward from her.

The sight left Shen Yan astonished. Though this was not her first time, witnessing someone use Hidden Power in person still stirred her excitement. This mysterious, formidable power was precisely what she had always longed for, yet had never managed to bring about through Awakening.

Seeing that Ye Ling had begun using the Power of Darkness, Xiao Ran turned his attention to the Froakie. Trainers who had undergone Awakening had an enormous advantage when choosing Pokémon: they could easily find the one most compatible with them in a group. Unlike ordinary Pokémon Trainers, they did not have to search for a needle in a haystack, only to risk being rejected by the Pokémon in the end.

Not every Pokémon was willing to be caught by a Pokémon Trainer. Those captured by force would not readily obey commands, much less develop a close bond and mutual understanding. Such Pokémon could never display their true strength. Only those that willingly followed their Pokémon Trainers and accepted them from the heart could truly grow alongside them.

Of course, this was only Xiao Ran's own view of Pokémon, and few people in this world shared it. Although Pokémon lived and fought alongside humans... they also continually encroached on human territory. Human life was not as easy as one might imagine, so many people harbored deep hatred toward Pokémon.

The Power of Darkness helped Ye Ling find a Froakie that liked and could accept that power, and thus truly accept her. After all, Froakie were Water-type Pokémon. Before their Dark typing awakened, there was no way to tell how strong their Dark-type aptitude would be after evolution. The Power of Darkness was the ideal tool for discerning it.

Disturbed by the Power of Darkness, the Froakie fled one after another with faint looks of disgust. With their Dark typing still unawakened, they could not accept that dark sensation. The power made them deeply uncomfortable, and a few of the more ill-tempered ones were already showing hints of hostility.

There were always exceptions, however. As all the other Froakie moved away from Ye Ling, two remained where they were, even looking over with mild curiosity. Clearly, they did not dislike this power.

Ye Ling gradually stopped releasing the Power of Darkness and looked gently at the two Froakie, conveying goodwill through her gaze. Eventually, one of them approached first, sniffing as though trying to get a better sense of the aura she gave off.

"My name is Ye Ling. Would you like to come with me?" Seeing the Froakie approach, Ye Ling crouched slowly without hesitation and spoke to it.

"Frooo..." Froakie tilted its head, neither agreeing nor refusing. A tag bearing the number 36 hung around its neck.

"Number 36. Average Water-type energy, but its combat ability is quite outstanding. The moves it has learned are Growl, Pound, and Quick Attack." Upon seeing the tag, Shen Yan quickly flipped through the documents in her hands, bringing up the Froakie's detailed information for everyone.

"It's learned Quick Attack but not Bubble? Looks like this Froakie's aptitude for combat is much better than its Water-type aptitude!" Xiao Ran said after a brief pause at Shen Yan's explanation.

According to the game data from his previous life, Pound and Growl were both moves Froakie knew naturally. As a Water-type Pokémon, it should theoretically learn the Water-type move Bubble sooner than the Normal-type move Quick Attack. Although that reasoning did not entirely apply in this real world, being able to learn Quick Attack at least showed that this Froakie was in excellent physical condition.

"That does seem to be the case. Here's its Poké Ball. You can try and see whether it's willing to go with you." Shen Yan retrieved a numbered Poké Ball from the storage cabinet by the entrance and handed it to Ye Ling.

"This is the Power of Darkness. It can make us stronger. You're different, and they can't understand your power. Will you join me?" Taking the Poké Ball, Ye Ling held it out in front of Froakie and released another wisp of the Power of Darkness, glancing at the frightened Froakie that had fled far away as she spoke.

"Frooo..." Feeling the power in Ye Ling's hand, Froakie looked puzzled and curious. Then, following her words, it turned toward its companions. The Pokémon it had lived alongside for so long now wore expressions full of unease, fear, and profound disgust.

A trace of sadness flickered in Froakie's eyes. It looked up at the girl before it. Her cool yet gentle gaze made it feel comfortable.

"Frooo..." With a soft cry, it pressed its right hand against the Poké Ball. Becoming a novice Pokémon Trainer's starter Pokémon was their predetermined fate. It was not popular among its own kind, and at least it liked the Pokémon Trainer before it. There was nothing left to hesitate over.

"Haha, congratulations, Lingling!" Xiao Ran laughed as Froakie entered the Poké Ball. Whatever else happened, gaining a new companion was always something to celebrate.

"We're partners from now on!" Ye Ling murmured, lifting the Poké Ball before her eyes and looking at Froakie through its translucent shell.

With Ye Ling's starter Pokémon chosen, it was Xiao Ran's turn. He had chosen Popplio, whose habitat was not far from Froakie's. Both were amphibious Pokémon, after all, so their areas were only lightly separated. They reached it after turning a corner.

As newly introduced Pokémon, the Popplio were not as numerous as the Froakie. There was not even a Primarina to manage the group. Dozens of dark-blue figures with bright red noses played happily in the rearing room, while Researcher occasionally came by to record the relevant data.

Xiao Ran followed the same approach, releasing the Power of the Moon to find a suitable Popplio. The result, however, was astonishing. As the Power of the Moon spread, every Popplio in the rearing room excitedly gathered around him. Only then did he remember that the Power of the Moon inherently soothed and healed. It was a special kind of Power of Life, so it attracted most Pokémon apart from certain types that favored darkness. Choosing a Popplio this way was simply impractical.

With no other choice, he asked Shen Yan to bring him the Popplio's records and began reading through them one by one. Since all the Popplio were willing to go with him anyway, he could take his time choosing.

Yet that search really did turn up a Popplio he was extremely pleased with—one that had learned Disarming Voice and inherited Life Dew.

"Number 13. That's the one," Xiao Ran said with a smile. He accepted the Poké Ball Shen Yan handed him and took the Popplio with the Fairy-type move and Egg Move.