"Six Pokémon, huh? Bagon already took up one slot, and now I have a Chansey too." On the plane, Liu Qing gazed at the white clouds around him and muttered helplessly.
"Silly boy, you don't know how lucky you are. Because of your special circumstances and my intervention, the League approved your request to carry an extra Chansey to look after you." Lorelei stroked Liu Qing's blond hair as she spoke. "You've really scored big. Among all Pokémon Trainers, only League-recognized Elite Four members and Champions have the right to apply to carry extra Pokémon. Elite Four members can carry up to nine, and Champions can carry twelve."
"Really? Then can I replace Chansey with another Pokémon?" An idea struck Liu Qing, and he hurriedly asked.
"Sure, once you become an Elite Four member, or a Champion, which ranks even higher." Lorelei grinned. "But can you manage that?"
"Hmph, don't underestimate me, Cousin." A surge of ambition rose in Liu Qing's heart. "Before I turn twenty, I'll definitely become an Elite Four member or Champion. Hehe, then you'll be working under me!"
"Oh? Such ambition. I'll be waiting." Lorelei smiled.
One look at Lorelei's expression told Liu Qing that she hadn't taken his words seriously, but he didn't mind. After all, not everyone began their journey with a wealth of theoretical knowledge. He believed that once he integrated that knowledge with practical experience on his travels, he would definitely become an Elite Four-level trainer. Bagon, nestled in his arms, seemed to understand his determination and gave a cry.
The plane soon reached Pallet Town and landed at Professor Oak's research institute. As Lorelei and Liu Qing stepped off, they saw Professor Oak, whose hair was slightly graying, open the door and emerge from the building.
"Little Lorelei, I take it the young man beside you is Namikaze Liu Qing?" Professor Oak was clearly well acquainted with Lorelei.
"Yes, Professor." Lorelei nodded and discreetly patted Liu Qing, who was still staring in a daze.
"Hello, Professor Oak." Although Liu Qing had seen Professor Oak countless times in his previous life, this was his first time meeting him in person, and he couldn't help feeling excited. Professor Oak greeted him too, then looked at the Bagon in his arms with shining eyes. "Is that a Bagon from Hoenn?! That's a Dragon-type Pokémon just as precious and rare as Kanto's Dratini!"
Back inside the laboratory, Professor Oak registered Liu Qing as he spoke. "My grandson Gary also set off on a journey this year to compete in the Kanto League tournament. You're planning to enter the League too, aren't you, Liu Qing? That makes you and Gary rivals!"
"Your grandson Gary must be quite strong, Professor!" Liu Qing smiled faintly. Who would have thought I'd wake up at just the right time to catch up with the plot?
"Liu Qing, although I don't have any starter Pokémon here, and you already have a Bagon, I've still prepared three Pokémon for you to choose from, as is customary for all new Pokémon Trainers." Professor Oak took out three Poké Balls and released their occupants. "A Grass-type Exeggcute, a Fire-type Ponyta, and a Water-type Poliwag. Which one do you like?"
"Professor, I choose Exeggcute." Liu Qing carefully examined the three Pokémon. Judging by their coloring, pupils, muscles, and other features, all three were excellent specimens. However, Poliwag seemed a little absentminded, while Ponyta looked composed. Exeggcute was exceptionally lively, hopping over to Liu Qing and chirping cheerfully.
"Hehe, Professor, this is the one." Liu Qing couldn't resist crouching down to stroke Exeggcute's six heads. Of course, its lively nature wasn't the only reason for his choice. Exeggcute was also a Psychic-type Pokémon. Everyone knew that Psychic-, Ghost-, and Dragon-type Pokémon were the three hardest types to encounter and catch. How could he pass up one that was right before him?!
Seeing that Liu Qing had made his choice, Professor Oak handed him Exeggcute's Poké Ball, five empty Poké Balls, and a Pokédex. "Here are five new Poké Balls, your Pokédex, and Exeggcute's Poké Ball. I hope you become an outstanding Pokémon Trainer."
"Thank you, Professor. I'll do my best." Liu Qing accepted the items and spoke earnestly to Professor Oak. Then he recalled Exeggcute into its Poké Ball and put everything in his pockets. After bidding Lorelei and the others farewell, he finally set out on his journey.
Not far from Professor Oak's laboratory, Liu Qing entered the forest leading to Viridian City. He had already released Exeggcute and Chansey, and his Pokédex had told him Exeggcute's current moves: Bullet Seed, Hypnosis, Confusion, and the Egg Move Nature Power. Although Bagon hadn't evolved, Mili, a breeder, had raised it for six years. In addition to its innate Egg Moves, Hydro Pump and Dragon Rush, it could use Zen Headbutt, DragonBreath, and Dragon Claw. However, Hydro Pump was so powerful that its recoil affected Bagon every time it used the move, making it almost impossible to hit its target. It was practically useless. Dragon Rush was also extremely powerful. Bagon could use it, but it consumed too much energy, so Liu Qing had temporarily decided against having Bagon use that move.
Only after truly arriving in this world did Liu Qing discover how different it was from the anime and games. Pokémon moves were one example. In both the games and anime, Pokémon only had four moves, and this world's League rules also limited each battle to four moves. That didn't mean Pokémon couldn't know other moves, though. Bagon was a perfect example.
Although this small forest contained quite a few Pokémon, none were among Liu Qing's targets. He didn't linger, heading straight for Viridian City with his three Pokémon. Any Pokémon that blocked their path along the way became training opponents for Exeggcute.
After walking for nearly half a day, he finally spotted Viridian City's towering buildings in the distance. Liu Qing recalled the exhausted Exeggcute and his other two Pokémon, then asked a passerby where the Pokémon Center was. He soon arrived and handed his three Poké Balls to Nurse Joy.
"Mom, I've reached Viridian City." After lunch, Liu Qing remembered his mother Mili's request and called home to let his family know he was safe.
"Oh, you reached Viridian City that quickly? Your cousin told me you chose an Exeggcute. Have you caught any other Pokémon?" Mili asked.
"Not yet, Mom. I'm planning to catch some in Viridian Forest," Liu Qing replied. He chatted with Mili a little longer before hanging up.
The three Pokémon hadn't exhausted themselves too much, so they recovered quickly. After taking his Poké Balls back from Nurse Joy, Liu Qing went to the transfer machine in the Pokémon Center. He placed Exeggcute's Poké Ball and a Poké Ball he had brought from home onto it, then pulled the switch, transferring Exeggcute into the new ball. As for the old Poké Ball and the five new ones, he casually tossed them all into the trash.
"Sigh, I never expected this world to be less peaceful than I imagined. The great families, the League, and the dark forces are constantly entangled with one another. Even the Poké Balls issued by the Pokémon League have been tampered with. They have monitors installed inside, allowing the League to access detailed information about its Pokémon Trainers' Pokémon at any time. Only the major powers capable of producing their own Poké Balls can avoid the risk of leaking information to the League." Liu Qing looked at Exeggcute's Poké Ball in his hand. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary Poké Ball, red on top and white below. But if it was submerged in water and placed in sunlight, a lifelike pair of wings would appear at the very top of the red half. This was a Poké Ball used by members of the Uzumaki. The wing emblem wasn't merely a symbol; it was also a device. Unlike the League's intrusive equipment, however, it only analyzed the strength of the Pokémon inside and displayed different colors, transmitting the results to the family headquarters' computers for a preliminary assessment of the Pokémon Trainer's strength. Champion level showed gold, Elite Four level silver, pre-Elite Four level cyan, and elite level black. Only those whose results showed black by the age of twenty could earn the family's recognition and enjoy authority within it."
After resting for a while, Liu Qing prepared to head to Viridian Forest. But just as he opened the door, a red figure charged in, knocked him down, and ran over him, leaving a trail of footprints.
"I'm sorry. Are you all right?" Seeing Liu Qing fall, Nurse Joy hurried over, helped him up, and asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Liu Qing rubbed his chest, which still felt a little tight, and smiled at the apologetic Nurse Joy. Looking closely, he discovered that the culprit was a sleek-coated Growlithe, now wolfing down the Pokémon Food Chansey had just brought out.
"Nurse Joy, so that Growlithe is yours? Its strength and speed are both excellent." Looking at Growlithe's coat, eyes, limbs, and exposed canine teeth, Liu Qing couldn't help praising it.
"Hehe, this little one isn't my Pokémon. It originally belonged to the Viridian City police, but it was too combative and didn't get along with the others, so it was excluded from their police dog team. I'm looking after it for now," Nurse Joy explained with a smile.
"I see." After hearing her explanation, Liu Qing looked at Growlithe with shining eyes. He wanted to ask Nurse Joy whether he could catch it, but felt too embarrassed. The perceptive Nurse Joy could hardly miss such an obvious desire. She smiled with pursed lips. "Officer Jenny asked me to look after this little one so I could find it a suitable Pokémon Trainer. If you want to take it with you, that will depend on your strength. Hehe, plenty of Pokémon Trainers have tried before, but none have succeeded!"
"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Delighted by her words, Liu Qing hurriedly thanked her. Then he approached Growlithe, took out a Poké Ball, and said, "Growlithe, battle me!"
Growlithe seemed accustomed to this scene. It immediately responded, assuming a battle stance with a low growl rumbling in its throat.
On the small training field in the backyard, Nurse Joy watched Liu Qing release Exeggcute to battle Growlithe and asked in surprise, "You're using a Grass type against a Fire type?"
"Yes. Fire types have an advantage over Grass types, but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed to win," Liu Qing explained to Nurse Joy. Then he fixed Growlithe with an intense gaze. "Growlithe, you can attack first."
"Roar!" Growlithe gave a low growl and unleashed a Flamethrower at Exeggcute.
Nice. I didn't expect this Growlithe to know Flamethrower already. Judging by the flames' color, it isn't very powerful, but it's still impressive. Liu Qing praised it inwardly, then called to Exeggcute, "Exeggcute, Confusion! Send it back!"
All twelve of Exeggcute's eyes glowed blue. The incoming flames took on the same blue glow, came to an abrupt halt, and shot back toward Growlithe.
With a hiss, the flames struck Growlithe and were completely absorbed, leaving it unharmed.
"So it has Flash Fire. Exeggcute, restrain it." Liu Qing immediately understood what had happened, but he wasn't concerned. After all, Exeggcute's Confusion had been attached to those flames. Soon, a blue glow enveloped Growlithe too.
"Roar! Roar!" Finding itself restrained, Growlithe immediately struggled fiercely. Its tremendous strength made the blue glow surrounding it fluctuate violently.
"What strength! Exeggcute, strengthen your Confusion!"
"Roar!" Just then, Growlithe suddenly let out a mighty roar. Flames erupted all over its body as it became a rapidly spinning ring of fire, broke free of Exeggcute's Confusion, and slammed into Exeggcute. After sending Exeggcute flying, Growlithe landed and began panting. Clearly, breaking free had consumed too much of its stamina.
"Oh no!" Nurse Joy cried out from the sidelines.
"Hmph, we won't be beaten that easily." Unlike Nurse Joy, Liu Qing wasn't worried at all. Instead, he commanded Exeggcute, which was still airborne, "Exeggcute, Bullet Seed!"
Exeggcute's six heads immediately flipped around in midair to face Growlithe on the ground, all firing Bullet Seed at once.
Bang, bang, bang!
Unfortunately, Growlithe reacted quickly, immediately using Dig to hide underground. It was presumably waiting for Exeggcute to land before launching a surprise attack, but Liu Qing clearly wasn't going to give it that chance.
"Exeggcute, Nature Power!"
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