This was a small grove on the right side of Route 102. Beyond it lay the next town.
Gumei Town, where colorful flowers and green trees vied to show off their beauty, stood at the junction of Routes 101, 102, and 103! It was an important little town.
Its population was small, but the abundant forests and water nearby supported a wide variety of Pokémon. Some people even claimed to have spotted Grass-type and Water-type starter Pokémon.
Starter Pokémon were the first Pokémon new Trainers received when they set out on their journeys.
They chose one from three specific Pokémon of the Grass, Fire, and Water types!
All had three-stage evolutionary lines and enormous potential, with final forms boasting base stat totals of around 530. They were well worth raising!
This also drew many Trainers here to search for them.
However, each region's starter Pokémon were actually under the League's control! Only a handful of populations existed in the wild, making them extremely difficult to encounter!
I wonder whether Mega Evolution has been discovered at this point in the timeline!
After mulling it over, Yong decided to rest first, then try his luck and see whether he could find the Pokémon he had in mind.
Having made his decision, Yong rubbed his chin and entered Gumei Town's Pokémon Center.
He handed his Poké Balls to Nurse Joy, then waited quietly against the counter, watching people come and go through the bustling lobby.
Every Trainer had different Pokémon by their side, leaving Yong dazzled. Besides common ones like Machop, Geodude, Azurill, and Nidoran♂, there were plenty more.
There were rare starter Pokémon like Treecko and Torchic, too. Yong even saw a middle-aged man leave the lobby, release a Dragonite, and fly away on its back, causing quite a stir.
He rubbed his eyes hard to make sure he hadn't imagined it, then said excitedly,
"I never thought I'd see a Dragonite here-the Kanto Region's pseudo-legendary!"
"That gentleman is a League investigator, you know~"
Before Yong could finish marveling, Nurse Joy's voice reached him.
Coming back to his senses, Yong accepted the Poké Balls she handed him, hastily thanked her, and asked,
"Why is a League investigator here, Nurse Joy? Is something happening in Gumei Town?"
"That's a secret, little one. Just leave it to the adults in the League!"
Nurse Joy winked and smiled gently.
"You're still a new Trainer. What matters most is getting to Littleroot Town and registering."
Ugh, that blasted 'little one'... Helpless, Yong could only leave the Pokémon Center under Nurse Joy's watchful gaze.
Just then, a nearby conversation caught his attention.
"Have you heard? Someone spotted signs of a Mudkip in the wetlands on Route 103!"
Huh?
"Seriously? Isn't this just another rumor someone planted?"
"No way! You know Wu from Rustboro City? He battled that Mudkip..."
"Did he catch it?"
"Uh, no. His Geodude lost to it..."
"Great! What are we waiting for? Let's go! Catching it would be like hitting the jackpot!"
"Right! Let's get moving!"
Listening to their conversation and watching the Trainers hurry away, Yong frowned.
Who knows if it's true? Even if it is, would Mudkip show up with so many people searching? And even if it did, with all those people...
The thought alone gave him a headache. Shaking his head, Yong decided not to rush after Mudkip. It was already noon, and a Pokémon that preferred damp surroundings wouldn't come out now!
Filling his stomach came first. Littleroot Town wasn't far anyway. He could visit Professor Birch, return to the Pokémon Center for the night, and prepare before searching for Mudkip. There was still time!
To Yong, catching Pokémon was a matter of fate!
He released Onix and set out Pokémon food and Pokéblocks, then poured out the rocks and minerals he had brought from home.
For himself, he ordered chicken cutlet curry with rice and started eating.
"Onix, you can head underground at night! Absorbing different rocks will help you grow!"
"Roar!"
Onix usually lived underground.
They dug through the earth at eighty kilometers per hour while searching for food, swallowing rocks and minerals and absorbing hard substances to make their bodies tougher.
As they grew, the composition of their rocky bodies changed until they became like black diamonds.
This was a habit shared by most Rock-type Pokémon: eating rocks and dense minerals to harden their bodies and accelerate their growth.
The Johto Region's pseudo-legendary, Tyranitar, was one example. Starting as Larvitar, it had to eat an entire mountain before finally growing into the "Sand Tyrant," Tyranitar!
Speaking of Tyranitar, a Rock-type pseudo-legendary... I have to catch one someday! I wonder if I'll get the chance!
Tyranitar
That thought brought a slight change to Yong's plans for obtaining a starter Pokémon.
If I earn enough contribution points, maybe I could qualify to receive a pseudo-legendary through the League...
After finishing his meal and recalling Onix, Yong set off for Littleroot Town again.
Leaving Gumei Town, he headed south along Route 101 and entered an area of shrubs and low trees. Every so often, a Wurmple or Caterpie crawled out beside the road.
Occasionally, a Pidgey flew overhead, and then a Wurmple vanished...
As he walked, a faint moan came from behind a tree to his right. Frowning, Yong released Onix to stand guard, then approached the source of the sound.
Behind the tree, a Pokémon leaned against the trunk. Its body resembled a human child's, with brown skin, a pointed nose, and a leaf growing from its head!
Is that... Nuzleaf?
"System, scan!"
Pokémon: Nuzleaf Lv. 15. A Pokémon that lives in dense, flourishing forests. Occasionally leaves the forest to frighten people. Strongly dislikes having its long nose grabbed! Gender: Male Type: Grass + Dark Nature: Naughty Ability: Chlorophyll. Boosts Speed in sunny weather. Moves: Razor Leaf (beginner), Fake Out (beginner), Absorb (beginner), Astonish (beginner), Tackle (beginner) Egg Move: Extrasensory (beginner) TMs: None Status: Weakened, poisoned
Nuzleaf
Huh? There's a status field now? Weakened-and poisoned.
Yong stepped closer and examined the weakened Nuzleaf. His eyes were closed, his right hand covered a wound on his left arm, and his face twisted in pain as unconscious moans escaped his mouth.
This doesn't look good!
He quickly took an Antidote from his backpack and sprayed it onto the wound on Nuzleaf's left arm, then wrapped it in a bandage.
"Nuz~"
Nuzleaf's tightly scrunched face relaxed a little, and Yong breathed a sigh of relief.
He picked Nuzleaf up and climbed onto Onix.
"Onix, let's hurry to Littleroot Town! We'd better have Professor Birch examine Nuzleaf!"
"Roar!"
Onix nodded and hurried down the road toward Littleroot Town.
Looking at the weakened Nuzleaf, Yong couldn't help wondering,
Why was he poisoned? There shouldn't be any Poison-type Pokémon here that would attack Nuzleaf on their own, right?
Yong considered which Poison-type Pokémon lived nearby.
Beedrill? Venomoth? Dustox?
None of them prey on Nuzleaf. Was it a territorial fight?
"Bzz... bzz..."
Huh? What's that sound?
Yong frowned. It sounded so familiar.
"Bzz..."
I feel like I've heard it somewhere...
Wait! Oh no!
"Onix, go faster!"
That was the sound of Beedrill flying! Realizing this, Yong hurriedly ordered Onix to accelerate, hoping to get away from the low woods as quickly as possible!
Rock-types had little to fear from Poison-types or Bug-types, but when Beedrill moved, they came in swarms!
Sure enough, Beedrill flew above the low trees all around them, gradually closing in on Onix!
Several Venomoth were mixed among them, while many Weedle, Kakuna, Wurmple, and other Pokémon clung to the trees.
Did I stumble into a nest of poisonous bugs? That can't be right! I never left the main road!
Seeing trouble ahead, Yong had no choice but to tell Onix to stop. Holding Nuzleaf, he jumped down from Onix's body.
"Beedrill, I haven't entered your territory! Why are you attacking us?"
Staring at the largest Beedrill, Yong sensed something wasn't quite right about it!
Why?
"System, scan!"
Pokémon: Beedrill Lv. 24 (leader) Type: Poison + Bug Nature: Quirky Ability: Swarm. Boosts the power of Bug-type moves when HP is low. Moves: Poison Jab (beginner), String Shot (proficient), Poison Sting (proficient), Fury Cutter (beginner), Focus Energy (proficient), Double Team (beginner), Pin Missile (proficient), Agility (proficient), Fury Attack (beginner) Egg Moves: False Swipe (beginner), Assurance (beginner) TMs: None
Beedrill
For Onix at its current level, this was a formidable opponent!
Five proficient moves! Winning one-on-one would be hard enough right now. And looking at all these Bug Pokémon, would they even let us fight one-on-one?
Yong stared at the Beedrill leader, his mind racing, but Beedrill wasn't about to wait for him!
"Bzzzt!!"
"Bzz! Bzz!"
As if receiving an order, the surrounding Bug Pokémon surged forward!
Purple light gleamed on their poisonous stingers as they thrust them at Onix together...
"Damn it, what's going on here?! Onix, interrupt them with Screech, then use Rock Throw over the widest area possible! Cover everything around us!"
There was no choice but to fight. Yong forced himself to stay calm as Screech interrupted the surrounding Pokémon's attacks. Rocks swept up by Onix's tail struck them, driving the injured Pokémon back.
Ding! During battle, Onix defeated a wild Beedrill. Gained 1 training point... Ding! During battle, Onix defeated a wild Venomoth. Gained 1 training point... Ding! ...
Good! Apart from the Beedrill leader, the others aren't very high-level!
Now's our chance!
"Onix, use Rock Slide on the Beedrill leader!"
"Roar!"
Onix roared and slammed its tail into the ground, cracking the earth! A huge rock heaved upward. Twisting its body, Onix struck the rock with its tail! Brown energy coated its surface as it hurtled toward the Beedrill leader!
A red gleam flashed in the Beedrill leader's compound eyes, and seven identical figures instantly appeared around it!
It was Double Team!
The huge rock Onix had launched passed straight through a Beedrill illusion. Then all eight Beedrill, including the real one, stretched their bodies in midair, spread their wings, and raised their heads. The red light in their eyes sharpened before they flickered through the air as if teleporting, shooting toward Onix with gray-white light swirling around their twin stingers!
"Bzzzt~!"
"Pretty experienced, aren't you? Agility combined with Focus Energy! What does this thing... have against us?"
Seeing Beedrill's increasingly sharp gaze, Yong smiled bitterly inwardly, but he still reacted quickly.
"Onix, Harden! Then Dig!"
Light flashed over Onix, making the rocks covering its body tougher and brighter. Then, with a rumbling crash, it burrowed underground.
Losing its target, the Beedrill leader hesitated briefly before turning and attacking Yong and Nuzleaf.
A little lower, a little lower... now!
Yong's eyes flashed. Covering his own ears and Nuzleaf's, he shouted,
"Onix, Screech!"
Amplified by the tunnel, an even sharper, more unbearable sound pierced Beedrill's mind. It curled up in agony in midair, its Defense dropping drastically!
Unable to maintain Double Team, its illusions vanished completely!
By now, it was very close to Yong-which meant it was also very close to the ground!
"Onix, come out and use Bite!"
Directly beneath the Beedrill leader, Onix burst from the ground and lunged toward it!
Recovering from Screech, the Beedrill leader refused to back down. Deadly purple poison gleamed at its rear as it thrust its stinger toward Onix's head!
Poison Jab!
"Roar!"
Onix opened its huge mouth and cried out in pain as Poison Jab struck!
But its Rock typing's excellent resistance to Poison let it endure the hit and clamp its jaws around Beedrill's hind leg!
"Onix, Return!"
It threw its whole body into the attack!
Dragging Beedrill with it, Onix slammed its opponent into the ground!
"Boom!"
A thunderous crash rang out!
"Hiss!"
The Beedrill leader screeched in pain!
The enormous level gap left it barely able to straighten up, and its sharp twin stingers, wreathed in brown energy, thrust swiftly toward Onix's head.
"Boom!!!"