After the deafening crash, dust billowed and shattered stones flew.
The Beedrill leader was slammed into the ground by Onix, leaving a shattered crater.
But Beedrill's Twineedle had also gouged a diagonal crack across Onix's head. Both Pokémon fell.
"Onix!"
Yong rushed toward the fallen Onix.
Damn it, that was Assurance!!
"Hang in there, Onix!"
Assurance was a Dark-type move. If the target had already taken damage that turn, its power doubled!
In other words, even though Beedrill's Poison Jab dealt only half damage to Onix, reducing its power to 40, Assurance's doubled power was calculated from the damaging move's original power of 80, not its power after type effectiveness. That meant Onix had ultimately taken an Assurance with 160 power!
Of course, that was only a numerical representation.
To put it more plainly, there were no explicit numbers in reality to indicate a move's power, but powerful attacks dealt more damage, and weaker moves dealt less! That was judged through a combination of the move's visible effects, destructive force, and form of energy when a Pokémon used it.
Now, seeing their leader defeated, the surrounding swarm grew even more agitated!
Perhaps because they noticed that Onix had fallen too, they did not retreat. Instead, they charged at Yong again.
Venomoth scattered Stun Spore, while Beedrill used Poison Sting!
The orange-yellow powder filling his vision reflected strange colors in the sunlight. As his body gradually stopped obeying him, Yong's consciousness grew hazy. He looked toward Onix, overwhelmed with guilt.
It was all my fault... Onix...
"Dragonite! Twister!"
Dragonite?
Who was it...?
His vision went black, and Yong collapsed beside Onix.
"Hey! Kid? Young man?"
Kid? Damn that 'kid'! You're the kid!
Ding! Battle ended. Onix drew with the wild Beedrill leader. Gained 3 training points and a leader-tier bonus of 10 training points. Gained a large amount of experience. Onix's level rose to Lv. 20!
...Thank goodness... a level-up... should be all right... right!?
Littleroot Town had the smallest population of any town in the Hoenn Region. It faced the sea to the south, while lush vegetation surrounded it in every other direction.
Only Route 101 to the north connected it to Gumei Town.
A railway station was under construction to the northwest, but work had currently stopped. The entire town was far removed from the bustle of the cities and much closer to nature.
In his previous life, Jessie had praised it as "a country town untouched by any color, surrounded by fresh, unspoiled nature."
As the starting town of the Hoenn Region in the anime from his previous life, it naturally had a League professor.
Littleroot Town's professor was Professor Birch. He had been classmates with Norman, the Gym Leader of the Petalburg Gym, and his main field of research was "Pokémon habitats and distribution."
As a result, he often conducted outdoor surveys deep in the wilderness, which frequently ended with him getting taught a lesson by wild Pokémon...
Professor Birch's laboratory stood in the south of Littleroot Town. It was an arched building with smaller, separate structures on either side. The right side included an empty room and a medical room.
At that moment, inside the medical room, the sturdy, bearded Professor Birch, dressed in a white lab coat, was studying readings from the medical equipment with a tall, middle-aged man who also had a full beard and wore a standard gray uniform. The computer screen displayed Onix's condition.
On the bed beside them, Yong slowly opened his eyes.
"Hiss!"
He had just tried to sit up when a tingling numbness swept through him. Then he realized he could not muster any strength.
"You'd better not move around. You need rest right now!"
Professor Birch walked over to check Yong's condition.
"You inhaled Venomoth's Stun Spore and were also hit by Beedrill's Poison Sting... You were lucky!"
As he spoke, he pointed at the middle-aged man beside him and introduced him.
"Fortunately, Investigator Yamashima was nearby. He rescued you and brought you here in time. Otherwise..."
An investigator? So he really was the man from Gumei Town's Pokémon Center?
"Thank you, Investigator Yamashima!"
Grateful for his luck, Yong hurriedly thanked him!
If no one had found him, he probably would have died from the poison already.
"No problem, kid! You did well. For a beginner, facing an attack from wild Pokémon, including a lord-tier Pokémon, was already quite impressive!"
Yamashima's voice was deep and rough, giving him a dependable air.
Did well...? Right!
"Professor! Where's Onix? How's my Onix!? And Nuzleaf?"
Yong asked anxiously.
Professor Birch smiled reassuringly and pointed at the equipment beside them. Nuzleaf lay on an electronic apparatus, wrapped in bandages, while Onix's enormous body was quietly coiled on the floor, covered in attached instruments.
"Don't worry. I've removed the poison from both of them. Nuzleaf was just frightened and physically exhausted..."
Professor Birch operated the computer as he continued.
"As for the injuries Onix suffered in battle, I've checked those too. Aside from the wound on its head, everything else is normal!"
Yong had just breathed a sigh of relief when Professor Birch added,
"However..."
"However, what?"
Looking at the nervous Yong, Professor Birch smiled.
"Don't worry. It's nothing serious. The crack on Onix's head may simply never heal completely! Still, it won't have any effect on Onix."
Hearing that, Yong finally relaxed.
As for the scar, he would consider it Onix's badge of honor. At least it looked more imposing.
"Thank you again, Mr. Yamashima! Professor Birch!"
"You're too polite! Ahahaha!"
Yamashima laughed heartily. Professor Birch waved a hand as well and sat back down nearby.
"You came to register as a League Trainer, didn't you? All right! Just give me your information!"
"Ah! Yes, Professor. I'm Shiyan Yong from Dewford Town, ten years old. My starter Pokémon is Onix..."
Professor Birch checked the computer.
"Hmm, Shiyan Yong from Dewford Town. Yes... Shiyan Toru, Nakamura Aoi... yes, you meet the requirements!"
He stood, returned to the bedside, and said with a smile,
"Then congratulations on becoming a beginner Trainer, Yong!"
"Great work, kid!"
Why did Investigator Yamashima seem even more excited than I was?
Yong scratched his head, feeling delighted himself.
"Thank you, Professor!"
Professor Birch waved a hand.
"Then get some proper rest! Once you've recovered, come see me to collect your beginner benefits!"
With that, Professor Birch nodded to Yamashima, then turned and left the medical room.
"Rest up, kid!"
Watching Mr. Yamashima turn and leave the medical room, Yong finally settled comfortably back onto the bed.
Recalling the earlier battle, he let out a soft breath and looked at the quietly sleeping Onix. Heh! That scar really does make Onix look more imposing! I just wonder whether Onix can accept it.
As he thought about that, the tingling numbness washed over him again, and the boy slowly drifted off to sleep.
The sun was already high when he woke again. It was noon the next day!
Sensation had returned to his body. Fully revived, Yong could finally get out of bed.
"Roar!"
"Nuz~"
"Ha! Onix, Nuzleaf, are you both all better!?"
Delighted to see the two Pokémon looking energetic again, Yong ran over and hugged Onix's body.
"Onix, I'm so glad you're all right!"
"Roar!"
Onix smiled and nodded.
"But the scar on your head..."
He looked at the straight crack with some guilt. Although he thought it looked imposing, as a Trainer, he had to consider his Pokémon's feelings. He could not force his own wishes on them!
"Roar!"
Onix shook its head, then lowered it to nuzzle Yong.
"You really don't mind?"
"Roar!"
Onix nodded again. Boy and Pokémon looked into each other's eyes, then both laughed. They were partners who had grown up together!
"All right, I understand! No changing your mind later!"
"Roar!"
"Nuz!"
Beside them, Nuzleaf watched curiously, letting out a puzzled little growl.
Picking up Nuzleaf and leaving Onix to rest a little longer, Yong headed to the laboratory's main hall.
It was much bigger than he had imagined!
Research equipment and platforms covered in cables lined both sides of the hall. Researchers were working at every instrument.
In the very center of the hall stood a large, long mechanical table. A box in its middle held three red-and-white Poké Balls!
There was a scanner and computer on the left, and a trading machine on the right. Professor Birch and Yamashima stood there, smiling as they spoke with mothers and their sons.
Aside from the laboratory staff, there were many mothers and sons, fathers and sons, and even entire families.
They had all accompanied their children to register as beginner Trainers.
"Hey! You're awake, kid!"
Yamashima was the first to notice Yong and waved with a smile.
Hearing him, Professor Birch, who was speaking with a mother and her son, looked over and called out with a smile as well.
"You look much better, Yong!"
"I'm all better now, Mr. Yamashima!"
Yong smiled in greeting too. As he watched Professor Birch pick up a Poké Ball and release a Treecko, his eyes lit up!
Treecko had a grass-green body and a vivid rose-red belly. Its large yellow eyes had lizardlike vertical pupils!
Its hands and feet each had three rounded digits covered with tiny spikes, allowing it to climb and hang upside down anywhere!
Of course, it could also walk upright, and it had a thick tail resembling a curled, dark-green leaf.
Pokémon: Treecko, Lv. 5. Wood Gecko Pokémon. It can climb vertical walls and uses its thick tail to attack enemies. Since it builds its nests in large trees, people say that trees inhabited by Treecko live long lives. Gender: Male Type: Grass Nature: Lonely Ability: Overgrow. When its health is low, the power of Grass-type moves increases. Moves: Pound (beginner), Leer (beginner), Leafage (beginner) Egg moves: Endure (beginner), Iron Tail (beginner), Seed Bomb (beginner) TMs: None
Treecko!
Looking at the Treecko before him, Yong was sorely tempted.
Treecko! Its final evolution was Sceptile!
And it could undergo Mega Evolution, gaining the Dragon type afterward!
Remembering his dream, Yong suppressed the desire in his heart.
"Now, make sure you take good care of Treecko!"
With everyone watching, the little boy excitedly recalled Treecko into its Poké Ball and received his own Pokédex!
Having officially become a beginner League Trainer, he happily said goodbye to the professor with his mother and left the laboratory.
"All right, now it's your turn, Yong!"
Professor Birch picked up the Pokédex and six complimentary Poké Balls he had prepared earlier beside the computer and handed them to Yong.
"From now on, you're a League Trainer! So, which Pokémon have you decided to choose?"
There were not necessarily only three starter Pokémon prepared each time! After all, there could hardly be only three eligible children at any given time! So they prepared enough starter Pokémon to meet demand!
Of course, there would not be too many... everyone booked in advance!
Watching the boy hesitate, Professor Birch smiled and asked,
"Well? Which one are you thinking of choosing?"
Yong lowered his eyes and quietly pondered...