Click, click.
The man continuously snapped photos of the disguised Charmander with his phone, taking over a dozen pictures before breaking into a satisfied smile.
Realizing the potential consequences, Lian disregarded the food on the tablecloth and rushed forward to knock the man's phone away.
Caught off guard, the man blinked as the Charmander swiftly pounced, swatting the phone from his hand with its claw.
However, Lian was still a step too late; just moments earlier, the man had already hit send, likely broadcasting the images online by now.
Taken aback, the man stared at the Charmander in surprise, wondering if it somehow knew what he was doing.
Amidst his shock, he suddenly panicked and yelled, "No! My phone!"
Lian showed no mercy, unleashing a burst of Ember towards the fallen phone. The intense flames collided with the metal casing, melting part of it instantly, followed by a loud explosion as the phone detonated.
Time to make a quick exit.
Satisfied, Lian glanced at the destroyed remains of the phone, unaware that the photos had already been sent out.
Losing his phone left the man somewhat furious, but as he watched the fleeing Charmander, a grin reappeared on his face.
News of a wild Charmander could attract many novice Trainers, all thanks to his efforts. Moreover, sharing detailed information about the Charmander might even allow him to profit a little.
Those newbie Trainers often had money to spare.
***
After escaping, Lian ran to the outskirts of the forest and hid deep within the tall grass. This time, he managed to satisfy his hunger somewhat; the cookies and vegetable salad tasted quite good, especially the strawberry-flavored cookies.
Lian thought to himself, "For the next few days, I can't risk showing myself."
That man will undoubtedly spread the news, attracting Trainers who'll come searching for me.
Fortunately, my quick thinking led me to destroy his phone. With no evidence, staying hidden and not emerging should make those Trainers lose patience after a few days, allowing me to reappear safely later.
Meanwhile, as the man uploaded his photos online, they quickly gained attention from numerous viewers. Initially disregarded, the images soon sparked significant interest.
AzureSky: Today, while picnicking with my Zigzagoon, we unexpectedly encountered a Pokemon stealing our food. At first, I thought it was just a Tangela, but surprisingly, it turned out to be a wild Charmander - check out the pictures below.
The post included over a dozen photos featuring the Charmander. Despite being entangled by green vines, its blazing tail stood out remarkably.
The sighting of a Charmander generated immediate buzz, as wild Charmanders were exceptionally rare. Many people began sharing the post widely.
In the southern part of the Sebas Region, news about a wild Charmander spotted in Carna Forest spread like a spider's web, reaching every corner of the region.
Coincidentally, nearby Kana City, home to a red-star Gym, was already bustling with novice Trainers. The report of a Charmander prompted many aspiring Trainers, initially uninterested in visiting Kana City, to change their plans.
***
In Rhine City.
Kalia was packing her backpack with essential items commonly needed by novice Trainers.
After preparing everything, she was ready to depart. Her destination was Pearl City, located along the coastal region and home to a red-star Water-type gym.
Red-star gyms were specifically designed for beginner Trainers. Obtaining a badge from a red-star gym signifies a certain level of competence. Collecting enough red-star badges enables Trainers to challenge higher-tier silver-star gyms.
As a typical novice Trainer at present, Kalia only had one Pokémon, a newly acquired Treecko. She deliberately chose Pearl City to swiftly earn her first red-star badge.
Ding.
At that moment, Kalia's phone beeped with a notification. Initially dismissing it, she glanced briefly but then paused, intrigued. She clicked to read the message carefully, ensuring not to miss a single word.
"Wild Charmander spotted near Carna Forest."
Kalia couldn't verify the message's authenticity, but it changed her plans nonetheless. Kana City also had a red-star gym with a Ground-type specialist as its gym leader.
Grass-types effectively counter Ground-type Pokémon, and while Pearl City was closer to Rhine City, Kana City wasn't far either, just requiring a slightly longer journey.
Regardless of the message's truth, the appearance of a wild Charmander warranted Kalia's attention. In the Sebas Region, suitable Fire-type starter Pokémon were scarce; most Fire-types posed inherent dangers, making them unsuitable for novice Trainers.
Initially, Kalia wanted to choose a Fire-type Tepig, but due to their high demand, she ended up selecting Treecko, much like her father did before her.
Kalia wasn't alone; many other rookie trainers shared this sentiment, some already en route to Kana City.
Mounting her Acro Bike, backpack secured, Kalia glanced back at the towering green building behind her.
Soon, she would return as an ordinary Trainer to challenge Tamagawa Naoki, defeat him, and earn her gym badge.
Rhine City's Grass-type gym was considered relatively strong among silver-star gyms, requiring Trainers to possess a sufficient number of badges before attempting the challenge. Therefore, Kalia needed to train a Pokémon with greater potential and formidable strength.
She opened the Poké Ball, releasing the green Treecko, and then took out an energy cube from her backpack, which Treeckos particularly enjoy.
Although this Treecko hadn't interacted much with Kalia yet, it quickly became intrigued by the energy cube and grabbed it to munch on.
The delicious energy cube instantly endeared Treecko to Kalia, looking at her eagerly for another treat.
Kalia smiled faintly; building a bond with a Pokémon involves extensive knowledge. To conquer them, one must first win over their stomachs.
She tossed another energy cube to Treecko, picked up the now more affectionate Pokémon, mounted her bicycle, and headed towards Kana City.
***
The night in Carna Forest was eerily silent.
Hidden deep within the dense foliage, Lian utilized the surrounding plants for cover and peacefully drifted off to sleep.
Upon entering the white expanse of the system space again, he noticed there were no changes on the data panel whatsoever.
"What's going on? Didn't I battle with that Zigzagoon?" Lian felt puzzled; although the Zigzagoon was weak, every bit counts, even if insignificant like swatting a mosquito. Surprisingly, the expected Combat Points had not been awarded.
With the system unresponsive, Lian could only speculate. Since no combat data appeared, it seemed the system did not recognize the encounter as a valid battle.
Could it be because the Zigzagoon didn't entirely lose its fighting ability?
It was indeed plausible. Due to the man taking photos, Lian lost track of the Zigzagoon and subsequently fled the scene. The system might have interpreted his actions as running away from the fight.
Although today yielded no Combat Points, Lian wasn't overly concerned. However, he realized his special attack still needed improvement, unable to instantly defeat even a single Zigzagoon with one move.
An easy life seemed further out of reach for Lian now, without a consistent food source, forcing him to actively search for sustenance.
However, for these next few days, he couldn't wander recklessly as it would be too easy to encounter Trainers. This time was considered fortunate; the man clearly wasn't a professional Trainer. If Lian had met one, he'd likely have been on the run constantly.
Lian did consider leaving the forest, but his knowledge of the outside world was limited, increasing the chances of encountering danger from both humans and aggressive wild Pokemon.
Time passed swiftly, and two days went by in the blink of an eye.
During these two days, Kana City became even more bustling than before. A large number of novice Trainers gathered around Carna Forest, training their Pokemon while searching for the elusive wild Charmander.
Although no Trainer found the Charmander within those two days, the influx of Trainers continued to increase in Carna Forest.
The reason being, despite not locating the Charmander, the Mayor of Kana City seized this opportunity with so many new trainers present. He organized a small-scale Pokemon competition within Carna Forest.
All novice Trainers were eligible to participate, with the champion receiving generous rewards. This enticed some Trainers who initially planned to leave to stay and compete.
Even if they didn't join the contest, simply watching the excitement as spectators added to the appeal.
A crisp morning dawned.
Lian lay motionless amidst the soft grass, feeling like a lethargic fish out of water. The past two days had been sheer torment; every time he ventured slightly farther, he encountered people—more than just one or two.
After hiding for two days, surely there shouldn't be anyone around now?
He hadn't eaten for forty-eight hours, his stomach nearly hollow from hunger. If not for a nearby river providing some water to quench his thirst, he would have starved to death by now.
Assuming no one remained outside after these two days, Lian decided it was time to venture forth, both to assess the situation and search for food.
However, he felt somewhat uncertain. Was this how his life would truly be from now on, constantly unsure where his next meal would come from? Why couldn't the system include a food exchange feature, allowing him to trade Combat Points for delicious meals? That would be ideal.
This useless system only pushed him to fight incessantly without offering any sustenance. Without proper nourishment, how could he gather energy for battles?
Unsure if he'd find anything edible on this outing, Lian grew concerned but had little choice.
Emerging from the bushes, he cautiously scanned the surroundings. As expected, no one was in sight; they seemed to have moved on.
Lian planned to first explore the area thoroughly, hoping someone might have left behind some food. Only when starving does one realize that having something to eat makes all other concerns seem trivial.
If unable to find sustenance, Lian even considered returning to pick a few Chesto Berries. Despite their unpleasant taste, at least they would prevent him from starving to death.
As he walked, encountering hardly anyone, Lian gradually relaxed his vigilance and focused intently on searching for food.
***
As the Pokemon competition commenced, most Trainers gathered at the western edge of Kanah Forest for the event.
Since yesterday, over fifty new Trainers had congregated within the forest. Don't underestimate this seemingly small number; becoming a Trainer is not easily accessible to many families due to various factors.
Firstly, safety concerns arise as each year, the League provides only a limited number of potential starter Pokémon. These initial Pokémon tend to have gentle natures and do not actively attack Trainers.
However, the availability of these starter Pokémon from the League is restricted, making them unaffordable for most individuals. Consequently, many aspiring Trainers must resort to capturing wild Pokémon to obtain their first companion.
Wild Pokémon often exhibit aggressive tendencies, posing significant risks when attempting to capture them with young trainers aged around eleven or twelve years old.
Every year, numerous novice Trainers suffer injuries from encounters with hostile wild Pokémon, some even resulting in fatalities.
Of course, capturing weaker Pokémon like Caterpie would be relatively straightforward and safe, requiring minimal concern.
However, who wouldn't desire a Pokémon with immense potential? Caterpies may be easy to catch, but they are incredibly weak, rendering them practically useless for battles in the early stages.
Capturing such a Pokémon holds little significance. Some might argue that it can evolve into Butterfree, which is true, but choosing a starter Pokémon as a Trainer's first companion is crucial. A Caterpie would severely limit a Trainer's ability to engage competitively in initial battles.
At this moment, there was still some time before the Pokémon competition began, as setting up the arena required preparation. Most Trainers gathered together, chatting casually, and occasionally challenging each other to impromptu battles scheduled during the event.
Kalia stood amidst the crowd, persistently inquiring about Charmanders. Her sole purpose for attending today was to find one.
Unfortunately, most people hadn't even caught a glimpse of a Charmander, leading many to dismiss the rumors as false.
Kalia felt disheartened; if only a handful had seen a Charmander, it seemed likely that the rumors were indeed untrue. As for the Pokémon competition itself, she showed no interest whatsoever, considering it merely a minor skirmish among novice Trainers.
Kalia, the former Grass-type gym leader, primarily inherited her father's Pokemon. However, she had been exposed to various species from a young age and received extensive training under her father. As a novice Trainer for nearly two years now, her skills in both battling and nurturing Pokemon far surpassed those of most beginners. Participating in this competition would be akin to bullying them.
If not for her duty to inherit her father's gym, within just over a year, she could have already conquered three Red Star-rated gyms and even challenged Silver Star-rated ones.
"Let's wait a few more days and see what wild Pokemon are available in Kanah Forest. To challenge the Kana City Gym, I'll need at least two Pokémon, and Treecko's strength is currently insufficient," Kalia murmured to herself.
As per her plan, the Kana City Gym was supposed to be her second challenge, but since she was already here, there was no need to detour to Pearl City.
While Red Star-rated gyms varied in strength, they were not significant enough to warrant Kalia strictly adhering to their difficulty levels in her challenges.
She then left the crowd, heading deeper into the forest, ready to capture some Pokémon.
***
Aaron concealed himself within the undergrowth, with a picnic blanket and some food laid out ahead of him, appearing as if someone had left unfinished meals behind.
Over these past few days, his search for the Charmander yielded no results, but Aaron remained determined. His intuition told him that the elusive Charmander was still hidden somewhere in Kanah Forest.
He managed to track down the man who uploaded the photo, paying a price to gather more information.
The wild Charmander stole food due to extreme hunger. Fire-type Pokémon were likely ostracized by other species in this forest, making it difficult for them to secure sustenance.
Realizing this, using food as bait could potentially attract the Charmander. Although the chances were slim, it was entirely worth it for Aaron's goal of capturing the Charmander.
Having waited already for a full day and night, he possessed ample patience. He planned to endure two more days before considering giving up if unsuccessful.
The food he prepared was specially crafted; once the Charmander appeared, it would undoubtedly be drawn towards it.
Meanwhile, Lian wandered through the forest, gradually approaching Aaron's location.
Hmm?
What's that enticing aroma?
Lian sniffed deeply, feeling drawn to something exceptionally appealing and irresistible. The alluring scent captivated him, pulling him closer involuntarily.
Hungry and disoriented, Lian followed his instincts towards the fragrance. Soon, he spotted remnants of uneaten food scattered on the grass.
The captivating smell emanated from these leftovers, bringing delight to Lian's face. With hunger clouding his thoughts, he eagerly pounced on the food.
Aaron's chubby cheeks trembled with excitement as his eyes widened in surprise—he saw it! A real Charmander, just like in the photos, entwined by vines with its tail ablaze.
His specially prepared bait was nearly irresistible to Fire-type Pokémon, although other species could also be attracted. However, the local Pokémon had experienced this trick countless times before.
Only the newly arrived wild Charmander, unfamiliar with such tactics, would likely fall for it—a calculated move on Aaron's part.
"Haha!" Laughing triumphantly, Aaron stood up, Poké Ball in hand. But as he took a step forward, his legs suddenly went numb.
Oops!
Aaron stumbled and fell to the ground, his legs stiff from maintaining the same position for too long.
Someone there? Is this a trap?
Lian was about to devour the food when startled by the sight of a little chubby trainer taking a faceplant, causing his Poké Balls to roll away.
Just as Lian prepared to flee, Aaron swiftly stood up, eyes gleaming as he locked onto him.
"Hey Charmander, let's battle my Pokémon! If you win, all this food is yours; if you lose, I'll capture you. What do you say?" Aaron hastily shouted, noticing the Charmander attempting to escape.
Simultaneously, he retrieved one of his Poké Balls and launched it. Upon opening, a fully green Pokémon landed on the ground.
Seeing this green Pokémon, Lian realized he couldn't run anymore. It was an Electric-type Electrike, with green fur and a yellow pattern on its head.
Electrike is known for its exceptional speed among Electric-type Pokémon. Lian knew he couldn't outrun it, and passively enduring attacks would only lead to losing his fighting ability. In that case, the inevitable outcome would be capture by this annoying little fatty using a Poké Ball.
Electrike excels in speed and special attacks but lacks formidable moves early on. Only after learning the Electric-type Shock Wave does it truly gain significant strength.
However, Lian's level was still relatively low compared to this slightly higher-level Electrike. Even if he could defeat it, he might not have much energy left to face other Pokemon.
He wasn't naive enough to believe that little fatty would only have one Pokemon, so his strategy had to focus on escaping from this battle.
"Electrike, catch up to Charmander and use Quick Attack!" Aaron, pleased that Charmander didn't flee, promptly commanded Electrike to initiate its assault.
Lian knew he couldn't outrun Electrike, so he decided to strike first, aiming to create distance between them quickly. With his exceptionally high special attack and the ability to rapidly unleash multiple Ember moves in short succession, he felt confident in defeating Electrike.
The food he just consumed helped restore some of his vigor, and as the battle commenced, his thoughts became clearer.
Electrike swiftly charged towards him, crackling with electricity. As its speed increased, it nearly transformed into a streak of white light.
"Quick Attack," being a Normal-type move, allowed for a burst of rapid speed, swiftly charging towards an opponent.
Lian prepared to endure the initial onslaught. With his Charmander's low health, it could unleash the true power of Fire-type moves. Moreover, considering Electrike's speed, evading would be challenging even if he tried.
A ball of flames shot out directly at the approaching Electrike, as Lian braced himself for the Quick Attack impact.
Although Electrike had excellent special attack capabilities, its physical attack was relatively weaker, limiting the full potential of Quick Attack.
The Ember flames collided with Electrike's head, scattering instantly upon impact. However, the intense heat relied not on force but rather on sustained burning.
As scattered sparks landed on Electrike's fur, they quickly ignited the green hair, causing damage to its skin.
Simultaneously, Lian was sent flying by Electrike's incredible speed. Despite anticipating this, although he felt pain, it wasn't severe enough to impair his combat ability significantly.
To Lian's relief, Electrike's fur seemed to lack significant static electricity, indicating that this particular Electrike did not possess the Static Ability.
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