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******
Based on Lian's calculations, he was nearing the next threshold. Once reached, upgrading his special attack would require double the Combat Points.
Doubling sixty points directly results in one hundred and twenty points needed. Even achieving multiple B-grade combat ratings wouldn't suffice for such rapid consumption.
It's best to focus on enhancing my special attack first.
Lian began clicking the plus sign, swiftly using up over three hundred Combat Points. His special attack increased to 297, leaving him with only 28 points remaining.
At this point, Lian estimated he had reached the limit; any further upgrade would require spending exactly one hundred and twenty Combat Points.
He realized that leveling up quickly was crucial. Relying solely on Combat Points to infinitely boost his special attack seemed practically impossible, as the required points exponentially increased with each enhancement.
Only by leveling up could he rapidly improve his strength. Currently, Lian's special attack base stat must be no less than 90, which is truly astounding. Many fully evolved Pokémon have lower special attack base stats compared to his current level.
Once Lian evolves into Charmeleon, there will be a significant increase in his base stats. Combining his already high natural special attack base stat with the additional upgrades from Combat Points, even Lian couldn't predict just how powerful his special attack capability might become.
However, to evolve into Charmeleon, it seems he needs at least level 16, which is seven levels away - potentially requiring numerous battles.
To accelerate his evolution, Lian must engage in as many daily battles as possible. He couldn't even estimate how many Combat Points he had spent on enhancing his special attack attribute.
It's likely close to two thousand Combat Points by now.
To maximize these Combat Points into Special Attack Ability points, continuous leveling up and evolving is essential.
The system consistently emphasizes strength through battle, remaining unwavering in this approach. Whether improving move proficiency or boosting abilities, all ultimately aim to drive Lian into more frequent combat.
Stronger through each battle, battling to become stronger.
Lian sets himself a small goal: first, evolve into Charmeleon. Although not as cute as Charmander, he cannot remain a Charmander indefinitely.
While Charmeleon lacks charm and appears somewhat clumsy, it's a necessary stage of evolution. Once evolved into Charizard, things will significantly improve.
There might even be opportunities for Mega Evolution later, transforming into the cooler X or Y Charizard forms. However, it remains uncertain if Mega Evolution exists in this world.
***
The next morning.
For the first time, Lian wasn't woken up by Kalia's call but instead slept until naturally rising. Upon waking, he noticed Kalia busy packing her belongings.
Meanwhile, Treecko had risen early and was practicing Quick Attack. Clearly, its defeat dealt a blow to its confidence, prompting it to intensify training.
Lian felt somewhat speechless; there was no need for such relentless effort, as it put considerable pressure on him.
However, this dedication was inherent to Treecko's competitive nature, driven by a relentless determination not to rest until defeating its opponent. It seemed deeply fixated on overcoming him.
Soon enough, once Treecko evolves into Grovyle, it will undoubtedly seek another battle.
After some time, Kalia finished packing.
"We're leaving now, Charmander, Treecko."
Lian still felt attached to the place, but staying with Kalia ensured daily meals. Their next destination was Pearl City, where culinary delights awaited him.
Upon leaving the hotel, Kalia didn't use her bicycle, considering the rocky terrain and dense foliage of the Kana Mountains required walking.
Kalia turned to address her two Pokémon, saying, "We can't head straight to Pearl City for now. Instead, we'll traverse the Kana Mountains and go to Falcon City first."
Not going to Pearl City?
Upon hearing this, Lian felt slightly disappointed but quickly realized that Falcon City could be just as appealing. Judging by its name, it likely had many flying-type Pokémon, making him wonder if Farfetch'd might be among them.
From watching the anime, he knew that Farfetch'd meat was exceptionally delicious. This rare Pokémon species had even faced near-extinction due to excessive hunting.
In this world, Lian wasn't sure about their status, but if Farfetch'd did exist here, they would undoubtedly taste great too. He wouldn't personally hunt them, but he certainly wouldn't mind enjoying cooked Farfetch'd dishes.
Lian followed Kalia towards the Kana Mountains, located north of Kana City, directly behind the gym. They arrived there swiftly.
As they passed the gym, Lian noticed a familiar figure emerging from inside.
"Isn't that the little fatty who tried to catch me earlier?" Lian recognized him immediately—it was Little Fatty Aaron. It seemed his gym challenge had failed, evident from his dejected expression.
Upon reflection, it made sense that Electrike would struggle against Ground-types, with little chance of victory. Pidgey's base stats were too low; although having a flying advantage was beneficial, it couldn't match Treecko's ability to defeat two Pokémon at once.
Kalia also noticed Aaron, and they had briefly interacted before. If not for him, she might not have been able to befriend her Charmander.
Aaron spotted Kalia as well and assumed she was preparing to challenge the gym. He approached her and asked, "Haven't you challenged the gym yet? Would you like some advice?"
Kalia smiled faintly and shook her head, "I earned my badge yesterday. Today, I'm planning to leave Kana City."
"Ah! You've already faced the Gym Leader?" Aaron exclaimed, surprised. Then he saw the inconspicuous light brown Firm Earth Badge on Kalia's clothing, feeling slightly embarrassed as he rubbed his nose.
"How about you? Did your challenge fail?" Kalia inquired.
Aaron forced a bitter smile and nodded. Curiously, he then asked, "This direction doesn't lead to Pearl City, does it? Are you heading...to Falcon City?"
"Yes, Pearl City's Gym Leader is currently away."
"Can I join you? I heard the Falcon City Gym Leader specializes in training flying-type Pokemon; I'd like to learn from them," Aaron requested.
During this gym battle, his Electrike, being an Electric-type, posed little threat against Cubone. He had to rely on Pidgey, but unfortunately, its strength was insufficient and it also lost.
To obtain Kana City's Gym Badge, he needed to focus on developing his Pidgey further. However, as a novice Trainer, he sought guidance from experienced Trainers to enhance his knowledge.
Typically, gyms accept students, and the Gym Leaders allocate time for classes, imparting their expertise in exchange for a modest fee.
Compared to Pokemon academies, gyms serve as learning hubs for many civilian Trainers. The fees charged by Gym Leaders are minimal, yet they provide practical knowledge and skills, helping Trainers improve significantly.
"It's possible, but I plan to stay in the Kana Mountains for some time before heading towards Falcon City." Kalia couldn't let Aaron disrupt her plans entirely, but traveling together wasn't an issue.
"That's fine. I'm also planning to catch some new Pokemon in the Kana Mountains. I heard that Rock-type Pokemon can consume dirt and stones for faster growth; is this true?" Aaron eagerly engaged in conversation with Kalia.
"Yes," Kalia nodded. Most Rock-type Pokemon reside underground or within caves, feeding on soil and rocks to absorb their elemental energy, accelerating their development.
As a result, many Rock-type Pokemon continuously improve without needing combat, boasting remarkable defensive capabilities.
"I've heard Geodudes are the easiest to capture, so I'll go for one of those," said Aaron.
Observing from the side, Lian realized that little fatty represented the typical struggles faced by novice Trainers. After failing his first gym challenge, he had no choice but to enhance his Pokemon's strength further. To foster his own growth, he chose to venture far to another city for additional knowledge.
His understanding of various aspects was superficial, lacking systematic training. Consequently, nurturing an exceptional Pokemon seemed beyond his reach.
Even when capturing Pokemon, he primarily focused on ones that wouldn't strain his finances significantly. If offered a powerful Snorlax, he might decline simply because he couldn't afford its upkeep.
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******
The Kana Mountains spanned a vast area, with some peaks entirely composed of rock, while others were lush and densely covered with vegetation. This region served as a habitat for numerous species of wild Pokemon.
Entering from Kana City's side led to a rocky mountain range, predominantly inhabited by Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon. Crossing this stretch would bring them to the outskirts of Falcon City.
Currently, Kalia's group had reached the periphery of the Kana Mountains, resting at the foothills of one peak while discussing their training plans.
Lian lay on a stone, squinting against the sun. With the abundance of Rock-type Pokemon in this area, it posed a disadvantage for him, as both Rock and Ground types have advantages over Fire-types. A misstep could easily result in severe damage.
The Pokemon in the Kana Mountains were significantly stronger than those found in Kana Forest, greatly limiting the effectiveness of Lian's Ember move.
He aimed to level up within the next couple of days, anticipating that he might then be able to unlock Dragon Breath or Dragon Rage using Combat Points. This would make battling here considerably easier.
Dragon-type moves are incredibly powerful; acquiring either Dragon Breath or Dragon Rage would instantly elevate Lian's combat capabilities.
During his Charmander stage, Dragon Breath or Dragon Rage were considered his strongest moves, disregarding type advantages.
"Come out, Electrike and Pidgey." Aaron released both Pokémon. Throughout their journey, he had learned several valuable lessons, such as not needing to frequently store Pokémon in Poké Balls; keeping them by his side actually fostered stronger bonds.
"Don't your Pokémon usually have poor diets?" Kalia observed Pidgey's dull feathers, clearly indicating inadequate nutrition.
"How did you know?" Aaron was taken aback, feeling somewhat ashamed. With limited funds for food due to saving money for Poké Balls, he often let Pidgey fend for itself by hunting.
"I think instead of capturing too many Pokémon, you should invest more and focus on training one or two well. Handling three is simply unsustainable," Kalia advised.
"That makes sense, but..." While Aaron agreed, his dilemma was that he lacked knowledge on how to effectively train a strong Pokémon. Otherwise, he wouldn't have planned to learn at Falcon City.
"This is something you need to learn on your own; I can't assist much," Kalia admitted. She herself had plenty more to study and hadn't yet reached a level where she could effectively teach others.
"Understood."
Shortly after,
"All right, Charmander and Treecko, it's time for training. This session, I want both of you to work together in combat."
Kalia stood up, clapping her hands, indicating their break was over. It was still morning with some hours before noon, so they would train first and then enjoy lunch afterward.
Lian lay on the ground, reluctant to get up. The sun felt pleasantly warm, triggering his natural laziness once again.
On the other hand, Treecko eagerly followed behind Kalia, brimming with fighting spirit. In this environment, it sensed no threats, as being surrounded by Ground- and Rock-types only played into its favor due to Grass-type advantages—it was practically Treecko's paradise.
Lian opened his eyes, glanced at Treecko, hesitated momentarily, but ultimately decided to engage in battle.
"Little..." Kalia was about to threaten Charmander with withholding lunch when she noticed Charmander standing up on its own, somewhat unwillingly but surprisingly without any prompting from her.
But Kalia hadn't given any commands yet?
Nevertheless, Charmander's willingness to engage proactively was certainly positive. With both Pokemon ready, Kalia set out to search for wild opponents.
The area had numerous Geodudes, which were Rock and Ground-type Pokemon. They weren't particularly strong and often disguised themselves as ordinary gray stones, blocking paths along the mountain roads.
"Let's start with the Geodudes."
Although not formidable individually, battling Geodudes would help Treecko and Charmander learn to coordinate their attacks effectively before encountering stronger opponents.
A moment later,
"Charmander, use Ember on that stone," said Kalia, suspecting it might be a Geodude, wanting to test her theory.
Lian spotted it too, opened his mouth, and unleashed a burst of Ember directly towards the 'stone.'
In the next second, upon being attacked, the 'stone' levitated instantly, revealing its arms flailing angrily at Lian before charging forward to retaliate.
It indeed confirmed the presence of a disguised Geodude.
"Treecko, use Mega Drain," Kalia swiftly issued the command, now it was Treecko's turn to attack.
Upon receiving Kalia's command, Treecko extended its arms and unleashed Mega Drain. The Geodude couldn't evade in time, allowing Treecko to swiftly absorb its energy.
Moments later, the Geodude collapsed weakly onto the ground, losing its combat ability and falling unconscious.
"Excellent."
Having defeated the first one, Kalia continued searching for more Geodudes. Occasionally, she encountered other Rock-type Pokemon, such as Arons basking in the sun outside their caves. However, once spotted, they quickly retreated back inside.
These caves were inherently dangerous without strong Pokemon protection. Venturing recklessly could easily lead to peril, so Kalia decided not to pursue them further.
As time passed, Kalia defeated all the nearby Geodudes, almost earning herself the title of "Geodude Terminator."
Fortunately, Geodudes rarely gathered together; otherwise, there might have been a risk of being swarmed by a large group.
Kalia was pleased with the excellent teamwork between Charmander and Treecko, especially since Charmander surprisingly didn't slack off this time.
Now, Kalia had led her Pokemon to another rocky mountain peak where she discovered a Rhyhorn resting at the base of the cliff.
Rhyhorn, like Geodude, is both Rock and Ground-type Pokémon but significantly stronger. It possesses exceptional defense and attack capabilities, with its hard gray skin resembling impenetrable armor, making it formidable at first glance.
Kalia cautiously approached, maintaining a safe distance. Although most Pokémon instinctively counterattack when threatened, Rhyhorn's limited intelligence often leads to reckless charging upon provocation.
Getting hit by such a charge would be disastrous.
Fortunately, Rhyhorn's speed is not particularly swift, hindered by its bulky frame, which makes even turning difficult, rendering it relatively easy to handle.
"Charmander, use Ember," Kalia commanded Lian to initiate the attack, awakening the slumbering Rhyhorn.
Lian observed the Rhyhorn, feeling slightly regretful as he had already used up his combat rating ability. Attacking this Rhyhorn right from the start would have been ideal.
With exceptionally high Stamina base stats, defeating a single Rhyhorn could potentially reward more Combat Points than what Lian accumulated over two days.
Despite the missed opportunity, he still unleashed Ember.
Bang!
The Ember struck Rhyhorn's hard armor, causing some effect but not significantly impactful due to Rock-type Pokemon's strong resistance against Fire-type moves.
The sudden attack startled the Rhyhorn. With a deep roar, it opened its eyes and scanned its surroundings.
"Treecko, use Mega Drain," Kalia commanded. This Rhyhorn was much stronger than the Geodudes, but Grass-type attacks had excellent effectiveness against it.
Rhyhorn charged aggressively towards Lian, clearly identifying the Charmander as the source of the flames on its body.
Lian hastily ran towards Treecko, eager to avoid being hit by the Rhyhorn. Its tank-like size suggested that any collision would likely shatter his bones.
Treecko promptly unleashed Mega Drain, which the massive Rhyhorn could not evade given its bulk.
In the next moment, a powerful suction force drained energy from the Rhyhorn, eliciting a painful roar. The Grass-type Mega Drain inflicted significant damage on it.
Boom!
With a loud thud, the Rhyhorn toppled sideways onto the ground, unconscious, accompanied by a deafening crash.
Observing the swiftly defeated Rhyhorn, Lian made up his mind: tonight, he must reach level 10 and unlock either Dragon Breath or Dragon Rage.
He also decided to find opportunities for solo battles, as constantly teaming with Treecko hindered his ability to catch up in levels. Treecko's dominance here, taking down Rock-type Pokemon with just one Mega Drain, undoubtedly accelerated its growth rate.
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