The task of defeating Treecko was complete. It was clear that "defeating" wasn't just about winning a battle; it was about earning Treecko's respect. As for the system reward, the Charcoal was a small, pendant-like piece of wood that increased the power of Fire-type moves by 20%. Lu Cheng casually hung it around Vulpix's neck.
The sky had already darkened by the time Lu Cheng finished treating both Treecko and Vulpix's wounds. Dusk had quietly passed, and the pitch-black sky pressed down on them, with faint lights flickering in the distance beyond the forest.
"Vulpix, get the flashlight from my bag," Lu Cheng instructed. Vulpix barked in response, grabbed the flashlight with its teeth, and helped Lu Cheng by lighting the way.
"Remember to use Pecha Berries to cleanse the poison. There should be some Oran Berries in the forest too. Find a couple and eat them. I'm not giving you any; they cost over 500 each—too expensive..." Lu Cheng muttered as he wrapped the final layer of bandages around Treecko's wounds.
"All done. Bandaging complete," he said, tying the last knot with a satisfied nod. Lu Cheng had learned a lot about emergency medical care from his grandfather, and those skills had finally come in handy. Treecko's eyes had softened, the hostility from their first encounter now replaced with a hesitant expression, as if it wanted to say something but didn't know how.
"What's wrong?" Lu Cheng asked, noticing Treecko standing still, not making any move to leave. Vulpix tilted its head and called out, but when Treecko didn't respond, it lost interest, and yawned.
Treecko's past flashed through its mind—captured by poachers, separated from its tribe, and nearly sold off to the black market. If it hadn't been for the blind old man who rescued and taught it swordsmanship, Treecko would have likely never survived. The old man refused to capture Treecko, saying it wasn't suited to be his Pokémon, but he instilled in it a "heart of justice," guiding it to become Yulin's silent guardian.
Now, as it stood in front of Lu Cheng, Treecko didn't know how to communicate its intentions. It sensed that this was the opportunity it had been looking for, but it didn't know how to seize it.
Ding— The chance of successfully capturing Treecko is now 80%.
The system's voice startled Lu Cheng, who looked at Treecko in surprise. He had long given up on the idea of capturing it, assuming Treecko didn't want to follow him. But now, seeing Treecko's behavior, Lu Cheng decided to take a chance.
"Do you… want to become my Pokémon?" Lu Cheng asked tentatively, bracing himself for rejection.
Treecko froze for a moment. Hearing Lu Cheng's words, it slowly looked up, leaning on its broken tree branch, and then it smiled.
Ding— Treecko's affection has been detected. The host has earned the special trait reward: 'Guardian of the Forest'.
'Guardian of the Forest': When the host's Pokémon battle against Bug- or Poison-type Pokémon, the power of their moves increases by 10%. This trait cannot be upgraded.
Treecko's eyes softened with understanding. It extended its hand and lightly tapped the Poké Ball at Lu Cheng's waist. With a flash of red light, the Poké Ball shook a few times before emitting a soft click. Treecko had been captured!
A wave of relief washed over Lu Cheng. The sense of regaining something he thought was lost filled him with a deep sense of accomplishment. He couldn't help but marvel.
Now I have a starter Pokémon!
---
As night fell, Lu Cheng returned to his grandfather's house. His grandfather was still at the activity center playing cards. After greeting the Chatot that noisily perched nearby, Lu Cheng released both Treecko and Vulpix into the yard.
Treecko
Nature: Lonely
Ability: Unburden
Moveset: Slash, Quick Attack, Pound, Agility
Evaluation: Never gives up
For the first time, Treecko stepped outside the forest, looking around cautiously, its movements betraying a hint of unease. Vulpix, on the other hand, was thrilled to have a new companion, bouncing around Treecko excitedly. The two had fought before, and Vulpix had even sneakily learned Quick Attack from Treecko. Watching Vulpix, even Treecko couldn't help but crack a rare smile.
Lu Cheng noticed Treecko was still holding onto that same branch and joked, "Is that your sword?"
Treecko's expression turned serious at Lu Cheng's words. It nodded and then began drawing on the ground with the branch.
"What's this?" Lu Cheng asked, intrigued.
Treecko turned out to have quite the artistic skill. It drew a stick figure of a person next to itself, the figure holding a long sword while Treecko wielded its branch.
"Are you saying someone taught you swordsmanship?" Lu Cheng asked curiously.
Treecko paused for a moment and then nodded.
This revelation piqued Lu Cheng's curiosity. Though there were tales of human sword masters, it was rare to hear of Pokémon learning techniques from them. Treecko's Slash wasn't just a Pokémon move—it was a technique derived from human swordsmanship, passed down by a dojo master from the R-region's swordsmanship school. This wasn't just the application of raw power but a mastery of skill.
"Is that person still in Yulin?" Lu Cheng asked.
Treecko hesitated for a moment before nodding, then shook its head.
"You're not sure either?" Lu Cheng said, scratching his head. Deciding not to push further, he let the matter go. Regardless of the mystery surrounding Treecko's past, this trip to Yulin had been incredibly rewarding. Vulpix gained valuable battle experience, and Lu Cheng now had a precious new partner in Treecko. With both Pokémon by his side, winning the upcoming tournament no longer seemed like a distant dream.
---
Yulin
The blind old man sat alone in the darkness, his presence as imposing as a mountain. Though he remained still, his aura was powerful, filling the air with an undeniable force. In the pitch-black night, faint sounds rustled through the leaves—it was the wind, whispering through the trees.
The old man let out a sigh. Suddenly, a flash of white light sliced through the night like a cold blade, cutting through the darkness. In the old man's weathered hand, an icy sword gleamed, and somewhere in the shadows, a faint cry echoed—a Pokémon's sobbing.
The sobbing soon turned into an eerie, sharp laughter.
With a single strike, the Trick Room shattered under the gleaming blade's force, the old man's figure as steady and unyielding as ever.
---
If you spot any mistakes let me know so I can fix them.
20+ Advanced Chapters [P@treon.com/WiseTL]