"Indeed, this Microchip came with me when I arrived in this world!" Aoki can't help but feel a surge of excitement, even though he's usually calm. In his previous world, it was largely thanks to this Microchip that he was able to advance to the level of quasi-Elite battles.
However, in the previous world, he had stumbled upon the Microchip accidentally, and by the time he started utilizing it, he had already been pulled a long way away. Despite the assistance of the Microchip, catching up had proven to be quite challenging.
"Microchip, initiate scanning!" Aoki silently suppresses his inner excitement and addresses Murkrow, who is by his side.
Almost instantaneously, a three-dimensional image materializes before his eyes, presenting him with the data he needs.
Pokémon: Murkrow (Green)
Gender: Male
Level: Level 8
Type: Dark/Flying
Characteristic Trait: Prankster (can take the lead in using status-changing moves)
Held Item: None
Inherited Ability:
Punishment (Power = 60 + (Level * 20), Dark type, Physical, power increases if the target has higher stats)
Feint Attack (Power = 60, Dark type, Physical, never misses)
Roost (Power = 0, Flying type, Status, restores half of its maximum HP)
Basic Abilities:
Peck (Power = 40, Flying type, Physical)
Astonish (Power = 30, Ghost type, Physical, may cause the target to flinch)
Pursuit (Power = 40, Dark type, Physical, deals double damage if the target is switching out)
Learned Abilities:
Snatch (Power = 0, Dark type, Status, steals the target's status-changing moves or abilities)
Tailwind (Power = 0, Flying type, Status, boosts the Speed of the user's team for four turns)
Ability to Learn: None
A detailed set of data appears on the screen, providing comprehensive information about Murkrow's abilities and characteristic traits. Aoki becomes increasingly fascinated as he reads through the details.
The availability of such intricate data is astonishing to Aoki. In his previous life, when he first accessed the Microchip, it was completely blank. Obtaining this level of data required various methods and extensive access to Team Rocket's databases. Some of the data even surpassed his authorized permissions, as certain branches of the Alliance had faced attacks in order to secure this valuable information.
As a civilian Trainer, knowledge is of utmost importance. Mastering this knowledge allows precise cultivation of Pokémon, enabling them to unleash their innate talents to the fullest.
Therefore, when Aoki comes across the detailed data about Murkrow, he can't help but feel a surge of excitement, even though he has faced numerous challenges and dangers in the past.
To his surprise, the Microchip has managed to compile and present such comprehensive data!
Just as Aoki expected, the green color next to Murkrow's name indicates its innate talent, which is classified as "Green Aptitude." The ranking of innate talents follows the order of iridescence: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. Green Aptitude falls in the middle of the spectrum. Despite its placement, Aoki knows that green Aptitude is not to be underestimated. In the wild, most Pokémon have red or orange Aptitude, with the occasional appearance of a Pokémon with yellow Aptitude, which quickly becomes sought after by Trainers due to its rarity.
Therefore, having a Pokémon with green Aptitude is already considered quite rare. Aoki estimates that among the Pokémon assigned by Team Rocket, the number of Pokémon with green Aptitude would not exceed ten. Even so, Team Rocket carefully selects and invests in their new members.
In Aoki's previous life, he relied solely on the green Aptitude of Murkrow to reach the 34th position on the trial island. It was clear that his success depended entirely on Murkrow's innate talent, with little reflection on his own abilities as a Trainer.
Taking a deep breath, Aoki calms himself down. In this world, he is determined to prove that he will not be weak. Weakness is considered the original sin, and he will not succumb to it.
The sole rule of survival on this trial island is the law of the jungle, where the weak become prey for the strong. To become a formidable force, the first step is to enhance the strength of one's Pokémon.
Aoki's immediate task is to compensate for Murkrow's early-stage losses. A typical Murkrow stands at about half a meter in height, but Aoki's Murkrow is currently only around 40 cm tall. To avoid wasting its innate talent and to facilitate better cultivation, it is crucial to restore its body to its original size.
"Let's go, Murkrow! We'll find something to eat," Aoki says, patting Murkrow on the shoulder, signaling it to perch on his shoulder.
Murkrow hesitates, glancing at Aoki. The malnourished state of the fifteen-year-old boy makes Murkrow worry that it might accidentally crush him if it takes flight.
After a moment of hesitation, Murkrow takes off and lands on Aoki's shoulder. The weight causes Aoki's shoulder to sink, leaving a deeper imprint on the sandy ground. Slowly, Aoki and Murkrow make their way through the dense woods.
As a self-made member of Team Rocket, Aoki possessed exceptional survival skills in the wilderness. He had mastered which berries were edible, which were poisonous, which could provide quick strength recovery, and which could induce status conditions.
After offering a few ripe orange and yellow berries to Murkrow, Aoki took a bite of a berry in his own hand. The sour juice trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he resisted the discomfort and slowly chewed and swallowed the fruit. This particular fruit was the most common one found in the wild for restoring strength. However, due to the abundance of wild Pokémon in this area, mature fruits were scarce. After feeding Murkrow, Aoki could only eat some unripe berries. Though less effective, they still served a purpose.
"Ka!" Murkrow swallowed a few mouthfuls of the berries, then looked at the fruit in Aoki's hand with a hint of warmth in its eyes. It couldn't fathom why this person, whom it had known for just a day, would offer the delicious ripe fruit to it while eating the unripe ones himself. It was a feeling it had never experienced before, even when it was with its own parents.
"Murkrow, have some berries first. I know you're used to eating meat, but for now, this is all we have," Aoki apologized.
"Hey," Murkrow gently rubbed Aoki's cheek, showing no concern.
Aoki smiled softly, silently cherishing the image of Murkrow perched on his shoulder. The two silhouettes merged in his mind, and a bond called "attachment" slowly flowed into his heart. It was what he had forsaken in the past, but now it was what he desired most in this world.
They walked leisurely along the forest path, leaving behind a trail of deep and shallow footprints. Finally, Aoki stopped in front of a dense bush. Based on his experience, this bush often housed small animals, as well as some Pokémon.
In this world, some animals and Pokémon share the same food sources. However, Pokémon are not typically consumed as food.
"Swoosh!"
As Aoki had anticipated, a gray hare darted out of the bushes.
"It looks like that will be our dinner tonight!" Aoki's lips curled into a slight smile. He commanded, "Murkrow, use Peck!"
Upon seeing the food emerge and hearing Aoki's command, Murkrow wasted no time. It swiftly took flight and its sharp beak ruthlessly struck the hare. It was a display of the true power of a Pokémon attacking a wild animal, instantly rendering the hare lifeless.
However, just as Murkrow rejoiced in its successful kill, a purple figure swiftly passed by, and the lifeless hare on the ground vanished without a trace.