Check out my other books, Pokemon : Starting with an Overpowered Gameboy advance, Pokemon : A Different Ash, Pokemon : I am A Breeder/Champion
Join my Patreon for 60 more chapters and earlier updates of all of my works
patreon.com/Tempest_29
It is almost noon now, and the sky is completely clear. Thanks to the river nearby, a cool breeze blows from the south, making the heat more bearable. The wind feels refreshing and comfortable.
Jack and Psyduck were busy preparing lunch. The river sparkled in the sunlight, their tent standing snugly beside it. Psyduck's eyes flashed blue, and suddenly, two splashes erupted from the calm water. Moments later, two large crucian carp landed on the chopping board where Jack was cooking.
"Nice job, Psyduck!" Jack praised warmly. Psyduck, slightly embarrassed but proud, responded with a quack, patting his chest with his flipper-like hands and saying, " psyduck psy."
Jack smiled softly. A whole night had passed since the attack, and he was still feeling drained. The wilderness in the Pokémon world is unpredictable, with danger lurking around every corner. After traveling through the night, Jack was utterly exhausted. Once they reached the river and ensured there were no immediate threats, he quickly set up camp.
Since entering the Forest of Clouds and Mist, he had been surviving on fast food from his backpack. Now that things felt a bit more stable, he didn't want to settle for anything less than a hearty meal. The fresh seafood from the river gave him the perfect opportunity to cook a rich lunch.
"Let's see," he mused while preparing. "One steamed and one braised. Luckily, I brought all the kitchen tools and seasonings I need."
...
After eating, everyone sat on the ground, looking content and full.
For Pokémon, the best meals are energy cubes specially tailored to their abilities. The general-purpose ones are still decent, but human food works as a pleasant snack for them. In the wild, Pokémon often feed on other Pokémon, or even animals, and some species have been known to attack humans.
"Last night was a close call, Psyduck," Jack remarked.
"Psy," Psyduck responded, its tone more subdued.
Recalling the events, Jack felt a shiver of unease. While Psyduck had emerged victorious, the encounter had been fraught with peril. Ordinary snakes posed no challenge to Psyduck's abilities, but the Arbok they encountered had given Psyduck a tough fight.
This wasn't a controlled Pokémon battle, where trainers follow rules and conventions. The wilderness here was more like an untamed jungle, where one wrong move could mean life or death. If another Pokémon had attacked Jack directly, bypassing Psyduck, the consequences could have been dire.
For this reason, many trainers release all their Pokémon when exploring the wild or hidden locations. Keeping them outside their Poké Balls ensures a quicker response in dangerous situations.
"Huh…" Jack exhaled deeply.
One Pokémon was not enough. While Psyduck's progress was remarkable, its current strength wasn't sufficient for more complex challenges. He needed to catch a second Pokémon—and soon.
Jack frowned slightly, troubled by the thought. When he first entered the Forest of Clouds and Mist, he was woefully unprepared, with only the six standard red-and-white Poké Balls issued by the Pokémon Trainer Alliance.
A Poké Ball in this world is a one-use item. If it fails to capture a Pokémon, it becomes completely unusable. When Jack first entered the Forest of Clouds and Mist, a memory from the Pokémon anime in his previous life flashed through his mind—the scene where Ash captured Caterpie despite many challenges.
Without much thought, he attempted his first capture on a Weedle resting in the grass. Unfortunately, the Poké Ball exploded without success, wasting one of his precious Poké Balls. Considering the market price of a Poké Ball is 5,000 Alliance coins, it was a costly mistake.
Thus, Jack resolved to be much more cautious with future attempts.
From the start, Jack was clear about his goals.
He planned to focus only on cultivating Pokémon rated 4-star and above, aiming to build an elite team. However, capturing 2-star or 3-star Pokémon wasn't entirely off the table—they could be sold back in human society to earn some much-needed cash.
With his current situation of being penniless, the remaining four Poké Balls were too valuable to waste without a solid chance of success.
Jack had already given considerable thought to his next target. In the forest environment, Bug-type and Grass-type Pokémon were the most abundant, followed by Poison and Flying-types. Considering his long journey through the woods, he needed a Pokémon suited for scouting and stealth. A few options swirled in his mind.
Shaking his head, he dismissed the idea. It was an idealistic notion. In reality, most grassroots trainers like him lacked the luxury of choice. Instead, they had to rely on luck when encountering Pokémon. Only those with significant resources could afford to plan out an optimal Pokémon lineup.
Even among the Elite Four in China, only one member—a Grass-type specialist—rose from humble beginnings. The other three were supported by massive financial backing. That same Grass-type Elite had once publicly stated that his choice of a Grass-type starter played a significant role in his success. Grass-type Pokémon could use Synthesis instead of consuming food, making them the least resource-intensive Pokémon to raise.
However, pushing a Grass-type Pokémon to rely solely on Synthesis for extended periods would ultimately weaken them, reducing their combat effectiveness to near uselessness.
Jack sighed, the fatigue of the previous night catching up with him. Before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.
The sparkling river rippled gently in the sunlight, the warm glow surrounding the tent creating a picturesque scene. It was hard to imagine such a serene day could ever turn foggy.
Psyduck noticed that Jack had fallen asleep. Using its Confusion, Psyduck levitated a nearby blanket and gently covered him. Its mastery of Confusion was remarkable, even surpassing the usual water-focused skills like Water Gun.
Satisfied with its work, Psyduck waddled over to Jack's side and curled up next to him, falling into a light sleep. The three dull hairs on its head swayed in the breeze, and its short tail twitched occasionally, a sign that Psyduck was ready to spring into action if needed.
The wilderness was unpredictable, and danger could strike at any moment. Even in rest, vigilance was essential.