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After having Ariados, Jack slept very soundly tonight. Since coming to the forest of clouds and mist, it could be said he hadn't had a good night's sleep.
There was even a dream where a mischievous Psyduck had Ariados' silk dangling across his face.
"Psy, psyduck!"
Jack opened his eyes groggily and saw Psyduck holding Ariados's spider silk in one hand and pushing him with the other. When Psyduck noticed he was awake, it pointed at the silk and then toward the outside of the tent.
"Psyduck, psy!"
Jack shook off his sleepiness, turned over, and got up. Stepping out of the tent, he saw Ariados standing guard at the tent's edge. Its black eyes signaled something to Jack, and he immediately understood.
"Why is this foggy forest always so restless at night? Can't a guy catch a break?" Jack muttered irritably. "Ariados, which Pokémon triggered your Spider Web?"
Ariados raised a foreleg and pointed to Jack, then to Psyduck.
Jack was taken aback. "A person?" Ariados nodded.
After pondering for a moment, Jack instructed, "Ariados, hide for now."
Ariados opened its mouth and shot a thread of silk toward the cave ceiling. Pulling hard, it climbed swiftly up, settling onto the ceiling with its legs splayed and body blending into the shadows.
"Psyduck, back inside." After ensuring Ariados was hidden, Jack ushered Psyduck back into the tent. However, instead of resting, he remained alert, focused on the movements outside.
…
The middle-aged man cautiously entered the cave with a torch. He had no choice; the dense fog outside was unnavigable, and he wasn't sure what dangers might lurk within the cave. If a powerful Pokémon resided here, this could be the end for him.
As the man ventured deeper, he was startled when Mightyena at his side let out a low growl. He raised his torch and spotted a tent less than ten meters away.
Inside the tent, Jack, who had been watching intently, heard Mightyena's growl. After a brief hesitation, he called out in a flustered tone, "Psyduck, there's something outside. Go take a look!"
The tent flap opened, and Psyduck waddled out. Inside, Jack made a show of fumbling around, the sound of him dressing audible. A moment later, he emerged hurriedly, appearing disheveled and nervous.
Seeing Jack's startled demeanor in the firelight, the middle-aged man relaxed. He figured this must be a rookie trainer.
"Who are you?" Jack's nervous voice broke the silence, snapping the man back to attention.
"Don't worry, kid," the man replied kindly. "I'm just another trainer. The fog out there is brutal, and I somehow stumbled into this cave. I just wanted to rest here for the night—I didn't realize someone was already here."
His eyes flicked to Psyduck by Jack's side. Smiling warmly, he added, "No worries. This cave is big enough for both of us. Is that Mightyena your Pokémon, Uncle?"
Race: Mightyena
Attribute: Dark
Gender: Female
Grade: 24
Qualification: ★★
Props: None
Ability: Quick Feet [Speed increases significantly when afflicted with a status condition.]
Skills: [Sand Attack], [Bite], [Howl], [Fire Fang]
Genetic Skills: None
Jack's harmless tone eased the middle-aged man's vigilance.
"Yeah, this Mightyena is my first Pokémon. It evolved from Poochyena. Is Psyduck your Pokémon?" the man asked cautiously, glancing at the yellow duck.
"Yeah, Psyduck is my first partner," Jack replied enthusiastically, "the Starter Pokémon I received from the Pokémon Alliance."
"Psy!" Psyduck cried out, tilting its head and playing the part of a silly duck perfectly.
The man's expression shifted slightly upon hearing Jack's words. "Received from the Pokémon Alliance? That's incredible. I've heard the Pokémon Alliance Breeders produce Pokémon with high qualifications. Is Psyduck one of those?"
Jack acted oblivious to the man's curiosity and responded proudly, "Of course! My Psyduck is a 4-star Pokémon."
"4 stars?" the man repeated, visibly surprised. A brief glint of greed flashed in his eyes before he quickly masked it. "That's amazing. My Mightyena is only 2 stars."
Jack noticed the man's fleeting expression but feigned embarrassment. "It's not that impressive. Your Mightyena looks really strong! Uncle, do you have any other Pokémon? I've been in the Forest of Clouds and Mist for a while but haven't found a Pokémon I want yet."
A shadow of grief crossed the man's face as he sighed. "I used to have an Arbok, but it sacrificed itself to save me during a fight with wild Pokémon. I buried it on the spot. Now, Mightyena is all I have left."
The pain in the man's eyes seemed genuine as he recounted the loss.
Through their casual conversation, both Jack and the man subtly gathered the information they sought.
"Alright, little brother, it's late. You should rest. I'll impose on you by staying here for the night, but I'll leave first thing in the morning when the fog clears," the man said, pulling out a tent from his space backpack and setting it up nearby.
"Sure thing, uncle! Sleep well," Jack replied cheerfully before heading back into his tent with Psyduck trailing behind.
Once the man had his tent set up, he crawled inside. Just before zipping it closed, he cast a lingering glance at Jack's tent before sealing himself in. Mightyena lay quietly outside, eyes closed as it rested.
Inside his tent, the middle-aged man stared at the roof, lost in thought. Amid the silence, his murmured words could just barely be heard: "4 stars!"