Originally devastated by the crushed dream of Ralts' design details and now in a state of despair, Yuu Kisaragi was suddenly drawn to a glowing light.
"Huh? What's this..."
The source of the light was none other than Weedle. As the troublemaker of its group, Weedle had already accumulated a ton of EXP from countless solo fights and brawls back in Viridian Forest. And now, with this battle that shattered its insect worldview and values, the accumulated EXP finally triggered a qualitative change...
So it evolved.
The glowing Weedle spewed out a massive amount of silk, wrapping itself up. As the cocoon thickened, the light only grew brighter. When the glow faded, Weedle had evolved into a metallic-shelled Kakuna.
Kakuna looked like an oversized yellow cicada husk, retaining distinct insect features. The unsettling part was its large bug eyes on its head—not only did they glare menacingly, but they occasionally swiveled around...
Ugh, a cocoon that can stare you down...
"So, no need for golden fertilizer, huh..." Yuu hesitated but still stepped forward to pat Kakuna. The texture of its biological shell made Yuu decide to swap to full-fingered gloves once back in town...
"Alright, the evolution quest has some progress, Ralts is caught, so next up is..." Yuu nodded firmly. "Time to challenge the Pewter Gym and snag the Boulder Badge!"
"If I remember right, the Pewter Gym's trainer is Brock, Ash's sidekick. Since he's just a background character, it should be easy." Yuu recalled Kakuna into its Poké Ball and tossed a pebble to wake Gastly. "Let's go, we're storming the gym!"
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"So this is the Pewter Gym?" Apparently, having a gym was a big deal for a town. Yuu asked two random passersby and easily found it. Staring at the rugged building with its massive rock sign, Yuu couldn't help but comment, "Looks way lamer compared to the Pokémon Center..."
"But being lame is good. A lame-looking gym means a weak leader~" With that thought, Yuu's mood lifted again—what kind of logic was that...
"Ah!"
As Yuu stepped forward to knock, the door swung open with a light push. After a moment's thought, Yuu waved a hand. "Gastly, scout ahead!"
"Keeheehee!" Gastly floated in boldly, with Yuu following cautiously behind. The moment they stepped inside, the pitch-black room suddenly lit up, startling Yuu, who immediately grabbed Gastly and ducked behind a pillar.
Peeking out, Yuu saw the gym's center had transformed into a rocky battlefield. On one side stood a dark-skinned, squinty-eyed teen in a vest, while near Yuu was a spiky-haired boy in a red cap, blue vest, and jeans.
This was none other than the eternally young protagonist, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town.
"Ugh, I'd love to wear pants too, but my budget ran out..." After grumbling about the naturally shady Nurse Joy, Yuu quickly turned attention to Ash's Pokémon—Pikachu.
One look nearly made Yuu headbutt the pillar: Aside from longer ears and a zigzag tail, Pikachu looked like an oversized yellow hamster! Despite the sharp teeth and claws, compared to the creepy skull-faced Gastly, Pikachu was downright adorable!
"Damn it..." Yuu glanced at the bouncing Pikachu, then at Gastly, who was dangling its long tongue overhead. "I'm catching a Pikachu too!"
Beep! System Notice: Pikachu and certain other Pokémon are designated as plot-exclusive. The host cannot capture them.
"..." Yuu was speechless, only able to internally scream "This is so unfair!" before silently biting down on the right glove...
A loud "BAM!" snapped Yuu back to reality—Brock had sent out his Pokémon: Onix.
"...This counts as a 'small' Pokémon?" Yuu was stunned; its coiled body stretched over ten meters, covered in armor-like gray rock plates, radiating sheer power, ferocity, and menace! Even Ash's Pikachu shrank back behind him in fear.
"..." Yuu was conflicted again. A real-life Onix was anything but cute, but despite its terrifying appearance, the longer Yuu stared, the more... awe-inspiring it seemed! Meanwhile, Gastly was just... creepy and horrifying...
"Comparing people kills morale, comparing goods makes you toss 'em..." Yuu's face darkened as the left glove joined the right in Yuu's mouth...
The battle began. The result? A one-sided stomp. Pikachu's Thundershock did jack to Onix, while one Tackle and Wrap combo left Pikachu on the brink—Yuu was pretty sure Onix could crush Pikachu just by flexing its rocky segments...
"Stop!" Ash finally surrendered, scooping up his badly injured Pikachu and bolting from the gym.
The anime really misled me... Who knew Brock's Onix was this strong? Yuu mused silently, only to be startled by Brock's stern voice:
"Trainer hiding over there, are you here to challenge the Pewter Gym too?"
"Uh, I was planning to..." Since they'd been spotted, Yuu stepped out from behind the pillar, feigning confidence. "But I've changed my mind."
"Oh?" A flicker of disdain crossed Brock's eyes—impressive, given how squinty they were. "Lost your nerve after seeing my Onix?"
"Nope," Yuu replied coolly. "My Pokémon battled earlier, and after seeing your Onix, I admit they're not in top shape to win. So I'll come back tomorrow at full strength."
—Even if you're right, I won't let you see it!
"I see..." Brock nodded. "Indeed, forcing a battle without considering your Pokémon's condition is reckless. Very well, come back when you're ready."
"Thanks for understanding." Yuu quickly dragged Gastly out of the gym.
Brock watched Yuu leave, his squinty eyes solemn. "Such a cute girl... I regret not asking for her name."
"Phew... glad that worked." Only after putting distance between them and the gym did Yuu exhale in relief. "No time to catch a Water-type now, so it's grinding time! If I can't counter with type advantage, I'll overpower with levels!"
"Keeheehee!" Gastly didn't fully grasp why its trainer kept swinging between moods, but licking Yuu seemed like the right move.
"Stop licking me! Are you Gastly or a Shellder?!"
After another trip to the Pokémon Center, stocking up on snacks, rations, and Pokémon feed, and renting a tent, sleeping bag, and assorted gear, Yuu was ready to channel the all-night MMO grind from their past life.
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Dusk, outskirts of Pewter City.
"Gastly! That's a Fury Attack, don't dodge! Hit back with your tongue!" Yuu shouted, eyes locked on the sky—
A frenzied, feather-ruffled Spearow, paralyzed, plummeted straight down...
EXP rising...
"Now, Ralts! Use Confusion to hold it!" Yuu, now wearing full-fingered gloves, lifted Kakuna and hurled it like a discus—
A thick-shelled, dirt-stinking Sandshrew took the hardened Kakuna right between the eyes...
EXP still rising...
"Now! Teleport away!" Yuu yelled. "Gastly, ready!"
A giant sewer-rat-looking Rattata lost its target mid-charge, smashing headfirst into a rock behind Ralts. The last thing it saw before fainting was a pitch-black, freezing tongue...
EXP keeps rising...
"Oh hell no! Everyone—retreat!" Yuu recalled Kakuna, abandoned the half-dead Magikarp, and bolted.
"ROAR—" From the lake, a Gyarados, just the part above water was over five meters tall, crowned with three sharp horns and a gaping maw, bellowed furiously at Yuu...
EXP temporarily paused...
Night, outskirts of Pewter City.
An Oddish with sparse, narrow leaves on its head, an onion-shaped body, two twisted tiny eyes, and stubby root-legs—hopped along until it tripped over something near a small tent—
Confusion! Poison Sting! Lick! Rock Throw!
The poor Oddish was instantly obliterated...
EXP rising again...
Dawn, the outskirts of Pewter City.
"Pidgey!!" A plump early-bird Pidgey, surrounded by four pairs of bloodshot, red-rimmed eyes, let out a horrified shriek...
EXP still climbing...
***
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