In the forest on the outskirts of Pallet Town, Alex Carter navigated the muddy path, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Today, he was determined to capture the Gastly that had spooked him the previous night.
From Alex's memory, Gastly avoided daylight, preferring the cover of night because they feared the light. In brightly lit cities, they were almost extinct. This was why Alex chose to venture out during the day.
In daylight, Gastly wouldn't be as aggressive. At night, dealing with it would be far more challenging. Gastly liked to attack from the shadows, and its cold tongue could paralyze with a single lick.
"This is where I encountered that Gastly yesterday," Alex muttered, surveying the area. Shrubs filled the landscape, with timid Rattata darting around and Caterpie and Weedle resting on treetops.
"Ding, the system has detected Pokémon in the vicinity.
Nine meters away, there's a Rattata.
A Mouse Pokémon with incredibly hard teeth. If you spot one, there are usually about forty others nearby. They are extremely wary.
Learned skills: Tackle, Tail Whip, Hyper Fang.
Combat Power: 8 points."
..."Ding, fifteen meters away, there's a Weedle.
An Insect Pokémon with a keen sense of smell, able to detect its favorite leaves from afar. It has a Poison Sting, posing some danger.
Learned skills: Poison Sting, String Shot.
Combat Power: 5 points."
Hearing the system's prompts, Alex's eyes brightened. The system was like a radar, tracking nearby Pokémon and instantly providing relevant information.
Most importantly, the system evaluated these Pokémon's Combat Power, indicating their potential for training.
Deep in the forest, Alex stumbled upon an old, abandoned house. His heart leapt with excitement.
Gastly often hid in dark places during the day—ruins, caves, or under ancient trees. Here, the dilapidated house was the perfect hiding spot.
Approaching cautiously, Alex stood before the house, noticing a strange light inside. It was clear Gastly was hiding there.
Sure enough, the system chimed in:
"Ding, ten meters away, there's a Gastly.
A Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon, believed to be born from cemetery gases. It floats like a Will-O-Wisp, but beware of its gas, as it can cause unconsciousness.
Learned skills: Lick, Nightmare, Mean Look, Intimidate.
Combat Power: 20 points."
Looking at the information, Alex thought, "Not too strong, but it'll be good practice."
In his memory, Gastly could learn powerful skills, but this one only knew minor tricks. It might scare children, but it needed training for battles.
Reaching the house, Alex kicked open the door, keeping a safe distance as he threw stones at the windows, letting sunlight flood in.
The Gastly inside grew agitated, unable to tolerate the light. It planned to escape, but the bright sunlight outside was even harsher.
"Hey, little guy, were you the one who scared me last night? I'm here for revenge. See this Poké Ball? If you can't take it, just come in. I won't force you," Alex called out.
He tossed the Poké Ball near the house entrance, wanting Gastly to submit willingly.
To handle such a Pokémon, one must be stronger, making it realize you're more 'fearsome' than it. Otherwise, even if captured, they might rebel or play tricks on their trainer.
"Still holding out? No problem, there's plenty of daylight left. You can't leave the house, and I'll keep bothering you. Let's see how long you last."
Alex tore off more planks, letting in even more sunlight. Surprisingly, Gastly soon entered the Poké Ball voluntarily.
With a few flashes, the Poké Ball dimmed, signaling a successful capture!
"Ding, congratulations, Host, for capturing Gastly. Mission complete. Reward: one thousand points (the point mall is now open to the Host)."
"Additionally, the Host's first Pokémon capture grants a system reward buff. Your Poké Ball is enhanced with system power, giving the captured Pokémon the ability to Devour, allowing rapid growth by consuming other Pokémon."
Hearing this, Alex was stunned. Gastly gained Devour?
He released Gastly from the Poké Ball, noticing no visible change.
Time to check its current stats with the system:
Name: Gastly
A Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon, believed to be born from cemetery gases. It floats like a Will-O-Wisp, but beware of its gas, as it can cause unconsciousness.
Learned skills: Lick, Nightmare, Mean Look, Intimidate.
Special Ability: Devour.
Combat Power: 20 points."
Gastly had indeed gained a special ability. Could it really grow stronger by devouring other Pokémon, as the system suggested?