"What are you doing?!"
Dolores's almond eyes widened as she snatched the Poké Ball back, her fingertips warm and frantic. She clutched it tight, terrified he'd break something so precious.
Her face was full of panic.
Her Pokémon was way too mischievous—didn't know anything yet. And Raylen was only Level 1… clearly a newly born Pokémon.
Dolores reached up and gently stroked his head, her voice soft. "If you break it, you'll die."
Even though she was technically a Pokémon, the girl before him was as kind and cute as any human girl.
Her touch carried a faint, sweet scent. Honestly… it felt pretty nice.
"I'll go try catching her myself."
Who said you must have a Poké Ball to catch someone?
A sly glint flashed in Raylen's eyes, and he dashed forward.
But Misty reacted instantly.
With a sharp splash, she dove straight into the lake, sending up a spray of glittering water. Only after a moment did she poke her drenched little head out, blinking in confusion.
"What do you want?"
Her tone was wary—was he trying to attack her?
"Me? I'm just… curious what you're doing."
Raylen dodged her gaze. No way he was admitting he tried to capture her.
"Is that your trainer?"
Misty glanced at Dolores rushing over. Her voice held a faint, condescending tone. "She looks pretty weak."
Identical to what the Smoking Uncle said earlier.
Raylen looked back.
The sunset cast a soft golden glow over Dolores, outlining her in warm light.
"My trainer? She's gorgeous and rich. Want to join?"
Because clearly looks matter more than strength.
"I refuse."
Misty kicked her legs lightly in the water, turning him down flat.
Raylen tried everything—temptation, persuasion, flattery. Misty didn't even bother coming ashore.
He rubbed his chin, thinking.
He had fully accepted this insane world by now. So what if humans and Pokémon switched roles?Not a big deal.
If anything, humans had superpowers now, and Pokémon didn't. Honestly? Kind of nice.
"I'm fine here. The Pokémon here feed and take care of me regularly. I'm not going on adventures with you."
Misty blinked her watery green eyes, drifting lazily across the lake. She really enjoyed her pampered, fenced-in lifestyle.
Fine. Don't blame me for getting rough, then.
[Move Activated: Telekinesis]
Raylen extended a finger, a faint glow forming at the tip.
"Ah!"
Misty let out a startled cry as her body lifted from the water, dragged slowly toward the shore.
"Bad guy!"
"Let go of big sis!"
The water-play lolis immediately charged over, forming a tiny, angry brigade. They were close friends with Misty—united in battle.
[Bubble Attack]
A flurry of snowy white bubbles burst toward him, sticking to his face. Not painful, but gooey enough to block his sight.
They even smelled faintly sweet.
"Boom—!"
A water gun burst straight out of the lake, slamming into his face—Misty's counterattack.
He staggered back, slamming into a tree.
And then—
Slap! Slap! Two crisp smacks rang out.
[Combo Slap]
Misty had already dashed up, her cool, smooth little hands striking clean across his face.
Raylen got a real-time, up-close experience of the original heroine's soft hands. Unfortunately… delivered at full force.
"You're Level 1, and you think you can beat me?"
She tilted her chin proudly, wet strands of hair sticking to her neck as she shook her snowy-white hand.
If he dared chase her again, she'd slap him even harder.
After all—she was Level 25, a fully evolved Pokémon. Their stats weren't even close.
Raylen finally realized he had overlooked something important.
He quickly opened the status panel.
[Pokémon: Misty]HP: 800Attack: 84Defense: 63Sp. Atk: 72Sp. Def: 62Speed: 85
[Pokémon: Raylen]HP: 650Attack: 13Defense: 12Sp. Atk: 15Sp. Def: 10Speed: 11
The gap… was not something being a "legendary" would magically fix.
Normally, leveling up gave 15–20 total stat points—10 random, 5 free to assign.
Right now? He was pathetically weak.
Raylen instantly accepted reality.
"Sorry to bother you. See you around."
He walked off with perfect calm—as if he hadn't just been slapped twice in front of everyone.
But inside?
He carved this humiliation into his heart.
The slap she gave today…One day, I'll return it with interest.
"Does it hurt?"
Dolores hurried up, eyes full of worry, gently rubbing his cheek.
"You can't beat her. You're only Level 1."
Girl… you said that too late.
He already learned—painfully—that levels matter.