"Ding! Froakie gained 56 experience!"
"Ding! Froakie gained 49 experience!"
"Ding! Froakie upgraded to Lv8!"
"Ding! Froakie learned [Quick Attack]!"
"Ding! Froakie gained 42 experience!"
"Ding! Froakie gained 40 experience!"
"Ding! Froakie upgraded to Lv10!"
"Ding! Froakie learned [Lick]!"
"Ding! Charmander gained 43 experience!"
"Ding! Charmander gained 38 experience!"
"Ding! Charmander gained 36 experience!"
"Ding! Charmander upgraded to Lv11!"
"This leveling speed is incredible. We haven't even reached Viridian City, and it's almost there. Let's complete the hidden mission before moving on."
Eddie reviewed the record and noticed that the experience points were not as abundant as before.
"Well, that's to be expected. Charmander and Froakie are already above level 10. While battling wild Pokémon below level 8 still grants more experience than other players might get, it's not as much as before," he thought.
Of course, he kept this observation to himself. If other players knew he was complaining about the "low" experience gains after receiving so much, they would either criticize him or regard him as absurdly lucky.
"Anyway, I've nearly completed my training in this forest, and I've also caught several Pokémon. After all, filling a certain number of Pokédex entries comes with rewards."
Trainer Information:
Name: Morning Sun
Trainer Rank: Junior Trainer
Pokédex Entries: 11
Pokémon Owned: 14
Pokedollars: 16,000
Badges Owned: 0
Location: Kanto Region
"My strength is now at the Junior Trainer level. As for the Trainer Rankings, they only unlock at the Intermediate level, but at this rate, I might reach the list today. When that happens, I bet I'll dominate the leaderboard!"
Eddie laughed to himself, imagining the scene. He checked his Pokédex entries and the Pokémon he had captured:
Charmander, Froakie, Caterpie ×2, Metapod, Weedle ×2, Kakuna, Oddish, Pidgey, Raticate ×2, Spearow, Tangela.
"Compared to other players who can only catch Pidgey, Raticate, and Caterpie early on, I've captured much more variety," Eddie said with satisfaction. "Although have Peak level Potential except for Pidgey, which has potential of Quasi-Elite. But even the Peak level potential Pokémon can help me dominate the rankings. My team will stand out for sure!"
Eddie had lost count of how many times he had laughed today, but he quickly regained focus. "No time to waste. I found the NPC who gives the hidden mission!"
At this moment, Eddie was nearing Viridian City, but before reaching his destination, he decided to complete the hidden mission first.
Eddie walked towards the boy, who gives the hidden mission. The boy wore shorts, carried an insect trap, held an insect net, and had a straw hat perched on his head. He stood in the bushes, seemingly searching for something.
"Hello, are you a Trainer? I'm Rookie Trainer Morning Sun. Can we have a Pokémon battle?" Eddie asked with a kind smile.
Hidden Mission Trigger Condition 1: Take the initiative to challenge Bug Catcher Cole to a Pokémon battle and defeat him.
Yes, this was the familiar Bug Catcher often encountered in the bushes in his previous life when playing Pokémon. While his team of Metapod and Kakuna, only capable of using [Harden], could be tedious, he was a helpful character who presented hidden missions to rookie players in this game.
However, triggering this hidden mission wasn't straightforward. If a player didn't actively challenge him to battle, he would ignore them and continue searching the bushes. Many players speculated he held a mission and repeatedly asked if he needed help, only to be met with the same response: "I don't need any help."
It wasn't until a player, out of boredom, directly challenged him to a battle that the mission condition was triggered. That player went on to complete the unique hidden mission—one that disappeared forever after someone completed it—and proudly shared the mission's details and rewards on the forums.
What that player didn't know was that Eddie had been reborn. Now, all the hidden mission information players had proudly posted in his previous life belonged to him.
"You can't imagine it, but I've been reborn! All those hidden missions you shared so proudly are now mine," Eddie thought, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
Still, he kept his composure. As a professional, he wouldn't laugh unless he absolutely couldn't hold it back.
"Okay, my name is Cole, and I'm a Trainer too. Let's have a Pokémon showdown!" Cole responded enthusiastically, pulling out a Poké Ball and preparing for the match.
Eddie was secretly thrilled. Bug Catcher Cole had accepted the challenge, and Eddie recalled the details from his past life: Cole had two Pokémon—Caterpie and Weedle, both at level 7.
The NPCs in the game never seemed to evolve their Pokémon, even when they reached the required level. Eddie never understood why.
"This battle will be perfect for leveling up Froakie," Eddie decided, and he sent Froakie forward.
"You're up, Froakie!"
"Froakie!" The Water-type starter croaked enthusiastically, leaping into position.
Eddie released Froakie confidently. After all, he had just been training and leveling it up. He felt certain of his victory. His opponent was just a Caterpie, while he had a Froakie, one of the coveted starter Pokémon.
How could he lose?
But Eddie had overlooked something important—something critical—or perhaps he had subconsciously ignored it...
"Wow! I've never seen that Pokémon before. You must be strong, but I won't back down. Come out, Beedrill!"
"Hiss!"
A Beedrill burst forth from the Poké Ball, its sharp, pointed Twineedles gleaming as it hovered menacingly over Froakie.
Name: Beedrill
Type: Bug/Poison
Ability: Swarm (Increases the power of Bug-type moves by 1.5 times when HP is low)
Level: 12
Potential: Advanced
Eddie stared in shock as the buzzing Beedrill took its place.
Beedrill: "You aren't facing a Caterpie! Prepare yourself for my sting!"
Eddie: "..."