The gate to Viridian City loomed ahead just as the sky faded to gold.
Nathan stepped onto paved ground with Squirtle by his side and Nidoran's Pokรฉball clipped securely to his belt. The faint buzzing of streetlights replacing forest chirps felt almost surreal.
He exhaled slowly. "We made it."
The System chimed.
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
+๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐: ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ครฉ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ: ๐ โ ๐
๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ครฉ๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ง๐ | ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ | ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ
Nathan's eyes widened as three glowing panels unfurled before him in mid-air. The Pokรฉdex Sync was familiar it pulled information from Pokรฉmon Nathan had seen, scanned, or battled.ย
The Capture Log showed a visual record of each successful catch, tagged by time, location, and condition.
The Team Bonding Meter? That was new.
He tapped it.
๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ :
๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ โ ๐๐/๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ)
๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐งโ โ ๐๐/๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ)
So it tracked not just performanceโฆ but relationships.
Nathan smirked. "That's going to be useful."
The Pokรฉmon Centre was just ahead. The sliding doors opened with a soft hiss and the scent of antiseptic and warm fabric drifted out. Inside, a few trainers lounged on benches while their Pokรฉmon healed. One girl stood at a vending machine feeding coins for soda. A young Nurse Joy waved from behind the counter.
Nathan approached with both Pokรฉballs ready. "Two for healing, please."
"Of course," she said with a smile. "It'll just take a moment."
He sat near the back wall, pulling up the System while he waited.
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ: ๐
๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ: ๐๐ / ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฌ: ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ | ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ | ๐๐จ๐ครฉ๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ง๐
๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค (๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐): ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง โ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ครฉ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ-๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐
"Auto-scanโฆ" Nathan murmured. "So the System starts doing recon for me?"
That was useful.
He didn't notice someone watching him until a voice cut through the Centre.
"Never seen a rookie stare so hard at air before."
Nathan looked up. A tall teen with a black coat and sharp hazel eyes leaned against the wall near the front desk, arms crossed. His tone wasn't mocking but it wasn't friendly either.
"I'm guessing you're one of Oak's new batch?" the boy asked.
Nathan stood, calm. "Just started yesterday."
The stranger's gaze flicked to his belt. "Two Pokรฉmon already. Not bad. But you don't walk like a battler."
Nathan raised a brow. "You sizing me up for a reason, or just bored?"
A smile twitched on the boy's face. "Name's Cael. I evaluate new trainers for sport."
"Charming."
"Friendly duel?" Cael offered, now standing straight. "Two on two. Out back."
Nathan hesitated but the System didn't.
๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐: ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ (๐๐ฏ๐)
๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐: ๐๐ ๐๐๐ + ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค
๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ : ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ง
That warning was new.
"Alright," Nathan said, grabbing his Pokรฉballs. "Let's see what your evaluation's worth."
The Centre's back garden had a small arena, ringed by hedges and training dummies. A few other trainers gathered at the edges, sensing action.
Cael tossed a Pokรฉball high. "Let's make it interesting. No switch outs."
A flash of light revealed a Zubat, already airborne and circling.
Nathan scanned quickly.
[๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ โ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ โ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ: ๐]
๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ | ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ: ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐
๐๐จ๐ง๐: ๐๐/๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ
Similar potential to my Nidoran, Nathan thought. But aerial movement will make Squirtle's range vital.
"Squirtle, go!"
๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐: ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฏ๐ฌ. ๐๐๐๐ฅ (๐๐ฏ๐)
๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐๐
๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ: ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฒ๐ง๐: ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐
Cael moved first. "Zubat Supersonic!"
"Squirtle, withdraw into your shell!"
Zubat's sonic wave shimmered through the air but struck the curved shell of Squirtle, who spun in place and popped back out unharmed.
"Counter with Water Gun!"
The stream hit Zubat mid turn. The bat screeched, tumbling low.
"Recover and Leech Life"
Zubat dipped under the next spray and struck Squirtle with Leech Life. A faint glow passed between them.
๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐: ๐๐%
๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐: ๐๐%
That drain adds up, Nathan thought. But if I push the paceโฆ
"Charge and Tackle!"
Squirtle launched forward, leaping off a training mat and ramming Zubat into a tree trunk.
The bat didn't rise.
๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐.
๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐.
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: ๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐
Cael frowned slightly but didn't speak. He returned Zubat and pulled another ball.
Out came a Growlithe, fur bristling, eyes locked on Squirtle.
[๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ โ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ โ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ: ๐+]
๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ | ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ: ๐๐ข๐ญ๐, ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐จ๐๐ซ
๐๐จ๐ง๐: ๐๐/๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฒ๐๐ฅ
Nathan flinched at the Intimidate effect as it triggered.
Higher level. Higher bond. Stronger Potential.
"Squirtle, return!"
Cael raised a brow. "Thought we agreed no switches."
Nathan smiled faintly. "Didn't say I wouldn't throw another."
He called out Nidoran instead.
๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐งโ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐.
๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ: ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ญ | ๐๐จ๐ง๐: ๐๐/๐๐๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐: ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ
"Growlithe Bite!"
"Nidoran, Leer and dodge!"
The Growlithe charged, but Nidoran spun away, locking eyes with a fierce glare. Its Defence dropped.
"Again, Peck!"
Nidoran lunged scored a clean jab to the shoulder.
Growlithe growled.
"Ember, now!"
The fireball struck Nidoran squarely, sending him skidding.
๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐: ๐๐%
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐: ๐๐%
Nathan narrowed his eyes. It's going to be close.
"Focus Energy!"
Nidoran's stance sharpened. A faint shimmer glowed across its horn.
"Finish it Peck to the flank!"
The critical hit landed.
Growlithe staggered and collapsed.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐.
๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐งโ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐.
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: ๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐
The spectators clapped lightly. Cael returned his partner, face unreadable.
"You're better than you look," he said. "Still learningโฆ but you've got instincts."
Nathan returned both his Pokรฉmon. "Appreciate the evaluation."
Cael nodded once. "We'll battle again. Probably when it matters more."
He walked off, coat billowing behind him.
๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ
+๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ: ๐ โ ๐
๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐: ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฌ + ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ครฉ๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ฅ
Nathan stood in the middle of the field, the hum of new data dancing behind his eyes.
He checked the map overlay.
Next stop: Viridian Forest.
And beyond that Pewter City. Brock's Gym.
"Step by step," Nathan whispered, gripping his Pokรฉ Balls tightly.
He was starting to see it now how everything connected. The potential of the System wasn't just to win.
It was to evolve with him.