The road ahead wound through rugged hills, each step bringing loose gravel and jagged rocks underfoot. Wild Pokémon moved through the terrain, some watching curiously, others ready to defend their ground.
Tharion knew it was the perfect place for training.
He unclipped a Pokéball and released it. With a flash, Larvitar emerged, its stone-gray body sturdy and compact. The little Rock Skin Pokémon let out a sharp growl, eyes gleaming with determination.
"Today, you start fighting for real," Tharion told it, his tone steady. "Not just for survival… but for growth."
Charmeleon stood nearby, arms crossed, the flicker of its tail flame reflecting in its eyes. The fire Pokémon had matured since its first days as a Charmander—now it sized up Larvitar like a mentor evaluating a rookie soldier.
"Charmeleon, you'll fight too," Tharion said. "But this time, I want you to adapt. Don't just overpower. Think, adjust, find the opening. Strategy will decide battles more than strength."
Nina tugged on his sleeve, Luxio at her side. "What about us, big brother?"
"You'll fight as well. I'll test both of you today." His eyes softened slightly, but his voice carried the same steel edge. "I need to see how far you've come."
The training began with smaller encounters. Pidgey and Rattata swooped and darted, only to fall before Charmeleon's disciplined Flame Burst or Larvitar's Rock Throw. Each time, Tharion adjusted commands.
"Charmeleon—feint before striking.""Larvitar—anticipate the movement, don't just throw the rock."
The two Pokémon slowly sharpened, their rhythm shifting into something more tactical than brute force.
Meanwhile, Nina's Luxio handled lower-level opponents. With each Tackle or Spark, the little Electric-type moved more confidently. But Tharion's sharp eyes noted when Nina hesitated, when Luxio delayed too long on her call.
He didn't speak—not yet. He wanted her to feel it.
It was then that the ground trembled. A heavy sound echoed from deeper in the rocky field.
"Rogen…rola!"
A squat, blue, rock-bodied Pokémon stomped forward, its core glowing faintly orange. It locked its single eye on Luxio and snorted, pawing the dirt as though issuing a formal challenge.
Luxio stiffened, sparks crackling from its fur. Nina gasped, clutching her partner's shoulder.
"It's… challenging us?" she whispered.
Tharion's gaze hardened. "Yes. And this time… I won't interfere. Show me, Nina. Show me how much you and Luxio have grown."
Nina froze, then looked down at her partner. Luxio growled low, its body tense, but there was no fear—only resolve.
She swallowed hard, then raised her voice. "Luxio—let's do this!"
The battle began.
Roggenrola slammed forward with Tackle, its rocky body colliding with enough force to shake the ground. Luxio skidded back, claws scraping across stone.
Nina's hands trembled. But she forced her voice steady. "Dodge right—use Spark!"
Luxio's body lit up with electricity, leaping aside before striking with a crackling blow. Sparks danced over Roggenrola's rocky shell, forcing it to stagger.
Tharion watched intently, arms crossed. He said nothing, though Charmeleon leaned forward, growling encouragement. Larvitar merely blinked, tilting its head as though studying the style of battle itself.
The duel raged on—Roggenrola's hardened defenses clashing against Luxio's speed and electric force. Nina stumbled over her words more than once, but each time, Luxio adjusted, covering for her mistakes with instinct and loyalty.
Finally, as Roggenrola reared back for one last Stone Edge, Nina's voice broke through with a clarity she hadn't shown before.
"Luxio! Intercept with Bite—then Spark, full power!"
Luxio roared, leaping straight into the storm of jagged stone. Its fangs sank into Roggenrola's rocky side, electricity flooding out in a thunderous burst.
The glow in Roggenrola's core dimmed as it collapsed, unconscious.
Nina stood frozen for a heartbeat, then burst into tears of relief. "We… we did it!" She threw her arms around Luxio's neck, and the Electric-type nuzzled her with a proud rumble.
Tharion finally stepped forward, kneeling to look her in the eyes. His voice was low, but steady.
"You hesitated. You doubted yourself. But in the end—you trusted your partner. That's what matters most. Well done, Nina."
Her tears turned into a radiant smile.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the horizon in orange, Tharion clipped Roggenrola's Pokéball to his belt. "This one will be sent to the villa. Its strength will help balance the Rock-type territory."
Larvitar growled softly, watching its elder Rock-type vanish into the beam of light. Tharion rested a hand on its head.
"You'll be stronger than them all. But only if you fight with me."
The little Pokémon closed its eyes, growling with pride.
Together, they resumed their path toward Viridian. The journey was only beginning, but each step, each battle, and each bond tightened the thread of legend that followed in Tharion's wake.
The path out of the cave opened into a sun-dappled forest, where shafts of light illuminated rustling leaves and the occasional flicker of movement in the underbrush.
Tharion's eyes scanned the terrain with precision. Each rustle, each shadow, indicated life—potential partners, allies, or threats. He released Larvitar once more, letting it stomp ahead with confidence, its rocky body shaking small stones from the trail. Charmeleon followed closely, its tail flame flickering as it studied every move.
"Keep your eyes open, Nina," Tharion said softly. "Every Pokémon here has a purpose, and every encounter teaches us something."
Nina's hands shook slightly as she unclipped her Pokéball from Luxio's belt, now glowing faintly from the earlier battle. "Right, big brother…" she said, her voice firming with determination.
Their first encounter came swiftly. A pair of Sentret darted from the tall grass, squeaking in alarm as Larvitar stomped near. Charmeleon roared, sending a controlled Flame Burst that made the small creatures jump—but not harm them.
"Trap the leading one, but do not hurt it," Tharion commanded. Larvitar responded instantly, stepping in front and nudging the Sentret into a corner. Nina's Luxio dashed forward, body low, using Spark to gently immobilize the smaller Pokémon.
With two careful Pokéballs, the Sentret pair were captured, their forms vanishing into the devices.
"Perfect," Tharion muttered, pocketing the Pokéballs. "These will go to the villa. Make sure they train in the forest section."
Another encounter followed quickly: Pidgey, Rattata, and even a small pair of Oddish hiding near a stream. Each time, Tharion coordinated his Pokémon strategically—Larvitar anchoring the battlefield, Charmeleon exploiting openings, and Luxio and Nina acting as mobile strike units.
The forest soon became a tapestry of tiny victories. For every pair captured, Tharion teleported them back to the villa, assigning them to their respective type-based territories to train and grow under his unseen supervision.
And then, as the sun began to dip low behind the hills, Tharion reached for something special.
He unclipped Roggenrola's Pokéball and handed it gently to Nina. "This one is yours. You fought for it. You should care for it, train it, and grow with it."
Nina's eyes widened in awe and gratitude. "M-me? Really? Roggenrola… mine?"
Tharion nodded, a rare, faint smile touching his lips. "You earned it. Remember, the bond you create is just as important as strength. Teach it well, and it will protect you."
Nina held the Pokéball close, reverently, her Luxio brushing against her side as if acknowledging the new addition to their little team. She whispered, "I'll do my best… I promise."
As they moved forward, Viridian City's spires could now be seen in the distance. But before reaching the outskirts, the wild Pokémon continued to emerge—common ones, yes, but essential for forming the foundation of a thriving, balanced team. Weedle, Pidgey, Caterpie, and even a few Psyduck wandered into the path. Tharion gave clear commands: capture the pairs, assign them to the villa, and integrate them into their type-specific sections.
Every battle was a lesson, every capture a brick in the growing network of power and knowledge. Larvitar remained close, training in real-time with him, while Charmeleon's strategy and flexibility sharpened further. Nina followed with Roggenrola and Luxio, learning to issue commands with growing confidence, her small victories bolstering both her courage and skill.
By the time the trees gave way to the rolling fields before Viridian, the team was larger, stronger, and more cohesive than ever. Tharion looked down at Nina and smiled faintly.
"Ready for the next step?" he asked.
Nina grinned, clutching her new Pokéball. "Yes, big brother. I'm ready."
Together, they stepped toward the city, their shadows long in the evening light, carrying the promise of growth, strength, and adventure.