Route 1, by the campsite... Alex Drake and Charmander were both sprawled on the ground.
"Are you hungry?"
"Char! Char!"
"Then I'll go cook. Same old rules—you gather the firewood."
Charmander perked up instantly, his exhaustion seemingly vanishing as he trotted off happily to collect branches.
A Pokémon's recovery speed was simply ridiculous compared to a human's. Alex still couldn't even stand properly, yet Charmander was already bursting with energy again.
After resting for a good while and waiting for Charmander to build the fire, Alex walked over to the cutting board and began preparing dinner.
He pulled out the cutting board and knife from his bag. First he sliced the meat he'd brought, then set it aside to marinate in seasoning. While it soaked, he shredded the cabbage.
He heated the frying pan, added a bit of oil, and carefully seared the marinated meat. Once the sauce thickened and caramelized, he plated it neatly over the shredded cabbage. Ginger Pork—done.
A bowl of thick soup on the side made it feel like a proper meal.
Sunrise, sunset... sunrise, sunset... and sunrise, sunset again...
Just like that, roughly two weeks passed.
"After more than two weeks of training, Charmander's progress is obvious even to the naked eye. Compared to his originally thin frame, he's gradually filled out and looks sturdier overall—more robust than the average Charmander. His reaction speed has improved by more than a level."
"In terms of moves, this little guy has not only unlocked powerful techniques like Flamethrower, Slash, and a rough version of Flare Blitz, but he's also begun to master most of them on a basic level. The next step is continuous practice and refinement so he can use them freely and reliably."
"After all, being able to pull off a move once in a while and being able to use it skillfully on command are two completely different things—both require time and repetition to build."
"What's most satisfying is how much better his control has become. He no longer wastes energy by blindly unleashing raw power or firing off moves without technique like he used to. Now he can precisely regulate output, conserving stamina and avoiding unnecessary loss."
"As for his mindset... to put it simply, it's developing into a steadfast belief—an unshakable confidence. Perhaps Charmander has already unknowingly crossed that threshold. When he can truly let go of external burdens and understand his own true self, breaking through limits and reaching higher levels of existence along the way... maybe he'll eventually walk a genuine path toward something godlike."
"The most important focus next should be actual combat. Building real battle awareness can only come from accumulating experience bit by bit through live fights."
"Besides, according to the news I overheard from travelers on the bus earlier, the Pallet Town rookie departure window should be in the next few days. It's perfect timing—hone our skills around here for a little longer, then find an opportunity to tag along with the protagonist group and travel with Ash for a while. It's just too tempting. Not only do you get the massive backing of Professor Oak, but Brock is practically a walking survival guide. Those advantages alone are irresistible. Otherwise, relying solely on my own slow accumulation—who knows how long it would take? One Charmander is already eating up most of my resources. Joining the main group at this stage won't draw too much suspicion either."
"In this world, top-tier knowledge is tightly controlled—either locked down by the League, held by various factions, or monopolized by ancient families. It's not easy to access. Right now I still need a stepping stone. Otherwise, with just a basic Pokémon breeding manual, I'd end up buying shorts and a bug-catching net like every other rookie. I can't exactly join Team Rocket, can I? Are they really that generous? It's probably a 'your life or theirs' situation. Forget it—better to stay low-key."
"Damn it. When other people transmigrate, why does everything go so smoothly for them? They start with six pseudo-legendaries, become Elite after one region, get perfect energy cubes without even needing a recipe, and their training methods turn anything invincible with minimal effort. Ridiculous."
Alex frowned slightly, eyes focused as he stared at the paper and pen in his hand, recording Charmander's data while lost in thought.
**Pokémon:** Charmander
**Type:** Fire
**Gender:** Male
**Ability:** Blaze
**Held Item:** None
**Strength:** Novice Level
**Mastered Moves:** Scratch, Growl, Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Breath, Slash, Flamethrower, Flare Blitz
**Egg Moves:** Unknown
**Talent:** Champion (Personal classification for record-keeping only—not official. Alex ranks talent from low to high as: Common, Excellent, Superior, Gym, Elite, Champion, Legendary. Ultimately, potential doesn't dictate the ceiling; these creatures have no true limit. What determines how far a Pokémon can go depends entirely on its Trainer and its life experiences.)
After finishing the entry, Alex carefully set the paper and pen aside and tucked them into his backpack.
At noon, after lunch...
"Charmander, you can really pack it away. The food I planned for a full month is nearly gone in less than two weeks. We're going to have to figure out how to make some money soon."
Alex patted Charmander's round belly and grumbled.
"Char~ Char~" Charmander stood up, waving his claws and protesting loudly.
"What? I don't understand a word. Most of it definitely went straight into your stomach. Look how round it is—tsk tsk tsk."
"Char~ (∘⁼̴⃙̀˘︷˘⁼̴⃙́∘)" Charmander immediately turned his back, refusing to engage.
"Alright, alright! I was just teasing. We've been training hard for over half a month—let's head into the nearby forest. We can test your progress in real combat and maybe pick some berries to sell in Viridian City. Otherwise we'll really be eating air."
With that, Alex packed up and led Charmander deeper into the forest along Route 1.
The trees grew tall and dense, sunlight filtering through the canopy in shifting patches of light and shadow.
They moved cautiously, the thick layer of fallen leaves rustling softly underfoot.
Before long, they spotted a plump purple rat in the grass—clearly well-fed.
Alerted by the noise, the Rattata whipped its head around, immediately arching its back and baring its teeth in full defensive posture.
"Go, Charmander! Keep it quiet."
Alex stepped back, scanning the surroundings to watch for ambushes. Where there was one Rattata, more were usually nearby.
No joke—though Alex had toughened up recently, he wasn't some Pokémon-world Super Saiyan. A solid bite from those oversized incisors could easily snap hard wood.
Charmander and Rattata faced off, tension crackling in the air.
As a single withered leaf drifted to the ground, the battle began.
Rattata moved like a gust of wind—white light flashing around its paws as it launched Quick Attack, charging at Charmander with blinding speed. Its sharp teeth gleamed menacingly, eyes glinting with cunning ferocity.
In that instant, Charmander displayed astonishing agility and reaction time. He sidestepped smoothly, evading the strike. At the same moment, a dazzling white light flared across his right claw. With lightning speed, he swung a precise Slash!
Shock flashed in Rattata's eyes—as if it couldn't believe it: *I clearly used Quick Attack—how did he still hit me?* But reality was undeniable. Despite twisting desperately to dodge, Rattata hadn't anticipated Charmander's claw speed.
The strike landed cleanly on Rattata's abdomen. With a pained cry, it was hurled back four or five meters.
Charmander froze for a second, staring at his own claw. *Was I already this strong?*
"Charmander! What are you spacing out for? You're still in a fight—stay focused! Charge in and finish it with another Slash!" Alex shouted.
Charmander snapped back to attention. In a flash he closed the distance, right claw glowing white as he raised it high and brought it down in a decisive, mountain-splitting strike. Rattata's eyes spun in circles before it collapsed, unable to battle.
"Never lose focus in a fight, or you'll pay for it eventually. I could remind you this time, but you're the one actually fighting—you can't rely on me forever. Besides, your Trainer here is still a complete novice. My commands aren't perfect, and there will be moments I don't react fast enough. So don't get complacent. Training continues—for both of us. That was just one Rattata!" Alex walked over, patted Charmander's head, and spoke seriously.
"Ra" "Ra" "Ra" "Ra" "Ra"
Rustling erupted from the grass. Four or five Rattata of varying sizes emerged, surrounding their fallen companion.
"Well, great—hit the little one and the whole family shows up. Charmander, move fast! First, use Smokescreen to blind them and conceal yourself. Then charge in and use Slash to take out the two smaller ones on the sides. Finally, circle behind the middle three and hit them with Dragon Breath."
"Char!"
A thick cloud of smoke instantly engulfed the five Rattata. Charmander dashed forward, claws glowing white as he plunged into the haze. Moments later, two smaller Rattata flew out from the left and right, crashing to the ground unconscious.
Seconds after that, a blue beam shot from the smoke, followed by several heavy thuds. When the smoke cleared, Charmander stood calmly in the center—three more fainted Rattata at his feet.
"Charmander, your mindset is getting sharper every time. Excellent work." Alex praised him, impressed by the professional composure.
"Char~ •̀.̫•́✧" The corner of Charmander's mouth curled upward.
Ignoring the unconscious Rattata, Alex and Charmander continued exploring. In a nearby hollow tree they found a stash of berries.
"No wonder reinforcements arrived so quickly—their nest was right here! No risk, no reward. I'll take these; you guys can gather more later."
Alex carefully identified them: Oran Berries, Pecha Berries, and Cheri Berries. Rough count—about 21 Oran, 10 each of Pecha and Cheri.
He packed them into his backpack, leaving 5 Oran Berries behind in the hollow.
"Let's go, Charmander! Time to find some more opponents nearby..."
(End of Chapter 7)