With Pidgeotto joining the team, Roy's current lineup now covered three types: Electric, Flying, and Bug.
Excluding Metapod, who needed rest, the Electric-type Pikachu and the Flying-type Pidgeotto both met the requirements for an inverse-type challenge against the Pewter Gym.
Therefore, Roy focused the next leg of his journey on leveling up Pikachu and Pidgeotto.
Pikachu was an expert at grinding levels due to its Electric-type coverage and the doubling effect of the Light Ball.
Unexpectedly, Pidgeotto also proved to be an expert at clearing maps.
High in the sky, Pidgeotto would Lock-On to its target.
It would fold its wings.
Dive!
Bang!
A Rattata that was busy gnawing on a berry would be sent flying by the impact, rolling several times across the grass before fainting.
The Big Pecks ability gave Pidgeotto incredibly strong defense.
And the power of its close-quarters Tackle, bolstered by the acceleration of its dive, was even more terrifying.
Whether it was Rattata, Weedle, or Caterpie, they were all KO'd in one hit.
A second hit was never necessary.
Such bravery was entirely thanks to the feedback its ability provided to its physique.
After just a day or two of grinding.
The levels of both Pokémon saw a massive leap.
[Pokémon: Pikachu, lv17 → lv21]
[Pokémon: Pidgeotto, lv19 → lv22]
Both Pokémon broke through together, reaching a new tier—the Common Grade.
Reaching a new tier provided a qualitative leap in a Pokémon's combat power.
And the Common Grade was already the upper echelon for the vast majority of wild Pokémon.
To go any higher required systematic training, investment of resources, individual talent, or the collective resources of a pack.
"Wow, Roy, this Pidgeotto of yours really does look different, huh?"
Misty, who had been questioning Roy's eye for catching Pokémon just two days ago, began to offer her praise after witnessing Pidgeotto's battles.
Of course.
The more significant reason was that Pikachu and Pidgeotto had cleared all the Bug-type Pokémon along the way.
This allowed the bug-fearing Misty to finally walk with confidence.
She no longer had to hide behind Roy's back in fear.
Nor did she have to scream every now and then.
"Now you know I have a good eye?"
Roy teased with a smile.
"Hmph~ It's still just a little bit worse than mine."
Misty's face turned red as she turned her head away.
She wouldn't easily admit to being weak.
Delia smiled gently from the side.
She looked at Roy's back, her eyes full of pride.
Her man was looking more and more like a Trainer... Evening came.
The three of them set up camp by a small stream.
Delia was preparing dinner.
Misty sat on a rock, swinging her fair legs.
Roy was checking on the condition of his two Pokémon.
Pikachu lay on Roy's lap, enjoying the pets.
Pidgeotto stood nearby, preening its feathers.
"At this rate, by the time we reach Pewter City, they should both be around level 25."
Roy calculated in his head.
A level 25 Pikachu plus the Light Ball... should be enough to take on the Pewter Gym.
Even if Brock brought out his true strength, he was confident he could put up a fight.
"Dinner's ready~"
Delia's voice called out.
Dinner was a simple berry stew and grilled fish.
The aroma was mouthwatering.
"Let's eat~"
The three sat around the campfire in harmony... The next day.
They continued their journey.
With Pidgeotto's aerial reconnaissance, their travel efficiency increased significantly.
Coupled with Roy's Aura Power,
wherever there were groups of wild Pokémon,
or wherever the terrain was complex,
they could detect it in advance.
"There's a swarm of Beedrill up ahead, let's go around them."
Roy made a judgment based on the information Pidgeotto relayed.
Beedrill swarms were not to be trifled with.
Even though Pikachu's Electric moves countered them, there were too many, and it would be easy to get injured.
There was no need to force their way through.
"Mm-hmm!"
Misty nodded frantically.
She definitely didn't want to see that many bugs.
They took a detour.
The forest gradually thinned out.
It looked like they were about to exit the boundaries of the Viridian Forest.
"At this rate, we should reach Pewter City by tomorrow afternoon."
Roy checked the map.
"That's great~"
Misty breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, they were leaving this place crawling with bugs.
However,
just as she let her guard down, Roy's Aura Power suddenly detected something unusual.
In the bushes not far behind Misty,
there was a stout humanoid figure.
Its movements... looked like it was holding something.
Preparing to attack.
"Look out!"
Roy's expression changed.
Without time to think, he reached out and pulled Misty toward him!
"Ah!"
Misty cried out in surprise.
Because she was wearing a crop top, when Roy pulled her, his palm directly touched the sensitive skin of her waist.
Misty's whole body tensed up, and she shivered as if an electric current had passed through her.
"Hey, Roy, don't touch me there~ I'll..."
Her voice was filled with coy annoyance and panic.
Before she could finish her sentence,
"Ha!"
A figure suddenly lunged out from the bushes!
He was wearing a samurai outfit.
And holding... a katana?
With a fierce expression on his face, the youth swung the blade down!
His target was exactly where Misty had been standing!
Bang!
The blade fell.
It struck empty air.
Thanks to Roy's timely intervention, Misty had already been pulled into his arms.
The Samurai Youth was stunned.
He clearly hadn't expected to miss.
And in the moment he was dazed—
Roy's leg had already kicked out fiercely!
It landed right on the Samurai Youth's butt.
"Gah!"
The Samurai Youth let out a miserable cry.
He was kicked flying, face-planting onto the grass ahead.
The katana also flew out of his hand.
It landed on the ground with a "clatter."
[Ding! Mission Triggered: Defeat the Samurai Youth training in the forest and give him a thorough lesson.]
[Mission Reward: super flight berry * 2 — When consumed by a Flying-type Pokémon, it provides significant positive gains in size and lifespan.]
The system prompt rang out.
Roy's eyes lit up.
Good stuff!
He had just been pondering the issue of Butterfree's lifespan deficiency.
Butterfree didn't have a long lifespan.
This was a common ailment among Bug-type Pokémon.
They evolved fast and grew fast, but their lives were short.
Most Butterfree could only live for a few months to a year after evolving.
Those belonging to Trainers fared a bit better, as they received careful care and energy supplements to live longer.
But it was still a shortcoming.
And now... the system had directly spawned an item related to lifespan gain!
super flight berry.
One could tell just from the name it wasn't simple.
It was exactly what he needed right when he needed it.
Roy was secretly delighted.
But for now... he had to deal with this guy who had ambushed them.
"Ouch~ You jerk, why did you kick me!"
The Samurai Youth scrambled up from the ground, grimacing.
He picked up the "katana" that had fallen.
"Kicking you? That was letting you off easy!"
Before Roy could reply, Misty, having regained her senses, immediately exploded.
She broke free from Roy's embrace—though the tingling sensation where he had touched her waist still lingered—and charged forward with her hands on her hips.
"Are you out of your mind! Hiding here to ambush people with a sword?"
Misty's face was flushed with anger.
The emotions built up from days of fearing bugs in the forest all erupted at once.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was! If Roy hadn't reacted quickly, that sword would have hit me!"
"Didn't your parents ever teach you not to attack people randomly!"
"..."
Misty didn't hold back at all, unleashing a storm of verbal abuse. Well, she was scolding him quite harshly.
The Samurai Youth was stunned by the scolding.
He opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself.
But Misty didn't give him the chance.
"Exactly, you're really being too reckless, young man."
The usually gentle Delia was also rarely angry.
She walked to Roy's side, looked at Misty with concern, then looked at the Samurai Youth with a serious tone.
"How can you ambush people with a sword? What if you hurt someone?"
"I... this is a toy sword..."
The Samurai Youth finally found an opportunity to interject.
He held up the plastic sword in his hand.
"Even a toy sword isn't okay!"
Misty unleashed another round of shouting.
"You can just hit people because it's a toy sword? What kind of logic is that!"
"I think you just need a lesson!"
"..."
One could only say that the eldest Miss of Cerulean City was indeed quite formidable when it came to scolding people.
The Samurai Youth's face turned from red to white under the verbal assault.
Finally,
"Enough!"
The Samurai Youth bellowed.
He swung the toy sword around wildly.
"I... I am a samurai! I won't bicker with women!"
He turned his gaze toward Roy.
"You... you Pikachu Trainer, step forward!"
"You're from Pallet Town, aren't you!"
"Step forward! Step forward!"
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