The sky stretched out in a brilliant shade of blue, vast and endless, as a majestic bird soared through the open air. With a wingspan exceeding 1.5 meters, the creature radiated grace and power. Riding atop its back was a young man, his red jacket fluttering against the wind, and beside him sat a small, yellow-skinned mouse with pointed ears and bright, curious eyes.
The trio—Robert, his trusted Pidgeot, and his ever-energetic Pichu—were making their way toward Lavender Town, having departed from Vermilion City earlier that day.
Robert gripped Pidgeot's feathers tightly with his right hand while keeping his eyes locked on a virtual screen visible only to him. The system's map displayed his route in vivid detail, helping him navigate the vast terrain below. As someone who had relied heavily on GPS in his past life, Robert had developed an instinct to check maps frequently, fearing he might get lost.
"Man, thank goodness for this system," he muttered to himself. "Without it, I'd probably wander around aimlessly like Ash and his friends. The Kanto region isn't that big, but it's way too easy to lose your way if you're not careful."
After closing the map, Robert shifted his gaze toward the landscape passing beneath him. Thick forests, winding rivers, and rocky hills rolled by like a moving painting. He took a deep breath of the crisp, high-altitude air before turning his attention to his Pidgeot.
"Pidgeot, it's almost noon. Let's find a place to rest," he suggested. "You've been flying for quite a while, and it's the perfect time to eat and take a break."
"Bi~"
Pidgeot let out a cry of acknowledgment, scanning the ground below with its keen eyesight. Within moments, it found an open clearing and swiftly descended, landing gracefully.
Robert dismounted, stretching his legs as he felt the solid earth beneath his feet again. Though flying was an exhilarating experience, he still preferred walking. The thrill of soaring through the sky was undeniable, but there was something reassuring about having the ground beneath him.
After releasing Charmeleon from its Poké Ball, Robert began setting up lunch. The group enjoyed their meal together, savoring the much-needed break. Once everything was packed up, they resumed their journey toward Lavender Town. However, with dozens of kilometers still left to cover, Robert decided to travel on foot rather than fly.
His reasoning was simple—Pichu and Squirtle needed to grow stronger. Unlike Charmeleon and Pidgeot, who were nearing Gym Leader-level strength, Pichu and Squirtle were still at the peak of ordinary level. Walking through the wild would allow him to battle Pokémon along the way, training his team while also accumulating valuable system points.
Since both Pichu and Squirtle were going to be key members of his team, they needed to develop quickly. If their strength lagged too far behind, they would become liabilities instead of assets.
A Strategic Training Plan
Robert had a carefully structured training plan for each of his Pokémon.
Charmeleon, his first Pokémon, was destined to be one of his strongest fighters. While his initial plan was to focus primarily on long-range attacks, he reconsidered after realizing the unpredictability of real-world battles. If Charmeleon could master both ranged and melee combat, he would become an even greater threat.
"A fire-breathing turret is great, but a versatile warrior? That's even better," Robert thought. His ultimate goal was to turn Charmeleon into a well-rounded combatant, a true hexagonal warrior capable of handling any situation.
Next was Pidgeot. Its evolution had granted it incredible speed, capable of reaching Mach 2—almost as fast as a high-tech fighter jet. With that in mind, Robert planned to train Pidgeot as an aerial assassin, prioritizing speed and precision. If Pidgeot could move fast enough and strike with lethal force, it could eliminate opponents before they even had a chance to react.
Then came Beedrill, another crucial team member. Unlike Pidgeot, which dominated the skies, Beedrill was a land-based assassin. With its Sniper ability, it could deal devastating critical hits, making it a true one-shot killer. However, Beedrill's fragile defense meant that if it failed to take down an opponent in a single strike, it would be at risk of defeat.
Pichu, the fourth key member, was temporarily filling the role of his electric-type powerhouse. Robert's plan for Pichu was simple—maximize its electrical attacks. If a single Thunder Shock wasn't enough, then two should do the job. Eventually, Pichu would evolve and become an even more formidable force.
Lastly, there was Squirtle. Unlike the others, Robert envisioned Squirtle as an immovable turret, a defensive wall that could endure attacks while dealing massive damage with Hydro Pump. A strong defense combined with a powerful offense made for a solid strategy.
The First Hunt Begins
Snapping back to the present, Robert turned to Pidgeot, who had fully recovered from the earlier flight.
"Alright, Pidgeot. Start scouting for wild Pokémon. Once you find one, come back and guide us," Robert instructed.
Pidgeot let out a cry before flapping its wings and shooting into the sky like an arrow. Robert watched as his Pokémon disappeared into the clouds, then turned to Pichu and Squirtle.
"Alright, you two. We're going to find some opponents and start training."
Pichu's ears perked up excitedly, and Squirtle gave a determined nod.
However, just as Robert took his first step, Pidgeot suddenly returned, circling above his head before letting out an urgent cry. It flapped its wings, gesturing toward a particular direction.
Robert's expression sharpened. "Looks like we've found our first target."
Without hesitation, he recalled Charmeleon and Beedrill into their Poké Balls, then signaled for Pichu and Squirtle to follow. They raced after Pidgeot, weaving through the dense forest as anticipation buzzed in Robert's veins.
Somewhere ahead, an unsuspecting wild Pokémon was about to experience the toughest battle of its life.
And for Robert's team, it was just the beginning.
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