"Pichu, use Thunder Shock! Squirtle, Water Gun!"
In the dense forest, Robert commanded Pichu and Squirtle in a heated battle against a swarm of five Beedrills. Sparks of electricity and streams of water flew through the air, causing nearby Pokémon to scatter in fear.
The mission of battling wild Pokémon was progressing smoothly.
Robert had deliberately chosen Beedrills for these training sessions. In every region—whether it was Kanto, Johto, or beyond—bug-type Pokémon were among the most abundant. While Rattata and Caterpie were also common, Beedrills offered better training opportunities due to their tendency to form colonies.
Fighting wild Pidgeys wasn't an option since Robert's own Pidgeot might take issue with it, and Spearows were notoriously aggressive. Although Robert was strong enough to handle them, he preferred not to provoke unnecessary trouble. Thus, the unlucky Beedrills became his prime targets.
Despite their aggressive nature, Beedrills weren't as formidable as Spearows, making them the perfect opponents for training Pichu and Squirtle, who were still at their peak ordinary level.
"Jenny!"
"Pichu!"
Under Robert's guidance, Pichu and Squirtle launched coordinated attacks. The Beedrills buzzed furiously, trying to retaliate, but they were no match for the duo's synchronized efforts. System notifications flooded Robert's mind, announcing points gained from each successful defeat.
Within minutes, he had racked up nearly a thousand points.
However, the constant system alerts were becoming annoying, so he disabled the notifications and continued focusing on the battle.
As they roamed the forest, they encountered bold wild Pokémon willing to challenge them. Robert admired their courage, but their strength was lacking. Pichu and Squirtle quickly overpowered them, turning them into valuable "experience."
After some time, Robert checked their progress using the system. Their power had reached its current peak—further improvement would require evolution.
"It's about time," Robert mused.
"Pichu, Squirtle, you've done enough for today. Let's give Pidgeot some action."
"Pichu~!"
"Jenny~!"
Both Pokémon happily retreated, running back to Robert.
However, the remaining Beedrills, seeing Pichu and Squirtle pull back, mistakenly assumed their opponents were exhausted. Just as they prepared to launch a counterattack, Pidgeot—who had been standing guard on a nearby tree—swiftly intervened.
With a powerful Gust, Pidgeot sent the remaining Beedrills flying. The defeated bug-types collapsed, adding to the already growing tally of Robert's points.
Ding!
Congratulations, you have defeated a Beedrill! 30 points earned.
Congratulations, you have defeated a Beedrill! 30 points earned.
Congratulations, you have defeated a Beedrill! 30 points earned.
"Good work, Pidgeot," Robert said, patting the bird's head.
"Bi~!"
Pidgeot ruffled its feathers proudly. Compared to its fellow companion, Shiny Beedrill, these wild Beedrills were no challenge at all.
Robert chuckled at Pidgeot's confident attitude and then knelt down to use the Evergreen Power to heal Pichu and Squirtle. Once they were restored, he returned them to their Poké Balls for some well-earned rest.
With his Pokémon recuperating, Robert continued his journey, looking for more wild Pokémon to fight and earn points.
---
Three Days Later
The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the dirt path as a young man emerged from the forest. He wore a red and white Poké Ball cap, a red jacket, and blue jeans. His tired but satisfied expression showed that his hard work had paid off.
It was none other than Robert.
After three days of relentless training and battling in the wild, he had finally reached the outskirts of Lavender Town.
During this time, Robert had made significant progress. Thanks to the intense training, Pichu and Squirtle had reached their evolutionary thresholds, and with one more big battle, they would likely evolve. Hunting wild Pokémon any further would be pointless.
Looking up, he could see the small, quiet town in the distance, dominated by a towering purple building—the famous Pokémon Tower.
Robert sighed, stretching his arms.
"Finally here," he muttered to himself. "Three days of non-stop battles. Camping out in the wild might sound fun, but it's exhausting. At least Charmeleon and the others have reached their limits—one more big fight, and they should be able to evolve."
The past two days had been particularly tiring. Finding suitable opponents for his Pokémon was becoming increasingly difficult, forcing Robert to travel deeper into the forest in search of stronger wild Pokémon. Even with his enhanced stamina, it had taken a toll on him.
Fortunately, the system's shop allowed him to buy fresh food, keeping him energized throughout the journey. Without it, spending even a day in the forest would have been a miserable experience.
Taking a deep breath, Robert quickened his pace toward Lavender Town.
His immediate priority?
1. Check into the Pokémon Center.
2. Take a hot bath.
3. Get a full night's sleep.
That was the plan. Training could wait until after some much-needed rest.
---
Welcome to Lavender Town
As Robert entered the town, the eerie atmosphere was immediately noticeable. Lavender Town was famous for being home to the Pokémon Tower, a burial site for deceased Pokémon, and its reputation for being haunted kept many travelers away.
Despite the unsettling reputation, the town had a calming presence. It was small, with only a few buildings, including a Poké Mart, a Pokémon Center, and a couple of homes belonging to the locals.
Ignoring the ghost stories, Robert headed straight for the Pokémon Center.
The glass doors slid open as he stepped inside. The familiar scent of disinfectant and the warm glow of the healing machines immediately relaxed him.
"Nurse Joy," Robert greeted, approaching the counter. "Could you take care of my Pokémon?"
Nurse Joy smiled kindly. "Of course! Please place their Poké Balls on the tray."
Robert complied, handing over Pidgeot, Pichu, Squirtle, Charmeleon, and Beedrill.
"They've been through a lot, so please make sure they get full recovery."
"Don't worry, I'll have them fully healed in no time," Nurse Joy assured him. "Would you also like a room for the night?"
"Absolutely," Robert sighed in relief. "I could use some rest."
"Understood. Here's your key," she said, handing him a small keycard. "Your Pokémon will be ready in about an hour."
"Thanks, Nurse Joy."
With his Pokémon in good hands, Robert wasted no time heading to his assigned room.
As soon as he stepped inside, he set down his bag, grabbed a fresh change of clothes, and headed straight for the shower. The hot water cascading down his back melted away three days of accumulated exhaustion.
After drying off and changing into clean clothes, he flopped onto the bed.
His last thoughts before drifting into sleep?
Tomorrow, I'll check out the Pokémon Tower.
With that, Robert allowed himself to finally relax, embracing the deep, dreamless sleep he had desperately needed.
---
End of Chapter 60