Morning runs were divided into thirty-minute sessions, each followed by a ten-minute rest.
After so many days of training, the soreness in his muscles had mostly gone, and his stamina had significantly improved.
Where he once would've been gasping for air after half an hour, now he could jog through it with ease. As long as he kept up the exercise, his physical fitness would keep steadily improving—this much he was certain of.
As for how much it could improve, whether he'd eventually turn into some kind of human Pokémon… that, he had no clue.
Still, over the past few days, a new proficiency had appeared.
[Umihara Reiji]
[Pokémon: 2]
[Proficiencies: (Fishing / 13.12%) (Throwing / 19.51%) (Cooking / 8.86%) (Fitness / 3.45%)]
The "Fitness" proficiency seemed to be a general category for physical activity, triggered by his running.
Not that it mattered much. Unless he had psychic powers, there wasn't really much use for it. And he didn't.
Among all his proficiencies, "Throwing" was increasing the fastest. That one might actually hit max someday.
Fishing and cooking might as well. But fitness? Probably not. Pokémon had potential limits—why wouldn't humans? If anything, the human cap was probably much lower.
If humans could take on Pokémon barehanded, what would be the point of being a Trainer? It'd be a joke.
That's why you needed psychic powers. Or maybe Aura. Or the ability to command dragons. Or time-space powers…
Without some kind of special ability, trying to become a humanoid Pokémon was just a pipe dream.
He didn't even know where in the Pokémon world he'd ended up—just some remote corner where a stray Beedrill could skewer him on a whim. Worrying about superpowers was a bit premature.
Back to the present—he and Poliwag were in the middle of a run when a sharp, piercing birdsong rang out.
Out of the three of them, it was Caterpie who reacted first, immediately perking up and scanning for the source of the sound.
"Skree! Skreeee!"
"Huh?" Reiji looked up just in time to see a Spearow diving down from above, locking onto the Caterpie nibbling at leaves on a tree branch.
"Wuuuh!" The poor bug let out a frightened squeal—this was full-on predator mode.
Caterpie scrambled to take cover in the canopy, but the tree it had chosen had sparse branches and barely any cover.
With no way to hide, it had no choice but to fire a Silk Shot at the incoming threat.
But that slow, sluggish webbing didn't stand a chance. Spearow's sharp gaze tracked it effortlessly, swerving out of the way with ease.
"Skree-skree!" Spearow sneered at the feeble resistance and accelerated its dive.
Just as Caterpie's eyes filled with terror, just as Spearow's talons were about to grab it—
A Poké Ball flew in and struck the predator in midair.
"Skree!" Spearow cried in fury as it was sucked into the Poké Ball, glaring venomously at Reiji as if to say, You'll pay for this…
Caterpie, who'd been panic-stricken moments earlier, exhaled in deep relief.
Then it realized who had saved it. Even if it was that awful human… no way would it ever forgive him. It certainly wouldn't become his companion!
But before Caterpie could fully collect itself, the Poké Ball clicked open again.
Pop!
Spearow burst back out, furious and unrestrained.
"Skreee! Skreee!" it shrieked at Reiji, but didn't forget its original goal—it still wanted to eat Caterpie first, then come back for revenge.
Caterpie's eyes widened in panic as Spearow's gaze fixed back on it.
It didn't freeze up this time. Using its impressive leg strength, it leapt in a single bound to hide behind Reiji, clutching tightly onto his pant leg.
It knew… even if it hated to admit it, in this moment, the only one who could save it was this terrible human.
Even if it didn't like him, even if it had been giving him the cold shoulder just moments ago… well, that could be forgiven. Temporarily.
This wasn't cowardice—it was strategic retreat!
Spearow, seeing its prey duck behind the very human who had disrupted its hunt, didn't hesitate. It dove again, beak glinting with a flying-type move—Peck.
"Poliwag, Water Gun!"
"Yoh!" Poliwag stepped in front of Reiji, ready and waiting.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
A rapid triple Water Gun burst out, drenching the oncoming Spearow.
Poliwag's Water Gun had come a long way since the days of fighting Pidgey—it was now faster, stronger, and more accurate by far.
"Keep going! Don't let it recover!" Reiji barked out the next order.
Unlike the more timid Pidgey, Spearow was quick to anger and slow to think. It'd get itself into trouble before it even realized it was in danger.
Bang!
Spearow was pushed back mid-air and slammed into the trunk of the tree Caterpie had been eating from.
Reiji didn't waste the opportunity. He grabbed the Poké Ball from the ground and flung it again.
Whizz—Zap! The red light sucked in the weakened, stunned Spearow.
The ball shook once… twice… three times…
Click.
Capture successful.
[Spearow]
[Type: Normal / Flying]
[Gender: Male]
[Potential: 22%]
[Level: 6.01%]
[Ability: Keen Eye / 3.33%]
[Moves: (Growl / 3.22%) (Peck / 4.91%) (Leer / 2.81%)]
Just another run-of-the-mill bird.
Total fluke that he even managed to catch it, really.
Still, he'd never tried bird meat before. Might be worth a taste.
As for Caterpie?
Still hugging his leg.
Yep. Just as planned.
The reason he'd let Caterpie roam in such an open, exposed clearing was to make it a lure—for flying-types like Spearow.
Not recalling it into its Poké Ball had been deliberate too. He wanted it to experience real danger.
Only by facing death would it realize who it had to rely on.
True affection wouldn't win its heart.
Only strategy would.
Kind of scummy?
…Pfft. Please.
He just wanted to befriend this adorable Caterpie. What evil motive could he possibly have?
Good thing it wasn't a Fearow or a Dodrio. That, he really wouldn't have been able to handle…
(End of Chapter)
[+50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]