(Grey's POV)

  The morning air in Fuchsia was crisp, carrying the faint, salty tang of the sea from the south. I was up before the city had fully stirred, heading straight to the Pokémon Center. Since I didn't have the luxury of a Pokédex to instantly read data, I had to rely on professional help.

  "Morning, Nurse Joy," I said, placing Exeggcute's ball on the counter. "Can you give me a readout on its current moveset? I need to know exactly what I'm working with before we head out to train."

  She placed the ball into a diagnostic scanner. A few moments later, the screen flickered to life. "Let's see... your Exeggcute knows Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, Poison Powder, Reflect, Leech Seed, and Confusion."

  I nodded, committing the list to memory. It was exactly what I expected, yet slightly frustrating. It didn't have a direct, hard-hitting Grass-type attacking move like Mega Drain yet. However, the utility was insane. Leech Seed was a tactical masterpiece for any trainer—it allowed for passive healing while draining the opponent. Reflect was even better; it gave my team a defensive cushion against the physical attackers that dominated the early circuit. We had the brains and the status effects; now we just needed the battle experience to sharpen them.

  I began the trek southward toward Route 19. Fuchsia was a town of quiet observation; I took my time, watching the way the locals moved. There was a discipline here that you didn't see in the flashy streets of Celadon. Along the way, I saw an old lady struggling with a heavy load of groceries. I didn't hesitate; I stepped in and helped her carry them to her porch. She thanked me with a warm smile and a blessing for my journey. It wasn't about the "karma"—it was about staying grounded. In a world of superpowered monsters, simple human kindness was the only thing keeping you from turning into a cold, clinical machine.

  As I reached the outskirts, a young trainer standing by a signpost locked eyes with me. He immediately reached for a Poké Ball, his face twisting into a mask of intense drama.

  "We locked eyes! That means we must battle!" he shouted.

  I stopped and looked at him, genuinely puzzled. "No, it doesn't. I'm busy."

  "But... the rule! The law of trainers!" he stammered, his hand frozen on his belt.

  "It's a myth, man," I said, shaking my head. "Locking eyes is just eye contact. Unless you're going to physically block my path or force me into a wager, it's entirely up to both trainers to agree. You can't just shout a rule into existence."

  I left him standing there, looking like I'd just told him the world was flat. Honestly, some people spend too much time reading fictional battle mangas here as well, I thought.

  I pushed forward until the grass gave way to the sandy shores of Route 19. The ocean stretched out, a deep, shimmering blue. Further out, I knew a ferry ran to Cinnabar Island, but that was a distant goal. Blaine wouldn't waste his time on a zero-badge trainer, and I wasn't ready for the volcano badge.

  I found a secluded spot on the rocks, the perfect fishing perch. I released Axew and Exeggcute.

  "Alright, Axew, you know the drill. Dragon Dance into Dragon Rage. I want those transitions to be seamless. You've got Slash down, so keep the rhythm tight."

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Axew chirped and began his rhythmic dance on the sand. I then turned to Exeggcute, whose six shells were bobbing slightly in the sea breeze.

  "Exeggcute, you're on point. I'm going to fish. Whatever comes out of that water, I want you to control the field. Use Confusion to damage them, then cycle through Stun Spore or Sleep Powder. Once they're down, use Leech Seed. We're building your combat rhythm today."

  I pulled out the Super Rod the Warden had given me. I'd checked the Pokénet for tips: patience, a sturdy rod, and a prime location. I had all three. I cast the line, the lure plunking into the surf.

  The first hour was a grind. We pulled up several Goldeen and a few irritable Tentacool. Exeggcute was hesitant at first, but it quickly caught on. I pushed it to be creative with Confusion. When a Goldeen fired a Water Gun, I told Exeggcute to use its psychic power to "freeze" the water in mid-air or redirect it back. I even had it use Confusion to "guide" its Leech Seed shots, curving them around obstacles to ensure a guaranteed hit. The seeds would burrow into the target's scales, and I could see Exeggcute visibly brighten as the stolen vitality flowed back into its shells.

  Just as I was starting to get bored, the rod nearly flew out of my hands. The line went taut, humming with tension. Something heavy—really heavy—was on the other end. It was dragging me toward the surf.

  "Exeggcute! Help me pull! Use Confusion on the line!"

  With the added psychic weight, we slowly hauled the creature out of the depths. It broke the surface with a massive splash—a Shellder. But this wasn't like the ones in the textbooks. It was nearly double the standard size, its violet shell gleaming with a dark, metallic luster.

  A King Gene, I realized, my pulse accelerating. In the wild, most Pokémon follow a standard growth curve, but occasionally you find variants. "Alphas" are feral and aggressive; "Totems" are oversized guardians tied to a specific habitat. But the "King Gene" was about pure physical superiority and size without the madness of an Alpha.Then there was the Shiny Gene which were a rare color oddity.

  The Shellder didn't wait for an introduction. The moment it hit the sand, it snapped its shell shut and fired a barrage of Icicle Spears.

  "Exeggcute, Reflect and Confusion! Now!"

  The shimmering barrier went up just in time, the icy shards shattering against the psychic wall and confusion held them in place to dissipate. Axew stopped his training, alert and ready to jump in, but I waved him back. This was Exeggcute's fight.

  "This is the one, buddy," I muttered. Cloyster was the perfect addition to my team. Ice and Water provided a brutal offensive combination, and Cloyster's physical defense was legendary—even Lorelei of the Elite Four relied on one. If this Shellder had the Skill Link ability which I think it does seeing the barrage of icicle spears it fired then, combined with Shell Smash later on, it would be my alternate sweeper.

  "Exeggcute, Leech Seed! Angle it with Confusion!"

  The seeds flew, but the Shellder was incredibly precise. It fired an Icicle Spear out of its shell, intercepting the seeds in mid-air.

  "Don't let it! Redirect!"

  Exeggcute's eyes glowed. The seeds swerved mid-flight, dodging the ice and sticking firmly to the Shellder's hinge. The glowing green vines began to sap its strength. Enraged, the Shellder fired a high-pressure Water Gun.

  "Stop it cold!"

  Exeggcute didn't even wait for the command. It used Confusion to halt the stream of water inches from its face, then followed up with a Stun Spore. The yellow dust coated the Shellder, and I saw the static sparks begin to jump across its shell. Paralyzed.

  From there, it was a slow, tactical grind. Shellder tried to retaliate with more Icicle Spears, but between Reflect and Confusion, Exeggcute kept the field controlled while Leech Seed did the heavy lifting. It was a painful, inevitable defeat for the wild Pokémon. When its shell finally slumped open, showing its exhaustion, I threw a Poké Ball.

  One... two... three... four... five... six... Click.

  I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Welcome to the team, Shellder."

  I took the trio back to Nurse Joy for a full recovery session. Once they were healed, I brought them to the back lot of the Center. I introduced Shellder to the others.

  "Listen," I said, looking at the large bivalve. "You lost today, but you fought like a king. I can make you stronger. I can help you evolve and learn to use those spears to tear through any opponent. You want in?"

  The Shellder looked at Exeggcute, then at me. It gave a small, rhythmic snap of its shell—a sign of respect and agreement.

  I spent the rest of the afternoon training. I stopped fishing and had Shellder and Exeggcute spar. I had Shellder fire Icicle Spears while Exeggcute practiced catching them or diverting them with Confusion. I confirmed with Nurse Joy that it did indeed have the Skill Link ability, along with Icicle Spear, Water Gun, Spikes, and Clamp.

  "Tomorrow," I told Shellder, "we start working on Rapid Spin. I need you to be our hazard remover. If someone tries to set traps on us, you're the one who clears the way."

  Axew watched them, looking satisfied with the new addition. He knew the team was growing. As night fell, I headed back to the ramen stall—it was becoming a habit—and fed the three of them their specialized kibble.

  I sat in my room later, the glow of the Pokénet reflecting in my eyes. I started researching Koga. I needed to see his "0-badge" team composition. He was a master of poison and misdirection; I needed a strategy that accounted for his traps. If I felt confident by morning, I'd make the challenge.