[System Notification: Congratulations to the host for obtaining an Everstone.]
"…"
The first prize drawn was the reward for successfully challenging the Celadon Gym—but honestly, this reward felt rather underwhelming.
"An Everstone? System, are you sure this came from the Silver-tier Lottery?"
Nozomi stared at the dull gray stone in his hand, the corner of his mouth twitching as a vein pulsed on his forehead.
The Everstone, while uncommon, wasn't exactly rare. Any major city with a Pokémon goods department would have one or two in stock.
It was something you could simply buy with money.
For Nozomi—who was definitely not short on money—drawing an Everstone was nothing short of a catastrophic loss.
"…Have I really used up all my luck?"He fell into silent contemplation.
So much for being blessed by fortune—he was probably just repaying all the good luck he'd borrowed before.
Feeling dejected, Nozomi decided to just roll with it.
"System, continue drawing?"
[Host has 1 remaining Silver-tier draw. Proceed with the lottery?]
"Stop yapping and just draw!"
[Drawing… completed. Congratulations, host has obtained Light of Affection ×1.]
"'Light of Affection'? What's that supposed to be?"
Another prize he'd never heard of—judging by the name, it probably had something to do with Pokémon friendship.
[Light of Affection: A one-time-use item that can moderately increase the bond between a Trainer and their Pokémon.]
"Oh? That actually sounds… useful."
Nozomi perked up slightly.
At first glance, his mind immediately jumped to one Pokémon—Mewtwo.
He already had some ideas for how to improve his relationship with Mewtwo, but every method he'd thought of was complicated and hard to implement.
Now, with this convenient way to boost their bond, how could he not be thrilled?
Even a small improvement could make a big difference. If it could establish a good foundation between him and Mewtwo, the path ahead would be far smoother.
"System," he asked in his mind, "will this Light of Affection work on Mewtwo?"
[Light of Affection has an effect on Legendary-level Pokémon.]
"Good enough."
He relaxed. It wasn't like he planned to use it on anyone else—his other Pokémon could be convinced through more… physical means, if necessary.
He released the Master Ball containing Mewtwo.
"Mewtwo, I want to show you something."
Mewtwo gave him a puzzled look. Before it could react, Nozomi commanded internally, "System, use Light of Affection."
A brilliant white glow descended, enveloping Mewtwo.
Mewtwo's expression grew dazed—it had no idea what Nozomi was doing.
"…"
Where was this so-called bond boost? Nozomi scrutinized Mewtwo for a long time but couldn't see any difference.
Eventually, Mewtwo grew impatient, gave Nozomi a look that screamed idiot, and silently returned to its Master Ball.
"System, you said it works on Legendaries. I don't see any effect at all!"
[Light of Affection indeed increases bond with Legendary Pokémon, though the effect is diminished compared to normal Pokémon.][Additionally, host's bond level with Mewtwo has risen from Neutral to Friendly.]
"Friendly, huh?" Nozomi muttered, not feeling any real difference. He decided to blame it on Mewtwo's perpetually stoic face.
Then again, it made sense. If their relationship were still cold, Mewtwo would probably have blasted him for that stunt.
Realizing that, Nozomi's mood lifted again. Maybe his luck hadn't completely run out—it just wasn't as overpowered as before. Still, he was satisfied.
After resting briefly in Celadon City, Nozomi set off toward his next destination—Fuchsia City and its Fuchsia Gym.
According to the map, he had two routes to choose from:
One was through Gringey City, a direct path to Fuchsia.
The advantage: shorter distance, less travel time.The disadvantage: Gringey City's environment—its air quality was infamously terrible, with a stench that lingered everywhere.
The second route went around Gringey City, looping through Fuchsia Forest.
That path would take longer and was almost deserted, but the air was clean, and wild Pokémon sightings were more common.
After studying the map for a couple of seconds, Nozomi decided to go through Gringey City.
His reason was simple—speed.Detouring around would nearly double his travel time, something a time-conscious Trainer like him simply couldn't tolerate.
As for the city's poor environment? He didn't care.
People online claimed the air in Gringey City was so toxic it was "unfit for human habitation."But Nozomi didn't buy that. How bad could it really be?
He wasn't planning to live there—just passing through. A day or two of bad air wasn't going to kill him.
At least, that's what he thought… until he actually arrived in Gringey City.
Wearing a thick mask, breathing in filtered air that still smelled faintly foul, and looking up at a sky so smog-choked that daylight never broke through, he finally understood why the place was deemed "uninhabitable."
"Is this city… even alive anymore?"
Muttering to himself, Nozomi stepped into the Pokémon Center.
Upon seeing Nurse Joy, he didn't even let her greet him before saying, "Working in a place like this… you have my respect."
Gringey City—once a major industrial hub of the Kanto Region.
It had once hosted over seventy percent of Kanto's heavy manufacturing plants. Almost everything Kanto citizens used back then had the stamp of "Made in Gringey."
But that was long ago.
When the Pokémon League developed cleaner, more efficient energy sources and began enforcing environmental restoration, Gringey City fell into decline.
The once-proud industrial powerhouse had crumbled into decay.
Years of reckless industrial growth had ravaged the ecosystem beyond repair.Severe pollution became a burden the city could never shake.
Eventually, it was officially listed as "unfit for human habitation."
Now, aside from a few old residents who had lived there all their lives, only passing Trainers traveling between Fuchsia and Celadon ever came through.
And even they didn't stay for long.