Kaito left Pallet Town at first light. He walked with Bulbasaur on one side and Rattata on the other. He carried a small pack. He had water and bread. He had a plan. He would walk the first route. He would meet trainers. He would test what he had learned.
A man stood on the path ahead. He wore a cap and had a small team of Pokémon with him. The man smiled when he saw Kaito and the two Pokémon.
"Hey, kid," the man said. "You look like you train. Want a quick match?"
Kaito looked at the man. He looked at Bulbasaur and Rattata. He nodded.
"Okay," Kaito said. "Rattata, stay close. Bulbasaur, be ready."
The man laughed. "All right. Let's make it one-on-one. Rattata versus Pidgey. Ready?"
Kaito stepped forward. He kept his voice calm. He kept his eyes on his Pokémon.
"Rattata, Quick Attack!" Kaito shouted.
Rattata leapt forward. It moved fast. It hit the Pidgey and pushed it back. The Pidgey flapped its wings and tried to strike.
"Pidgey, Gust!" the man called.
A gust of wind hit Rattata. Rattata stumbled. Kaito did not panic.
"Rattata, Dodge left! Bite now!" he said.
Rattata dodged. It bit the Pidgey's wing. The Pidgey cried and fell. The man called it back.
"That was fast," the man said. "You train well for a child."
Kaito kept his face steady. He did not smile. He only said, "Thank you."
The man offered a second match. He sent out a Bellsprout. Kaito looked at Bulbasaur. He thought about type matchups. He thought about trust.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!" Kaito said.
Bulbasaur swung its vine. It hit Bellsprout and pushed it back. Bellsprout used Wrap and tried to hold Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, use Sleep Powder!" Kaito ordered.
Bulbasaur released a cloud of powder. Bellsprout's eyes closed. It fell asleep. The man recalled it.
"Good match," the man said. "You have control. Keep it up."
Kaito nodded. He thanked the man and walked on. He did not look for praise. He wanted to train.
A little farther down the path, a group of kids ran up. One of them pointed at Kaito.
"Look! That boy with the Bulbasaur!" the kid said. "He trains like a pro."
Kaito kept walking. He heard the kids whisper. He heard them say he was brave. He heard them say he was strange. He did not answer. He kept his focus.
Near a small bridge, a trainer stood with a Staryu. The trainer looked serious. He crossed his arms when he saw Kaito.
"You there," the trainer said. "I'm testing new moves. Want to try a match? Full three-on-three?"
Kaito looked at his team. He had Rattata and Bulbasaur. He had a Pidgey he had caught earlier on the route. He had not trained Pidgey much. He thought about the system. He thought about the multiplier. He thought about Oak's rules.
"Okay," Kaito said. "Three-on-three. No rough moves. We keep it clean."
The trainer nodded. He sent out Staryu first. Kaito sent out Pidgey.
"Pidgey, Peck!" Kaito called.
Pidgey flew up and pecked Staryu. Staryu spun and used Water Gun. Pidgey was hit and fell back.
"Pidgey, use Quick Attack and then Gust!" Kaito shouted.
Pidgey moved fast. It hit Staryu with Quick Attack and then used Gust to push it back. Staryu used Rapid Spin and hit Pidgey again. Pidgey looked tired.
"Pidgey, return!" Kaito said. "Bulbasaur, come!"
Bulbasaur stepped forward. It looked calm. It watched Staryu and the water.
"Bulbasaur, Leech Seed!" Kaito ordered.
Bulbasaur planted seeds on Staryu. The seeds latched on. Staryu tried to spin away. It used Water Gun again. Bulbasaur took the hit and kept its stance.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip now!" Kaito said.
Bulbasaur lashed out. It hit Staryu and knocked it back. The trainer called Staryu back.
The trainer sent out a Geodude next. He smiled. "This will be a test of strength."
Kaito looked at the rock Pokémon. He thought about the field. The ground was flat. There was no water. He thought about Rattata's speed and Bulbasaur's vines.
"Rattata, come!" Kaito said.
Rattata ran forward. It moved low and fast.
"Rattata, Quick Attack, then Sucker Punch!" Kaito shouted.
Rattata dashed in. It hit Geodude with Quick Attack. Geodude swung a rock arm. Rattata used Sucker Punch and hit Geodude hard. Geodude staggered.
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" the trainer called.
Rocks flew. Rattata dodged. Bulbasaur used Vine Whip to pull Rattata back to safety.
"Good teamwork," Kaito said. He kept his voice steady. He did not shout.
The trainer looked surprised. He called his last Pokémon, a Growlithe. He said, "This will be the end."
Kaito thought fast. He looked at Bulbasaur and Rattata. He thought about the moves he had practiced. He thought about timing.
"Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder on Growlithe!" Kaito ordered.
Bulbasaur released powder. Growlithe's eyes drooped. It fell asleep. The trainer recalled it.
The trainer sighed and smiled. "You win. You have good control and timing. I did not expect a child to handle three Pokémon like that."
Kaito bowed his head slightly. He said, "Thank you. We train every day."
The trainer offered a small tip. He said, "Keep an eye on stamina. You push them hard. Rest is important."
Kaito nodded. He knew the trainer was right. He had used the system to speed training, but he had not pushed beyond what the Pokémon could handle. He had watched their breathing. He had stopped when they were tired.
A woman from the bridge walked over. She had a small notebook. She said, "You are Kaito, right? Oak told us about you. He said you train with care."
Kaito looked at Oak. Oak stood at the edge of the path. He had watched the matches. He walked up now and smiled.
"You did well," Oak said. "You followed the rules. You kept the matches clean. That is important."
Kaito felt a small relief. He had wanted Oak to see how he handled the fights. He had wanted Oak to know he would not use the system to cheat.
Oak looked at the Rattata and Bulbasaur. He said, "Bulbasaur shows good control. Rattata is quick. Keep training. Keep rest days."
Kaito said, "Yes, Professor. Thank you."
Oak turned to the trainer and the woman. He said, "This boy will train under my watch. If you see anything wrong, tell me."
The trainer nodded. The woman wrote a note in her book. She said, "We will watch. The town will help."
Kaito felt a small weight lift. He had done the right thing. He had kept the matches fair. He had listened to Oak's advice.
They walked on. Kaito felt the sun warm his back. He felt the Rattata on his shoulder. He felt Bulbasaur's steady steps. He thought about the matches. He thought about the commands he had given. He thought about how clear the commands had to be.
He practiced the commands in his head. He said them out loud once.
"Rattata, Quick Attack!" he said. "Bulbasaur, Vine Whip! Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder! Pidgey, Quick Attack then Gust!"
He said them slowly and then faster. He felt the system in his mind. A small line of text appeared.
SYSTEM – APPRAISAL Pokémon: Bulbasaur Type: Grass/Poison Current Tier: C Potential Tier: S Notes: Good control; high stamina for training
Kaito read the appraisal. He felt a steady thought. The system showed facts. It did not tell him how to win. He had to choose the moves. He had to time them. He had to watch his Pokémon.
They reached a small clearing. A trainer stood there with a young boy and a Pidgeotto. The trainer looked serious. He said, "This is a test. I want to see how you handle a stronger bird."
Kaito looked at his team. He thought about the Pidgeotto's speed. He thought about Bulbasaur's moves. He thought about Rattata's quick strikes.
"Okay," Kaito said. "We will do it."
The trainer sent out Pidgeotto. Kaito sent out Pidgey.
"Pidgey, Feather Dance!" Kaito called.
Pidgey flapped its wings and tried to lower Pidgeotto's attack. Pidgeotto shook it off and used Aerial Ace. Pidgey dodged and used Quick Attack.
"Pidgey, return!" Kaito said. "Bulbasaur, come!"
Bulbasaur stepped forward. It used Leech Seed and then Vine Whip. Pidgeotto used Brave Bird and hit Bulbasaur hard. Bulbasaur held on.
"Bulbasaur, use Solar Beam charge!" Kaito ordered.
Bulbasaur began to gather light. The trainer looked surprised. He said, "You are charging in the field? That is risky."
Kaito did not answer. He watched Bulbasaur. He watched Pidgeotto. He watched the wind.
"Bulbasaur, Solar Beam now!" Kaito shouted.
Bulbasaur released a beam of light. It hit Pidgeotto and knocked it back. The trainer called it back.
The trainer smiled and said, "You win. Your timing was good. You used the field well."
Kaito nodded. He felt tired. He felt the day in his muscles. He felt the Rattata's small weight on his shoulder. He felt Bulbasaur's steady breathing.
Oak walked up and put a hand on Kaito's shoulder. He said, "You did well. You kept the matches clean. You used clear commands. That is what matters."
Kaito looked at Oak. He said, "Thank you, Professor. I will keep training."
They walked back toward Pallet Town as the sun moved down. Kaito thought about the matches. He thought about the commands. He thought about the system and the multiplier. He thought about rest and care.
He had won. He had kept his promise. He had used clear commands like in the shows he had watched. He had kept his Pokémon safe. He had not used the system to cheat. He had used it to make his work count.
That night, he wrote a small list in his head. He would train the moves he had used. He would practice timing. He would rest his Pokémon. He would keep his commands clear.
He slept with Bulbasaur and Rattata near him. He slept and thought about the next day. He would meet more trainers. He would learn more moves. He would keep his promise to protect Pokémon and to train with care.