Hora stared at the Bulbasaur before him, feeling a growing warmth in his chest the longer he looked.
The little creature sat there with a lush green bulb on its back, its plump body covered in light green skin. It observed him curiously with its dark, beady eyes, occasionally reaching out with a short vine to gently tap his pant leg. It looked exceptionally spirited.
Meanwhile, on the System panel before his eyes, Bulbasaur's full information was already laid out clearly.
Pokémon Data Panel
Pokémon: Bulbasaur
Gender: Female
Level: Lv. 10
Potential: B
Status: Healthy
Nature: Hardy
Type: Grass / Poison
Ability: Chlorophyll (Hidden Ability: Speed doubles in harsh sunlight.)
Height: 0.7m / Weight: 6.9kg
Held Item: None
Skills:
Tackle (Proficiency: 31%)
Growl (Proficiency: 55%)
Vine Whip (Proficiency: 21%)
Poison Powder (Proficiency: 4%)
Upgrade Limit: 1 (???)
"Chlorophyll! It's actually a Hidden Ability!" Hora suppressed the excitement in his heart, his fingers lightly brushing the bulb on Bulbasaur's back. This ability meant that as long as the weather provided harsh sunlight, Bulbasaur's speed would double instantly!
He knew that most common Bulbasaurs had the "Overgrow" ability, which boosts Grass-type moves when HP is low. The hidden ability "Chlorophyll" was extremely rare. For a Grass-type, doubling its speed could perfectly compensate for its natural disadvantage against Fire and Flying types. It was a god-tier ability—truly "sending charcoal in a blizzard."
"I've really picked up a treasure this time," Hora couldn't help but marvel internally. With the Chlorophyll ability, Bulbasaur's training path became crystal clear. In the future, he just needed to pair it with a "Sunny Day" strategy to give it massive mobility on the battlefield. Combined with that "Upgrade Limit: 1" opportunity, its B-grade potential could eventually break through to Grade A, providing a solid foundation for a Gym Leader-level powerhouse.
After a moment of calming his nerves, Hora glanced at the Pokémon in front of Red and Gary.
Charmander was circling Red's feet, the flame on its tail burning vigorously. Squirtle was tucked near Gary's feet, occasionally poking its head out to blow a bubble. Brief info on the two appeared on the System panel:
Charmander: Lv. 10, Potential B, Nature: Rash, Ability: Blaze, balanced skill proficiency, Upgrade Limit: 1.
Squirtle: Lv. 10, Potential B, Nature: Calm, Ability: Torrent, high proficiency in defensive skills, Upgrade Limit: 1.
"The Pokémon provided by the League are indeed not bad," Hora nodded slightly.
While Charmander and Squirtle had standard abilities, all three starters were Grade B with an upgrade limit. This far exceeded the average level of wild Pokémon, proving that the League had put real effort into breeding these starters rather than brushing off rookie trainers.
He suddenly had a thought. Since the League could consistently breed Grade B Pokémon, they must possess a mature set of identification and breeding techniques. If he had the chance later, he might find a way to obtain that data from the League. Combining it with his knowledge from his previous life, he could potentially develop entirely new training philosophies to accelerate his partners' growth.
"Bulbasaur, I look forward to working with you," Hora crouched down and smiled at the little guy.
Bulbasaur seemed to understand, wrapping a vine gently around his finger. The bulb on its back swayed slightly as it let out a soft "Saur~", its bright black eyes filled with affection.
Nearby, Professor Oak watched this scene and smiled with relief. "It seems you two get along quite well. Hora, Bulbasaur has a Hardy nature; with good training, it will definitely be a reliable force once it evolves into Venusaur."
Hora nodded, his mind already mapping out a training plan. He would start with Vine Whip control and precise Poison Powder deployment. Once proficient, he'd focus on the Chlorophyll ability, simulating sunny environments to train speed and move transitions. With the System monitoring his progress and this Hidden Ability Bulbasaur, his journey was starting much smoother than expected.
"Looks like I can't leave Brock, that reliable teammate, to Ash," Hora thought, mourning for Ash for two seconds before making his decision.
Seeing that the three boys were bonding well with their new partners, Professor Oak tucked away his smile, his expression turning serious as he cleared his throat. "What I'm about to tell you next is the most basic yet most important part for a rookie trainer. You must listen carefully."
Hora immediately perked up his ears. Even though he had learned these things in the basic academy, he knew Oak's explanation would include nuances more suited for actual combat. Red pulled a small notebook and pen from his bag, ready to record everything. Even the usually showy Gary stopped fooling around and crossed his arms to listen.
Professor Oak first covered the essentials of Pokémon breeding: how to match food to types (e.g., Grass types need water-rich berries, while Fire types should avoid damp environments) and small tips for checking a Pokémon's condition (observing antennae flexibility or scale luster).
He then placed heavy emphasis on wilderness survival: never attack wild Pokémon recklessly; be wary of Bug-type ambushes in the forest; watch out for hidden Water-type Pokémon near riverbanks.
After the lecture, Oak turned to a cabinet and brought out three trays. Each held an orange-red Pokédex and five Poké Balls. "These are your Pokédexes and Poké Balls. Take them."
The three took their trays. As Hora's fingers touched the cold casing of the Pokédex, he pressed a side button. The screen lit up instantly: "Initial Activation in Progress..."
"The Pokédexes I'm giving you are the base versions," Oak explained. "The Pokémon world's data is constantly updating—newly discovered regional forms, unrecorded move combinations. In the future, whenever you pass a Pokémon Center in any region, you can connect to the League network to upgrade. After upgrading, you can view more comprehensive info and even analyze the weaknesses of opposing Pokémon."
Gary toyed with a Poké Ball and couldn't help asking, "Gramps, why only five balls? I thought I'd get more."
"That is the League regulation," Oak answered patiently. "Any trainer can only carry a maximum of six Pokémon on them. If you catch more, the extra balls will automatically be sent through the League's global network to your bound storage locker at a Pokémon Center. If you want to swap your team, just go to a PC at a Pokémon Center. It's very convenient."
He paused, looking specifically at Red and Hora. "Especially for Red and Hora—you both already have partners from before today. That already takes up one slot, so pay extra attention to your carry limit."
"Oh, and one more thing," Oak added as if remembering something. "Your Trainer IDs will be entered into the League system today. Once registered, you will be official trainers. You'll need to show your ID for Gym challenges or regional tournaments. Hora, your mother mentioned that you should contact her once you get your ID. Don't forget."
"Got it, Professor!" Hora nodded quickly.