The impact sent Budew tumbling off its rock, rolling across the ground before scrambling to its feet. The little Grass-type looked dazed but not critically injured—Gible's Attack stat was still low, after all.
Budew retaliated immediately, its bud glowing green as it fired off an Absorb attack. Green energy lanced toward Gible, wrapping around its body and attempting to drain its life force.
I watched the damage tick on Gible's health bar.
HP: 12 → 11
One point of damage. Against an attack that should have been moderately effective, Gible had taken essentially nothing.
The combination of Steel-type resistance, Dragon-type durability, and that perfect Defense IV had made Gible a tank.
"Gib-gib..."
'That tickled,' Gible said, sounding almost offended that Budew had tried.
"Hit it again! Tackle!"
Gible charged forward, and this time Budew tried to dodge.
But the little Grass-type was too slow, still recovering from the first hit. Gible slammed into it with the same force as before.
Thud.
Budew collapsed, its eyes going unfocused as it fell unconscious.
"Bu... dew..." the little Pokémon whimpered before going still.
[VICTORY!]
[GIBLE gained 40 EXP!]
[+15 GP: Battle Victory]
I blinked at the experience gain. Forty experience points from a single Level 3 Budew?
My mind immediately went to the standard formula I'd memorized from years of playing Pokémon:
EXP = (a × b × L) / (7 × s)
Where:
a = Base EXP of defeated Pokémon (Budew's base was 68)
b = Trainer bonus (1.0 for wild, 1.5 for trainer-owned)
L = Level of defeated Pokémon (3)
s = Number of participating Pokémon (1)
So the calculation should be:
(68 × 1.0 × 3) / (7 × 1) = 204 / 7 = 29.14 EXP
Rounded down, that would be 29 EXP. Standard experience gain from Gen 1 through Gen 4.
But Gible had gained 40 EXP. Not 29.
That was a difference of 11 experience points—nearly forty percent more than the formula predicted.
'What's going on?' I thought, staring at the notification. 'Is the formula different in this world? Or is something else modifying the experience gain?'
Then it hit me.
The system wasn't using the standard flat formula. It was scaling based on level difference.
Gible was Level 1, fighting a Level 3 opponent. Two levels higher. The system must be applying a bonus multiplier for battling above your level—rewarding risk, encouraging trainers to push their Pokémon against more vigorous opponents rather than grinding on weaker ones.
That would explain the discrepancy. The base calculation gave 29 EXP, but some level-difference modifier boosted it to 40.
The formula for Gen 5 onwards was much more complex and more challenging to do in your head.
Which meant experience gain in this world wasn't static. It changed based on the level gap between your Pokémon and the opponent.
Fight stronger enemies, gain more experience. Fight weaker enemies, gain less.
A system designed to reward challenge over safety.
I filed that information away as more notifications appeared:
[GIBLE leveled up!]
[GIBLE is now Level 2!]
[HP: 12 → 13]
[ATK: 6 → 7]
[DEF: 6 → 7]
[SP. ATK: 5 → 6]
[SP. DEF: 5 → 6]
[SPEED: 5]
[GIBLE leveled up!]
[GIBLE is now Level 3!]
[HP: 13 → 15]
[ATK: 7 → 8]
[DEF: 7 → 9]
[SP. ATK: 6 → 7]
[SP. DEF: 6 → 7]
[SPEED: 5 → 6]
[GIBLE gained 1 EV!]
[Please allocate EV to the desired stat]
Two level-ups from one battle.
I stared at the notifications, processing what had just happened. Gible had gained 40 EXP. Level 1 to Level 2 required 10 EXP. That left 30 EXP.
Level 2 to Level 3 required 23 EXP. Which meant Gible had blown past both thresholds in a single fight.
The power of fighting above your level was always worth the risk.
Before I could celebrate, another notification appeared:
[SYSTEM NOTICE: EV MECHANICS EXPLANATION]
[In this world, EVs work differently than standard mechanics:]
[EV Cost Per Stat Point (Scaling System):]
[Stat Range 1-15: 10 EVs per stat point]
[Stat Range 16-30: 8 EVs per stat point]
[Stat Range 31-45: 7 EVs per stat point]
[Stat Range 46-60: 6 EVs per stat point]
[Stat Range 61-75: 4 EVs per stat point]
[Stat Range 76-90: 2 EVs per stat point]
[Stat Range 91-100: 1 EV per stat point]
[All EVs earned are FREE EVs and can be allocated to any stat.]
[Note: The higher a stat becomes, the more advantageous EV investment becomes. Plan your growth accordingly.]
I read through the explanation carefully.
This scaling system meant early stat growth was expensive but became more rewarding as stats increased. At Gible's current level, all stats were in the 1-15 range, meaning I'd need 10 EVs to increase any single stat by one point.
I currently have 1 EV from this battle. Nine more battles before I could boost a stat.
But here was the interesting part: if I waited until a stat was in the 91-100 range, I could boost it by ten points with just ten EVs. The same investment that would give me one point now would give me ten points later.
The strategic depth was staggering. I could front-load stats early for immediate power, or I could save EVs for late-game explosiveness. Different approaches for different needs.
For now, I pulled up the EV allocation screen and designated it as a free EV to save for later.
[Free EVs: 1]
I looked down at Gible, who was staring at the unconscious Budew with wide eyes.
'I won!' The little dragon's mental voice was filled with pride and excitement. "Gib-gib! Gible!"
"You did," I confirmed, pulling up Gible's full status screen to examine the results:
POKÉMON: Gible
Level: 3
Type: Dragon/Steel
Status: Prism (Shiny Variant)
IVs:
HP: 0
ATK: 0
DEF: 31
SP. ATK: 0
SP. DEF: 0
SPEED: 0
Stats:
HP: 15
ATK: 8
DEF: 9
SP. ATK: 7
SP. DEF: 7
SPEED: 6
Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack
Ability: Rough Skin
Free EVs: 1
[Current GP: 25]
Level 3 from a single battle. HP is high enough to survive fifteen or more resisted hits. Attack is strong enough to two-shot most opponents at its level.
Defense at 9—the star stat, significantly higher than a standard Gible would have at this point, thanks to the perfect IV.
And Speed at 6, a bit slow due to the eighty pounds of steel-plated body, but steady and reliable enough to get the job done.
The little dragon had gone from a failed specimen to a legitimate threat in the span of thirty minutes.
The terrarium's Level 3 Pokémon wouldn't stand a chance against this kind of durability combined with respectable offense.
'I'm getting stronger,' the little dragon said, looking up at me with those brilliant amber eyes. 'I can feel it. I'm ready for more.'
"Good," I said, reaching down to pat its head. The scales felt warmer now. "Because we have four weeks before my license arrives. By then, you're going to be ready for anything the world throws at us."
'Gible will be strongest! Gible will make you proud!'
I smiled at the fierce determination that bellowed from his voice. This partnership, this bond we were building—it wasn't just about stats anymore.
Gible believed in me because I'd believed in it first. That trust was worth more than any perfect IV spread.
"You already make me proud," I said quietly. "Now let's see how much stronger we can get together."