Link is at a loss.
Although surveillance in this world isn't advanced, how could the corridors be empty of members from both the Pirates and Team Aqua?
Sensing the renewed battle, both sides quickly assembled from various parts of the ship's cabins, beginning a new round of fighting.
Link struggled to remain hidden, narrowly escaping detection several times by enemy soldiers or team members.
Fortunately, both the Pirates and Team Aqua members were in a hurry and didn't pay enough attention to their surroundings, allowing him to escape multiple times.
The only danger lay in the Poochyena's sense of smell… and his complete lack of knowledge about the ship's internal structure.
After all, he was kidnapped upon arrival; how could he possibly have had the opportunity to memorize routes?
Quick-thinking, Link glanced at the [Free Battle] reward record and discovered that Pidgey had accumulated over a thousand points thanks to the increased efficiency of Pokémon. He decisively added it to his Perception
skill. With heightened hearing and perception, he could hear hurried footsteps even from ten meters away.
He had to apologize to the system in his mind; this thing was actually quite useful.
With his enhanced senses, Link became even better at spotting and hiding in advance.
Suddenly, while searching for a warehouse or similar location, Link overheard a conversation taking place in one of the rooms along the corridor.
"What? Another fight? Received... Received... Received... Okay, I'm off to the deck!"
Link thought for a moment, then immediately used his superior hearing to pinpoint the source of the sound and hid in the room furthest from the deck.
Just as he took his position, the door swung open, and a Team Aqua member, dressed in team uniform, wearing a bandana, and sporting a Poké ball at his waist, rushed out of the room, clearly heading to the deck to support his teammates.
Link's gamble paid off.
The next instant, the solid Digivice slammed into the back of the criminal's head, sending him staggering.
"Ah!"
Link exclaimed inwardly, relieved that nothing had happened, and immediately followed up with another attack, finally allowing the Team Aqua member to enjoy a childlike sleep.
Thankfully, the people of this world were physically strong; those two blows didn't harm him, otherwise he might have worried about being charged with excessive sPokémon-defense.
Before he could even feel relieved, he heard an angry bark from inside the room, a dog enraged by the attack on its trainer.
It must be said, even criminals in this world have very strong bonds with their Pokémon… not counting those destined to be sold as commodities.
Link didn't want to go toe-to-toe with Team Aqua's Poochyena, and the moment he saw the Poké Ball on its waist, he had already considered the safety of the situation, grabbing the red and white Poké Ball that was magnetically attached to its belt.
The Poochyena barked and lunged at its attacker, ready to bite, but was struck in the tail by a beam of red light, its attack cut short, and it was unwillingly returned to its Poké Ball.
Without a moment's joy at the successful ambush, he quickly glanced around the corridor, making sure no one was watching, before dragging the lifeless Team Aqua member into the room.
Bad news: This room wasn't suitable; it wasn't a warehouse.
Good news: There were plenty of supplies inside, and a Pokémon egg in a transparent cylindrical jar, predominantly gold and white with bright red markings.
Newborn Pokémon could indeed battle, but could they defeat Team Aqua's Poochyena?
Link weighed the Poké Ball he still held in his hand, thinking to himsPokémon that he wasn't one of those blatant cheaters.
Wait, maybe he was?
But the simulator's main advantage was intelligence… which was gone; it seemed he could only rely on grinding to win in the late game.
For Link, a late-game hero, to be in this predicament at the start was utterly frustrating, making him wonder if it was the malice of some being with Arceus.
"Sigh."
Link sighed and kicked the unconscious Team Aqua member on the ground. "I don't know if this Pokémon egg is yours, but I was taking emergency evasive action, so don't blame me."
He then realized the person's build was similar to his own. After a moment's thought, he rummaged through the room and found a cleaned team uniform for a change.
Without much hesitation, he changed into the new outfit.
"Ugly as hell, Archie has no sense of aesthetics."
But survival was paramount; wearing the uniform would at least make him less likely to be attacked by Team Aqua members immediately.
Link then searched the member and bound him tightly with a bed sheet.
The loot obtained was as follows:
4396 Pokémon, a waist pack, a set of Storage Keys, a walkie-talkie, 10 Poké Balls, a bottle of Potion, 3 bags of Pokémon Food , a faded Rock Badge, and some food and water.
"A Stone Badge?"
Link chuckled. It was laughable that a trainer from a gym known for its knowledge would believe Archie's illiterate pronouncements.
Suddenly, as he made contact with the badge, he felt heat and vibration emanating from his bag.
Curious, he opened his pouch and saw that the Digivice was glowing!
"Does taking someone else's badge count? Is it because I was originally qualified to possess a badge? But this badge isn't that badge, is it?"
Ignoring the holder's complaints, the Digivice's light, heat, and vibration, resonating with the Rock Badge, grew increasingly intense.
Link's mind vaguely established a connection with it, as if some power was about to emerge, calling for a resonance between them.
A moment later, the dim Rock Badge belonging to the Team Aqua member shattered with a crash.
A concentric circle of Opaz-like phantoms, shimmering with sky-blue light—the Crest of Knowledge—appeared in mid-air, flying into the Digivice at a visible speed. "
I see," Link thought to himsPokémon. Putting everything else aside, he certainly qualified to obtain the Crest of Knowledge!
The Digivice, having absorbed the badge, didn't stop. Its dazzling azure light began to resonate further with the Hisuian Growlithe Pokémon egg in the incubator.
Link was bewildered. Everything before him was beyond his expectations. He didn't know what effect the badge and the Pokémon egg would have, or whether it would harm the newborn.
If it was harmful… he would have to abandon the Digivice or leave.
But the badge's effect was faster than he imagined. In an instant, the Pokémon egg, which had been peacefully sleeping in the incubator, pulsated with life.
It glowed, radiated heat, and its dazzling, vibrant golden light mingled with the azure glow of the Digivice!
It wanted to be born, wanted to see you, wanted to run in the warm sunlight.
Intense emotions overflowed from the Pokémon egg, and its fiery will even caused the Incubator Liquid in the incubator to boil.
The light began to distort, swirling into the Pokémon egg like a vortex.
A crack rang out.
The eggshell cracked, and from it emerged golden and white flames.
Those were the sparks of life's struggle!
Link squinted, wanting to witness this joyous birth.
The next instant, the eggshell and the incubator, unable to withstand the pressure, both shattered.
A canine Pokémon, less than half a meter tall, with golden fur, a face as white as jade, and fiery red fur on its ears, appeared before Link.
(End of Chapter)