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"What did you just say?" The boy didn't seem to catch Kai's sarcasm at all. Instead, he said earnestly, "Do you know how much effort it took for me to get close to those Zigzagoon? Look at this outfit! It took me forever to make!"
Kai could only sigh inwardly. This guy doesn't seem too bright.
Who on earth disguises themselves as a Pokémon just to get close to them? Unless you're a Pokémon researcher or behaviorist, what's the point? Even if you get near them, you still have to battle to catch them.
Besides, the Zigzagoon had left on their own when Kai arrived. He hadn't driven them away. If they'd wanted to stay, or even shown any hostility, Kai wouldn't have chosen this exact spot to camp.
He shook his head, unwilling to waste more time. "Instead of standing here talking, you'd better hurry and chase after those Zigzagoon. Maybe they haven't gone too far."
The boy didn't move. Instead, his gaze fell on Torchic beside Kai.
"You're a Trainer too, right? Then battle me!" he shouted suddenly.
"Battle you?" Kai raised an eyebrow, studying him carefully. The guy's every thought was written all over his face—his emotions shifting faster than a Rattata on caffeine. Clearly simple-minded and impulsive.
There was no point arguing with people like him. If you did, he'd drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. But ignoring him completely was impossible too—he was too persistent.
Kai exhaled. "You really don't give up, huh?" He stood up from his folding chair and stepped into the open clearing. "Fine. Let's battle. Maybe that'll get you off my back."
The boy's annoyance vanished in an instant. His grin returned. "Yes! Finally! Let's start right away!"
He pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket and tossed it. A burst of light revealed a Mudkip, standing proudly before Kai.
Though its name suggested a fish, Mudkip wasn't one—it was an amphibious Pokémon, beloved as one of Hoenn's starters. Its smooth blue skin gleamed, its orange gills fluttered slightly, and its upright fin twitched like a radar dish. Despite its small frame, it radiated strength.
In the wild, Mudkip usually rest buried in riverbeds, breathing through their cheek gills and sensing movement through the fin on their head. Their muscles are incredibly powerful—they can swim at high speed or even shatter rocks larger than themselves.
Still, this particular Mudkip looked rather young and inexperienced. It hadn't evolved into Marshtomp yet—though that didn't necessarily mean it was weak. Like Ash's Pikachu, some Pokémon simply chose not to evolve.
Kai reached into his bag and released his Eevee. Against a beginner's Mudkip, Eevee would be more than enough.
The two Pokémon faced each other, and their Trainers took their places.
As soon as the battle began, the boy erupted with energy. "Mudkip, Tackle!"
Mudkip charged forward, head lowered.
"Eevee, dodge it!" Kai ordered.
Knowing Mudkip's strength, Kai wasn't about to let Eevee take that hit. Eevee darted aside gracefully, avoiding the rush—and retaliated with a quick Bite, sinking its fangs into Mudkip's flank.
Mudkip cried out in pain, squirming desperately.
"Shake it off, Mudkip!" the boy yelled.
Mudkip struggled, but Eevee held firm. Only after a few moments did Eevee release its grip, hopping back lightly.
Realizing his opponent was faster, the boy switched tactics. "Use a Water Gun!"
A jet of water shot from Mudkip's mouth, cutting through the air toward Eevee.
Eevee was quick—but not quick enough to dodge completely. The attack was coming too fast.
"Eevee, Quick Attack!" Kai called sharply.
A burst of white light trailed behind Eevee as it dashed forward, narrowly avoiding the Water Gun and ramming Mudkip head-on. The impact sent Mudkip stumbling backward.
Before Kai could issue another command, Mudkip scooped up a lump of mud and hurled it—Mud-Slap! Clearly, even if it understood that slowing Eevee was its only chance.
But Mudkip's movements were far too obvious. Kai read the attack in an instant.
"Eevee, dodge and use Swift!"
Golden stars shot from Eevee's tail, streaking across the air before striking Mudkip squarely. The blows hit one after another until Mudkip collapsed with a splash.
"Eh?" The boy blinked, rubbing his eyes as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. "I… I lost already?"
Kai simply recalled Eevee with a flick of his wrist. After all the major battles he'd fought, this one was barely a warm-up. The boy's every move was textbook-level predictable.
The boy picked up Mudkip's Poké Ball and looked at Kai in amazement. "You're really strong! What's your name?"
Kai sighed. He'd already figured this guy out—simple-minded, tactless, but not a bad person.
"Before asking someone's name, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
The boy froze, then nodded vigorously. "Oh—yeah, that's true! Okay, listen up! Sometimes I'm the Zigzagoon darting through the forest! Other times I'm a Tentacool with lots of tentacles! And sometimes I'm the graceful Bellossom! But my true identity… is the one and only Shorts Kid Archie!"
Kai's eye twitched as Archie proudly pulled costumes from his oversized backpack first a Zigzagoon suit, then a Tentacool outfit, then a Bellossom dress and changed rapidly between them.
Kai could feel a headache coming on. This… is exactly the kind of person I can't stand.
Without another word, he turned and started walking back to camp.
"Wait!" Archie shouted. "You still haven't told me your name!"
Kai didn't stop. "Did I ever say I would?" he replied lazily.
Archie gaped. "But—but you said before that before asking someone's name, you should introduce yourself first!"
Kai glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah. I said you should. I never said I'd tell you mine."
Archie opened his mouth, paused, and blinked in confusion. "Huh… I guess that's true…"
He watched Kai disappear into the trees, then sighed. "What a strong guy… shame I don't even know his name."
Shaking his head, Archie turned his focus back to his original mission tracking Zigzagoon.
By the time Kai returned to camp, Erika had finished preparing dinner. The aroma of curry filled the air, making his stomach growl.
Erika smiled softly. "All done?"
"Yeah." Kai sat down beside her, exhaling. "I really can't stand people who act first and think later. Best to stay far away from them."
Erika giggled, amused. "You? The guy who charges headfirst into danger, saying that? That's new."
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By noon the next day, Kai and Erika had left Petalburg Woods.
During their stay, Erika had caught both a Seedot and a Shroomish two Grass-types native to Hoenn but unseen in Kanto. With those added to her team, both Trainers had caught two Pokémon each since arriving.
Soon, the skyline of Rustboro City came into view.
Rustboro—where nature and science coexist. A major hub in western Hoenn, larger and busier than Petalburg, home to the prestigious Pokémon Trainer's School and several world-famous corporations.
But before they could even reach the city gates, a commotion erupted on the main road.
Three people in matching red hooded uniforms kicked a man in a business suit to the ground, snatched his briefcase, and sprinted off in Kai and Erika's direction.
"Is that… a robbery?" Erika gasped.
One of the men barked, "Out of the way if you don't want to die!"
But the fallen man shouted desperately, "Stop them! They stole my briefcase!"
Before Kai could even think, the trio was upon him. He quietly stepped back—then the shadow beneath his feet stirred.
A long, dark arm shot out from the ground, tripping all three of them in an instant.
They crashed face-first onto the dirt.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" one of them snarled, pulling a Poké Ball from his belt.
A flash of red light revealed a Houndoom, which lunged straight at Kai, fangs bared.
Kai didn't even flinch.
From his shadow, two massive claws erupted, catching the Houndoom mid-leap and holding it in place.
"What the—?!" The red-uniformed men froze.
A Gengar rose from the shadows, grinning wickedly. "You thought you could touch my Trainer that easily? Think again."
"A talking Pokémon?!" the men gasped in horror.
By now, the suited man had caught up, panting heavily. "Please! I work for Devon Corporation! Those people stole something important please, help me get it back!"
Kai's eyes narrowed. Devon Corporation… and red uniforms…
He understood immediately.
These weren't random thieves—they were members of Team Magma, one of Hoenn's most notorious organizations.
Unlike Team Rocket, they weren't driven purely by greed. Team Magma sought to expand the planet's landmass, believing humans would prosper with more land for civilization. To achieve that, they hunted for the legendary Pokémon Groudon, the symbol of Earth itself.
Kai folded his arms, staring coolly at the fallen grunts. "Team Magma, huh? Looks like things just got interesting"
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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