"It really must have been starving." Yozora smiled faintly, making no move to stop the Zigzagoon from eating.
Although Jade was still young, her gentle nature was just like her mother's. Not only did she not stop the Zigzagoon, she even shared part of her own food with it.
As for Larvitar, he was happily munching on soil, completely ignoring the Zigzagoon.
Only Max and his Mudkip were furious.
Being knocked aside hadn't hurt Mudkip much, but its anger meter was maxed out.
"Damn it! If that's how you want it—Mudkip, use Water Gun!" Max shouted.
Mudkip spat out a jet of water, blasting Zigzagoon from behind.
The Water Gun's power wasn't high, so Zigzagoon barely took damage. But having its meal interrupted enraged it, and it turned a murderous glare on Mudkip.
"Pshhh… pshhh…" Suddenly, Zigzagoon began to claw at the ground, digging rapidly until it vanished into a hole.
"Is it going for Dig next?" Max's expression grew tense. He warned quickly, "Mudkip, stay alert!"
But despite the warning, when Zigzagoon burst up from underground, it sent Mudkip flying.
[Zigzagoon]: Junior-level, Senior potential.
Max didn't know that Zigzagoon was actually a Junior-level Pokémon, slightly stronger overall than his Rookie Mudkip.
"Max," Yozora reminded calmly, "when facing a stronger opponent, your first step should be to weaken its power."
"Weaken it?"
Max blinked, then his eyes lit up. "That's it! Mudkip, use Growl!"
Mudkip, bruised from the Dig attack, still obeyed. It let out a loud cry, its sound waves rolling over Zigzagoon like a gust of wind.
Startled, Zigzagoon froze for a moment.
Max's heart leapt. He waved his hand. "Now, Mudkip! Tackle, quick!"
Mudkip charged forward, slamming into the dazed Zigzagoon and sending it staggering. But the strike also snapped Zigzagoon back to its senses.
The two Pokémon quickly fell into a scrappy brawl. At last, Mudkip managed to come out on top.
Though battered and bruised, it had claimed victory—thanks to Growl. That one move had lowered Zigzagoon's Attack, narrowing the gap.
After all, the difference between Rookie-level and Junior-level Pokémon wasn't insurmountable. And as one of the Starters, Mudkip's species was naturally powerful—on par with ordinary Junior Pokémon despite its lower rank. That's why Starters were considered the best choice for beginners: high starting point, fast growth, and remarkable potential.
Max's Mudkip might have been slightly weaker, but with Growl reducing Zigzagoon's strength, it had turned the tables.
"Well done, Mudkip!"
Max's eyes shone with excitement as he pulled out an empty Poké Ball and tossed it. Zigzagoon was captured without resistance.
Yozora watched silently, nodding in approval.
Though Zigzagoon's potential wasn't particularly special, for a complete beginner like Max, it was a very suitable partner.
For newcomers, Yozora always encouraged capturing more Pokémon. The more partners a Trainer had, the faster they could adapt—learning about Pokémon, their attributes, and the differences between them. Once a Trainer grew stronger, they could refine their team and aim for the Elite path later.
"I did it—I caught a Pokémon!" Max shouted happily. He rushed to pick up the Poké Ball, cradling it against his cheek with affection.
Yozora smiled softly at the sight. As a senior, he fully understood Max's joy.
That night passed quietly. At dawn, Yozora parted ways with Max.
After all, they were both Trainers. If they traveled together, conflicts would inevitably arise if they both wanted the same Pokémon.
Generally, Yozora preferred not to travel with other Trainers—occasionally, perhaps, but never long-term.
Petalburg Woods was vast. Even when Yozora spread out his Aura, he could only cover a third of it.
Traveling on foot, one would need at least a month to cross.
But Yozora wasn't in a hurry. Even if it took two months, that was fine. He wanted to use the time to capture more Pokémon.
In Hoenn, there were so many Pokémon he liked: the Starters, Metagross and Salamence, Mightyena, Flygon, Absol, and even Milotic.
At the very least, Treecko, Mudkip, and Mightyena could all be found here in Petalburg Woods.
The forest was home to many powerful Pokémon, but Yozora avoided provoking them. His Aura was strong—he could fight even Elite Four–level Pokémon if necessary.
But he was a Trainer. If possible, he preferred to capture Pokémon through battles with his partners, not his own strength.
This Hoenn journey would be his last with the Pokémon League as his goal. By the time he finished, he'd be eighteen—and then it would be time to prepare for the World Championships.
So, he deliberately avoided the strongest auras and focused on finding Senior-level Pokémon.
And in Petalburg Woods, there were plenty.
"The very first one is Mightyena, huh? That's almost touching."
Parting some tall grass, Yozora spotted a Mightyena accompanied by two Poochyena pups.
The Mightyena was massive, its fangs bared, face twisted into a menacing snarl. The moment Yozora appeared, an Intimidate aura swept over him.
So—it had Intimidate.
Yozora hadn't expected his first Senior Pokémon encounter to be with one of his favorites.
Now it was just a matter of its potential.
[Pokémon]: Mightyena
[Type]: Dark
[Ability]: Intimidate
[Level]: Senior Mid-tier
[Potential]: Lord-tier
"Lord-tier potential, hmm?" Yozora nodded slightly. "Decent. Not bad."
Mightyena wasn't among the strongest species. For it to have Lord-tier potential was already impressive.
Still, compared to pseudo-Legendaries, whose minimum potential was Elite Four–tier and often Champion-tier, Mightyena's race was ordinary.
But Intimidate made up for some of that.
Even so, Yozora's eyes showed a trace of disappointment. After capturing so many rare Pokémon, his standards had risen. Lord-tier potential no longer impressed him. At least Gym Leader–tier would have caught his interest.
Then his gaze shifted to the two Poochyena by Mightyena's side.
Honestly, he had little hope. They looked like scruffy mutts—hardly intimidating.
[Pokémon]: Poochyena
[Type]: Dark
[Ability]: Run Away (Cowardly, prone to fleeing)
[Level]: Rookie
[Potential]: Elite Four-tier
——
[Pokémon]: Poochyena
[Type]: Dark
[Ability]: Quick Feet (Speed increases when afflicted by a status condition)
[Level]: Rookie
[Potential]: Gym Leader-tier
"Elite Four-tier potential? Gym Leader-tier potential?!" Yozora's eyes widened in surprise. The pups had even greater potential than their mother!
One had Run Away, the other Quick Feet.
At first glance, Quick Feet seemed better. But for Poochyena, Run Away was superior—because only Poochyena with Run Away could evolve into Intimidate Mightyena.
Those with Quick Feet would retain Quick Feet after evolution.
"Alright, it's decided. You're the one." Yozora set his sights on the timid pup with Run Away.
But the Mightyena lunged ferociously. Yozora immediately sent out Jade.
Within Mightyena's Intimidate field, Jade stood fearless. This had nothing to do with bloodline—her Ability was Scrappy, completely immune to Intimidate!
"It's using Take Down. Jade, Defense Curl!" Yozora ordered.
Jade grinned, crossing her arms to brace. She took the impact head-on, digging grooves in the soil as she slid back, but barely harmed. With her tough body and boosted defense, Mightyena couldn't break through.
"Counterattack—Rollout!"
With a crash, Jade tucked herself into a ball, spinning forward like a green boulder. She smashed Mightyena aside, sending it sprawling.
Mightyena hit the ground hard, scratched and battered.
"Finish it—Body Slam!" Yozora called.
Beaming, Jade leapt high into the air and came crashing down, pinning Mightyena beneath her weight.
"Arrooo!" Mightyena wailed, its eyes bulging with pain.
Though only sixty centimeters tall, Jade was stocky and heavy—her solid frame rivaled a full-grown Miltank's. The sheer weight behind Body Slam knocked Mightyena unconscious.
The two Poochyena howled in rage, glaring at Yozora and Jade.
The smaller one bravely rushed forward to bite Jade—but she simply held it back with one hand, unimpressed.
Meanwhile, the larger pup whined timidly from behind, despite its higher potential.
Most Trainers would choose the brave one.
But not Yozora. He wanted the timid pup. Its potential was higher—and with Run Away, it could evolve into Intimidate Mightyena. That alone made it far more valuable.
He didn't capture it right away, though. Instead, he healed the fallen Mightyena first.
When it awoke, its hostility had lessened.
"Mightyena, I'd like to take this child with me," Yozora said softly, drawing the timid pup to his side. "As its mother, you can't protect it forever. Someday, it will have to stand on its own, don't you think?"
Pokémon understood human speech to some degree—and this Mightyena, as a mother, understood well.
It gave a low growl, then finally nodded. After a lingering look at the timid pup, it turned and left with its braver offspring.
"Arroo…"
The Poochyena's eyes filled with sorrow as it watched its family disappear, howling in loneliness as if the whole world had abandoned it.
Until Yozora set down a small bowl of milk before it. The pup perked up instantly, wagging its tail as it lapped happily.
"Hahaha…" Yozora chuckled wickedly. "So easy to win you over. Just a bit of milk."
Of course, this wasn't ordinary milk. A single bowl could sell for tens of thousands. Packed with energy and nutrition, it was the finest of delicacies.
Poochyena didn't eat much. Even a little left its belly round and tight. Yozora opened his Mind's Eye and sensed its aura growing stronger.
Not yet at Junior-level—but very close. One more meal, and it would evolve.
"Larr~"
Larvitar, seeing the milk, began whining hungrily from Yozora's shoulder.
"Honestly, you just ate!" Yozora groaned in pain.
Though he had prepared plenty of milk for this journey, both Jade and Larvitar had monstrous appetites. His supplies were vanishing fast.
He could only hope Jade would mature soon, so she could produce her own milk. It might not match her mother Mei's quality, but it would still surpass normal Miltank milk—especially since Jade was already Senior-level and might reach Commander-tier as an adult.
Larvitar devoured its share greedily—then went straight back to chomping soil, as if insatiable.
Yozora had already infused it with enhanced abilities:
[Pokémon]: Larvitar
[Abilities]: Guts + Huge Power + Stamina + Speed Boost
[Level]: Infant stage
[Potential]: Tier 3 Legendary
With these enhancements, Larvitar's bloodline, vitality, and growth speed had all skyrocketed—and so had its appetite.
…
…
(End of Chapter)