Chapter 4: The 3-Star Weedle!
"Weedle, stop!"
Just as his Pokémon was about to move in for the final blow, Kenji quickly called it off.
This world wasn't as gentle as the anime. If that Caterpie was left completely unable to battle, it would be dangerously vulnerable in the wild. A passing predator Pokémon could easily make it a meal.
Weedle stopped its attack and, after a couple of happy chirps, wiggled its way back to Kenji, affectionately nudging his leg.
Recalling his partner, Kenji continued his trek through the outer edges of Viridian Forest. From then on, whenever he encountered a wild Pokémon, he seized the opportunity to let Weedle battle.
There were two main ways to raise a Pokémon's level: through rigorous daily training or by gaining experience in real battles. While daily training was crucial for long-term growth, nothing raised a Pokémon's level faster in the short term than actual combat. It was the classic method of learning by doing. To build a truly powerful Pokémon, a trainer needed to balance both.
But with only one month left until the exam, Kenji was in a race against time. For now, battling was his best and only option.
After defeating several more Caterpie, he finally found what he was looking for: his first wild Weedle.
It was only level 4. Against Kenji's level 2 partner, which was boosted by superior base stats and the Huge Power ability, the fight was a complete stomp. The wild Weedle was defeated in seconds.
With a thought, Kenji pulled a Poké Ball from his system's inventory and tossed it.
The security gate can check what I'm carrying, but it can't check my system's inventory, can it?
The ball tapped the wild Weedle on the head. It wobbled twice for show before clicking shut, confirming the capture.
Kenji quickly ran over, scooped up the Poké Ball, and disappeared deeper into the trees. After all, he wasn't a licensed trainer yet. What he was doing was technically illegal.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have synthesized a 2-Star Weedle!]
...
[Ding! Weedle has awakened a second Ability: Slow Start.]
(Slow Start: The Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats are halved for the first five minutes of battle.)
Kenji's face went blank. (⊙_⊙)
Slow Start?
Did he use up all his luck on that first fusion? The second 2-Star Weedle he created had awakened a cripplingly bad Ability. In the world of Pokémon, the vast majority of Abilities provided a benefit. Detrimental ones like this were incredibly rare. He didn't know whether to call himself lucky or cursed for managing to get one.
Around noon, Kenji took a break and hand-fed his main Weedle some of the mid-grade Pokéblocks. Strictly speaking, his partner was still just a baby, and a full morning of constant battling had left it famished. Its appetite was huge; where one Pokéblock was usually enough, it devoured four in one sitting. But Kenji would never skimp on his own Pokémon.
Weedle (2-Star)
Level: LV.3
...
After a morning of hard work, his Weedle had gained a level. Kenji was more than satisfied with the progress.
He had noticed during the first fusion that the experience of the base Pokémon was also combined. The first 2-Star fusion, made from three level 1 Weedles, had resulted in a level 2 Pokémon. His newest one, the Slow Start Weedle, had been fused from three wild Weedles at levels 3, 4, and 5, resulting in a level 6 Pokémon.
By his calculations, when he finally fused them all into a 3-Star, it should reach level 7 at a bare minimum—just high enough to evolve.
The thought filled him with a new surge of motivation. After a short rest, he and Weedle set off once more on their bug-catching quest.
Three hours later.
After a grueling battle, the last wild Weedle Kenji needed finally fainted, its eyes swirling. He wasted no time, immediately throwing a Poké Ball.
Click!
The final piece was in place.
With a trembling hand and a racing heart, Kenji released the three 1-Star Weedles he had just captured. A flash of white light enveloped them.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have synthesized a 2-Star Weedle!]
[Weedle has awakened a second Ability: Sand Veil!]
Taking a deep breath, Kenji released his other two 2-Star Weedles.
[Ding! Please select one 2-Star Weedle as the main body. The resulting 3-Star Weedle will retain the main body's consciousness, abilities, and gender.]
There was no contest. The Huge Power ability was by far the strongest of the three, and it belonged to his very first partner. To hesitate for even a second would be a sign of disrespect.
Kenji made his choice. The familiar white light erupted from the three 2-Star Weedles. The three orbs of light merged into one, which pulsed brightly before slowly dimming.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have synthesized a 3-Star Weedle!]
[Congratulations! Weedle's level has increased from LV.3 to LV.8!]
[Weedle's base stats have increased!]
[Weedle's potential has increased to D- Rank!]
Weedle (3-Star)
Gender: Male
Level: 8
Type: Poison / Bug
Base Stats: 315
Abilities: Shield Dust, Huge Power (Hidden)
Moves: Poison Sting, String Shot, Bug Bite
Held Item: Last Whisper
Potential: D-
Kenji quickly recalled his newly empowered Weedle. The empty Poké Balls he had taken from his inventory couldn't be returned, and since he couldn't carry them out through the security gate, he had no choice but to discard them in the forest.
Getting back to the entrance was much easier. He called out the Butterfree the attendant had given him, and under its guidance, he was out of the forest in no time.
By the time he left, the sky was already growing dark.
He couldn't afford to rest. He returned the Butterfree's Poké Ball and the forest-logo cap to the attendant and immediately hurried back towards Edgecliff City.
It was 9 PM by the time he got back into town. Fortunately, the Pokéblock shop was still open.
Kenji walked in and spent every last Pokédollar he had, converting it all into a large supply of Mid-Grade Bug-Type Pokéblocks.
Hefting the heavy bag, which represented his entire 15,000 Pokédollars, Kenji ignored the ache in his wallet and rushed straight home.