"Damn, dude, your Kecleon's getting cracked!"
Wei Littlefat's starter Pokémon was a Kecleon, a sneaky chameleon with a knack for vanishing and tailing people like a ninja.
Looks like its stealth skills had leveled up big time recently.
"Hold up… is that Teacher Kena? Nah, no way you snapped this shot!"
The angle was all wrong—way too selfie-coded to be Wei's work.
Jiang Feng shot a suspicious side-eye at the chubby sidekick. You sneaky little liar!
"Ahem, doesn't matter. Just… don't get any stains on it," Wei mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
No way he'd admit he got yeeted by Teacher Kena's Clamperl with a Water Gun before he could even get close. As for the spicy magazine? Yeah, he fished it out of her trash can like a true dumpster-diving legend.
"Fine, for the sake of this fine literature, I'll let it slide. Gotta study it tonight, y'know, for science," Jiang Feng said, pocketing the magazine.
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a Poké Ball.
Time to see what Mali's exclusive Smile Card could really do.
"Go, Combusken!"
A flash of red light, and out popped Combusken. It gave Jiang Feng a quick glance, then scoffed, picking at its nose and turning away like a total diva.
"Combusken, use Scratch on that target!"
You think I'm just gonna attack 'cause you said so?
Me, a proud Starter Pokémon, bowing to you? I've got dignity, pal!
The more Combusken thought about it, the madder it got. Step back? Nah, that's for losers! What kind of trash-tier Trainer is this? Just 'cause you're hot doesn't mean I won't peck your face off!
Combusken opened its beak and spewed a cloud of black smoke, turning Jiang Feng's handsome mug into a charcoal masterpiece.
The pathetic sight had the nearby classmates doubled over, laughing their butts off.
"As expected, total letdown! Two and a half years, and he still hasn't tamed that Combusken. Dude's doomed to be a trainee forever."
"Don't diss my boy Jiang! Thanks to his Combusken handing out free XP in battles, my Pokémon evolved! He's my MVP!"
"A broke kid on League welfare, stuck with a defective Combusken that can't even learn Ember? Talk about bottom-tier talent!"
"Straight-up max-level trash!"
How'd Jiang Feng end up with this Combusken?
Long story.
…Eh, not worth telling.
"A mighty Starter Pokémon that can only cough up smoke instead of flames? LMAO!"
"Go home and smoke some bacon—might fetch a good price in Johto!"
The mockery lit a fire under Combusken's tail. I'm the flaming king of clucks, with clout and connections! You haters can eat dirt!
Uncle can endure, but Aunt ain't having it!
Burn, baby, burn!
Combusken's eyes blazed red, its three head feathers standing tall like a mohawk. It raised its claws, ready to throw down with the whole class.
Combusken's temper was legendary—wild, untamed, a nightmare for rookie Trainers. Jiang Feng was living that struggle right now.
Born with a defect, unable to muster hot enough flames for Fire-type moves?
No biggie!
Just lean into physical attacks. Plus, Combusken could Mega Evolve!
Starters are rare as hell, and as a broke commoner, Jiang Feng knew their value. With his Sea King System and the Smile Card's +50 Attack boost, a Mega Evolved Blaziken would hit a monstrous 210 Attack stat—pure, fiery love!
One thought, and I'm a god or a demon!
These clowns were just jealous of his Combusken swagger!
Mali, my queen, lend me your strength!
Ding! Smile Card activated successfully, bound to Combusken!
A fleeting image of Mali's heart-melting smile flashed, then the card merged into Combusken, binding complete.
Ding! Combusken, provoked by haters, is pissed off! Rage Meter +500!
Ding! Converting rage…
Ding! Rage converted, gained +500 Proficiency!
Wait… where's my rage?
Combusken froze mid-rampage, looking like a deflated balloon. What the heck, Togekiss?!
No rage, no explosive skills! It stood there, dumbfounded, not even able to fart in protest.
Jiang Feng stepped up and gave its head a firm pat, all "there, there."
"Combusken, I know you're riled up, but chill for a sec."
Motherclucker! What kinda nonsense is that?! Combusken shot him a death glare.
Ding! Combusken, mildly annoyed, gets a little angrier. Rage Meter +100!
Rage converting…
It opened its beak for another smoke blast, but froze. Yo, where's my rage at?
Whatever, this shovel-wielding Trainer's got some serious sass today.
Guess I'll let this punk live… for now.
Combusken consoled itself, trying to stay cool.
Meanwhile, Jiang Feng, watching the Proficiency bar climb, couldn't resist smacking Combusken's head again—and again. Can't stop, won't stop!
Ding! Combusken, mildly annoyed, gets a little angrier. Rage Meter +100!
Ding! Combusken, mildly annoyed, gets a little angrier. Rage Meter +100!
This chicken's head feels amazing! So sensitive—one pat, +100 Proficiency!
He kept smacking, racking up rage points. Huh? Why'd it stop?
Hit the cap already?
Yo, Chicken Bro, you good? Only five pats? Weak!
Looks like they needed more training to boost this clucker's endurance.
Combusken rolled its eyes: You tryna glitch my head, you hack?!
Having tamed his rebel Combusken and farmed a ton of Proficiency, Jiang Feng was riding high. Pointing at the mocking classmates, he barked, "Trainee? So what? Keep laughing, and I'll slap you with a cease-and-desist!"
"One-on-one, let's go! I'll wipe the floor with all of you—suspenders and all!"
Combusken blinked: Suspenders? Bro, I ain't wearing any.
The crowd erupted, hyped and pissed.
Wei Littlefat, sweating bullets, thought, Man, Jiang Feng's got some Poké Balls today!
"Some puny trainee thinks he can flex?!"
"Check my Great Tatsu Dragon, Mega Dharma Curse!"
"Yeah, Mr. Kidney Issues, what's with the big talk?!"
Kidney Issues?!
Oh, hell no! My rep as a well-endowed legend is ruined!
Jiang Feng's face went darker than a Gengar. Glaring at Wei, he roared, "You, Li Xiao Du!"
"Laughing your ass off, huh? I've had it with that Caterpie on your head!"
"Don't think being ugly saves you! Step up and get wrecked!"
Jiang Feng's rage wasn't random—he was picking his target carefully.
Ahem… gotta go for the softest Persimmon!
Li Xiao Du, a lanky dude with a face like a prehistoric fossil, rocked the school uniform but still screamed "loser vibes." Back in the day, he and Jiang Feng were mud-pie-making, bird-egg-stealing, widow-bath-peeping buddies.
But once Pokémon entered the picture, their friendship fizzled.
Li Xiao Du's Pokémon was a Caterpie that refused to evolve, making him the class's resident punching bag. Old Jiang Feng never got why his childhood pal drifted away.
New Jiang Feng? He saw it clear as a Crystal Onix: pure jealousy. Li Xiao Du couldn't stand seeing his mud-pie bro outshine him, especially with a Starter like Combusken.
So, he'd been talking smack behind Jiang Feng's back, saying he didn't deserve a Starter.
Why do you get a Combusken while I'm stuck with a Caterpie?
Fuming, Li Xiao Du stormed onto the battle stage. "Why me?!"
Just 'cause I'm tall and look like a dorky mascot?!
You dissing my Caterpie? My dad's a freaking Rayquaza!
Fate had screwed him over, but screw fate! I make my own destiny!
He threw out a bold vow: No one's lifting me to the clouds, so I'll climb the snowy peaks myself!
Here I come—let's roll!