Watching Treecko happily munch on the spicy Berry in Aiden Flint's hand, Lily finally stopped crying. Professor Birch and Joshua exchanged a look—both clearly surprised.
They hadn't expected this.
Could it be that Aiden… actually had the makings of a Trainer?
At the very least, being able to quickly grasp a Pokémon's preferences and earn their initial acceptance wasn't easy at all. That was the kind of thing Pokémon Breeders were known for.
There was also another question they couldn't ignore—
How had Aiden gotten his hands on a relatively rare spicy Berry?
With that curiosity in mind, Professor Birch asked,
"It really does seem like this Treecko has a connection with you, Aiden. But… where did you get that Berry?"
Aiden gave a helpless shrug.
"To be honest, Professor, I was planning to go into Petalburg Woods and catch a Bug-type Pokémon, then start my journey that way."
"But somehow I didn't run into a single Pokémon the whole time. I only found a few Berries instead. And since it was getting dark, I had to head home and planned to try again another day."
He paused, then added honestly,
"Thinking back, it was kind of scary. If I'd run into an aggressive wild Pokémon out there… I might not have made it back."
"That's why I finally worked up the courage to come to you today. I wanted to ask if you could lend me a Pokémon—just long enough for me to catch my first partner."
As Aiden spoke, Professor Birch's expression darkened. Then, remembering Aiden's background, he could only let out a long sigh.
"Aiden… you—why would you risk your life like that?"
"If you wanted a Pokémon to start with, you should've come to me directly. Why gamble your life just for a chance?"
Aiden scratched his head and gave an awkward, sheepish smile.
Professor Birch shook his head.
"…Enough. From now on, you are not allowed to do something that dangerous again."
Then his gaze fell on Treecko.
"I think Treecko suits you well. Treecko—Aiden will be your Trainer from now on."
"I hope the two of you can grow together. This little one's potential… is far greater than what you're seeing right now."
With that, Professor Birch pulled out a brand-new Pokédex—the newest model.
"This Pokédex is for you."
"It contains data on Pokémon from Hoenn… and even includes expanded entries covering Kanto and the Orange Archipelago."
"Since you've decided to become a Trainer, you'd better work hard."
"I'll support you, too."
Receiving the Professor's support, Aiden repeatedly thanked him.
After officially receiving Treecko's Poké Ball, Aiden recalled Treecko and—without drawing attention—sent it straight into his System Space.
Soon after, with the Pokédex in hand and five Poké Balls from the lab, Aiden bid farewell to Professor Birch and Joshua and left the institute.
In the Pokémon world, having a Pokédex was basically the equivalent of official identification.
With it, no matter where Aiden went, as long as he showed his Pokédex, even Officer Jenny wouldn't treat him like a suspicious outsider.
In a way, it was almost like a League-issued "trust pass."
It was Professor Birch personally vouching for Aiden's character and potential.
Back home, Aiden immediately entered the System Space.
The moment he arrived, he saw Treecko staring intensely at Rayquaza soaring through the sky, letting out a low, fierce hiss—like it was declaring that it, too, wanted to become that strong one day.
For Treecko, the one thing it hated most was a useless Trainer.
Someone like Lily, who wanted to turn it into a dress-up pet…
Treecko would rather die than live that way.
At first, Treecko had only tolerated Aiden because it was hungry and tempted by the spicy Berry.
But now?
Now Treecko understood something very clearly—
That impossibly powerful Legendary Pokémon in the sky…
was also Aiden's Pokémon.
From that instant on, Treecko had no objections left.
Feeling the overwhelming pressure radiating from Rayquaza, Treecko's blood ran hot.
It could almost see it—
If it followed Aiden, it might truly become stronger.
"Tree…!"
With that crisp cry, Treecko was finally acknowledging him.
Acknowledging that Aiden Flint was worthy of being its Trainer.
Aiden smiled, then pulled out a Luxury Ball and swapped Treecko's standard Poké Ball for it.
The system's voice chimed immediately.
"Ding! Treecko's friendship has increased."
"Current friendship: 100."
Friendship rose easily in the early stages. But once it passed two hundred, growth would require time, bonding, and daily effort.
Still, a hundred was more than enough to start—and with the Luxury Ball naturally accelerating friendship gain, reaching two hundred didn't seem unrealistic at all.
Treecko was already Level 15, practically at the threshold of evolving into Grovyle.
So why not test the System Space's simulated battle feature?
If Treecko gained enough experience, it might even evolve on the spot.
With that thought, Aiden spoke at once:
"System, activate simulated battle."
The system responded instantly.
"Ding! Simulated battle activated."
"Switching environment…"
Aiden's surroundings shifted.
A standard battle arena rose from the ground, clean and simple, like a classic stadium field.
"Ding! Please select an opponent."
In the next moment, silhouettes appeared one after another—countless Pokémon options, almost as if the entire world's Pokédex had been laid out for him.
Even the opponent's level could be adjusted freely.
Aiden's heart stirred.
If my Pokémon can train with simulated battles every day… won't their strength skyrocket?
This was basically an infinite grinding feature.
And Rayquaza loved to battle too—meaning it could also use the System Space to let off steam.
Aiden grew even more excited.
But this was Treecko's first battle with him.
He needed something safe, appropriate, and confidence-building.
A Water-type at the same level.
Type advantage would help Treecko win more easily and allow Aiden and Treecko to build rhythm and coordination.
So Aiden selected—
Squirtle, Level 15.
As soon as he confirmed, a small blue turtle Pokémon appeared on the opposite side of the field.
"Squirtle! Squirtle!"
Aiden raised his hand.
"Treecko—this is our first battle. Don't lose. Go! Use Bullet Seed!"
Treecko's eyes sharpened.
The spicy Berry had cleared its hunger status, and its stamina had fully recovered.
Treecko was in peak condition.
And since it had always craved battle, the moment the fight began, it burst forward like an arrow released from a bow.
A Purple-potential Treecko was fast.
Aiden barely saw a blur before Treecko had already slipped to Squirtle's flank.
In the next instant, a stream of green seed-like pellets fired from Treecko's mouth, slamming into Squirtle's body with rapid impact.
That battle instinct alone made Aiden's eyes gleam with approval.
Squirtle reacted quickly.
Even while wincing in pain, it immediately withdrew into its shell.
That was Withdraw, boosting its defense.
Aiden nodded.
"Nice. So the simulated opponents aren't pushovers."
"Treecko—use Quick Attack! Close in!"
Treecko's gaze hardened again as its speed surged—
…
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