Chapter 56: The Journey of Youth

Gengar was at a loss for words. “How could something like that possibly exist…?”
Hu Yang sounded regretful. “Alright, but being able to store things is already pretty nice.”
When the time came to leave the school, he could just pack up everything in his room and take it all with him, saving a hefty moving fee.
But after leaving the school, where would he live?
Hu Yang began to ponder the question in earnest.
As a thirty-year-old man without a permanent home, he always felt a little uneasy inside.
“Oh well, I’ll deal with it when the time comes,” Hu Yang sighed. After all, there was still a year and a half left until then.

...

Alliance Calendar, Year 209, April 8.

It had been more than two months since Hu Yang had caught Magikarp.
With the arrival of spring, the temperatures were slowly rising.
The snow that had blanketed Petalburg City all winter vanished within a few short weeks.
Fresh grass and flowers began sprouting from the earth, and wild Pokémon in the forest grew more active.

In Petalburg Woods, a tense and thrilling Pokémon battle was unfolding in an orderly fashion.
On one side was a perfectly trained Roserade, the other a petite Vivillon.
“Rosa, use Vine Whip to wrap around the tree and fly into the air!” the boy’s voice called out from behind Roserade.
At the command, Roserade raised her arm, and two spiked green vines rapidly extended from the blossoms at her tips, curling around the trees on either side of the clearing.
Her body leaned back, the vines stretching into an impressive arc, but even so, they didn’t snap.

Watching the field intently, Hu Yang quickly issued a new command. “Magical Leaf!”
Using the strength of the vines, Roserade nimbly leapt off the ground.
As the vines retracted, a swirl of green leaves gathered, forming a whirlwind that shot straight toward Vivillon.
A direct hit!

Vivillon cried out in pain, tumbling to the ground, unable to continue fighting.
Meanwhile, Roserade landed gracefully, like a dancer who had just completed her performance.

“Good job, Rosa!” Hu Yang walked over, gently stroked Roserade’s cheek, and pulled a sweet Poké Puff from his pocket to reward her.
“Rosa!” Roserade relished the affection, her face lighting up with joy.

Hu Yang then approached the wild Vivillon, taking out a top-grade healing spray and applying it to her injuries.
“You did well too, Vivillon.”
Vivillon opened her eyes, feeling somewhat recovered, and fluttered her wings, looking expectantly at Hu Yang’s pocket.
He chuckled and produced the treat he had prepared for her. “Here you go. Thanks for your effort today. Until next time!”
Vivillon darted forward, took the food in her mouth, and with a melodious cry, turned and flew back into the forest.

Hu Yang stood up and watched her go.
That wild Vivillon had been hired with food to spar with Roserade.
It was rather amusing—two months prior, after a training session in the forest with Roserade, as Hu Yang was feeding her, two wild Pokémon had appeared before him: a Plusle and a Minun.
Drawn by the scent of food, and unable to find anything to eat during the winter, they had gone hungry for some time.
Feeling charitable, Hu Yang offered them food, but they requested a battle with Roserade in exchange.
The two little rabbits had no objections, happily accepting the deal, and after the battle, they scampered off.

He had assumed it was a one-off, but the next day, while training in the woods, several unfamiliar wild Pokémon approached him for food, offering to spar with Roserade and Axew.
From then on, it became routine.
Roserade and Axew’s strength steadily grew through these battles.

“It seems there’s a friendly interaction and information-sharing system among wild Pokémon who aren’t natural enemies.”
Reflecting on recent events, Hu Yang picked up his pen and recorded the observation in his notebook.
He was quite fond of the Pokémon ecology in this world, and would often venture into the forest to observe their habits, making detailed notes.

“Axew!”
At that moment, Axew came bounding out of the grass, a wildflower in hand, looking delighted.
“For me?” Hu Yang picked Axew up and set him on his lap, asking gently.
“Axew!” the little dragon nodded happily.
Hu Yang accepted the flower, patted his head, and smiled. “Thank you, I like it a lot.”
“You two are getting closer and closer,” Gengar muttered from the side, arms crossed and voice dripping with mock jealousy.
Hu Yang was speechless.
After a moment’s thought, he asked, “With Roserade and Axew’s current strength, can we go to that ruin you mentioned?”
“If that silly bird can understand your commands, then yes,” Gengar replied, glancing at Roserade and Axew. “On their own, they’re not strong enough.”

Hu Yang sighed. “Alright.”
What else could he do?
Just keep working hard.

But...

Information about Roserade flashed through his mind.

[Species: Roserade ♀]
Type: Grass, Poison
Ability: Technician
Base Stats: 515 (HP: 60, Attack: 70, Defense: 65, Special Attack: 125, Special Defense: 105, Speed: 90)
Known Moves: Giga Drain, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder, Seed Bomb, Poison Sting, Magical Leaf, Grass Knot, Vine Whip, Toxic, Synthesis, Solar Beam
Original Moves: Paralysis Bomb (Stun Spore + Seed Bomb), Landmine Bomb (Seed Bomb + ), Sleep Bomb (Sleep Powder + Seed Bomb), Poison Burst (Poison Powder + Seed Bomb)
Current Mood: Happy
Condition: Perfect
Friendship: 100 (She likes you very much and wants to be with you forever)

Over the past two months, Roserade had mastered combining Sleep Powder and Poison Powder with Seed Bomb.
Her reaction speed, technique proficiency, and swiftness had all improved dramatically compared to two months ago.

Hu Yang stood up, his eyes burning with determination as he gazed toward the city center.
Before heading for Gengar’s ruins.
Before setting off on his journey.
It was finally time to take his first official step as a Trainer and win the Petalburg Gym Badge!

“Caw?” At that moment, Oricorio seemed to sense his intentions, lifting its head to look over at him.
Hu Yang froze.

Seeing Oricorio about to take off, he quickly dashed over to stop it.
No need for that!
He’d earn the Gym Badge himself!