Chapter 62: Encounter

The match was over.

Seeing the strange expression on Takashi Nishida’s face, Hu Yang felt a wave of unease wash over him.

Had his combination of moves disgusted Nishida?

To avoid the situation escalating into a real-life duel, Hu Yang immediately considered sneaking away.

However, Nishida reacted faster.

He grabbed Hu Yang’s collar. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Hu Yang laughed nervously. “Uh, I think I forgot to turn off the gas when I left home.”

Nishida was momentarily silent.

Recalling the battle just now, he released Hu Yang’s collar, looking frustrated. “That strategy of yours is just... you know?”

Hu Yang replied, “Dirty?”

Nishida struggled to find an appropriate word, but upon hearing this, he felt it fit perfectly.

“Yes, exactly—dirty. I’ve never seen anyone fight like you. It’s disgusting, really...”

He paused, then added, “It’s simply unsolvable!”

Hu Yang shook his head. “Actually, it’s not as unbeatable as it looks.”

This particular strategy only worked when the difference in strength between the two sides wasn’t too great.

Nishida asked, “Why?”

Hu Yang explained earnestly, “Look, first is Protect. Protect can block attacks, but only when the combatants are fairly evenly matched.”

In reality, Protect couldn’t completely block attacks the way it did in the games.

If there was too great a difference in strength, the Protect status would be broken right through.

Hu Yang couldn’t help but reflect on the rapid growth of grass-type Pokémon.

With the resources he provided, Roserade was growing at rocket speed.

If it could fully master all the moves he had taught it in recent days, he believed it wouldn’t be long before it reached elite-level strength.

Hu Yang glanced at Axew, not far away.

Months had passed, and Axew still showed no signs of evolving…

But in this real world, for a dragon-type Pokémon, evolving within three years was entirely normal.

He continued, “Next is Substitute. When a Pokémon uses Substitute, its real body doesn’t disappear. If you have wide-range moves like Blizzard, you can hit both the Substitute and the real body at the same time.”

“And most importantly, your Snorlax didn’t use Taunt against this move.”

Taunt: a dark-type move that enrages the opponent, causing their Pokémon to ignore commands and only use attacking moves.

Once Taunt is used, Roserade can’t use any healing-type moves.

That moment is the best chance to win.

The reason Nishida lost was entirely because he encountered this kind of tactic for the first time.

Upon hearing all this, Nishida fell into thought, muttering, “That’s true. I get it now. Looks like my knowledge isn’t enough.”

Soon, however, he returned to his usual cheerful self, slinging his arm over Hu Yang’s shoulder and laughing, “A loss is a loss. It’s not the end of the world. Come on, I’ll treat you to lunch!”

The two made their way to a restaurant in the city center, eating and chatting about amusing things at school lately.

When Nishida learned from Hu Yang that he planned to challenge the Petalburg Gym, he immediately asked if he could tag along to watch.

Seeing the mischievous smile at the corner of Nishida’s mouth, Hu Yang was speechless. “You just want to see how Norman, the Gym Leader, deals with this strategy, don’t you?”

“No,” Nishida shook his head solemnly. “I just want to thank him for the kindness he showed me years ago, giving me the badge.”

Back then, Nishida had embarked on his journey with grand ambitions and his starter, a little Snorlax. His first gym challenge was Petalburg Gym.

He and his Snorlax were stuck in Petalburg for almost two months, and on his twenty-ninth attempt, Norman was finally moved by his perseverance and awarded him the gym badge.

Hu Yang knew about this because Nishida had mentioned it during previous conversations.

Hu Yang glanced at him, twitching his lips.

Who would believe that…

Even Nishida himself didn’t, as he burst out laughing right after finishing his sentence.

“Seriously, when are you planning to go?” Nishida asked.

Hu Yang replied, “…In a few days.”

At the very least, Roserade needed to get more familiar with the newly revised moves.

“Brother, be sure to call me when the time comes!” Nishida said, clapping Hu Yang’s shoulder.

“Alright.”

…

Afternoon.

After finishing a class, Hu Yang, as usual, took Axew and Roserade into Petalburg Forest for special training.

Gengar and Decidueye followed along, unwilling to be left out.

Winter passed, spring arrived, and all things revived; food in the forest became more abundant.

Wild Pokémon were no longer forced to dig for food in the snow, so fewer Pokémon came to work for Hu Yang.

Hu Yang was guiding Axew on how to perform Dragon Dance more effectively, when suddenly Gengar’s voice sounded in his mind:

“There’s a little one watching you over there.”

Hu Yang stood up and followed Gengar’s pointing finger, spotting a Ralts observing them.

It was the same Ralts he had met when he first arrived in this world.

He hadn’t seen it in a long time, so he greeted it, “Hi, is your father doing well?”

“Ralts!” The little Ralts, seeing the human still remembered it, immediately switched from hesitation to delight.

With a blink, it teleported right in front of Hu Yang, startling Axew, who had been wiggling its hips in a dance.

“Ralts…”

Ralts apologized bashfully to Axew. There was no translation, so Hu Yang couldn’t understand, but he could guess the meaning.

Ralts was apologizing.

“Axew!” Axew waved its tiny claws in an imitation of adult manners, indicating it was fine—it wasn’t intentional, so it forgave Ralts!

Hu Yang was speechless.

He realized that this Ralts seemed a little different from when they last met.

[Species: Ralts ♀]
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Ability: Trace
Base stats: omitted
Known moves: Growl, Double Team, Confusion, Teleport, Confuse Ray, Magical Leaf, Heal Pulse, Calm Mind
Current mood: Happy
Physical condition: Perfect
Friendship: 50

Moves!

Compared to last time, it had learned four new moves!

And its aura was stronger, too.

“Ralts…” (Wait for me.)

Last time, it came and found Hu Yang gone, and had been sad for a long time.

Hu Yang looked to Gengar.

Gengar translated, “It’s telling you to wait for it.”

Hu Yang paused, then looked at Ralts in disbelief.

“You’ve talked it over with your father?”

Ralts nodded happily. “Ralts!”

In a little while, it would be ready to go on a journey!

Just then, Ralts turned and ran back in the direction it had come from.

Hu Yang looked up to see a Gardevoir waiting there.

Ralts returned to its side, and waved toward Hu Yang.

Then, the father and daughter disappeared into the depths of the forest.

In this world, some find love, some gaze at the sea by night, and some, in pursuit of your footsteps, keep moving forward.