Stocking Up and Scouting
Htee exited the Pokémon Center, the faint glow of his Trainer ID still visible in his hand. Knowing he had a modest amount of credits, he headed straight for the Pokémon Mart, a bright red and white building next to the Center.
Inside, the Mart was stocked with shelves of colorful boxes and bottles. A friendly shop assistant, a young woman with a neat ponytail, greeted him.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Mart! How can I help you today?" she asked cheerfully.
"Hi," Htee said, trying to sound confident. "I'd like to buy some Poké Balls, please."
He pulled out his Trainer ID and checked his balance again. "Could I get... five Poké Balls?" He knew five wasn't a lot, but it was a start, enough to potentially catch a few promising Pokémon.
"Certainly!" The assistant quickly retrieved five red-and-white spheres and placed them on the counter. "That'll be 1,000 credits." Htee tapped his Trainer ID to the payment terminal, and the transaction was complete.
"Thank you!" Htee said, pocketing his new Poké Balls. With his core mission in mind – finding high-potential Pokémon – he knew every Poké Ball was a strategic investment.
Now equipped, Htee decided to postpone buying Potions for a moment. His Mudkip was freshly healed, and his priority was to find new teammates.
He decided to explore the immediate vicinity of Oldale Town, specifically the routes leading out of it, as they were known habitats for various wild Pokémon.
He stepped back outside, the afternoon sun warm on his face. Mudkip waddled happily by his side, its small fins twitching.
"Alright, Mudkip," Htee whispered, "let's see what kind of potential we can find around here."
He chose to head south, back towards Route 102, which branched off from the route connecting Oldale to Littleroot. This route was known for its diverse early-game Pokémon.
As they walked, Htee kept his senses sharp, eyes darting through the tall grass and towards the trees. It wasn't long before he spotted movement.
A small, brown fox-like Pokémon with a cream-colored muzzle and a zigzag pattern on its fur scampered across the path. It was a Zigzagoon.
Htee focused his Potential Sight.
POKÉMON: Zigzagoon
TYPE: Normal
POTENTIAL: Bronze
"Bronze," Htee murmured, a slight note of disappointment. He wasn't surprised; Zigzagoon were incredibly common. He decided to pass on it. Catching a Bronze potential Pokémon now would just be a waste of a precious Poké Ball.
Further along, near a small cluster of trees, a fluffy, white caterpillar-like Pokémon with red markings on its head and tail wiggled out from under
a leaf.
A Wurmple.
POKÉMON: Wurmple
TYPE: Bug
POTENTIAL: Iron
"Iron," Htee noted. Better than
Bronze, but still not what he was looking for. He wanted to be strategic with his limited Poké Balls. He needed something with at least Diamond potential, if not higher, to truly complement his Legendary-bound Mudkip.
He continued walking, observing the wild Pokémon around him. He saw more Zigzagoon, more Wurmple, even a few Lotad near a small pond (mostly Bronze, one Iron). The immediate area seemed to be teeming with lower-tier potential Pokémon.
Frustration began to set in. Was finding high-potential Pokémon going to be this difficult? He remembered the system mentioning "hidden" potential for Mudkip, suggesting some might not be immediately obvious. But for basic wild Pokémon, it seemed the tier was right there.
He sighed. He would need to be patient. Or perhaps, explore further, beyond the immediate starting areas, to find the true gems of the Hoenn region. He had his Mudkip, his Pokédex, and five Poké Balls. His legendary journey was just beginning, and finding worthy companions was clearly going to be a significant part of it.
Grinding on Route 102 and the Road to Rustboro
Htee decided that patience was key. He wasn't going to waste his precious Poké Balls on anything less than a significant find. So, for the next few hours, he and Mudkip stayed on Route 102. The goal wasn't just to find high-potential Pokémon, but also to build Mudkip's strength. Every wild encounter, even with a Bronze or Iron Zigzagoon or Wurmple, was an opportunity for Mudkip to gain experience.
"Mudkip, use Water Gun!"
"Tackle!"
Battle after battle, Mudkip bravely faced the local wildlife. Htee diligently observed, learning Mudkip's strengths and weaknesses, its speed, its resilience. Mudkip, in turn, grew more agile and its Water Gun attacks became noticeably stronger. By the time the afternoon sun began to slant lower in the sky, Mudkip had leveled up twice more, now standing at Level 8. Its stats had improved further, making it a more formidable opponent.
His Potential Sight showed no change to Mudkip's "Diamond (with Hidden Legendary Potential)" status, but Htee knew the journey to unlock that ultimate tier was long.
Consistent training was the only way.
Despite the training success, Htee hadn't encountered a single wild Pokémon beyond the Iron potential tier. The common Pokémon of Route 102 seemed to consistently fall into the Bronze or Iron categories. It confirmed his suspicion: if he wanted higher potential, he needed to explore new territories.
"Alright, Mudkip," Htee declared, looking towards the setting sun. "We've done enough training here for now. It's time to head to Rustboro City. The bigger cities always have more diverse Pokémon." Mudkip chirped in agreement, seeming ready for a new challenge.
They made their way back through Oldale Town, bypassing the Pokémon Center since Mudkip was still fresh from its last battle. Htee paused briefly at the Pokémon Mart, debating whether to buy more Poké Balls. He still had three left. He decided against it; he'd save his credits for now, perhaps until he found a truly worthy target.
The path to Rustboro City lay along Route 104, north of Oldale. This route was different. It led through a small forest, and then opened up to a beach before reaching the city itself. Htee hoped the change in environment would bring new species and, more importantly, higher potential.
As they entered the small forest section, the trees grew denser, and the light dappled through the leaves. The sounds of the forest changed too, becoming richer, more varied.
Suddenly, Htee's Potential Sight flared. Not for a common Pokémon, but something rare.
POKÉMON: Shroomish
TYPE: Grass/Poison
POTENTIAL: Diamond
Htee stopped dead in his tracks.
A Shroomish! And a "Diamond" potential one at that. This was a significant step up from the Iron and Bronze Pokémon he'd been seeing. He could catch it, train it, and have a solid Grass-type for his team. But... he had set a mental rule: Champion or Diamond with hidden potential. This Shroomish was just "Diamond."
He considered it.
He only had five Poké Balls left. Was it worth spending one on a regular Diamond, or should he hold out for something truly exceptional, like his Mudkip? The logical part of him said a Diamond was a great find, but the system had shown him what was truly possible.
He watched the Shroomish for a moment, a small, mushroom-like Pokémon with large, curious eyes. It seemed peaceful, unaware of the internal debate Htee was having.
Ultimately, Htee took a deep breath. "No," he whispered to himself. "I have to stick to my goal. Champion or hidden potential. This journey is about building the ultimate team."
He carefully, quietly, guided Mudkip around the Shroomish, leaving it undisturbed. It was hard to pass up, but Htee was playing the long game.
As they emerged from the forest, the air grew salty, and the sound of waves crashing became audible. The path opened up to a sandy beach. Htee could now see the outline of Rustboro City in the distance, its modern buildings rising against the sky. The promise of higher potential Pokémon, and more trainers to challenge, urged him forward. He was determined to find the Pokémon that truly fit his ambitious criteria.