Kaito left the main path and walked into the trees. The air was cooler under the leaves. He had Bulbasaur at his side and Rattata on his shoulder. He had a small pack with water and bread. He had a plan for the day: practice timing with Bulbasaur, work on Rattata's focus, and learn more about the route. He moved carefully and watched the ground for roots and loose stones.
He heard shouting before he saw the people. Voices came from a clearing ahead. Kaito moved faster. He pushed through the last bushes and stepped into a wide space where several people had gathered. A large branch had fallen across a narrow trail and a small group of wild Pokémon were trapped under it. A young Pidgey was pinned by a heavy limb, and a small Cubone was stuck between rocks. People were trying to lift the branch, but it was heavy and awkward. The Pidgey cried and the Cubone whimpered.
A woman near the front looked at Kaito and called, "Can you help? We need hands."
Kaito did not think about being noticed. He only thought about the trapped Pokémon. He set his pack down and checked Bulbasaur and Rattata quickly. Both looked ready. He moved to the front and put his hands on the branch. It was heavy, but he found a place to push where the weight shifted. He pushed with the others. The branch moved a little. A man on the other side pushed and the branch lifted enough for the Pidgey to wriggle free. The Pidgey flew up and landed on a low branch, shaking its feathers.
The crowd cheered softly. Kaito did not smile. He checked the Pidgey for cuts and then turned to the Cubone. The Cubone was wedged between two rocks and a small root had trapped its leg. Kaito knelt and looked at the Cubone's leg. It was not broken, but the Cubone was scared and it kept pulling away. Kaito spoke in a low voice.
"Bulbasaur, vine," he said.
Bulbasaur moved a vine slowly and wrapped it around a small rock. Kaito used the vine to lift the rock a little while a man on the other side pushed. The Cubone slid free. It cried once and then ran to its trainer, who hugged it and thanked Kaito. The trainer was a young woman with dirt on her hands and worry in her eyes. She said, "Thank you. I thought I lost him."
Kaito nodded. He said, "I'm glad he's okay."
A boy in the crowd pointed at Kaito and said, "You're the boy who trains with Bulbasaur. You saved them."
Kaito looked at the boy and then at Oak, who had arrived and stood at the edge of the clearing. Oak had a calm face. He had watched the rescue and he had not rushed in. He walked up now and put a hand on Kaito's shoulder.
"You did well," Oak said. "You kept calm and you used your Pokémon carefully. That is important."
Kaito felt a small relief. He had not wanted to be praised, but he had wanted to do the right thing. He looked at Bulbasaur and Rattata. He checked their breathing and their paws. Both were fine. He gave them water from his bottle and a small piece of bread.
A man in the crowd stepped forward. He had a rough jacket and a hard look. Kaito recognized him from the bridge. He was the trainer who had challenged Kaito before. He crossed his arms and watched Kaito with a new expression. He said, "You saved them. That was good. But you still train like a child who wants to be a hero."
Kaito looked at him. He kept his voice steady. "I train to protect people and Pokémon," he said. "That is why I train."
The trainer snorted. He said, "Words are easy. Let's see if your team can handle a real test. I have a friend who needs help with a wild Beedrill nest. If you can help without getting stung, I'll say you're not just a show."
Kaito did not like the tone, but he did not refuse. He looked at Oak. Oak nodded once. He said, "If it's dangerous, be careful. Don't take risks that could hurt your Pokémon."
Kaito agreed. He followed the trainer and a small group deeper into the trees. The path narrowed and the air smelled of sap and wet earth. The trainer led them to a clearing where a tall bush had a Beedrill nest. Several Beedrill flew around angrily. They buzzed and darted. The trainer pointed and said, "They've been attacking travelers. We need them moved away from the path."
Kaito looked at the Beedrill. He thought about the field and the wind. He thought about Bulbasaur's moves and Rattata's speed. He thought about the system in his mind and the appraisal he had seen earlier. He did not let the system tell him what to do. He chose the plan.
"Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder on the nest," Kaito said.
Bulbasaur stepped forward and released a cloud of powder toward the nest. The Beedrill buzzed and tried to dodge. Some were hit and their wings slowed. A few fell asleep on the leaves. The trainer watched and frowned. He said, "Careful. Don't knock the nest down."
Kaito kept his voice calm. "Rattata, distract the ones that are awake. Move low and fast. Don't get hit."
Rattata leapt down and ran in a circle around the bush. It moved low and quick, drawing the attention of the awake Beedrill. The Beedrill chased Rattata and missed several times. Rattata dodged and used Quick Attack to push one Beedrill away from the nest. The trainer watched and then called, "Hurry. We need them moved."
Kaito saw a chance. He looked at Bulbasaur and then at the wind. He said, "Bulbasaur, Vine Whip to pull the sleeping ones off the nest. Rattata, Quick Attack to keep them away while Bulbasaur works."
Bulbasaur lashed its vine and pulled a sleeping Beedrill off the nest. The vine moved carefully and did not break the nest. Rattata dashed and hit a Beedrill that tried to return. The Beedrill fell and fluttered away. The trainer's friend used a long pole to guide the sleeping Beedrill into a safe area away from the path. The group worked together and moved the Beedrill without destroying the nest.
When the last sleeping Beedrill was moved, the awake ones flew off to find food elsewhere. The trainer who had challenged Kaito looked at him with a new expression. He said, "You did it without breaking the nest. That was smart."
Kaito felt tired. He had used clear commands and he had watched his Pokémon closely. He had not pushed them beyond what they could handle. He had used timing and trust. He had used the field and the wind. He had used the moves he had practiced.
A line of text appeared in his mind.
SYSTEM – APPRAISAL Pokémon: Beedrill Type: Bug/Poison Current Tier: C Potential Tier: B Notes: Aggressive in numbers; avoid direct confrontation
Kaito read the appraisal. He felt the facts. He did not let the facts change his actions. He thanked the trainer and the people who had helped. The trainer nodded and said, "You're not bad. Keep training."
They walked back toward the path. Oak walked with Kaito and said, "You handled that well. You used the moves to protect people and Pokémon. That is what training should do."
Kaito listened. He felt the truth of Oak's words. He felt tired and he felt the day in his muscles. He checked Bulbasaur and Rattata again. Both were fine. He gave them water and a small piece of bread. He sat on a log and rested.
A woman from the crowd came up and handed him a small cloth. She said, "You have dirt on your face. Thank you for helping."
Kaito took the cloth and wiped his face. He said, "You're welcome."
The trainer who had challenged him before walked up and stopped. He looked at Kaito and said, "You have skill. Don't let people use you for praise. Train for the right reasons."
Kaito looked at him. He said, "I train to protect. That is enough."
The trainer nodded once and walked away. He did not say more. Kaito watched him go. He felt a small tension leave his chest. He had faced the trainer's test and he had done what he thought was right.
That evening, Oak called a short meeting with a few townspeople to report what had happened. He spoke plainly and said that Kaito had helped move a Beedrill nest without destroying it and that he had used clear commands and careful timing. The townspeople listened and some nodded. One man said, "He is young, but he knows what he is doing."
Kaito stood and said, "I will keep training. I will keep helping when I can. I will not use the system to cheat. I will use it to make my work count."
Oak looked at him and said, "Good. Keep that promise. Training will test you. People will watch. Be careful."
Kaito nodded. He felt tired and he felt ready. He walked back to the lab with Bulbasaur and Rattata at his side. He fed them and checked their paws. He cleaned a small scrape on Rattata's tail. He spoke to them in a low voice and told them they had done well.
A short line of text appeared in his mind as the sun moved low.
SYSTEM – TRAINING COMPLETE 10× Efficiency Applied
Kaito read the message and felt a steady satisfaction. He had worked and the work had counted. He had not used the system to force results. He had used it to make honest work more effective.
Before sleep, he sat by the window and thought about the day. He thought about the people who had needed help. He thought about the trainer who had challenged him and the way the trainer had changed his tone. He thought about Oak's words and the map Oak had given him. He thought about the system and the way it showed facts and numbers.
He closed his eyes and decided to keep training. He decided to keep his promise to protect Pokémon and people. He decided to be brave and careful. He decided to meet tests when they came and to use clear commands and calm timing. He decided to learn one step at a time.
Outside, the town was quiet. Inside, the lab light burned low. Kaito slept and the Rattata slept on a small mat near the door and Bulbasaur curled on a blanket. The system waited in the back of his mind, a set of facts and numbers that would appear when he needed them. For now, the work would be simple and the days would be long. Kaito would learn the rules of this world one step at a time.