The transition from the open road to the Viridian Forest was like stepping into the throat of a beast. The sunlight, which had been bright and unyielding, was instantly strangled by the thick, interlocking canopy of ancient trees. The air grew heavy, humid, and smelled of damp earth and decaying leaves. The cheerful chirping of Pidgeys was replaced by the low, ominous buzzing of insect wings.
"Ugh," Daisy groaned, slapping at a mosquito that buzzed near her ear. She adjusted her shoulder bag, her white skirt standing out like a beacon in the gloom. "I hate this place. It's sticky, it's dark, and it smells like wet dog. Why didn't Grandpa just spring for a teleport request?"
Kian walked a few paces ahead, hacking away a low-hanging vine with a casual swipe of his arm. He glanced back, a smirk playing on his lips. "Careful, Princess. You complain too much, you'll attract the Beedrills. They love high-pitched noises."
Daisy glared at his back. "I do not have a high-pitched voice! And don't call me Princess. I'm a senior researcher's assistant."
"Whatever you say," Kian chuckled. He slowed his pace, falling into step beside her. The path was narrow, forcing them close. "Just stick close to me. I wouldn't want you getting snatched up by a wild Victreebel."
"I have my own Pokémon, thank you very much," Daisy huffed, her hand brushing the Pokéballs on her belt. "I can handle a few weeds."
But her bravado faltered when a rustle in the bushes made her jump closer to him. Kian didn't comment on it; he just enjoyed the way her shoulder pressed against his arm.
They hadn't walked for more than ten minutes when the inevitable happened.
"Hey! You!"
A boy in a straw hat and a net, wearing the standard Bug Catcher shorts, jumped out from behind a large fern. His eyes were wide with the manic energy of a trainer who had been standing still for hours.
"You have a Pokémon! I have a Pokémon! Let's battle!"
Daisy rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Oh, great. A Bug Catcher. This is going to be a riveting display of String Shot and Harden."
Kian stopped, turning to face the challenger. He didn't look annoyed. He looked like a grinder who had just found a mob to farm.
"Accept," Kian said simply.
The boy threw his ball. "Go, Caterpie!"
The small green worm materialized, letting out a weak cry. It was Level 4 at best.
Kian didn't even unclip the ball from his belt. He just pressed the button.
"Gardevoir. End it."
The flash of light was almost blinding in the dim forest. Gardevoir appeared, glowing with an ethereal grace that seemed out of place among the dirt and bugs. She stood tall, her white dress-like skin pristine. She looked at the Caterpie with something bordering on pity.
"Use Confusion," Kian commanded, his voice bored.
Gardevoir didn't move her body. Her eyes simply flashed blue.
The Caterpie didn't even have time to attack. It was lifted into the air by an invisible force, crumpled into a ball, and slammed into the trunk of a tree with a sickening thud. It slid down the bark, swirly-eyed and unconscious.
The Bug Catcher gaped. "M-My Caterpie!"
Daisy's eyebrows shot up. She looked from the fainted worm to the elegant psychic type floating beside Kian. "A Gardevoir? That's... that's a Hoenn Pokémon. And it's incredibly rare. How does a rookie like you have a fully evolved Psychic type?"
Kian recalled Gardevoir, tossing the ball in the air and catching it. "I have my secrets, Daisy. And I train hard."
"That wasn't training," Daisy scoffed, though there was a hint of respect in her voice now. "That was bullying."
"It's called efficiency," Kian corrected. He walked past the stunned Bug Catcher, tossing him a few coins from his pocket—an ironic reversal of the payout rules. "Buy a potion, kid."
As they ventured deeper, the pattern repeated.
A Lass with a Nidoran. One-shot. A pair of twins with Jigglypuffs. Double knockout. Another Bug Catcher with a Metapod. Psychic crush.
Kian tore through the trainers of Viridian Forest like a natural disaster. He didn't just win; he dominated. Every battle was a display of overwhelming force. He was farming XP, pushing Gardevoir's stats higher, his eyes constantly scanning the "System" notifications that pinged in his peripheral vision.
[XP Gained: 150][XP Gained: 200][Gardevoir grew to Level 24!]
Daisy walked beside him, her initial annoyance fading into quiet observation. She watched him command. He was ruthless, precise, and confident. He didn't hesitate. Most new trainers were clumsy, checking their Pokédex, fumbling with type matchups. Kian fought like a veteran war general.
It was... attractive.
She shook her head, dispelling the thought. No. He's an idiot who forgot his map. He's arrogant.
"You're staring," Kian said, breaking the silence without looking at her.
Daisy flinched, looking away quickly. "I was not! I was looking at... at that mushroom. It's a Paras."
"Sure," Kian grinned, hacking through another thicket of vines. The forest was getting darker as the afternoon wore on. The shadows stretched long and twisted.
"We should pick up the pace," Kian said, his tone shifting from playful to serious. "The sun is setting. And unless you want to sleep in the mud with the Weedles, we need to find a clearing."
Daisy shivered, rubbing her arms. The temperature was dropping. "I definitely do not want to sleep in the mud."
"Then stick close," Kian said, stopping to look back at her. His eyes were dark in the gloom. "Closer than that."
Daisy hesitated, then stepped forward until she was right beside him.
"Fine," she muttered, her face heating up. "But just for safety."
"Of course," Kian purred. "Safety."