Meanwhile, Aaron had no idea the Treecko in this forest had already been targeted.
He and Frog Boss ventured deeper into the dense woods.
"Grenin…"
Greninja's ears twitched. Sensing something, he let out a low warning cry and tugged at Aaron's sleeve.
Aaron's expression sharpened. He followed Greninja's lead, pushing through thick undergrowth until the trees began to thin.
Boom!
Crack—!
The sounds of battle and sharp Pokémon cries rang out ahead.
Parting the heavy foliage, Aaron peered into a clearing.
Standing there was a green, lizard-like Pokémon with a red belly and a long leaf crest on its head—
Grovyle.
Several smaller Treecko surrounded it.
Grovyle stood at the center like a commander, directing the others as they cornered and attacked a badly injured Treecko.
This Treecko was different.
One of its eyes was gone.
A long scar cut across its eye socket, leaving it with only a single eye.
And yet—within that lone eye burned fierce, unyielding resolve.
Even while being surrounded by five Treecko, its body covered in wounds, it gritted its teeth and fought back stubbornly.
Its gaze was steady. Defiant.
"Cha—!"
Grovyle looked down at it with open scorn, its cry dripping with mockery.
The one-eyed Treecko glared back, refusing to bow its head.
"Cha!!"
Irritation flashed across Grovyle's face. With a sharp motion, it signaled the others to press the attack.
A faint gleam flickered in Aaron's eyes.
He activated the system scan.
The results caught him off guard.
Grovyle's potential had already reached Champion-level.
Since when had Pokémon with Champion-tier potential become so common?
He had only just entered the forest and had already run into one.
The other Treecko ranged from Gym-tier to Elite-tier potential.
And the one-eyed Treecko—its potential was Champion-Class.
[Name: Treecko]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Serious]
[Type: Grass]
[Ability: Overgrow]
[Base Stats Total: 320]
[Level: Beginner (Peak Stage)]
[Pokémon Potential: Champion-Class]
[Known Moves: Pound (Proficient), Leer (Proficient), Absorb (Proficient), Quick Attack (Basic), Mega Drain (Basic), Dragon Breath (Basic), Grass Knot (Basic)…]
[Description: Treecko, the Wood Gecko Pokémon. It uses the small hooks on its feet to cling to walls and attacks with its thick tail.]
…
"Cha—!"
Just as Aaron finished scanning, the one-eyed Treecko cried out as it was struck again and sent flying.
Its small body crashed down near Aaron.
It clenched its teeth and tried to stand.
It fell.
It struggled again.
It fell once more.
Yet every time, it forced itself back up.
"Enough, Treecko."
"You've done more than enough."
A calm voice broke through the chaos.
The one-eyed Treecko slowly turned its head.
Backlit by the sun, a young man walked toward it.
For a split second, Aaron almost reached for a bug-catching net—
Wrong one.
He pulled out a Pokémon Healing Spray instead.
Kneeling down, he gently lifted the wounded Treecko, removed the cap, and misted the medicine over its injuries.
The Treecko instinctively tried to resist.
But as the pain dulled and its wounds began to close, it froze.
The hostility in its lone eye gradually faded.
It understood.
This human meant no harm.
"Cha…"
From across the clearing, Grovyle let out a furious cry, glaring at Aaron as if to say:
Foolish human. Stay out of this.
Aaron didn't respond.
He merely gave Grovyle a calm, unreadable look.
To him, a Pokémon's sense of justice mattered more than potential or raw power.
Potential?
Strength?
Even if this Grovyle had Champion-level potential—even if it had Legendary-tier potential—he would never choose it as his partner.
He didn't know why Grovyle had joined the others in bullying this Treecko.
But he knew one thing.
He didn't like it.
"Cha!!!"
Seeing the human ignore it, Grovyle's eyes blazed with fury.
Like a raging beast, it charged straight at Aaron.