Chapter 2: The First Team
Recap: Fang Yuan captured his first Subject—a Moonlight Gu—and discovered the Shop and Auto‑Feeding system, leaving him with eight primeval stones and a hunger for more.
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The forest closed around Fang Yuan like a hungry beast.
Ancient trees stretched toward the sky, their branches weaving a canopy that swallowed the morning light. The path he followed existed only in his memory—a trail he had walked five hundred years ago, hunting Gu worms for the clan's exams. Back then, he had been a nervous child, desperate to prove himself. Now, he moved with the confidence of a predator.
The Vine Gu den is near. They prefer damp, shaded areas with thick undergrowth. Easy to isolate if you know their patterns.
He paused at the edge of a small clearing. Rotting logs lay scattered across the mossy ground, and a thin stream trickled through the center. Perfect habitat.
He crouched low, scanning the area. Three Vine Gu—slender, serpentine creatures the color of emerald, their bodies covered in tiny thorns—wrapped themselves around a fallen branch. They were basking in the filtered sunlight, their movements slow and languid.
Rank 1. Grass type. Their Vine Whip is weak but useful for restraining opponents. More importantly, they are social creatures—attack one, and the others will flee. Perfect for isolation.
He opened the Capture interface. Three Pokeballs remained in his inventory, along with the three he had earned as a reward. Six total. Enough.
A Vine Gu detached from the group and slithered toward the stream, seeking water. Fang Yuan waited until it was alone, its companions hidden behind the log.
He threw.
The Pokeball sailed through the air, struck the Vine Gu mid‑body, and split open. Red light swallowed the creature. It thrashed inside the sphere, its thorned body scraping against the inner walls. The ball wobbled once, twice, three times—
Click.
[Capture Successful!]
Vine Gu added to Storage.
Reward: 5 Primeval Stones.
He retrieved the sphere, already moving. The other two Vine Gu, alerted by the commotion, unwound from the log and slithered deeper into the undergrowth. Too slow. He had what he needed.
One Vine Gu is sufficient for now. Its Vine Whip and Bind will serve as control. Combined with Moonlight Gu's Light Screen, I have a defensive foundation.
He checked his Status: Primeval Stones: 13. Enough for more supplies, but he needed offense next.
Rock Skin Gu are in the eastern caves. Their defense is high, but their speed is abysmal. A single Net Ball would capture one easily—but I don't have Net Balls yet. A standard Pokeball will work if I weaken it first.
He made his way toward the caves, his mind already calculating the optimal capture strategy. The Rock Skin Gu were solitary creatures, each claiming a small territory. They fed on minerals, which made them slow to react to threats. A simple matter of approach.
The cave mouth loomed ahead—a dark gash in the hillside. Fang Yuan paused at the entrance, listening. The faint sound of stone grinding against stone echoed from within.
He stepped inside.
The air was cool and damp, heavy with the smell of wet rock. His eyes adjusted slowly. Twenty paces in, he found it: a Rock Skin Gu, its body a mass of grey, craggy plates, nestled against the cave wall. It was roughly the size of a large dog, its four stubby legs planted firmly on the ground. It did not notice him.
Rock type. High defense, low speed. Its only moves are Tackle and Harden. I need to weaken it without killing it.
He pulled out a Pokeball. No need to engage in direct combat—the system's capture mechanics did not require weakening the Subject first, though it improved success rates. But a Rock Skin Gu at full health had a decent chance of breaking free.
I could use the Vine Gu to bind it, then throw. But that would expose my Subjects to injury. Better to rely on the Quick Ball's bonus.
He selected a Quick Ball from his inventory—one of the three he had earned from the first capture. Twelve stones' worth, but free. He had learned from five hundred years of experience: never waste resources when free alternatives exist.
He stepped forward, close enough to see the Rock Skin Gu's small, black eyes. It blinked, slowly turning its head.
Fang Yuan threw the Quick Ball.
The sphere struck the creature's armored back and opened. Red light enveloped it. The Rock Skin Gu let out a low, grinding sound—its version of a roar—and struggled. The ball shook violently, clattering against the cave floor.
One wobble. Two. Three.
Click.
[Capture Successful!]
Rock Skin Gu added to Storage.
Reward: 8 Primeval Stones.
He picked up the sphere, examining it. Through the translucent top, the Rock Skin Gu sat motionless, its rocky plates already relaxing.
Defense. Good. Now I have three Subjects: Moonlight Gu for support, Vine Gu for control, Rock Skin Gu for defense. I still lack a dedicated attacker.
He left the cave, his steps lighter. The morning had turned to midday, the sun high enough to pierce the canopy in scattered beams. He had three Subjects now, each with a distinct role.
The White Boar Gu is next. Rank 2, Normal type. High attack, decent speed. It will serve as my primary damage dealer—but capturing it will be more difficult.
He navigated the forest with purpose, following the path he remembered from his previous life. The White Boar Gu's territory was a small valley where wild boars often gathered. A single White Boar Gu had taken residence there after killing three clan disciples. The clan had sent a Rank 2 Gu Master to eliminate it, but in this timeline, that had not yet happened.
The White Boar Gu is strong, but predictable. It charges anything that enters its territory. I can use that.
He reached the valley's edge and looked down. The White Boar Gu was visible even from here—a massive creature, its hide pure white, its tusks gleaming in the sunlight. It stood in the center of the clearing, snorting and pawing the ground.
Rank 2. Its charge attack can break bones. I cannot face it directly with my current Subjects. But I don't need to.
He pulled out a Pokeball and selected a different item from the Shop: a Net Ball. Twelve primeval stones. He hesitated, then made the purchase. His stone count dropped from 21 to 9.
Worth it. The Net Ball's effectiveness against Beast-type Subjects will increase my capture chance significantly.
He crept down the slope, keeping low. The White Boar Gu's ears twitched, its head turning toward him.
Too late to hide.
He broke into a sprint, closing the distance. The White Boar Gu lowered its head and charged, its hooves tearing up the ground. The earth shook with each step.
Fang Yuan waited. Three seconds. Two. One.
He threw the Net Ball.
The sphere struck the White Boar Gu directly between the eyes. It opened, enveloping the creature in red light. The boar's momentum carried it forward, but the sphere absorbed the impact, wobbling violently as it hit the ground.
The ball rocked. Once. Twice. Three times. A fourth. A fifth.
Click.
[Capture Successful!]
White Boar Gu added to Storage.
Reward: 15 Primeval Stones + 1 Great Ball.
Fang Yuan exhaled slowly. He retrieved the sphere, its weight satisfying.
Now I have a team.
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In the Gu Yue Village, a group of disciples gathered at the training ground. Among them was Gu Yue Chi Cheng, the clan's favored young master, his arms crossed as he watched the sparring matches. His Moonlight Gu hovered beside him, its glow steady and bright.
"Where is Fang Yuan?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.
One of the disciples shrugged. "Didn't show up for morning training. No one's seen him."
Chi Cheng's eyes narrowed. "Find him."
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Fang Yuan sat on a fallen log, his four Pokeballs arranged before him. He had earned 23 primeval stones from the captures and spent 12 on the Net Ball, leaving him with 11 stones—plus the three he had started with, now a total of 14 after accounting for his initial spending. His inventory held three Pokeballs, one Great Ball, and one pack of Moonlight Powder.
Not bad for a morning's work.
He opened the Subjects interface, studying his team.
Moonlight Gu – Light, Rank 1. Moves: Flash, Light Screen.
Vine Gu – Grass, Rank 1. Moves: Vine Whip, Bind.
Rock Skin Gu – Rock, Rank 1. Moves: Tackle, Harden.
White Boar Gu – Normal, Rank 2. Moves: Tackle, Horn Attack, Defense Curl.
A balanced composition. Light, Grass, Rock, Normal. Enough type coverage for now. The White Boar Gu will carry the offense until I capture something stronger.
He considered his next move. The clan's training would continue for another two hours. If he returned now, he could slip back unnoticed. But there was more to be gained in the forest.
The Gym Badges. The first designated Gym Leader is the Gu Yue Clan Leader. To challenge him, I need three Subjects and a formal request. But I also need to appear weak enough that he accepts without suspicion.
He stood, pocketing the spheres. His eyes drifted toward the distant peak where the clan leader's residence stood. A cold smile touched his lips.
I will return to the village. I will train in secret. And when the time is right, I will challenge him—and take my first badge.
He turned to leave, but a rustle in the undergrowth stopped him.
His hand went to a Pokeball instinctively. Five hundred years of paranoia screamed a warning.
Two figures emerged from the trees. Disciples. Older than him—twelve, maybe thirteen. Their robes marked them as members of Chi Cheng's faction. Their eyes swept the clearing, then landed on him.
"There you are," the taller one said, his tone carrying a sneer. "Skipping training, Fang Yuan? The young master will want to hear about this."
Fang Yuan's expression remained neutral, but his mind raced.
They saw nothing. I can bluff my way out. Or…
He glanced at the Pokeball in his palm.
Or I can test my team.
The shorter disciple stepped forward, his Moonlight Gu materializing beside him. "Come quietly, and maybe we'll只说 you were sick."
Fang Yuan's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"No," he said quietly. "I don't think I will."
He pressed the button on the Pokeball. Red light flashed.
The White Boar Gu materialized between them, its massive form blocking the sun. It let out a rumbling snort, its tusks gleaming.
The disciples' faces went pale.
"What—what is that?!" the taller one stammered.
Fang Yuan tilted his head, his voice soft. "My first lesson."
He raised his hand, pointing at the Moonlight Gu hovering beside the disciple.
"Tackle."
The White Boar Gu lunged.
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End of Chapter 2