CHAPTER 5

The next morning, Aoki woke up early, packed his belongings, and set off with May.

The two left Littleroot Town, heading toward Petalburg City. Along the way lay the vast Petalburg Woods, a dense forest teeming with Pokémon.

Normally, travelers avoided the forest, preferring the well-patrolled main route maintained by the Pokémon League. May had arrived safely in Littleroot Town precisely because she had taken this path—League officials routinely cleared it of aggressive Pokémon to ensure the safety of passing trainers and researchers.

But Aoki wasn't an ordinary traveler. With Boss Lairon, a quasi-Elite powerhouse, by his side, there was no danger he couldn't handle in this "beginner's zone." Besides, training in the wild would accelerate Torchic's growth.

More importantly, Aoki had another reason to take this detour—deep within Petalburg Woods, a Silver Treasure Chest had recently appeared. His system had already marked it. Although he had collected all treasure chests in the area over the past year, this one was new. Its sudden emergence was a mystery, but Aoki didn't care. A treasure chest was a treasure chest—he wasn't about to turn down free resources.

"Brother Aoki, this forest feels so gloomy. Are there any dangerous Pokémon here?"

May clung to Aoki's arm, hesitant to let go. She wasn't just worried about danger—she also wanted an excuse to stay close to him.

"Don't worry. We won't run into anything too strong."

Aoki gently held May's small hand, his lips twitching slightly at his own thoughts.

Back then, before his system activated, he had deliberately befriended May with a simple goal—to eat soft rice. Who would have thought that fate would intervene, gifting him the system and making him powerful enough to stand on his own?

Now, the situation had reversed. He no longer needed to rely on May's family, but their bond had already been established. Well, this is the bed I made, so I might as well lie in it.

Besides, May was adorable.

Rustle… Rustle…

Suddenly, a noise came from the bushes nearby.

"Something's there!"

May tensed, instinctively pressing against Aoki.

"Tor…Torchic!"

Torchic immediately hopped forward, puffing out its tiny chest, as if saying: Don't worry, I'll protect you!

Aoki's gaze remained steady. With Boss Lairon on standby, only an Elite-level Pokémon could be a real threat—and that was unlikely in this beginner-friendly area.

A moment later, a gray-and-black canine Pokémon emerged from the foliage—Poochyena.

A Dark-type Pokémon, Poochyena was known for its tenacity. It would eventually evolve into Mightyena, but even in its unevolved form, a strong Poochyena could be a tricky opponent.

Aoki wasn't particularly interested in catching it—he aimed for Pokémon with exceptional potential—but it would make a perfect sparring partner for Torchic.

"How about a deal, Poochyena?" Aoki said calmly, using his Viridian powers to communicate. "A friendly match against my Torchic, and I'll reward you with some food."

At first, Poochyena remained wary, but after sensing the warmth of Aoki's aura and catching the enticing scent of Pokéblocks, its caution faded. This human… feels trustworthy.

Poochyena hesitated for only a moment before nodding in agreement.

Aoki smiled. Good.

"Torchic, it's your turn."

Torchic let out an excited cry and stepped forward, tapping its tiny chest. Leave it to me!

Without hesitation, Poochyena lunged forward, ramming Torchic with Tackle—its honed survival instincts making it a fierce fighter despite its low base stats.

Torchic, in contrast, was caught off guard. It was its first battle outside of training, and Aoki had given no initial command, testing how it would react on its own.

Torchic froze for a split second before instinctively dodging to the side—barely avoiding a direct hit.

"Don't panic. Use Sand Attack and follow up with Ember."

Torchic immediately kicked up a cloud of dust, momentarily blinding Poochyena. The wild Pokémon hesitated, shaking its head to clear its vision.

But Aoki wasn't about to give it a chance.

"Now! Ember!"

Torchic spat out a burst of flaming embers, striking Poochyena head-on. The Dark-type let out a sharp yelp and stumbled back, clearly injured.

"One more attack. Flame Wheel!"

A burst of fiery energy surrounded Torchic as it launched into a spinning tackle. This wasn't a move Torchic could normally learn at this stage—but thanks to inherited genetics, it had been passed down from its parents.

The scorching flames engulfed Poochyena, sending it rolling backward.

When the dust settled, Poochyena lay on the ground, eyes swirling in a defeated daze.

Aoki exhaled slightly. He had seen it so many times before, but… why did fainted Pokémon always get those spiral eyes?

Guess that's just how this world works.

Torchic, on the other hand, hopped around happily, its chirps filled with pride. Master! I did great, right?

"You did well," Aoki confirmed, rubbing Torchic's small head.

Torchic let out an excited chirp—clearly pleased.

With Poochyena defeated, Aoki knelt down and placed his hand over its wounds, channeling the Viridian powers to heal its injuries.

Moments later, the Dark-type stirred awake, sniffing the air. Its gaze landed on a small pile of Pokéblocks Aoki had left beside it.

Without hesitation, it began eating. The rich nutrients instantly replenished its energy.

After finishing the food, Poochyena hesitated for a moment, glancing at Aoki. It wanted to stay.

But seeing no invitation, it turned and trotted back into the woods.

May, who had been watching the entire battle, clapped her hands in admiration.

"Brother Aoki, that was amazing! You took down Poochyena so easily!" Her sapphire eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Tor…Torchic?"

Torchic puffed up indignantly. What about me? I was the one who fought!

May giggled and crouched down. "Torchic, you were amazing too!"

Hearing this, Torchic chirped happily, rubbing against May's leg.

Aoki shook his head in amusement. This Torchic sure had a personality.

The trio soon reached the riverbank—the area where Aoki's system had pinpointed the Silver Treasure Chest.

The only problem? It was somewhere in the water.

Torchic, being a Fire-type, couldn't swim, and Boss Lairon was even worse—a Steel/Rock-type Pokémon sinking like a boulder was just common sense.

"Well… looks like we're going fishing."

Aoki smirked, pulling out a fishing rod.

The treasure chest wouldn't escape.