The Beginning of Real Training
The sun was just beginning to rise on the horizon when Kenji bid farewell to his parents. This time, he didn't have to sneak out at dawn like before; they now knew about his "beasts" and supported his growth. Even so, his mother couldn't help but remind him with a worried look:
"Kenji, be very careful and don't stray too far from the edge of the forest."
"Yes, Mom, don't worry. It will just be light training," he replied with a confident smile.
His father, arms crossed, nodded with a slight smile.
"If you see anything strange, come back immediately. We don't want you getting into unnecessary trouble."
Kenji nodded, and after a few final words, he stepped out of the house and headed toward the city's great gate.
🚪 Leaving the City
The massive walls surrounding the city loomed imposingly before him. The great metal gate, reinforced with an enchanted stone structure, was the main defense against the wild beasts lurking outside.
As he approached, some beast warriors guarding the entrance recognized him.
"Hey, kid! You're the one who always went out alone, right?" one of the guards asked with a teasing smile.
"Yes," Kenji answered calmly.
"I heard rumors that you got into the academy. Congratulations," another guard commented.
"Thanks."
Without any trouble, the guards let him pass.
As soon as he crossed the gate, the atmosphere changed. Unlike the city's hustle and bustle, here the air was filled with the essence of the forest—the scent of damp earth, the crunch of leaves beneath his feet, and the soft murmur of the wind rustling through the trees.
🎯 System Missions
Before proceeding, Kenji decided to check his pending missions:
📌 Daily Mission: Defeat 5 Low-Level Monsters
💰 Reward: 100 system points
📌 Weekly Mission: Defeat a Monster Boss
💰 Reward: 1,000 system points
📌 Charmander's Missions (Level 10):
• Explore the Crystal Cave
• Defeat a Rank C monster
Upon seeing the weekly mission, he frowned.
"A Monster Boss... that's going to be tough. Uninvoked monsters tend to be much more dangerous and aggressive."
He knew that near the city, he would only find low-rank beasts. To face a Rank C Boss, he would have to venture deeper into the forest, which was very risky.
"Maybe if I find a Rank C Monster Boss, I could complete two missions at once," he murmured to himself.
However, for now, his priority was to train his Pokémon's teamwork.
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🐾 Encounter with the Beast Pack
After walking for a while, Kenji noticed movement in the bushes. He stopped in his tracks and narrowed his eyes. A few seconds later, five figures emerged from between the trees:
📜 System Data – Shadow Fang Beasts
📊 Level: 8-10
💀 Rank: F+
🐺 Type: Canine Beast
🔹 Abilities:
• Shadow Bite: Drains energy from its prey.
• Coordinated Ambush: Increased damage when attacking in a group.
• Piercing Eyes: Slows down prey with a single glare.
The five canines spread out strategically, surrounding him. Their sharp fangs dripped with a black liquid, likely venom or some corrosive substance.
Kenji smirked slightly.
"Looks like I have my first opponents."
He took out his two Pokéballs and threw them to the ground.
"Go, Ursaring! Charmander!"
With a flash of light, both Pokémon appeared. Ursaring let out a powerful roar, momentarily intimidating the beasts. Charmander, on the other hand, assumed a battle-ready stance, his tail flame burning intensely.
The Shadow Fang Beasts wasted no time and launched their attack.
One of the canines used Coordinated Ambush, attacking at the same time as two of its packmates.
"Charmander, dodge and use Flamethrower!"
Charmander agilely leaped to the side and fired a stream of flames. One of the canines was hit directly and rolled across the ground, howling in pain.
Ursaring, on the other hand, didn't wait for orders and immediately charged at another enemy with Fury Swipes, his claws brutally tearing into the beast's flesh.
One of the Shadow Fang Beasts took advantage of an opening and bit Ursaring's leg, using Shadow Bite. Ursaring growled, but his Guts ability activated, increasing his attack power due to the received damage.
"Ursaring, use Slash!"
The great bear raised its claw and brought it down forcefully. The Shadow Fang Beast that had bitten him was left with a massive gash in its side, its dark blood staining the ground.
The scent of blood seemed to drive the rest of the pack into a frenzy. The remaining three charged in a relentless assault.
One managed to bite Charmander's tail, making him shriek in pain.
"Charmander, use Fire Claw!"
Charmander's claw glowed red as he struck his attacker's face, sending it flying several meters away.
Ursaring used Quick Feet, dodging an attack and ramming another enemy with his massive body, knocking it unconscious.
Finally, the last Shadow Fang Beast, seeing its pack defeated, attempted to flee.
"Don't let it escape!"
Charmander launched one final flame burst, striking the enemy just before it disappeared into the underbrush.
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🏆 End of the Battle and Rewards
Kenji approached his Pokémon, checking their wounds. Although they had taken some damage, it wasn't severe.
📊 Stat Increase:
🔺 Ursaring leveled up to 13.
🔺 Charmander leveled up to 15.
🔺 Companionship increased to 25%.
Kenji smiled at the improvement in their companionship.
"So this increases when fighting together…"
It was an interesting discovery. If he could raise their companionship to 100%, his Pokémon could coordinate perfectly in battle.
He returned Charmander and Ursaring to their Pokéballs, letting them rest.
"Now that we've tested our teamwork, it's time to find the Crystal Cave."
However, what Kenji didn't know was that, deep within the forest, something was watching him.
The air in the forest carried the metallic scent of blood. At his feet, the bodies of the Shadow Fang Beasts lay motionless—some with charred fur from Charmander's flames, others with deep wounds from Ursaring's claws.
Kenji exhaled sharply, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through him.
📜 Mission Completed: 5/5 Low-Level Monsters Defeated.
💰 Reward Received: 100 System Points.
"Good, at least one mission is done," he murmured.
His next objective was much harder: defeating a Rank C Monster Boss. But for now, his immediate priority was reaching the Crystal Cave, which the system marked a few kilometers away.
Without wasting time, he followed the path indicated on his minimap.
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🌲 Venturing into the Unknown
As he moved forward, the atmosphere changed.The forest grew denser, the trees stood closer together, and sunlight barely managed to filter through the thick canopy. The temperature dropped slightly, and the sounds of animals and wild beasts became more distant, as if something in this place kept them away.
A shiver ran down Kenji's spine."This place… has a strange vibe."
Clenching his fists, he continued advancing cautiously.
Suddenly, the system issued an alert:
📜 Alert! Unknown presence detected in the area.
Kenji froze."Unknown presence?"
He looked around but saw nothing unusual. Just trees and more trees, their shadows stretching out like specters.
Crack.The sound of a branch snapping to his right put him on high alert.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Kenji frowned and slowly moved his hand to his belt, ready to grab one of his Pokéballs.
Rustle.Something moved in the bushes. His instincts screamed that this was no ordinary animal.
📜 System Data – ???❓ Level: ???❓ Rank: ???❓ Type: ???
His heart pounded. It was the first time the system couldn't provide clear information about an entity.
"I don't like this at all…"
Slowly, he stepped back, never taking his eyes off the spot where he had heard the noise.
Then, he saw it.
👁 The Gaze in the DarknessA few meters away, hidden among the underbrush, a pair of eyes glowed in the dim light. They weren't the eyes of an ordinary beast. They were golden, burning with an intensity that seemed to pierce through his soul.
The air grew heavier, as if something was slowly draining his energy.
📜 Warning! You have entered the influence radius of a high-level entity.
Kenji shivered."Shit…"
He gripped Ursaring's Pokéball, ready to summon it if necessary.
However, before he could act, the presence vanished completely.
Total silence.
The pressure in the air disappeared as if it had never been there.
Kenji looked around, his heart pounding."What the hell was that…?"
He couldn't stay here much longer. Whatever it was, it wasn't something he could handle right now.
Quickening his pace, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was still watching him from the shadows.
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⛰ Reaching the Crystal CaveAfter nearly an hour of walking, he finally arrived at his destination.
Before him, a massive rock formation towered over the dense vegetation. At its center, a cavern with an entrance large enough for a truck loomed ahead.
The most impressive part was the blue crystals jutting out from the cave walls, casting a soft, mysterious glow inside.
📜 You have discovered the Crystal Cave.
Kenji let out a relieved sigh."Well, at least we made it."