Mankey

After stopping the Mankey Clan's civil war, Rei approached one of the defeated Primeape leaders' wives—a strong, battle-hardened Primeape with scars on her arms.

She eyed him warily as he approached, but she didn't attack. The Primeape clan now recognized Rei's strength.

"I want to take in a Mankey," Rei said plainly.

The Primeape grunted in acknowledgment. Since their leaders had been defeated, Rei had the right to request something. This was the law of the wild.

After a brief moment, the Primeape motioned for him to follow.

The nest was a massive clearing deep within the forest, surrounded by large trees with vines hanging down like curtains. Dozens of Mankey swung between the branches, while some wrestled on the ground, their sharp cries filling the air.

Rei observed them carefully.

Most of the Mankey had average talent, ranging from green to red aptitude. Some of them already showed promising combat skills, jumping and attacking each other with precise movements.

Then, suddenly—

Rei's eyes locked onto a specific Mankey.

It was small, much smaller than the others, and was currently being knocked around by a much bigger female mankey.

Despite being pushed back repeatedly, the small Mankey kept getting up, refusing to surrender.

Rei narrowed his eyes.

Using his aptitude detection, he saw something shocking.

"Light blue…?" he muttered under his breath.

That was extremely rare.

A light blue aptitude meant Elite-level potential—strong enough to challenge Gym Leaders if trained properly.

Yet…

Why was it so weak?

It should have been dominating its peers.

Instead, it was being beaten down, struggling to even land a hit.

Rei turned to the Primeape beside him.

"What's wrong with that one?"

The Primeape grunted and pointed at the small Mankey. "That Mankey was born weaker than the others."

"How?" Rei asked.

The Primeape said. " it's always been physically weak. Even when it fights, its strength is slightly lower than normal Mankey."

Rei frowned. That made no sense.

It had light blue aptitude. It should be one of the strongest.

Yet…

His eyes flashed with realization.

He activated his detection ability again—this time focusing on something else.

And then he saw it.

"I see…" Rei muttered, a smirk forming on his lips.

The reason this Mankey was weak… was because its Psychic aptitude was amazing.

Unlike regular Mankey, whose strength focused on brute force and physical power, this one had a dormant Psychic affinity.

"This is interesting."

A Fighting-Psychic Mankey.

That was unheard of.

If trained properly, it could evolve into something entirely different.

Rei turned back to the Primeape.

"I want this one."

The Primeape stared at him for a moment, then nodded.

The weak Mankey, still panting from its latest defeat, looked up as Rei approached it.

It flinched, expecting another fight.

But instead, Rei simply crouched down and extended a hand with a pokeball in it.

"You're coming with me."

The Mankey hesitated… but after a moment, it reached out and punch the pokeball button.

And so a new journey had begun and the first Buddha Mankey of the pokemon world is about to be born.