Seventy years ago marked the period when human activity expanded indefinitely. However, this uncontrolled expansion led to irreversible damage to nature, ultimately provoking an all-out assault by the Pokemons that were deeply connected to the natural world.
Defeated and chastened, humanity finally abandoned all forms of pollution-inducing technology and shifted towards the development of green energy. As a result, the world now exists in harmony, with humans and Pokemons coexisting. The once-arrogant ambition of conquering nature with technology has since transformed into a shared existence alongside Pokemons within nature.
The power of Pokemons holds limitless potential for development. Driven by the pursuit of strength, humans forsook the convenience of technological weaponry and instead sought power from Pokemons. Trainers became the prime examples of this shift.
Viridian City is a beautiful metropolis perpetually surrounded by lush greenery. Within its territory, numerous towns exist, with Pallet Town being the most renowned. Legends and myths have been left behind here, and Viridian City has long been called the city closest to nature. It is the only place in the world that seamlessly integrates advanced technology while completely eliminating any potential sources of pollution.
A road carved by humans stretches from Pallet Town northward toward Viridian City. This route is entirely safe and serves as the main connection between the two settlements. The Pokemons residing in the vicinity have long since adapted to human presence, and attacks by wild Pokemons on humans are virtually nonexistent.
However, straying 100 kilometers east or west from this road leads to the true Viridian Forest—the largest woodland in the Kanto region. It remains completely untouched, with an area spanning two million square kilometers, harboring countless secrets and its own complex, unique ecosystem. The deeper one ventures, the stronger and more fearsome the Pokemons become. For humans, this is a forbidden zone, yet for trainers, it is the perfect training ground for themselves and their Pokemons.
Viridian City, the only metropolis situated within Viridian Forest, is surrounded entirely by its dense wilderness, with the only accessible route leading north toward Pewter City.
After leaving Professor Oak's laboratory, Ryuuske arrived at the vast grasslands stretching beyond Pallet Town. Rather than following human-established roads, he relied solely on his compass and trekked northwest in a straight line. It took him two days to cross the boundless plains before reaching the forest's edge, where he plunged straight into Viridian Forest. He intended to live here for at least a month, honing both himself and his Gible in the life-or-death battles of the wild.
The sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the depths of Viridian Forest. The soft carpet of fallen leaves, pine needles, and tangled roots beneath Ryuuske's feet did little to slow him down. His movements were agile, dodging obstacles as he ran, while his keen eyes remained fixed on the sky. A flock of Fearow circled above, weaving through the intricate maze of branches with frightening ease, their razor-sharp eyes locked onto their "prey" below.
Beside Ryuuske, his Gible sprinted with equal swiftness, completely unbothered by the terrain. It gritted its sharp teeth, occasionally glancing back at the airborne predators, a low draconic growl rumbling in its throat.
"The deeper I go into Viridian Forest, the more terrifying the Pokemons become. Their instincts for combat and hunting far exceed my expectations. These creatures don't care if you're a human or a Pokemon—once you step into their territory, it's a fight to the death. No wonder so many trainers die in unknown locations every year," Ryuuske thought grimly.
His body was covered in dust, his face smeared with dirt. The clothes woven from Caterpie silk were incredibly durable, showing no signs of tearing despite constant scraping, though they had long lost their original pristine appearance. He looked as though he had rolled through mud.
Upon closer inspection, faint scars could be seen fading across his exposed skin. His left arm, in particular, was wrapped in a makeshift cast fashioned from Caterpie silk.
At first, the Pokemons he encountered were not aggressive, and Gible could easily dispatch them without much effort. However, the deeper he ventured, the more savage the Pokemons became. Even a mere Caterpie could suddenly spring from the shadows and ensnare him with its silk. From that point onward, Ryuuske abandoned his initial composed command style. Apart from brief moments of rest in safe zones, he was constantly in motion.
The idea of a trainer standing behind their Pokemon and calmly issuing commands? Impossible. Staying in one spot for even a second during battle was a surefire way to be overwhelmed by a barrage of relentless attacks.
Fortunately, humans in this world possess naturally enhanced physical abilities. Despite constantly running and dodging, Ryuuske barely managed to keep up. However, remaining in a prolonged state of tension was a brutal yet effective form of growth—not just for Gible, but for himself as well. His endurance, situational awareness, battle intuition, and even his ability to remain calm under pressure had improved significantly.
When he first transitioned from standard trainer battles to this fast-paced, synchronized combat, Ryuuske was completely overwhelmed. Pecked, bitten, and attacked from all sides, he initially focused solely on his own survival, forgetting to command Gible. Without direction, a trainer's Pokemon lacked the sheer ferocity of wild Pokemons, forcing Ryuuske and Gible into countless desperate escapes. The worst encounter nearly resulted in a Beedrill skewering Ryuuske through the lungs—a moment that sent chills down his spine.
Although advanced medical technology in this world allowed even severe injuries to be healed as long as the patient wasn't dead on the spot, being gravely wounded in the wilderness was as good as a death sentence.
Even so, Ryuuske and Gible were covered in scars. His left arm, still in a makeshift cast, was proof of their struggles.
While fleeing, they finally emerged from a dense thicket into a more open area. The flock of Fearow above immediately seized this opportunity to attack. One Fearow suddenly accelerated, its body spinning like a drill in midair.
"Gible, be careful! That's 'Agility' and 'Drill Run'!"
Recognizing the technique instantly, Ryuuske shouted a warning. However, he quickly realized that the Fearow wasn't targeting Gible—it was aiming for him!
"Tch, so you think I'm the easy target?"
His initial panic had long since faded. Though he still felt a primal fear seeing that razor-sharp beak spiraling toward him—akin to staring down the barrel of a gun—he gritted his teeth and skidded to a halt in front of a massive tree.
Above, the Fearow let out a vicious screech, seemingly sneering at its prey. Its deadly beak spun with terrifying force, slicing through the air as it dived straight at him.
In a blink, the beak stabbed directly into Ryuuske's chest—only for the Fearow to realize something was wrong. It didn't feel the sensation of piercing flesh!
Instead, its beak embedded deep into the thick tree behind Ryuuske, carving out a massive spiraling hole. Wood chips flew everywhere, and the ancient tree groaned as it began to topple.
Just as the Fearow struggled to pull its beak free, Ryuuske's voice rang out:
"Gible, 'Dragon Claw'!"
Gible, who had been waiting for the perfect moment, lunged ferociously from the ground. Although its claws were not particularly sharp, its fangs more than made up for it. Using its teeth instead, Gible chomped down on the Fearow's slender neck with terrifying force.
A sickening crunch echoed through the clearing.
This wasn't just a simple bite. Pokemons infused their attacks with their unique energy, and through some subconscious connection, Ryuuske could feel a surge of draconic power gathering in Gible's jaws.
In previous experiments, Gible's natural bite strength was enough to crush solid rock. But when combined with an attack move, it could grind stone into dust.
This Fearow had made a fatal mistake.
To be continued…
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