"Side Quest (Skill Learning) completed. Quest evaluation: S. Reward: 200 gold coins, fifty task points."
"Since this is the host's first S-rank evaluation, a special gift package has been issued. Please strive to achieve more S-rank evaluations; each S-rank evaluation will grant a mysterious grand gift."
Ace's eyes widened at the sudden rush of unexpected happiness from receiving a rare S-rank evaluation.
Soon, a gift box appeared before him. With a thought, the gift box instantly opened.
"Congratulations, Host, you have gained Body Strength +1."
As the text flickered, it quickly transformed into a beam of light that merged into Ace's body.
Before Ace could fully react, the familiar sensation of Perfect Body Repair washed over him again.
This feeling lasted only three seconds before disappearing, but Ace could clearly feel himself growing stronger.
His previously slender frame had now bulked up.
The clothes he had bought initially, which were somewhat loose on Ace, now clung tightly to his body.
"What an amazing feeling!"
Ace stood up and squeezed the flesh on his arms. What was once soft and flabby was now significantly firmer, as if he had been exercising for several months, almost developing muscles.
"System, will every S-rank evaluation grant me a personal enhancement?"
"Yes."
The system's answer was affirmative, meaning that as long as Ace achieved an S-rank evaluation on a quest, the gift box provided by the system would contain something to enhance Ace himself.
Hearing the system's reply, Ace was excited, but quickly shook his head.
S-rank evaluations weren't easy to get.
Ace's S-rank evaluation this time was somewhat fortunate.
First, the quest itself was problematic: the probability of Zubat learning Toxic without a TM (Technical Machine) was very small.
According to normal progression, Ace would surely save up gold coins to buy a Toxic TM, allowing Zubat to learn Toxic and complete the quest.
But Ace didn't do that. Instead, he chose to feed Zubat high-grade energy cubes to promote the development of its poison glands.
Finally, he even used the clever move of the Toxic Orb, combined with Perfect Body Repair, to achieve a qualitative change.
It was precisely because of this that he met the system's highest evaluation standard, earning an S-rank.
If there had been even one misstep, he wouldn't have achieved an S-rank, at most an A-rank.
"Spend three days in Viridian Forest, then catch a Pokémon to complete the side quest, and then head straight for Pallet Town."
Ace silently planned his upcoming itinerary. Then, he opened the Poké Ball, and Zubat returned to his shoulder.
Pokémon: Zubat
Gender: Male
Level: 11
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Hasty
Potential: Medium
Egg Moves: Steel Wing
Moves: Leech Life, Supersonic, Poison Fang, Toxic, Bite
"Huh, it learned Bite?"
Ace was surprised. He didn't recall training Zubat's Dark-type abilities; how did it suddenly learn Bite?
While Bite was easy to learn, requiring only a mouth and teeth, it also required Zubat to develop organs in its body that could generate Dark-type energy. Otherwise, simply biting with its teeth wasn't the Bite move.
"Zubat, try out Toxic."
Zubat nodded at Ace's words, opened its mouth, and instantly sprayed two streams of dark purple venom from its fangs.
"Hmm... it's passable."
Watching the two streams of venom land on the ground, and noting the amount of venom, Ace's mouth twitched. For Zubat, it was acceptable.
To make the Toxic move stronger, more practice was needed.
Leaving Zubat to stand guard, Ace leaned on his backpack, watching the bonfire. His eyelids slowly drooped, and he gradually drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Ace woke up early.
After a simple wash and meal, Ace, full of energy, headed into Viridian Forest with Zubat.
Passing by the previous day's battle site, the remains of Raticate and Tangela had already disappeared.
What was useless to Ace was equivalent to two grand feasts for wild Pokémon.
Shaking his head, Ace continued deeper into the Viridian Forest. Soon, however, Zubat let out a cry, alerting Ace to a situation.
Following Zubat's warning, Ace quickly spotted a Caterpie eating leaves on a branch.
"Toxic."
At Ace's command, Zubat spat out two streams of venom, but only one hit Caterpie's tail; the other had gone wide.
"It seems not just proficiency, but aim also needs to improve quickly. Just blindly charging in like before isn't going to work."
Ace sighed, watching Caterpie fall from the tree after being poisoned. He then waved his hand decisively.
Zubat delivered a fierce Steel Wing strike to Caterpie, sending it flying and instantly knocking it out.
"So weak..."
Muttering about Caterpie's weakness, Ace tossed a Beginner Energy Cube. Zubat swooped down, caught it, and swallowed it.
After dealing with Caterpie, Ace continued deeper into Viridian Forest.
After successively defeating Oddish, Metapod, Geodude, and Pidgey, Ace stopped.
It wasn't that he had discovered anything specific, but he felt that something was off in his surroundings.
"It's a little too quiet..."
In a forest, you would always hear the sounds of birds chirping and insects buzzing, but for almost three minutes as Ace walked here, all sounds had vanished.
Aside from the crunching of dead leaves underfoot, the surroundings were eerily silent.
"Something abnormal is definitely lurking. Let's leave for now."
Ace cautiously retreated, trying his best not to make any other sounds.
But just as Ace and Zubat were about to leave, a figure emerged from the bushes, twisting its body and blocking their retreat.
"Weepinbell."
Ace's heart tensed at the sudden appearance of the Pokémon.
Blocking their path at this moment meant this area was definitely connected to this Weepinbell.
"Let's deal with it quickly, Zubat, Supersonic!"
The situation was unclear, so it was best not to get into a meaningless battle. In Ace's opinion, confusing this Weepinbell and then retreating was the best approach.
Supersonic rapidly shot towards Weepinbell, but Ace's calculations were off; this Weepinbell was incredibly fast.
Its slender, root-like legs suddenly pushed off, and with terrifying speed, it lunged towards Ace.
Then it opened its mouth and spewed a puddle of light green liquid, dousing Ace from above!
Ace's pupils constricted, and a chill shot from his feet to the top of his head.
That was...
Acid!!!