Allen buckled on the trainer belt he'd received earlier—an essential tool for any trainer looking to carry their Pokémon efficiently. The belt came equipped with six slots, just like in the games, each meant to hold a Poké Ball for quick access. As far as he knew, any extras beyond six might have to be transferred via PC or the system's interface. That was something he'd need to experiment with later.
"What are you waiting for? Check the task tab," the god said lazily.
"Right." Allen opened the system menu, but just as he was about to inspect the task list—
Boom.
A muffled explosion echoed through the woods.
Both Allen and Blazebladet turned instinctively toward the sound. Fluttering petals danced upward into the air from the forest canopy.
"Let's check it out," Allen said.
They moved cautiously through the woods until they saw the source of the disturbance: a standoff was happening nearby between four black-uniformed individuals and a single girl.
The uniformed figures wore matching black suits with white gloves and boots. Each bore a bright red "R" on their chests—Team Rocket. Two men and two women. They stood over a fallen Pokémon, a small green quadruped with a bulb on its back—Bulbasaur. Around them, four Pokémon were stationed: two Golbat, a Hypno, and a Weezing.
"Golbat! Mean Look!"
"Golbat! Air Slash!"
"Hypno! Use Psychic!"
The Golbat flapped their wings, one of them locking Bulbasaur in place with a ghostly glare, while the other summoned slicing winds toward it. The Hypno raised its pendulum, glowing eyes unleashing a forceful psychic blast that cracked the ground open.
Bulbasaur was in trouble.
"Bulbasaur, look out!"
The shout came from a young girl who dashed forward without hesitation, scooping up the battered Grass-type and rolling away from the blast radius. The Air Slash missed—but barely—and the psychic energy caught her in the side, throwing her into a tree with a painful crash.
She groaned, trying to stand.
The girl wore a red skirt, a sleeveless blue vest, and a white cap with a Poké Ball emblem. Long black-brown hair fell across her bruised face.
Her name was Leaf. A native of Pallet Town. She had once been terrified of Pokémon. A childhood encounter left her with a deep phobia, and even now, she struggles with it. But she worked hard to change. With the help of Professor Oak, she gradually came to care for and understand Pokémon.
While most of her peers had already started their journeys, she had stayed behind in Pallet Town as an aide to Professor Oak, helping care for Pokémon at the lab. Bulbasaur had been one of them—a starter that was left behind while the others, Charmander and Squirtle, were chosen.
Bulbasaur had grown lonely, watching its friends leave on adventures. One day, it wandered off in search of them.
Leaf, concerned for its safety, had gone after it despite her fears. No Pokémon of her own. No battle experience. Just her determination.
But she didn't expect to stumble across Team Rocket, illegally capturing wild Pokémon using underhanded methods: traps, stun devices, cages. Not even Poké Balls.
That wasn't how a Pokémon should be caught.
Leaf had managed to free some of the captured Pokémon, but now she was cornered. Outnumbered. Injured.
Bulbasaur stirred in her arms, opening its eyes. "Saur…"
"Bulbasaur, you're awake!" Leaf smiled despite her pain.
"Heh. That Bulbasaur's got a strong move set. Probably inherited Petal Dance. Must be from a well-bred line," sneered one of the Rocket grunts.
"You little brat," barked another, a burly man. "You ruined our operation. Do you know how long it took to trap those wild Pokémon?!"
"Your methods are illegal!" Leaf shouted, staggering to her feet. "Pokémon should be caught fairly, not abused!"
"If it's not illegal, it ain't Rocket," said a tall grunt with slick black hair. "We do what we want, when we want."
"Leave your Bulbasaur and your cash, and maybe we'll let you limp home."
"In your dreams!"
Behind a nearby tree, Allen crouched with the Blazeblade at his side, watching the confrontation unfold.
"You gonna help her?" the god asked.
"...Not sure yet," Allen muttered.
He recognized those uniforms immediately. Team Rocket. Infamous in Kanto and beyond. Thieves, poachers, black marketeers. Led by Giovanni, the shadowy kingpin of Kanto's underworld. Messing with them wasn't just reckless—it was dangerous.
Worse still, their Pokémon were strong. Judging from the looks of them, their levels had to be in the high 30s or even 40s. Allen's Blazeblade could handle one or two, maybe. But all four?
The odds weren't in his favor.
"You're really gonna pass on this?" the god asked. "Check your task list."
Allen sighed and opened the task log.
[Quest: Save the Girl!]
Objective: Defeat Team Rocket and rescue the trainer and Bulbasaur.
Reward: 5 Super Potions, 3 Poké Balls, 1 Revive, learn one move from Bulbasaur's pool, increase relationship with the rescued trainer.
"...That last one again?" Allen frowned.
"It's the most important one!" the god insisted. "You get to bond with a girl! Maybe even... romance!"
"That's not why I'd help someone."
"You're such a killjoy. What happened to hero saves damsel, earns kiss under moonlight?"
"Save it for your fantasy novels."
Still, Allen glanced back at the battlefield.
Leaf had no Pokémon capable of fighting. Bulbasaur was barely conscious. And those four Rocket grunts were closing in.
He gritted his teeth.
"I didn't ask for this... but I'm not letting someone get hurt in front of me."
The Blazeblade emerged from his shadow, swords blazing with spectral fire.
Allen narrowed his eyes.
"Let's do this."
***
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