The turning point where humanity's territorial expansion spiraled out of control was seventy years ago. It was then, through unchecked sprawl and irreversible destruction of nature, that humans drew the wrath of Pokémon who were intricately bound to the natural world. The war that followed was brutal. Defeated and remorseful, humanity eventually abandoned technologies that polluted the environment and instead pursued the path of green energy. Nowadays, humans and Pokémon generally coexist in harmony. The old ambition to dominate nature with machines has been replaced with a new ideal: to live alongside Pokémon, within the rhythm of the natural world.
The potential of Pokémon powers is limitless. And in the pursuit of strength, humankind willingly gave up technological weapons and chose instead to harness the power of Pokémon. Pokémon Trainers are the epitome of this new era.
Viridian City is a beautiful place perpetually surrounded by vibrant greenery. Many towns fall within its regional borders, with Pallet Town being the most renowned among them. A place steeped in myth and legend, Viridian City is often called the city closest to nature. It is also the only city in the world that enjoys the conveniences of high-tech infrastructure without any form of environmental pollution.
A direct route stretches from Pallet Town to Viridian City, carved out by humanity for safe travel. It's devoid of danger and is the main passage for humans between the two locations. Wild Pokémon in the vicinity have grown accustomed to human presence—attacks on people are now virtually unheard of.
However, if one were to continue walking a hundred kilometers to the east or west along that road, they would enter the true Viridian Forest. The largest forest in the Kanto Region, it remains completely untouched by development. Spanning a colossal two million square kilometers, the forest conceals countless secrets and houses a complex and unique ecosystem. The deeper you go, the more powerful the wild Pokémon become. It's essentially forbidden territory for ordinary humans—but for Trainers, it's the ultimate battleground for honing themselves and their Pokémon.
Viridian City itself is nestled inside this very forest—an urban heart surrounded by a wild, breathing giant. Aside from a northern road leading to Pewter City, the city is completely encased in woods.
Logan had just left Professor Oak's laboratory when he entered the sprawling plains outside Pallet Town. Avoiding the human-made roads entirely, he used a compass to guide himself northwest, cutting a direct path through the wilderness. It took him two full days to cross the endless grassy expanse and reach the edge of the forest. Without hesitation, he dove headfirst into the Viridian Forest, determined to spend at least a month here—to push his own limits and those of his partner, Gible. He would come to understand the life-or-death reality of wild battles.
Rapid footsteps echoed deep within Viridian Forest. Despite the soft carpet of fallen leaves, pine needles, and tangled roots underfoot, Logan's speed didn't falter. His movements were agile as he dodged natural obstacles with ease, all while glancing toward the sky.
Above him, a flock of Fearow flew in tight formation, weaving nimbly between branches. The complex forest canopy posed no challenge for them. Their piercing eyes were locked onto their prey below.
Running beside Logan was Gible, matching his trainer's pace stride for stride. Unbothered by the rugged terrain, Gible snarled as it occasionally looked back at their airborne pursuers, a deep, dragon-like growl building in its throat.
"The deeper you go into Viridian Forest, the more terrifying the Pokémon become. Their instincts to battle and hunt are off the charts. And they don't care whether you're human or Pokémon—step into their territory, and they'll fight to kill. No wonder so many Trainers end up dying in remote, nameless parts of this forest every year."
Logan was covered in grime and dust. His face was a mess, and the once-pristine outfit made from Caterpie silk now looked like it had been dragged through mud. Though the fabric held up well against tears and scratches, it had lost all of its former luster.
If one looked closely, faint scars could be seen fading across his exposed skin. His left arm was even wrapped like a cast, held together by Caterpie silk—makeshift, but effective.
When Logan first entered the forest, the Pokémon he encountered were harmless, easily defeated with Gible's help. It hardly felt like battle at all. But the deeper he ventured, the more savage the encounters became. Even a seemingly innocent Caterpie could leap from the shadows and bind him with its silk. From that point on, Logan had no choice but to stay constantly on the move, resting only in carefully chosen safe zones.
Gone were the idyllic images of Trainers calmly directing Pokémon from the sidelines. Here, pausing even for a moment in battle could mean death—overwhelming attacks could rain down in an instant.
Fortunately, humans in this world had far stronger physiques than those in the old era. Logan somehow managed to endure this daily trial of parkour-like survival. And under such intense pressure, both Trainer and Pokémon experienced rapid growth. Logan's endurance, situational awareness, calm under fire, and even his instinctual battle sense—all improved dramatically.
In the beginning, when battles demanded perfect coordination between Trainer and Pokémon, Logan was often thrown into chaos. He'd get pecked, bitten, or attacked by wild moves, and in his panic, he would focus only on dodging—completely forgetting to command Gible. Without guidance, a trained Pokémon's natural instincts were no match for the wild ones. More than once, Logan and Gible found themselves scrambling for their lives. The worst instance was when a Beedrill nearly impaled Logan's lung—an encounter that left him cold with fear.
Sure, Pokémon-world medicine was extremely advanced. So long as one wasn't killed instantly, even shattered limbs or crushed organs could be healed quickly through a mix of technology and Pokémon abilities. But in the wilderness? A serious injury could still mean the end.
Logan and Gible bore the marks of their brutal training. The cast on his left arm was proof enough.
While evading their current pursuers, the duo finally burst out of a thicket into an open clearing. The Fearow overhead immediately noticed the opportunity. One of them broke formation, its speed abruptly increasing as it spun like a drill mid-air.
"Gible, watch out! It's Agility into Drill Run!"
Logan's instincts were sharp—he had seen enough battles to recognize the skill combo at a glance. But this time, the Fearow wasn't aiming for Gible.
It was targeting him.
"Tch, going for the soft target, huh?"
Gone was the panic from earlier days. Though a primal fear still stirred in him—who wouldn't feel dread staring down a spiraling beak of death?—Logan gritted his teeth and didn't flinch. Just as the attack closed in, he stopped abruptly in front of a massive tree.
The Fearow let out a screech—almost as if grinning with bloodlust—as it closed in, spinning like a deadly drill straight toward his chest.
In an instant, the beak struck—but instead of piercing flesh, it plunged into solid bark behind Logan. The tree trembled from the impact as wood exploded around the point of contact, forming a gaping, screw-shaped hole. The mighty tree began to fall.
Still lodged in the tree, Fearow struggled to free itself. That's when Logan's voice rang out from the side:
"Gible, Dragon Claw!"
With a snarl, Gible lunged from the ground. Its claws were small—but Gible never relied on them. Instead, it channeled draconic energy into its fangs, which glowed with violent power.
In a blur, it sank its razor-sharp teeth into the Fearow's slender neck. There was a dreadful crunch.
This wasn't just a bite. Pokémon attacks carried more than just physical force—they were manifestations of elemental energy. Logan could feel the dragon aura coalescing around Gible's jaws.
He had tested it once before: Gible could shatter rocks with a simple bite. But with a skill-enhanced chomp? It could grind those same stones into powder.
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