Pokémon: Shadows of Ambition

"Great job, Charmeleon!"

Pulling Charmeleon closer, Tyson held him tightly in his arms.

Sensing Tyson's excitement, Charmeleon's grin grew even wider.

Taking advantage of the moment, Tyson opened Charmeleon's status panel to check his updated data.

Pokémon: Charmeleon

Gender: Male

Ability: Blaze

Strength: Competent Level

Basic Moves: Scratch, Growl, Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Breath, Fire Fang

Taught Moves: None

Egg Moves: Bite, Dragon Rush

While Charmeleon's moves and strength hadn't visibly changed after evolving, Tyson could feel the substantial boost in power.

With this evolution, Charmeleon no longer needed the assistance of mission points to progress. A little more effort and training, and he'd soon reach the Excellent level naturally.

For most trainers, timing a Pokémon's evolution close to a breakthrough level yields better results, as the evolution boost can help push a Pokémon's power to new heights. However, Tyson had a contingency: his mission points could bridge any gap if necessary.

As Tyson enjoyed the moment with Charmeleon, Shadow entered the room quietly, observing the scene.

Though Shadow understood Tyson's enthusiasm over Charmeleon's evolution, he couldn't help but mentally note a suggestion for Tyson: stick to male Pokémon. Shadow was genuinely concerned about the possibility of cross-species affection should Tyson bond with a female Pokémon.

Spotting Shadow, Tyson quickly composed himself, regaining his usual calm demeanor as he awaited instructions.

"This is for you," Shadow said, handing Tyson an incubator containing a Pokémon Egg.

Looking at the egg's pattern, Tyson tried to identify the species, but his knowledge was too limited. Unable to discern it, he set the incubator aside and refrained from asking Shadow for details. After all, it was better to wait and see what hatched than risk asking a question he wasn't supposed to.

Shadow soon began the day's lesson. Although Shadow lacked books or notes, his knowledge of Pokémon and their world was extensive, and he shared it effortlessly. Tyson quickly realized that being a trainer required not just strong Pokémon and strategic command but also a vast reservoir of knowledge.

Fortunately, Tyson's excellent memory allowed him to absorb the information with ease—a trait Shadow greatly valued in him. For the first time in his life, Tyson felt like a top student.

As the day passed and evening approached, Tyson assigned Charmeleon a set of training exercises before immersing himself in self-study. Shadow had recently gifted Tyson a tablet filled with battle footage, which Tyson now analyzed carefully, noting key strategies and standout moves.

"Goodnight, Charmeleon," Tyson said later, gently stroking Charmeleon's head before lying down to sleep.

"And goodnight to you too," he added, lightly tapping the incubator with a smile. This had become a comforting nightly habit.

Before long, Tyson was fast asleep, unaware that something was happening inside the incubator.

"Hmm~ Stop it, Charmeleon. It's not time to wake up yet," Tyson mumbled groggily, feeling something brushing against him. "And when did you grow fur?"

Suddenly, Tyson's eyes shot open. His gaze landed on a cute, furry face staring back at him.

"This is... an Eevee!" he exclaimed in amazement.

Eevee beamed at Tyson, delighted by his excitement. Beside him, Charmeleon stirred from sleep. Upon seeing Tyson cradling another Pokémon, Charmeleon's expression soured slightly. He glanced at the incubator, now empty, realizing the Eevee had hatched.

Pokémon: Eevee

Gender: Female

Ability: Anticipation (Hidden Ability)

Strength: Beginner

Basic Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Helping Hand, Sand-Attack, Growl

Egg Moves: Wish, Yawn

Examining Eevee's stats, Tyson felt satisfied, especially with her hidden ability. Although he didn't know how many Eeveelutions were recognized in this world, he was confident he'd choose the most suitable path for her.

Turning off the status screen, Tyson noticed Eevee happily leaning into his touch while Charmeleon shot him a jealous glare.

"We're partners now, Eevee," Tyson said warmly. "This is Charmeleon, our teammate. I hope you two get along."

Pulling both Pokémon into a hug, Tyson introduced them with a smile. Once they'd familiarized themselves with one another, Tyson carefully placed Eevee into a Poké Ball.

Even though he'd done this countless times, the mechanics of the Poké Ball still amazed him. The idea of containing a living Pokémon inside never failed to fascinate him.

A familiar chime rang in Tyson's mind—the sound of a completed mission. With it, he received 100 mission points, marking another small victory in his journey as a trainer.