Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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This was, without a doubt, the most awkward lunch Liam had ever eaten in his life.

Each with their own lunchbox, Liam and Professor Oak ate in a silence so thick it nearly choked them. 

The food was delicious, but the awkward atmosphere ruined any enjoyment, leaving Liam unsure of what he had even eaten once he finished.

When Professor Oak was done, he carefully closed his lunchbox, his expression suddenly turning serious. 

He reached into the inner pocket of his white lab coat and pulled out a minimized PokeBall, placing it on the table.

"This is Ekans's PokeBall. I've completed recording its data. Later, I want you to let it out into the yard so it can familiarize itself with its new environment. It's still a bit unsettled, so be cautious. Don't let yourself get hurt."

Liam nodded solemnly as he took the PokeBall. Gathering both his and Professor Oak's empty lunchboxes, he went to the kitchen, washed them thoroughly, and left them to dry. 

Only then did he pick up his Pokémon egg and head to the backyard.

Watching Liam walk away, Professor Oak let out a long breath of relief. 

A sly grin crept across his face as he reached into his other pocket and pulled out another PokeBall, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Haha! This Koffing just arrived! I must research it thoroughly. Meanwhile, Liam and that temperamental Ekans can keep each other busy. That way, he won't have time to bother me. I'm such a genius! Hahaha!"

Chuckling to himself, Professor Oak disappeared into his lab.

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Back in the yard, Liam's appearance immediately caught the attention of Nidorino, who was lounging on a patch of grass. It nodded happily in greeting.

Liam smiled and nodded back before taking out Ekans's PokeBall. Pressing the button, he expanded it to its full size. With another press, a beam of red light shot out, materializing into a long, purple Ekans coiled on the grass. 

Its round head swiveled warily, scanning the surroundings.

"Hello, Ekans. From now on, this is your new home. I hope you'll get along with everyone here," Liam said with a warm smile, hoping to ease the Pokémon's tension.

"Chaaa!"

Unfortunately, it didn't work. Ekans hissed louder, its body tensing as it glared at Liam with large, cautious eyes.

"Don't be so nervous, Ekans. No one here will hurt you. All you need to do is live happily. There are lots of great companions here who'd love to be your friends," Liam continued gently, setting the egg aside. 

Raising both hands to show he meant no harm, he slowly approached.

But Ekans wasn't convinced. As Liam neared, its rattling tail began to shake violently—a clear sign it was ready to strike. Professor Oak would have stopped Liam immediately, recognizing the warning, but Liam was unaware and kept moving closer.

"Chaaa!"

With a sudden hiss, Ekans lashed out, slamming its body into Liam's stomach with such force that he was sent flying several meters. As Liam struggled to recover, Ekans opened its mouth, unleashing a volley of purple poison needles aimed directly at his face!

Startled and in pain, Liam raised his arms to shield himself, bracing for impact.

"Nidooo!"

Just before the Poison Sting attack could land, a purple figure darted in front of Liam, shielding him from the brunt of the assault. It was Nidorino! Shaking off the hit, Nidorino stood its ground, locking eyes with the aggressive Ekans.

"Chaaa!"

"Nidooo!"

The two Poison-types faced off, the tension between them crackling in the air.

Liam, who had opened his eyes upon hearing the commotion, saw Nidorino standing protectively in front of him. A surge of gratitude welled up as he clutched his chest and climbed to his feet.

"Are you okay, Nidorino? Did you get hurt anywhere?" Liam asked worriedly, knowing the poison wouldn't affect a fellow Poison-type but still concerned about the physical damage.

"Nido!"

Nidorino shook its head confidently, signaling it was fine. Lowering its head slightly, its eyes gleamed with a fierce fighting spirit—it was ready for battle.

Understanding Nidorino's intentions, Liam gently patted it.

"Nidorino, I know this is asking a lot, but would you fight alongside me? Will you trust me to guide you in battle?" Liam's voice carried a mix of hope and nervousness.

Nidorino froze for a moment before nodding enthusiastically, pawing at the ground with excitement.

Liam's heart soared. He turned to face Ekans.

"Ekans! Let's have a battle. If we win, you'll have to listen to me and get along with everyone. Do you accept?"

"Chaaa! Chaaa!"

Ekans glared at Liam, then shifted its gaze to the eager Nidorino. It gave a sharp hiss, agreeing to the challenge without even stating its own terms, coiling itself into a combat stance.

The other Pokémon in the yard gathered around, watching with keen interest as the battle was about to begin.

Liam raised his hand, a soft glow enveloping Nidorino as detailed information appeared in his vision.

[Ding!]

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Pokémon: Nidorino

Species: The Poison Pin Pokémon

Type: Poison

Nature: Jolly

Ability: Poison Point

Gender: Male

Moves: Leer, Peck, Focus Energy, Double Kick, Poison Sting, Fury Attack

Egg Move: Counter

Base Stats: 365/365

HP: 61 

Attack: 72 

Defense: 57 

Special Attack: 55 

Special Defense: 55 

Speed: 65

Rating: Excellent. Recommended for training.

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Liam swallowed hard, amazed at Nidorino's potential. A Pokémon with base perfect stats was incredibly rare in this world, where slight differences even among the same species were common. 

A perfect Pokémon was rated "Excellent," while those slightly below were "Good," and those with flaws were "Deficient," often unable to thrive in the wild. 

Pokémon exceeding their limits were even rarer, and were sometimes marked by their different shiny appearance. 

Overwhelmed with appreciation, Liam quickly turned his attention to Ekans, intending to check its stats as well. However, before he could act, Ekans suddenly launched its attack!

Springing into the air, its fangs glinted with white light—it was using Bite!

Despite this being his first battle, Liam remained calm.

"Nidorino! Use Leer!"