Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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Liam exchanged another bottle of Moomoo Milk and approached Ekans with a smile.

"One should keep their word. You should accept the outcome now, right?"

"Chaa..."

Ekans turned its head disdainfully, clearly unwilling to acknowledge Liam.

"Heh, you're quite the tsundere snake. Here, this is Moomoo Milk. It'll help heal your injuries. We're all companions here—friends after a battle."

Liam uncapped the bottle, and the rich aroma of milk wafted through the air. Ekans, initially looking away, froze. Its sensitive nose twitched as its head slowly turned back, its large eyes locking onto the milk bottle in Liam's hand.

"Ha! Gotcha. Open wide, and I'll pour it for you."

Liam chuckled at Ekans's reaction, extending the bottle toward it.

"Chaa!"

Ekans seemed conflicted, its expression full of inner turmoil. Its pride screamed not to accept food from an enemy, but its empty stomach growled in protest.

Since arriving at Professor Oak's lab, Ekans hadn't eaten a thing. After exerting so much energy in the recent battle, it was ravenously hungry. 

Coupled with the tantalizing scent of the milk, Ekans finally gave in.

"Chaa..."

Ekans stretched its neck and opened its mouth wide, closing its eyes in resignation.

Liam laughed softly, pouring the milk into Ekans's mouth while gently stroking its head. The cool, smooth texture of its scales was oddly satisfying. As he touched Ekans, a faint glow briefly flashed across his hand, and information about Ekans appeared in his mind.

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Pokémon: Ekans

Type: Poison

Species: Snake Pokémon

Ability: Shed Skin

Nature: Adamant

Gender: Female

Moves: Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Bite, Glare, Screech

Egg Move: Iron Tail

Base Stats: Total 281/288

HP: 33/35

Attack: 60

Defense: 44

Special Attack: 35/40

Special Defense: 54

Speed: 55

Evaluation: Good, with potential for development.

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Liam was quite satisfied with Ekans's stats. Not every Pokémon could be as exceptional as his Nidorino, but Ekans's attributes were already top-tier regular ordinary Pokémon.

After finishing the entire bottle of Moomoo Milk, Ekans felt its strength returning. Warmth spread through its body, soothing its injuries. It glanced back at Liam, who was still petting it, and with a flick of its head, knocked his hand away. 

Then, with an air of pride, it slithered off into the distance.

Liam shook his slightly sore wrist and watched Ekans disappear, a wry smile on his face. Turning back, he jogged to Nidorino's side to check its condition.

The effects of the Moomoo Milk were evident. In just a short time, Nidorino's injuries had mostly healed, and its energy had partially recovered. It shook its purple head and pranced around Liam with joy. Clearly, the victory in the battle had left Nidorino exhilarated. Suddenly, it dashed toward Liam, pounced on him, and began affectionately licking his face.

"Ah! Stop, stop! That's way too much saliva! Hahaha, it tickles! You're not a puppy—why are you so good at licking?"

Liam laughed helplessly, his face now covered in Nidorino's drool. At that moment...

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host! Achievement unlocked: First Battle Victory (Pseudo)]

[Rewards: 100 Exchange Points & One Moon Stone Fragment]

[Hidden Achievement System Unlocked.]

"...Huh?"

Liam was stunned by the sudden system notification. He understood most of it, but the giant "Pseudo" attached to the achievement left him baffled. Was there a "True" version?

"Lulu? Lulu? Don't just hide—come out and explain this!"

When in doubt, ask Lulu. Quick, reliable, and occasionally cute.

"Well... there's no helping it. That Nidorino isn't officially your Pokémon; you're only borrowing it. So, this is a 'pseudo' achievement. As a result, the rewards were reduced."

"The original 300 exchange points were cut by two-thirds, and the full Moon Stone was replaced with a fragment. You'll need to collect three fragments to form a complete Moon Stone. But don't sweat it! The important thing is that the Achievement Module is now active. You'll earn more rewards from now on!"

"Uh..."

Liam wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Exchange points were one thing, but Moon Stones were incredibly valuable. 

In the exchange system, a full Moon Stone cost 1,000 points. After spending points on three bottles of milk, Liam only had 770 left. He'd need to complete several more tasks to save up enough.

Feeling a pang of despair, Liam lay on the ground, letting Nidorino continue its antics.

"Hey! It's just one Moon Stone. I'm telling you, the Achievement Module is the real treasure here. Complete more achievements, and that stone will be nothing!" Lulu scolded, exasperated by Liam's defeated demeanor.

"How do I complete achievements? Do they work like the task system, where you assign missions?" Liam asked, pushing Nidorino aside with surprising strength (a testament to his body's arm strength).

"Well... you heard the name: Hidden Achievement Module. There are no notifications or instructions. You have to figure it out on your own. As long as you meet the conditions, the achievements will unlock automatically."

"Wait, so I just stumble around and hope for the best? How's that different from being a sitting duck? How am I supposed to know what to do?"

"You don't have to know. Just go about your business. It's not like I can control it either, okay? I'm just as helpless as you."

"..."

"..."

Both fell silent. Liam shook his head and decided to drop the matter. He glanced at the time and realized it was getting late. Deciding to check in with Professor Oak, he picked up the Pokémon egg from the ground and waved goodbye to the Pokémon before heading toward the house.

But he had barely taken a few steps when an explosion echoed through the lab.

Boom!

A thunderous noise shattered the peace, and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

Liam froze, nearly dropping the Pokémon egg in his hands. After fumbling to secure it, he stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the research lab engulfed in smoke.

"Oh. My. God."