Pokémon: Unlocking The Path to Supremacy

"Brother Aoki, what Pokémon is this?"

May's curious gaze landed on the unusual Pokémon in front of them.

"This is Froakie, a starter Pokémon from the Kalos Region—it's equivalent to our Mudkip here in Hoenn."

Aoki was just as shocked.

They were deep in the Hoenn Region, yet a Froakie—let alone a Shiny Froakie—had appeared out of nowhere. This wasn't something that should happen naturally. However, Aoki wasn't about to waste time thinking about the logistics of it.

This was his chance.

Not only was it a rare Kalos Pokémon, but it was Shiny, a different-colored variant that set it apart. He had always wanted a Froakie, but he never imagined he'd actually find one this early in his journey.

"Torchic, you're up."

At Aoki's command, Torchic darted forward, eyes locked on Froakie, ready to battle. This was its first capture battle—it couldn't afford to disappoint its trainer.

However, the moment Froakie saw Torchic take its battle stance… it immediately turned around and leaped into the river.

Aoki: "…"

Torchic: "…"

It was too much. Torchic had been fully prepared for its first real fight, and yet Froakie had run away without even a struggle.

But Aoki wasn't about to let it go that easily. A Shiny Froakie was a must-have. After all, every protagonist who traverses into the Pokémon world ends up with a rare or special Pokémon. And what kind of trainer would he be if he didn't have a Greninja with the Bond Phenomenon?

"Brother Aoki, it jumped into the river. What do we do now?" May asked, concerned.

Aoki quickly formulated a plan.

He pulled out a Pokéblock and placed it by the riverbank, shaking it slightly to release its scent into the air.

"Hey, little guy. If you come with me, you'll get to eat this kind of delicious food every day."

The fragrance of the Pokéblock spread through the air. While humans couldn't detect it, Pokémon could.

Almost instantly, Magikarp, Seaking, Poliwag, and various other Water-type Pokémon began surfacing, their eyes locked on the treat in Aoki's hand.

Aoki grinned. He had an idea.

Taking out an entire handful of Pokéblocks, he called out to the gathered Pokémon.

"I'm looking for a Froakie. If any of you know where it is, help me out, and these will be your reward."

"Mile…!"

The Pokémon nodded in agreement before disappearing back into the water.

A few moments later, Froakie suddenly jumped out of the river, eyeing Aoki warily.

"Can you really give me good food? I have a big appetite."

Aoki smiled.

"Of course. I'll make sure you get the best food possible."

Even if Froakie wasn't interested in eating, Aoki would ensure that it received top-tier nutrition to grow stronger as quickly as possible.

A Shiny Pokémon like Froakie likely had Elite-tier potential, maybe even Champion-level. If it could eventually undergo Bond Evolution, it would become one of the strongest Pokémon in his team.

"Torchic, use Sand Attack!"

Torchic responded instantly, kicking up dirt and sending a cloud of sand toward Froakie.

However, Froakie reacted swiftly, countering with Bubble—a technique that burst against the sand cloud, dispersing it into the air.

Then, multiple Froakie clones appeared in an instant.

"Double Team… its potential is incredible."

Aoki's determination to capture Froakie intensified.

This wasn't an ordinary Froakie. Its instincts, speed, and techniques were far above average. If it was already this skilled, its natural talent had to be at least Elite or Champion level.

Torchic, seeing so many Froakie at once, hesitated. It couldn't tell which one was real.

"Don't panic!" Aoki called out. "Aim your Flame Wheel at a 30-degree angle to the left!"

With the power of Viridian, Aoki could sense Froakie's real position.

Torchic trusted Aoki completely. Without hesitation, it released a stronger, more concentrated Flame Wheel than before. The swirling fire roared forward, directly striking the real Froakie hidden among the illusions.

"Gaaah!"

Froakie cried out as the flames landed a direct hit, sending it crashing to the ground.

"Perfect! Torchic, follow up with Scratch!"

Torchic immediately dashed forward and landed a precise Scratch attack.

Froakie's body twitched slightly before its eyes turned white—it had fainted.

"Poké Ball, go!"

Aoki hurled a Luxury Ball at Froakie.

The moment the ball made contact, a red light engulfed Froakie, pulling it inside.

The ball wobbled once… twice…

Ding!

"Yes! You did it, Brother Aoki! You caught Froakie!"

May jumped in excitement, even happier than Aoki himself.

Aoki stepped forward, picked up the Luxury Ball, and immediately released Froakie again.

Channeling the power of Viridian, he placed his hand over Froakie, healing its wounds with the soothing green aura.

Froakie blinked as it recovered almost instantly, looking up at Aoki with a mixture of surprise and acceptance.

It didn't resist.

The warmth of Aoki's Viridian power was too comforting. Something about Aoki felt right.

Seeing Froakie's reaction, Aoki smiled and pulled out a few more Pokéblocks, handing them to both Froakie and Torchic.

Froakie sniffed the food curiously. The moment the scent hit its nose, its eyes lit up with excitement.

Without hesitation, it grabbed the Pokéblocks and devoured them.

Torchic, equally excited, happily ate alongside its new teammate, replenishing its energy after battle.

Aoki couldn't contain his excitement.

A Shiny Froakie—this was the true privilege of a traverser.

Now, it was time to check just how powerful his new partner was.