Theo raised his hand, voice calm:
"It's okay, you're free now. But if you want to survive, you must learn to fly faster, stronger. With me."
Pidgey looked at him for a while then flew down beside him.
First, Theo sat down and looked straight into Pidgey's eyes.
"You're my new beginning, also family, so I want to give you a name—ALPHA (Al). It'll be your name in the future. You like it, right?" Theo asked, G translating.
Pidgey—no, Al— let out a sharp cry and jumped two steps forward. Theo didn't need G to translate to know it liked it.
"So you're Al. And this is Liam, and Liam, this is Al." He introduced Liam to Al.
The next morning, a beautiful sunny day, the trio began at the clearing near the shack. Theo's first commands as an apprentice Trainer rang out:
"Al, attack that tree with whatever skills you have!"
Theo requested Al demonstrate its strength. Al flapped wings and used three skills it knew:
- Tackle: Al flew straight to the tree, using its body to crash powerfully into it, making the tree shake continuously.
- Growl: Cried out high, directing fierce posture at opponents to reduce attack capability.
- And finally Gust: Taking wing to fly high, sweeping whirlwind currents mercilessly at the small oak.
"Analysis complete," G's voice became serious. "This Pidgey, according to weight and build, is adult, but having only three skills is very strange."
G continued analyzing, cross-referencing data:
"In the old world, same-species Pokémon at this age had mastered over five to eight skills. Their diverse skill pools were results of intensive training and inheritance across generations."
"Hypothesis: Pokémon in this world are weaker than the old world. This skill poverty shows the absence of professional trainers and no intervention to optimize genetics."
Theo felt chills down his spine. This wasn't just a problem—it was also an opportunity.
"G, if Al only has three skills, can I teach it other skills?" Theo asked.
G's voice rang out, listing two feasible options, but both posed major challenges:
Method 1: Craft Learning Machine or exchange directly from storage.
G had sufficient technology and data to help Pidgey speed-learn available skills. However, this was currently infeasible because Theo didn't have enough ACP to exchange the design blueprint directly or raw technology to manufacture.
Method 2: Traditional Method.
Use G's knowledge to create a perfect environment (nutrition, training, simulated combat) for Pokémon to self-adapt and self-perceive to learn skills the trainer aims for.
Theo frowned thoughtfully. This traditional method would cost considerable ACP to exchange knowledge about environment and nutrition (like Breeder knowledge), delaying him from exchanging other important knowledge.
Liam stood beside him, seeing his friend silent and frowning, curiously asked:
"What's wrong, Theo? Is the little bird unhealthy?"
Theo briefly explained the problem of Al's poor skill pool and the necessity of teaching it new skills to enhance survival capability.
Liam innocently asked again:
"But we'll fight too, right? It's not just Al fighting alone?"
A light flashed in Theo's head. He'd fallen into the rut of the old Pokémon world, where civilization developed alongside Pokémon so humanity had special dependence on them.
"Analysis: Liam's assessment is accurate," G agreed. "In this world, humanity is also very strong. They can fight Beasts, and of course, will also fight Pokémon. Host has been limited by old thinking patterns."
Theo felt his mind clear.
That's right! He and Liam were skilled hunters, not bare-handed Trainers.
"You're right, Liam," Theo exhaled with relief. "Strategy changes."
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Theo made a new decision:
Priority for Al: This stage should prioritize recovery and strengthening basic health.
Knowledge Priority: Need to supplement Nutrition knowledge (Breeder) to train Pidgey more effectively, ensuring it grows healthy rather than wasting ACP on teaching skills immediately.
Human Strength: The trio—Theo (archer/intelligence), Liam (warrior/close combat), and Pidgey (support/aerial combat)—if coordinating well, doesn't necessarily need new skills for Pidgey soon.
"Al, use full strength to attack that oak tree," Theo commanded, voice decisive. He needed a true measure of Al's power.
Al sang high, fighting enthusiasm bursting after days of recuperation and confinement in the cage. It launched at the oak trunk with Tackle.
The impact force was stronger than before, but after five repetitions, Theo noticed something abnormal: Al's speed plummeted, its power vanished like foam.
When Al tried to maintain Gust, the initially strong wind current quickly weakened to a light breeze brushing grass.
In less than five minutes, Al had to land. The little bird trembled, wings drooping, breathing rapid as if just running miles.
Liam worriedly rushed over, but Theo signaled to keep distance.
His frown wasn't disappointment—it was confirmation of a harsh reality of this world: Pokémon hadn't been fully developed.
"Analysis complete," G's cold voice rang out, confirming Theo's assessment.
"Exhaustion level equivalent to severe malnutrition and critical lack of exercise. Perhaps the absence of human civilization directly impacting Pokémon has created such enormous disparity."
Theo pondered G's analysis.
If his memory wasn't wrong, in past life memories many Trainers could resist Legendary/Mythical Pokémon—creatures possessing destructive power. Al's weakness, an adult Pokémon but only having beginner Pokémon endurance, further proved the civilization gap between the two worlds.
"G, old world Trainers could resist divine beasts, even capture them, right?" Theo asked, voice full of doubt.
"Confirmation: Memories of Trainers being able to spar with Legendary/Mythical Pokémon are accurate," G replied.
"But information about capturing Legendary/Mythical entities is not in my core database. However, old world Trainers' potential was infinite."
Theo nodded. This wasn't just a problem, but also an opportunity for him to become the first to develop Pokémon strength to that level in this world.
Clutching twenty cold Order-Silver coins in hand, Theo sank deep into silent conversation with G. Yellow light flickering from the dim campfire cast his shadow on the shack wall.
"G, I have 100 ACP. Should I prioritize exchanging Breeder Nutrition knowledge for Al, or Wilderness Survival to protect us in the forest?" Theo pondered.
He knew both were extremely important survival pieces. Survival knowledge helped him and Liam escape natural traps and deal with Beasts; while Breeder unlocked Al's potential and medicine innovation capability.
G's voice rang out, devoid of emotion, only supreme logic:
"Analysis: Both knowledge packages are essential for increasing survival chances. However, priority must be placed on dual benefits—resolving current conflict while supporting long-term development."
G presented sharp reasoning:
Threat: Currently not wild Beasts, but Vesper and the future wilderness venture. We need money and time to strengthen ourselves with the Remnant Wind Method.
Immediate Benefits: The Breeder Nutrition package (75 ACP) allows Host to optimize Minor Potion formula to create new Innovation (Minor Potion V2). This will immediately bring:
ACP Income: New innovation offsets cost.
Transaction Completion: Upgrade medicine quality to complete Vesper's order.
Training Support: Breeder knowledge provides nutritional formulas and muscle care techniques—key to accelerating recovery for Theo and Liam after Spike Shoe training.
Substitutability: Theo and Liam's survival skills are sufficient to temporarily deal with this environment; no urgent need for additional supplementation.
Theo listened, fingers lightly rubbing the silver ingot. The Wilderness Survival package was safety, but Breeder was the sustainable path leading to strength and money.
"Conclusion: Breeder package is the long-term development foundation for Al, and the most direct tool to solve both Host's and teammate's financial and health issues. Host should spend 75 ACP on this package and keep 25 ACP for emergencies."
Theo felt the analysis sharp as a knife blade. No emotional choices. He nodded. 75 ACP would be invested.
Without hesitation, Theo made his decision. A mental click—75 ACP vanished. In return, a massive and detailed stream of information spiraled through his mind: Pokémon Nutrition (Breeder).
"Transaction complete: -75 ACP. Remaining balance: 25 ACP," G announced.
Theo nodded. Only one month remained before Vesper's mercenary company departed. Time was tight, but he had to exploit every second. Theo immediately asked G to arrange an intensive training and learning schedule for the entire group.
He divided the work into three main objectives, to be completed within one month:
Core Physical Recovery: Most critical was Al's stamina. Currently too weak for prolonged combat, it needed a specialized training regimen.
Learning and Nutrition: The Breeder package he'd purchased was just raw data. Theo needed G to help arrange a fast-track learning path and optimize nutrition for Al, himself, and Liam. This basic Breeder package could even be applied to humans.
Combat Coordination: The final phase was combat coordination between Theo, Liam, and Al. Liam needed to complete the Spiked Shoes and immediately begin training the Remnant Wind technique.
Theo knew the pressure weighing on his shoulders, but he understood: knowledge was power—and now he had an entire civilization backing him.
After deciding on strategy, Theo immediately took action:
"Liam," Theo said, "use 10 silver to buy more meat—the best quality we can find over the next three days. This will be a financial burden, but a worthy investment for all three of us."
Investing in nutrition was top priority. Protein and minerals were key to recovering muscles and tendons for Al, Liam (preparing for the Spiked Shoes), and Theo himself during this high-intensity training phase.
He even planned hunting trips to simultaneously practice real combat techniques, test Al's fighting capabilities, and supplement their provisions—three objectives with one action.
Theo ordered Al to rest while he began brewing potions. Minor Potions would be their crucial financial resource.
They could be preserved for a very long time if stored in specially treated oak tubes with alcohol, saving time. The scent of herbs and spirits permeated the tent all afternoon.
Theo exploited every moment.
After completing 30 vials per day, their stock reached 100 vials; by week's end they'd have 150, with some buffer. He used remaining time to train with Liam and Al, only dedicating time after nightfall to read and digest all the Breeder knowledge he'd acquired.