(Grey's POV)

  The second night in the wild was quieter than I expected, but my mind wouldn't stop racing. While Axew was curled up on the corner of my sleeping bag, his rhythmic breathing the only sound in the tent, I pulled out my new phone. The glow of the screen was harsh in the darkness, but I needed to set up my digital PokenetID. I registered my Pokénet ID as TheOrdinaryGuy. It felt fitting.

  I navigated to the local Kanto forums, specifically the "Move Theory & Training" boards. I wanted to see how real trainers talked about development. After scrolling through some threads about gym leader predictions and gear reviews, I decided to post a query of my own.

  [Topic: Transitioning Scratch to Slash - Need Advice] TheOrdinaryGuy: Working with a young Pokemon. He's got Scratch down, but I want to bridge the gap to a proper Slash. Any tips on how to shift the energy?

  I didn't expect a reply so late, but within minutes, a notification popped up. A user named ScytherFan99 had responded.

  ScytherFan99: I've trained plenty of claw-users. The mistake most rookies make is thinking 'Slash' is just a harder 'Scratch.' It's not.

  TheOrdinaryGuy: What's the core difference then?

  ScytherFan99: The intent. A Scratch is a frantic, horizontal rake—it's meant to irritate and tear skin. A Slash requires a vertical swing and a 'slicing' intent. Tell your Pokémon to stop trying to tear the target and start trying to cut through it. Imagine a single line of energy at the very tip of the claw. Focus that intent into a downward strike. That's how you get the crit-rate boost.

  TheOrdinaryGuy: Vertical swing instead of horizontal rake. Got it. I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks.

  ScytherFan99: No problem.If it hits a wall, try having it practice on thick leaves or tall grass first before moving back to trees. Good luck.

  I jotted that down in my blank notebook. Intent to slice. It was a perfect piece of the puzzle to work on.

  The next morning, the training session began before the sun had even cleared the trees. We spent two hours in a small clearing. I pushed Axew on his Dragon-type energy manipulation. I noticed that Dragon Rage was a massive drain on his stamina, so I proposed a variation.

  "Axew, don't just dump all your energy at once," I instructed. "Try to break the sphere. Fire it in small, concentrated bursts."

  It was a struggle. The first few attempts resulted in tiny, pathetic puffs of blue smoke. But eventually, he managed to fire three quick, marble-sized orbs of dragon energy in a row. It lacked the raw power of a full Dragon Rage, but it acted like an "Ember" version—faster, harder to dodge, and much more efficient.

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  The second variant was even harder. I told him to hold the energy in his throat, letting it simmer without releasing it. I wanted him to get used to the "heat" of dragon energy.

  "Hold it... keep the energy there," I urged. This was my long-term plan to eventually reach Dragon Breath. Even if he couldn't fire a beam yet, getting accustomed to holding that energy was the necessary foundation.

  We also tested Dragon Dance. I realized that while the first dance gave him a massive surge, a second consecutive dance didn't double the effect. The boost felt more like half of the first one. I assumed Axew was still too young to store that much excess energy; his small body hit a "ceiling" pretty quickly.

  We also worked a bit on the new technique I was recommended to try out Slash

  Breaking camp, we headed further down Route 16.I let Axew handle the local Rattata and Spearow to build his confidence. He was becoming a terror for the local wildlife; his "burst" Dragon Rage made quick work of anything that tried to dive-bomb us.

  By midday, we reached a segment of the route popular with cyclists. I saw a group of older trainers—some wearing gear that showed they had already earned a few badges. I decided to be smart about my wagering. I challenged four rookies first, kids who looked as green as I was. Axew demolished them, earning us about 400 Pokedollars.

  Then, I decided to test the "Veteran" waters. I approached a girl who had two badges pinned to her hat.

  "One on one?" I asked. "I'm a zero-badge trainer", I told just to caution the trainer that the betting adjustment would be skewed in my favour as I would have less money and relatively weaker pokemon

  Because of the level disparity, the bets were favored toward me. I only had to wager 100 Pokedollars, but if I won, she'd have to pay me 500. It was a high-reward play.

  The battle was intense. Her Beedrill was a blur, using Twineedle to keep Axew on the defensive. I didn't let Axew just stand there.

  "Dodge and use the trees for cover!" I shouted. Axew darted behind a thick oak, using the trunk to block the needles while he performed a Dragon Dance. As the Beedrill circled around, Axew lunged. He didn't use Scratch like mechanics rather He used the vertical swing I'd read about. His claw glowed with a sharper energy. It wasn't a full Slash yet, but it hit hard enough to ground the Beedrill.

  "Finish it! Burst Dragon Rage!"

  Axew fired three quick shots. The Beedrill couldn't maneuver in time and was knocked out.

  Out of the three veterans I fought that afternoon, I lost two and won that one. I never fought until Axew fainted; as soon as he looked too tired or outmatched, I called it and paid the bet money. I only had one Pokémon, and I couldn't risk him being incapacitated on the road.

  Still, the math worked out. Between the rookies and the one veteran win, I had earned 700 Pokedollars. It was almost the amount my parents had given me.

  "We're making a profit, buddy," I told Axew as we set up the tent for the night. I realised how easily money was made by trainers but at the same time most of this money would go for supplies or survival items and the major chunk for the pokemon teams to improve them.

  I looked at my map. We would reach the outskirts of Fuchsia by tomorrow. I pulled out my diary and began writing the day's log.

  Diary Entry: Day 3

  Today was packed with excitement and challenges. My training session with Axew was incredibly productive. We worked on transitioning his moves, and I was amazed to see him grasp the difference between Scratch and Night Slash. By the end, he was firing three small orbs of Dragon energy, showcasing a new technique with Dragon Rage. It's incredible how quickly he adapts!

  After breaking camp, we journeyed further down Route 16, where Axew confidently took on local Rattata and Spearow. Watching him improve is rewarding—I can't help but wonder if I'm doing better than other newbie trainers.

  I challenged a few trainers in the busy section of the route, starting with four rookies and earning about 400 Pokedollars. Then, I faced a girl with two badges. Being open about my zero-badge status felt risky, but I had to prove myself. The battle against her Beedrill was intense—Axew executed a perfect Dragon Dance and even attempted the vertical swing for Night Slash. While it wasn't perfect yet, it got the job done, finishing with Burst Dragon Rage.

  I won one out of four battles today, but that victory against a more experienced trainer felt significant. I earned a total of 700 Pokedollars, almost matching what my parents gave me to start this journey.

  Tomorrow, we're on track to reach Fuchsia City. I'm excited about what awaits us but will reflect on today's battles as we rest.