Pokemon: Starting With a Psyduck

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The moon was covered by the oncoming black clouds, leaving only a vague dark halo behind the thick mass. 

Before dawn, the forest, the mountain rings, and the small plains nestled within were all concealed by a dense fog. This level of fog was unusual, even for cloud forests, which were typically shrouded in mist throughout the year. 

Inside the dark and silent cave, two tents had been quietly erected. The two individuals within them harbored contrasting thoughts. 

The middle-aged man lay in his tent, hands clasped behind his head, staring at the canopy above with an inexplicable expression in his eyes. Thinking about their venture into the Forest of Clouds and Mists, he felt a sharp pang of regret. Not only had he failed to catch the Pokémon he had been seeking, but even his professional-level Arbok had been taken from him. Each recollection of this misfortune brought him heartache. 

He had not lied to Jack; his Mightyena was his only Pokémon now. However, this Mightyena was not his first. His journey had begun with another—a Ekans. When he was younger, he had stumbled upon an Ekans egg in the wild. After it hatched, he had spent his savings to evaluate its potential, discovering it had a three-star qualification. He embarked on the path of a Trainer, though the road was far from smooth. 

Through hardships and determination, he raised his Ekans into an Arbok and eventually brought it to the professional level. Mightyena, on the other hand, was captured later and possessed only a two-star qualification. For Pokémon with lower potential, advancing to higher levels required tremendous resources. He wasn't even certain he could raise Mightyena to a professional level before the Pokémon League's annual review. 

"Hmph! It's unfair that a kid born into privilege can own a four-star Pokémon." 

"Kill the brat and take his Psyduck. A rich kid like him must have plenty of valuable items." 

These dark thoughts swirled more insistently in his mind, his resolve hardening with a glint of malice in his eyes. 

"That Psyduck has high aptitude, but judging by the boy's age, he probably got it recently from the Pokémon League. Its level can't be high—it won't be a match for Mightyena." 

Quietly, the man unzipped his tent. Mightyena, lying nearby, noticed his movements and stood. He hushed her with a finger to his lips. "Shhh." 

Mightyena obeyed, though she rose to stand by his side. The man crept toward Jack's tent, his hand gripping a gleaming hatchet taken from his pack. Giving Mightyena a signal, she moved to the opposite side of the tent, crouching low and ready to attack. 

"Hey, kid, are you awake? Get up quickly! I think there's something outside. Could be a wild Pokémon!" the man called out in a feigned anxious tone. 

"Huh? What? Just a second!" came Jack's groggy reply, followed by the rustling sounds of hurried dressing. 

The man's eyes flashed with contempt. What an amateur—acting so at ease in the wilderness. He wouldn't even know what hit him. 

Jack emerged from his tent, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on, Uncle?" 

"I'm not sure. I saw a shadow pass by the cave earlier and wasn't sure if I imagined it. I thought it would be safer if we checked together," the man said, his voice calm but laden with deceit.

When Jack heard the middle-aged man's words, he hesitated but eventually said, "I don't think so... Okay, Uncle, let's go and check together. Psyduck, come on!" 

Psyduck waddled to the front, leading the way with Jack following closely behind. They made their way toward the cave entrance. 

Watching Psyduck walk ahead, the middle-aged man's eyes gleamed with greed. 

A Psyduck with a 4-star qualification... Even trainers who had climbed to the peak of the professional ranks often didn't have Pokémon with such potential. 

As Jack passed him, the man's gaze hardened with resolve. He slowly pulled the hatchet from his back and lunged forward. His left arm hooked around Jack's neck, while his right hand pressed the blade of the hatchet to Jack's throat. 

"Uncle, what... what are you doing?" Jack stammered, his voice trembling with fear. 

The sudden ambush left Jack wide-eyed with shock, but Psyduck was quick to react. It leaped into action, only for a gray blur to interpose itself between Psyduck and Jack. Mightyena bared her teeth, growling low and menacingly at Psyduck. 

Psyduck's eyes flashed blue as its psychic energy enveloped Mightyena, lifting her into the air. 

Mightyena, however, was no easy opponent. With a fierce growl, she shook off Psyduck's Confusion and slammed her forelegs to the ground. 

A surge of sand erupted, forming a wall that temporarily obscured both sides' vision. 

Mightyena took advantage of the distraction, her fangs igniting with fiery energy as she lunged through the sand. The Fire Fang clashed with a Water Gun fired by Psyduck from the opposite side of the sandstorm. 

The resulting collision caused a strong vibration, but Mightyena's attack overwhelmed the Water Gun, vaporizing it in moments. 

Undeterred, Mightyena charged forward with unrelenting force. Psyduck narrowly avoided the attack, and Mightyena's fiery fangs crashed into a nearby rock, shattering it into pieces. The scattered fragments glowed red-hot, steaming from the residual heat. 

Psyduck immediately formed a large water ball and launched it at Mightyena. She reacted with precision, slashing the ball apart with her sharp claws, scattering water droplets everywhere. 

"That's enough for now, Mightyena. Come back," the man commanded, his eyes blazing with hunger. The display of Psyduck's strength had only intensified his greed. 

"Tell Psyduck to stop and recall it into its Poké Ball," the man demanded coldly, shaking the hatchet threateningly. "Do it now, or you'll regret it." 

Jack, visibly terrified, nodded quickly. "Okay, okay! Don't hurt me. I'll do as you say," he stammered. "Psyduck, stop." 

Psyduck halted its movements at Jack's command. However, its usual vacant expression was gone, replaced by an intense, foreboding glare. It stared at the middle-aged man and Mightyena, its presence dark and unnerving.