Pokémon: Just won the championship, the newbie growth system is here!

"I feel like I'm ready to go."

Xiao Xu made up his mind: He had obtained the badge of Cerulean City, and the special training was indeed very effective. It was time to go to the next city and embark on the journey to Goldenrod City.

However, Anai's pleading voice could be heard from the side.

"Don't go! Wait for me! Come with me to Cerulean Cave first, and we'll set off together after I get the badge."

Anai failed the dojo's trials, suffering defeat after defeat.

This is not surprising. Who told Anai to insist on using Cyndaquil and try to challenge the Gym Leader with the opposite type? She was bound to lose.

Even other trainers who initially choose a Fire-type Pokémon will catch a substitute Pokémon on the way to Cerulean City to make up for the disadvantage of having only one type.

Anai only has a Cyndaquil, and even though its strength has been quite good after special training, it still can't beat Misty's Gyarados.

Finally, Anai, who had insisted on her own opinion, compromised.

"That's why we came to Cerulean Cave. I heard there are a lot of powerful Pokémon in Cerulean Cave. If I catch just one, I'm sure I can beat the Cerulean Gym."

Xiao Xu complained with a hint of helplessness.

"Then why bother calling me along? You could have just gone by yourself."

Xiao Xu, who originally planned to leave Cerulean City, was suddenly dragged by Anai to visit Cerulean Cave.

When this was brought up, Anai muttered a little embarrassedly.

"Because... I always feel that the lower level of this Cerulean Cave is a bit dangerous, and I feel a little uneasy going alone."

"what?"

"Nothing, nothing?! You're just coming with me to explore the cave, what's wrong with that? Xiao Xu only got the blue badge thanks to the special training, can't you wait for me?"

"Okay, okay, I came with you."

Although she was dragged here, Xiao Xu didn't like the dark environment and found it a bit scary.

Although he bravely walked in front, he was actually quite afraid of the dark and was almost forcing himself to stay awake.

When Xiaoxu felt scared, he would think of Xinye Miao accompanying him. With a Pokémon by his side, he felt less afraid.

Anai: "I didn't realize you were so brave."

"Courage, brave?! You're right."

Anai: "Why is your voice stuttering a little?"

"No, how could that be! I'm just too excited!"

Although Xiaoxu tried to remain calm, her fluctuating voice revealed a lack of composure, though Anai failed to notice this detail.

Anai was rather thick-skinned and believed his one-sided story, thinking that Xiaoxu was indeed too excited.

This is not surprising, as Cerulean Cave is said to be inhabited by rare Pokémon, and there are rumors that powerful individuals live there.

Although it's not far from Cerulean City, the idea of ​​a cave teeming with powerful Pokémon sounds somewhat dubious.

Out of caution, Anai decided to let Xiaoxu go first while she carefully observed her surroundings, not because she was afraid.

Following the estuary slope outside Cerulean City northwards will lead you to Cerulean Cave. The cave is not actually as dark as it appears from the outside.

The flashlights they had prepared beforehand were of no use; there were glowing natural crystals in the cave.

Anai looked at the crystal cluster, which was taller than a person, and shone with a clear blue crystal light.

"This is amazing! Are these crystals naturally formed?"

Anai considers herself a wild girl in her hometown, the kind of person who will squeeze into any crack or climb any tree she sees, and even wants to explore any cave she's never seen before.

But she had never seen a natural cave brighter than the outside, nor had she ever seen such large and frightening crystals. She really wanted to break off a piece to take home as a souvenir.

Xiao Xu held a travel magazine from Hualan City in his hand and read it aloud using the light from the crystal.

"It is said that the Cerulean Caves here are famous for their blue crystals. These crystals can absorb weak reflected light, and the light refracts within the crystals, making it look like a light bulb."

Anai didn't understand any of this, so she asked curiously.

"I said, can I break off a piece?"

"It's best not to. This is a public tourist area, and it's not good to damage the environment without permission."

Xiao Xu tried his best to dissuade Anai from her idea, as Hualan Cave, like the Coast Lighthouse, is a well-known tourist attraction in Hualan City.

However, Cerulean Cave is very large, and visitors are only allowed to explore the upper level of the cave; the lower level is where wild Pokémon live.

The implication is that Xiaoxu and Anai broke the rules and came in without permission.

Xiao Xu had some doubts.

"I still think we should get out of here as soon as possible; tourists are not allowed on the lower level."

Large warning signs were posted at the entrance to the first floor, and a banner with oddly shaped crystals hung on it.

[Wild Pokémon may be encountered here.]

The danger zone has been marked. If you insist on entering the territory of wild Pokémon and are attacked, you have no one to blame but yourself.

The league has relatively lenient rules for trainers' behavior. Although entering the wild is not illegal, trainers are responsible for their own risky actions.

"Don't worry, don't worry. This just means there are some Pokémon with good potential here. All I need to do is catch one to help me challenge the gym."

Anai had a clear plan: once they caught a decent Pokémon, they would run away.

"It has to be pretty good, otherwise forget about Zubat."

Those Pokémon are everywhere in any cave; they're neither strong nor rare.

Xiao Xu stopped and pointed to the crystal cluster not far away, asking in a low voice.

Does that one count?

"That one? What's that? Let me see."

A Pokémon with eyes like jewels was standing next to the crystal. Anai exclaimed that she had never seen one before and took out her Pokédex to scan the target.

"Sableye, a Dark Pokémon, Dark/Ghost type, lives quietly deep in caves. In the past, people believed that its eyes would steal people's souls when they emitted an eerie light in the dark, so they were very afraid of it. In fact, Sableye's food is mainly natural crystals and minerals."

The Soul-Hooking Eye used its claws to knock at the blue crystal that was taller than a person. It took a long time to finally break off a small piece from the hard crystal cluster, which it then picked up and ate.

Xiao Xu and Anai, hiding in the shadows, were secretly observing.

"It's eating crystals."

"Yes, the encyclopedia also says that's its food."

"Won't it make you sick? Is that stuff safe to eat?"

"Pokémon have a wide variety of diets, and some Pokémon even like to eat rocks."

Xiao Xu calmly explained the facts, pretending to be profound, even though these were all knowledge points directly borrowed from Ye Luo.

Seeing that Sableye was focused on eating and hadn't noticed the trainers whispering among themselves, Xiaoxu asked.

"Should we tame it?"

Anai was thinking.

"Dark and Ghost types are rare. Although it looks a bit strange, it should be quite strong."

Ghost-type Pokémon are pretty strong, and Dark-type Pokémon should be even stronger. Anai made up her mind and took out a Poké Ball from her pocket.

"Alright, I'm going to capture it. Rockruff, let's go."

"call."

During the special training with Xiaoxu's new Leafy Meow, Cyndaquil also evolved into Rockruff, although it still couldn't beat the Cerulean Gym.

As Anai stepped out of cover and approached Sableye, she was simultaneously spotted by the other party, who then raised her Poké Ball.

"It's decided, Soul Reaper, I will subdue you."