Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 5

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. Lucas now has a clear goal to strive towards, so it’s time to get to work

Lucas and Delia returned to Pallet Town with their bounty. He got a boost of energy now that he had a goal to strive for, so they were back in town in no time at all. As he walked, his thoughts turned to what needed to be done in order not only to have a strong team but also to gain a Pokemon Breeder's license. He didn't think it would be easy. He only believed it was possible because he had a system.

Still, he gave himself four months to reach his goal. Ash's birthday was two months away, but he just had to be more patient. He could wait a while before starting his Pokemon journey.

Back in town, Delia took him to a shop where she usually sells the Oran berries. After dividing them in half, Lucas was left with over seventeen hundred berries. He decided to keep a couple of hundred on hand. Icarus enjoyed eating them and they could be used in Alchemy as well. With the sale of the berries, he earned fifteen hundred Pokedollars.

Back outside, Lucas checked his watch. Delia had given him an old watch belonging to her late husband. It was just past three in the afternoon.

“I've got some stuff to do in town,” Lucas said. “Thanks for inviting me along. The Pokedollars will help me to get started with my goal.”

“Are you still thinking about your crazy idea to accompany Ash on his Pokemon journey?” Delia asked. “You do not need to push yourself for my son’s sake.”

“It’s not just about him,” Lucas said. “It gives me the impetus to accomplish something. Besides, I want to explore the world at some point, so travelling with someone trustworthy makes sense. I can't promise to stick around forever, but I'll be around until I can afford a place to live and run my business."

“Okay, that's fine. Please don’t tell Ash about it until you are certain you can do it,” Delia said. “I don’t want him to be disappointed.”

“I won’t,” Lucas promised.

“Professor Oak is looking for help to care for Pokemon in his lab,” Delia said. “It’s not glamorous work, but it might help you learn more about Pokemon breeding. It’s better to have hands-on experience than to pay for a class.”

“That would be amazing,” Lucas replied. “Put in the good word for me.”

“I will. I'll take your bag home so you don't have to carry it around,” Delia said. Lucas took a folded piece of paper from a side pocket and handed her his bag. Delia left with her Pokemon beside her.

Lucas stood there for a moment, dazed by the enormity of the task ahead of him. He outlined a plan to accomplish his goals, but it was not going to be easy.

The first task was to generate some revenue quickly. If he was going to build up a small team and get his Pokemon Breeder career started, he needed a lot of Pokedollars. The funds he already had on hand prior to today would be used for rent and feeding Icarus. It meant that his initial funds were the Pokedollars he earned today.

He glanced down at the paper in his hand. He designed a flyer to advertise his Pokemon portrait business. His plan was to target middle and upper-class neighbourhoods as they would be more willing to pay a premium price for them.

Lucas found a printing shop in town and paid for a hundred copies. It cost him twenty Pokedollars. The price was a bit steep considering what it provided, but it was a necessary expense. With a bunch of flyers in his hand, he started distributing them among the businesses in town. Some stores didn’t like him sticking flyers in their windows, but most of them didn’t mind. By the time he was down to the last handful of flyers, he was tired from all the walking.

It was close to evening, and the shops were closing their doors. Before he headed home, there was one more stop to make. The Adventurer’s Guild was located on the road that connected the lower-income area on the bottom of the hill, and the middle-class area above it.

Lucas looked around as he approached the building. He had not paid much attention to the street when he passed through it on his way out of town. This was the street where a lot of services were located. The Adventurer’s Guild, Pokemon Centre, Pokemart, the Police Station, and the Church of Arceus.

The latter caught his attention. From the outside, it resembled the chapel in his hometown. A small building with a slanted roof and a tall chimney, constructed from white brick. The biggest difference was the theme. The church worshipped the Legendary Pokemon. All the sculptures, decorations, furnishings, art, and window murals depict Arceus and his children.

Lucas was interested in checking out the interior of the building, but it'll have to wait. Besides, he wasn’t feeling particularly charitable with the Legendary Pokémon, since Palkia killed him. Sure, Arceus compensated him big time, but it didn't change the fact that he was ripped from his own world.

The Adventurers Guild was housed in a massive square building that favoured function over form. A set of steps led up to a set of doors, and statues stood on either side of them. They were statues of Arceus and the three Kanto Legendaries, Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos. If there was one place that worshipped the Legendaries as much as the Church of Arceus, it was the guild. There were rumours that it had ties to the upper strata of the church, but Lucas wasn’t sure of their validity.

The Adventurer’s Guilds were founded after the war and Arceus’ decrees first appeared. Initially, it served as a place to accommodate all the resurgent crafting professions. Customers would post a request on the board, and one of the skilled craftsmen would complete it for them. It expanded beyond that as time went on. There was now a dedicated Craftsman guild and the Adventurers group served as a place to complete missions for more adventurous types. Gathering resources, security details, catching Pokemon, and so on.

Lucas climbed the steps and entered the Adventurer’s Guild. The place was crowded with people, even at this hour. It wasn't hard to figure out why. The guild didn't just assign missions. It served as a community centre for adventurers to gather and socialise.

It was divided into different areas. The mission board and reception area were to his left, and a bar and canteen were on his right. They served food and alcohol, and there were more than a dozen tables with seats. Currently, the majority of them are filled with people chatting with one another over a beverage and an evening meal.

There were stairs that led to the second floor where you could rent a cheap bed. There was no privacy, as it was a shared room, but it was a safe place to sleep at least.

Lucas approached the mission board. Despite Pallet Town being a small town, the board was massive. It was divided into different categories. First, the ranking of the mission, and the type of mission involved. It made it easier for adventurers to find a mission suitable to their capabilities and interests.

He retrieved his guild card. His rank was only Initiate 1, the lowest ranking in the guild. To level up, he needed to complete missions to earn points. Once a mission was accomplished, his card would be updated. So far, the previous host had completed seven missions. He was close to levelling up to Initiate 2. As he rose through the ranks,he could take on more challenging missions. It meant more risk, but higher rewards.

Lucas found the section where the Initiate missions were listed. Looking over the missions posted there, he noticed they were all gathering missions for plants and berries. Since he was heading back outside the town tomorrow to level up some more, he might as well pick up a few missions and complete them at the same time. He wanted to choose all of them, but adventurers could only choose three at a time.

Among them, he chose three that seemed the easiest.

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Gathering Mission

Applicable Rank: Initiate

Objective: Gather two dozen Wicked Fluxroot in the fields north of Pallet Town. They are very delicate, so be careful when harvesting them. Sentret may be protecting them as they enjoy its fragrance. You can find them easier towards the forest outskirts to the east of the highway. They are mildly poisonous, so make sure to wear protective gloves when harvesting them.

Special Notes: Must be delivered to the guild within eight hours of harvesting them. They do not last long after being dug up.

Time Limit: Must be completed within three days of selecting the mission.

Reward: 10 Guild Points; 72 Pokedollars.

======

The other two were similar in that they needed to harvest plants from the fields north of Pallet Town. Lucas walked up to the counter where a female employer waited for him. He handed over the slip with the mission details on it..

“Hello, sir. Are these the missions you wish to take on?”

"That's right."

“Very good. May I see your guild card?”

Lucas handed over his card and the woman processed his request. She typed the mission details into a computer.

"All right. All three missions have a three-day deadline, along with the specific requirements outlined. If you fail to complete the mission on time, you will be deducted twice the points they are worth. You will receive your payment when the ingredients have been examined and deemed acceptable. Is there anything else you need?"

"That's all, thanks," Lucas took his card and the slips back and pocketed them. It was time to return home. As he approached the exit, someone yelled behind him.

"Lucas, you bastard."

Lucas frowned and turned around as three men approached him. They were around his age and wore harsh expressions. The man in front was huge, both in height and in girth. His face was so fat that his eyes appeared to be squinting, as they were hidden between rolls of fat. The other two were extremely skinny as if their food had been taken away by the fat guy. All three of them looked like disreputable fellows, none of whom he recognised.

"Can I help you?" Lucas asked.

"Don't pretend to not recognise us," the fat guy said. He stepped forward, looming over him. "How could you forget your orphanage friends?"

Lucas had an inkling of who these guys were. Judging by their demeanour, they must be the men who bullied him after joining the gang.

"I see. Do you call all your friends bastards?"

"Of course," the fat guy chuckled. "Isn't everyone in the orphanage a bastard?"

"Well, sorry I don't recognise you," Lucas said. "But I was in an accident. Hit my head. My memory is extremely hazy at the moment."

"Is that right? My name is Charmles." He nudged the other two. "These two guys are Eddie and Marcus. We are all friends, aren't we guys?"

The other two nodded but didn't say anything.

Charmles placed an arm around Lucas' shoulder. "As your friend, I am afraid I have to bring up some unpleasant matters. You still owe me ten thousand Pokedollars borrowed from me a few months back."

Lucas shrugged off his arm. "Do I look stupid? My memories may be hazy, but I kept a diary. You are not my friends."

Charmles lost his smile. "Listen, you dumbass. You don't want to mess with me. I am already a prominent member of the Fearow Gang."

"Fearow Gang? Is your leader a Fearow? Well, at least you have somebody intelligent leading it."

Charmles pulled a switchblade out of his pocket. "You don’t want to mess with me. Maybe I'll add scars to both cheeks. Put a smile on your face."

Lucas stepped back from Charmles. He didn't want to get into a fight here because he knew he would lose. He was outnumbered, and he wasn't the most skilled fighter.

"Charmles, that's enough," a voice said.

Charmles grimaced and the switchblade disappeared back into his pocket and he turned around. "Guild Leader, how's it going?"

The Guild Leader was even taller than Charmles, and extremely muscular. He wore a grey suit and tie. The wicked scar running down the side of his face made him look extremely fierce. Not somebody you wanted to mess with. "There is no fighting in the Adventurer's Guild."

"Got it, boss," Charmles said ingratiatingly.

"Get out of here."

The three gang members headed for the door. As he walked past Lucas, Charmles whispered to him. "This is not over, Lucas. Watch your back."

"See you later, Charmless."

Lucas watched them leave with concern. Despite his flippancy, he was not happy that he had run into them. They were going to be troublesome, he was sure of it. He would have to watch his back when he returned to Delia's house. He didn't want trouble arriving at her doorstep.

"What's your guild rank, kid?"

Lucas turned back to the guild leader. That was a strange question. Wasn't a person supposed to ask a person's name first? "I am an Initiate."

"Waste of my time," he muttered, walking off.

Well sorry. I didn't ask you to save me, asshole.

Lucas waited a few more minutes before leaving the building. He looked around but didn't see Charmles or his two friends. It didn't mean they weren't hiding nearby. Retrieving Icarus' Pokeball, he summoned him.

Icarus flew onto his shoulder and chirped.

"Hey buddy, I ran into some trouble. I need you to keep a lookout for some people that will try to follow us. Stay on my shoulder."

Icarus nodded in response and Lucas returned up the street, heading towards Delia's neighbourhood. He could have sworn there was a pair of eyes looking at him, yet Icarus didn't alert him of a presence, so he ignored the feeling.

He had enough of his plate, now he had to deal with the shitty gang.

========

Lucas was out the door before dawn the following morning. It was still dark outside, although the sky to the east showed the sun's first rays. He had a pack on his shoulders and a pair of gloves to help with harvesting the plants.

He wanted to get started as early as possible to minimise the chances of running into Charmles and his gang. He needed to complete the guild missions and earn some more experience. Ideally, he would train in the morning, but the encounter with Charmles forced him to change his plans slightly. He didn't think the guy would get up this early.

When he reached the town entrance, he summoned Icarus. He flew beside Lucas as they walked down the path adjacent to the main road. The morning was brisk, filling his lungs with cold, fresh air. He could hear machines operating and a cacophony of farm animals from the nearby farms. He wasn't the only one up this early.

The farms provided the town with all its meat and dairy and exported the rest to other towns and cities in Kanto. Since there were farm animals in this world, he got to enjoy bacon and eggs. Animals used to live alongside Pokemon, but they were killed off because they were no match for Pokemon. Only the most vital species that provided essentials were preserved. Anything else, there was usually a Pokemon equivalent.

Nobody knew when the first Pokemon appeared, it happened so long ago. But historians believed Pokemon were created in the likeness of animals, with the only difference being that they had special abilities. Some even suggested that they evolved from animals, once they unlocked the ability to harness the energy of the world.

As soon as Lucas stepped off the road onto the grass, he became more alert. He didn't have Delia to save him if something got wrong, so he had to be extra cautious. He searched carefully for the three plants he needed to complete the mission as he walked. Since the Wicked Fluxroot was located near to the forest outskirts, he headed directly east.

At this time of the morning, he expected to see the Pokemon, Sentret in the fields. They were more active in the early hours of the morning. It wasn't long before he found his first Sentret. The Pokemon was peering out from a bush, balanced on its tail. Thankfully, it was alone.

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Species: Sentret; Scout Pokemon

Gender: Female

Status: Wild

Favorability: ----

Favourite Food: Bittersweet Almond

Condition: Excellent

Threat Level: Moderate

Level: 4

Next: [91/100%]

Current Level: Potential Achieved?: No

Special Ability: Keen Eye

=====

Attack: 19

Special Attack: 15

Defence: 15

Special Defence: 19

Speed: 18

Luck: 2

=====

Moves:

Scratch

Defence Curl

Quick Attack

Description: A very cautious Pokemon. It raises itself up using its tail to get a better view of its surroundings.

=====

As soon as Sentret spotted him, it released a loud cry. Lucas had an uneasy feeling, and instead of engaging the Pokemon, he turned around and ran away. Looking over his shoulder, he could see that he had made the right decision. Several more Sentrets appeared from the grass, their beady little eyes staring at him. Fortunately, they did not pursue him.

Lucas had to circle around the area to avoid the Sentrets. No wonder they were called the Scout Pokemon. They excel at looking out for predators and alerting the rest of the pack to potential danger.

The next Sentret he encountered didn't alert any others. It must not be part of a group. It was the same level as the last Sentret. Level four.

Icarus flew off Lucas' shoulder and into the air.

Sentret dashed forward on all fours, with the intention of striking Lucas. Icarus was completely disregarded by him.

"Quick Attack," Lucas called urgently, as he retreated.

Icarus dived down, aiming for a spot in front of the Sentret. Should his aim be off, then Lucas would likely be hurt.

Sentret cried out in pain when Icarus struck him. The Pokemon face-planted on the ground as Icarus recovered, soaring back into the air. Sentrets' condition ticked down by one level.

"Gust," Lucas called, having recovered from his surprise. His heart got a workout when the Sentrwt charged at him. He still wasn't used to Pokemon attacking him, and the attack that almost killed him only exacerbated his fear.

Icarus flapped his wings and released two mini-tornadoes. The turbulent vortices flew down atop the Sentret sprawled on the ground. Before they made contact, the Sentret sprang up and used its tail as a springboard to leap forward. The tornadoes landed, resulting in grass and dirt being gouged out of the ground.

"Quick Attack!" Lucas shouted.

The Sentret used its momentum to execute a Quick Attack. The Sentret targeted Lucas again. He dived to the side at the last moment and crashed to the ground. The Sentret wasn't competent and couldn't adjust his direction while performing the action.

"Sentret!"

Icarus struck Sentret with a Quick Attack again.

Lucas rose to his feet at the same time as Sentret. Its condition had deteriorated a further level. Icarus was winning the fight, but he wished the Sentret wouldn't target him so fervently.

What was the problem? Did I kill its mother or something? I will call it Scumbag for the remainder of the battle.

Scumbag dashed towards Lucas, ignoring Icarus again. As a result, Icarus didn't wait for an order and attacked his opponent with another QuickAttack. It was the only move he had that could stop Scumbag before he reached Lucas.

Scumbag was sent flying further this time. His condition deteriorated two levels. Icarus must have scored a critical hit.

"Use Gust," Lucas called. "Finish it off."

Scumbag struggled back to its feet, but it was too slow to dodge the next attack. It was knocked over again, and this time it was unable to rise again. The fight was over.

"Good battle, Icarus."

Icarus shook its head in denial, before swooping down and resting on Lucas’ shoulder. He could understand Icarus' point of view. The fight was too easy for him, as the Sentret didn't attack him once. It was fixated on Lucas.

He didn’t know what was wrong with the wild Pokemon. Was it really a Scumbag, or just stupid? On the other hand, taking out the trainer may have been the best course of action. What if Lucas had more Pokemon at his disposal? It would be easier to kill the trainer than fight a bunch of Pokemon.

Lucas shook his head. He didn’t want to question the Sentret’s intelligence, as doing so would be pointless. Better to call it a Scumbag. It simplifies the entire process.

He opened his menu to check Icarus' stats. Since the Pokemon could earn them by battling, he wanted to keep track of their progress. He was pleased to see that Icarus had earned two stats; one in attack and one in luck. So his theory was correct, and critical hits could raise Luck. However, if he wanted to raise his defensive stats, then Icarus would have to take some damage.

Lucas closed the menu and continued forward. After another five minutes of walking, he encountered another Sentret. When it charged at him and ignored Icarus again, he had to amend his previous statement.

The entire species were Scumbags, not just the individual.

Icarus defeated the Sentret without trouble, and they earned some easy experience points. Continuing forward, he came across a deep patch of grass, whose blades swayed in the breeze. The grass reached his waist. There was no way he would make his way through it. Who knows what lurks inside there?

He diverted around the long grass, which took him a few minutes out of his route. It turned out to be a fortunate circumstance.

Lucas spotted a fallen tree up ahead. As he got closer, his eyes were attracted to some brown mushrooms clinging to the surface. Toxic Brown Mushrooms. One of the ingredients he needed to complete his task. Taking a look around to ensure there were no Pokemon around, he took out a pair of gloves and a knife from his pack.

The mushrooms were another poisonous ingredient that required his careful attention. Now that he thought about it, there were many local plants with poisonous properties. They were useful in alchemy for antidotes and poisons. The latter was useful in a pinch if you didn’t have Pokemon to protect you. As well as earning Pokedollars, it was one of the main reasons he was interested in the profession.

He cut the bark around the mushroom. It was embedded deeply in the trunk. He had to be careful not to break the stem, as it was the most vital part of the plant. It wouldn’t count if he brought it back to the guild with a broken stem. After harvesting the fifteen needed to complete the mission, he stored them back in his pack.

“Let’s keep going,” Lucas told Icarus. He was happy to complete one of the missions in such a short period of time. He hoped the other missions would be as straightforward.

Lucac continued across the field towards the forest. Now that the sun was out, more Rattatas appeared. Lucas encountered a group of three, but Icarus defeated them easily. When he checked his menu, a pleasant surprise awaited him.

His Pokemon Trainer Profession levelled up. He gained an additional skill called Bountiful Gains. After retrieving his guidebook, he checked to see if there was anything new to tell him what the skill was able to do. Fortunately, he found it under the skills section.

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Bountiful Gains [Passive] (Level 1/3) [Next: 5]

Description: This skill allows the player to gain more rewards for defeating wild Pokemon.

Ist Level: Gain 1 Pokedollar per level for every wild Pokemon defeated.

=====

This is amazing.

From what he understood, he would gain a specific number of Pokedollars, depending on the Pokemon’s level. For example, the Rattata he just defeated were all level three. He would receive three Pokedollars for each Pokemon, for a total of nine Pokedollars. It may not seem like much now, but when he faced higher-level Pokemon, he would generate a considerable amount of income.

The only limiting factor was that he only had one Pokemon. Icarus’ energy levels were finite, so he couldn’t grind for experience and Pokedollars continuously. He could use the Pokemon Centre’s service once per day for free but had to pay Pokedollars for additional care.

It was not recommended to overwork your Pokemon in any case. Even though their energy levels could be restored repeatedly, they still accumulate mental fatigue. If a trainer isn't careful, their Pokemon could become seriously ill.

Lucas looked at his current experience points in his cache. He spent all of it and levelled up to level five. He was surprised again when something new appeared on his menu, highlighted in bold.

=-=-=-=-=-=

Status

Lucas Walker

Profession: Pokemon Trainer Lv.2

Level 5

Next: [5/100%]

Exp Cache: [0]

Skill Points (SP): 2

Skills:

Insight [Active/Passive] (Level 2/5) [Next: 3 SP]

Coach [Passive] (Level 1/3) [Next: 1]

Bountiful Gains [Passive] (Level 1/3) [Next: 2]

======

Functions

Inventory (Capacity: 30 slots) [Unlock 10 slots: 10000 Pokedollars]

=====

Lucas wasted no time consulting his guidebook again. It looked like he would gain special rewards every five levels. It was a threshold, and the level of experience needed for every level increased significantly. He knew the easy levels would not last forever.

As for the inventory, it was a great asset. He was able to summon a menu where he could store any item in one of its slots, no matter its size. He had access to thirty slots initially, but he could increase the number of slots by spending Pokedollars. The items held within the inventory did not deteriorate, so they could be held there indefinitely.

This is incredible.

There were so many applications that he could envision. One immediate benefit is that he could store items with a short shelf life. That means he could complete more missions by collecting resources beforehand and handing them in immediately. Then simply rinse and repeat.

The other obvious benefit is that his belongings would be protected. No one else could access his inventory, so he could keep the most valuable items inside.

Lucas stored his wallet, mushrooms and Pokeball inside his inventory. It was an unfortunate reality that Pokeballs could be stolen, even if the Pokemon inside didn’t cooperate with the person who stole it. Not having to worry about Icarus being stolen was a huge weight off his shoulders.

He noticed that the mushrooms in his inventory were stacked, only taking up one slot. So, he harvested the rest of the mushrooms from the tree trunk before moving on.

Lucas continued exploring the field, gathering resources and battling wild Pokemon. He started to see some Pidgeys in the field, but after an adjustment, they were not too difficult to fight. Their highest level was five. Lucas kept an eye on Icarus’ condition as they battled. It was slowly going down, so he couldn’t stay outside for too long. He needed to return to the main road before Icarus ran out of energy.

Fortunately, Icarus gained some more Attack and Speed stats from battling and maxed out his stat gains for level six. Lucas had enough experience to level Icarus up to seven, so he spent all of his experience in his cache. It boosted Icarus’ condition by one level, as his energy rose from levelling up.

Of course, he earned some Pokedollars as well. They were immediately added to his inventory, which was extremely helpful. The amount he earned might not seem like much, but it would help him pay for his expenses. It was enough that he considered advancing his plans to obtain another Pokemon. If his portrait business plans pan out, he may have a considerable amount of Pokedollars soon.

Lucas found the plants for one of the two remaining missions, the Serpent Weed, along with another dozen or so ingredients. He still needed the Wicked Fluxroot, but he wasn’t going to try his luck any further. He needed to head back into town and get Icarus energy levels restored.

He retraced his steps back to the highway. There was a carriage passing by being driven by a merchant, which was being pulled by a massive Rhyhorn. The man offered him a ride, and Lucas climbed onto the seat beside him. As they approached the town, Lucas saw Charmles and the two men walking on the path adjacent to the road. Besides Charmles, there was a Mankey that reached the man's waist.

Species: Mankey

Level: 15

Condition: Excellent

Threat Level: High

Charmle glared at him. Had they been preparing to ambush him? It seemed like it was a strange coincidence that they were meeting here when the man threatened him only last night. It was fortunate that Lucas met the merchant, or he would have been in serious trouble.

The Mankey by itself was troublesome. Sure, Icarus had the advantage of being a Flying-Type, but the level difference was substantial. Furthermore, Lucas didn’t know if Charmles had more Pokemon. Icarus could hardly protect Lucas from multiple opponents.

As they entered the town, Lucas thanked the merchant and got down from the carriage. The appearance of the three gang members dampened his mood, despite the fact that he had gained a lot. It was unlikely that he could leave town again today.

Lucas sighed as he headed for the Pokemon Centre. He needed to get stronger quickly, or he may become a victim before he could achieve his goals.

So, what do you think? I will spend the next week editing the five chapters, and then post them again together the following week. I don’t think there will be any major changes, just minor tweaks.

Thanks for reading.