Aoki may be surprised to say that the two Pokémon with him today actually have some flaws in their talent and need to be adjusted with Pokéblocks.
However, as a trainer, Aoki knows that talent isn't the most important thing for a Pokémon. What matters most is the attitude they show toward battles and training. While it's true that "diligence can make up for talent," there's more to it.
This doesn't mean that a green-eligible Pokémon has no fighting spirit, nor does it mean that red-eligible Pokémon are automatically great fighters. A red-talent Pokémon may have the desire to fight, but the green-talent Pokémon is still valuable. Generally speaking, the idea that red-talent Pokémon can always defeat green-talent Pokémon isn't always true.
Aoki's point is that while a green-talent Pokémon may not be a natural fighter, it can still hold its own against a yellow-talent Pokémon of the same level after training. However, this would require significantly more effort. It's possible, though, right?
Some celebrities have said that 1% talent and 99% effort can make a difference when the talents are similar. But if the gap is too wide, that 1% talent will become the greatest enemy to success.
So, when Aoki discovered that his Slowpoke, despite its green talent, had a strong desire to fight, he realized he had found a treasure. Coupled with its impressive natural talent, Aoki felt confident that even a common cyan-talent Pokémon could prove to be less valuable.
The Murkrow's level has risen by one after today's battle. It has reached level 17, showing an impressively fast growth rate.
With a level 17 Murkrow and a higher-level Slowpoke at level 20, Aoki now has the confidence to explore the entire forest. The Slowpoke's ability to move instantly also adds a powerful edge, making them nearly invincible even against stronger opponents.
The scent of grilled fish filled the air, and for the Slowpoke, it was the first time it had smelled such an aroma. It wrinkled its nose in surprise, instinctively salivating at the delicious smell. The fish it had grown tired of eating before, now seasoned and cooked by Aoki, smelled amazing.
"Caw! Caw!" The Murkrow walked over to the Slowpoke, gently tapping its head with its wings. The pride on its face was clear as it seemed to boast about its trainer's cooking skills.
"Ah ah boom boom~~" The Slowpoke responded with a blank expression, seemingly asking the older Pokémon when it would be allowed to eat the grilled fish.
"Caw?" The Murkrow, ever the responsible one when it came to food, was unsure of the exact moment it would be time to eat.
Aoki watched as his Pokémon communicated in their own way and couldn't help but laugh. He didn't understand their "caws" or "ah-ah-boom-boom" talk, but he knew their shared goal was to enjoy the meal. He took the fish off the fire and placed it in a bowl.
As soon as the bowl was set down, the Murkrow dove in, completely ignoring the fish bones. Its powerful digestion made the bones practically irrelevant.
"Slow~" The Slowpoke gazed at its meal, swallowed a bit of saliva, and then looked at Aoki, as if asking, Is this for me?
Aoki smiled and gently patted the Slowpoke's smooth, pink head. "This is for you, eat up!"
Since birth, the Slowpoke had never eaten such delicious food, and no one had been as kind to it as Aoki. As it ate, tears welled up in its big, round eyes from the overwhelming happiness.
The Slowpoke devoured the fish faster than the Murkrow, finishing three grilled fish in no time.
The Murkrow, content with its meal, slowly finished its own portion of fish, also savoring the flavors.
"Alright, eat your fill. Murkrow, time to start training. Slowpoke, you should rest and recover your body." Now that they had the whole day to themselves, Aoki wouldn't waste time. He understood that the more they practiced, the better their future growth would be.
The Slowpoke had just been captured, so it wasn't time for training yet. Aoki knew that it needed to fully recover, not just physically but also in terms of its qualifications. This was crucial for its potential in future growth.
However, once the Slowpoke was fully recovered, Aoki would push it harder in training, because only then would the Pokéblocks help restore its qualifications to the maximum potential.
"Slow~" The Slowpoke gazed at the Murkrow, which was already hard at work training. The Slowpoke wanted to join in, but Aoki knew its current state. It wasn't ready for rigorous training yet. Pushing it now would only result in injury.
Noticing the Slowpoke's eager expression, Aoki smiled and rubbed its head. "Don't worry, recover first. If you want to do something, try lifting that rock with your mind." He pointed to a rock nearby.
During the previous battle, when the Slowpoke realized its psychic abilities weren't effective against the Murkrow, it hadn't used them. But the psychic energy still surged within its body. Training its mind would not be harmful.
The Slowpoke understood, and its round eyes glowed blue. Slowly, a nearby rock began to lift, surrounded by a psychic aura.
Aoki was surprised at the ease with which the Slowpoke used its psychic powers, despite having never trained them. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel{f}ire.net
As the Murkrow and the Slowpoke continued their training, Aoki was able to enjoy his lunch in peace.
After a couple of hours, the Slowpoke had recovered significantly. With guidance from Aoki and physical exercise, it began training its water-type and psychic abilities.
Aoki also started preparing a new kind of Pokéblock—something specifically for the Slowpoke. After consuming the Yellow Berry Pokéblocks, the Slowpoke would need a new energy source with both water and psychic attributes. The Magic Blue Pokéblock was perfect, designed to enhance the Slowpoke's absorption of water and psychic powers. It was a light blue, transparent Pokéblock with a sweet taste.
While making these Pokéblocks, Aoki noticed that the tool he used was still the same old wooden one. He knew it wasn't ideal, but buying specialized tools for Pokéblock production could attract unwanted attention. After all, no one would understand why an orphan who'd never even trained Pokémon was suddenly making Pokéblocks.
Even with the slower pace, Aoki didn't mind as long as the Pokéblocks were of good quality. Team Rocket's base on the trial island didn't have advanced tools, so Aoki made do with what he had.
Thanks to his system, Aoki easily calculated the proportions and steps needed for making the Pokéblocks. In just two hours, he had made enough Pokéblocks to last the Slowpoke for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Murkrow and Slowpoke continued their training. Aoki kept an eye on their progress, offering guidance when needed, ensuring they took as few detours as possible.
In his past life, Aoki had been a powerful trainer, and although he hadn't trained the Slowpoke before, his understanding of Pokémon allowed him to identify weaknesses in his current team. He knew that with some guidance, the Slowpoke would reach its full potential once it fully recovered.
The level of Pokémon in the forest would only get higher, and while Aoki would avoid high-level Pokémon as much as possible, he knew that if they encountered tough opponents, the Slowpoke's ability to move instantly would help them escape.
After two hours, the Slowpoke had recovered much of its strength and was now ready to continue its training.