Chapter 56: The Frost-Bound Vulpix

Bright, silvery moonlight spilled across the earth, casting a frost-like radiance upon the surface of the sea. This was a secluded stretch of beach near the edge of the Aoshin City forest, bordering the vast blue ocean.

N wasn't particularly fond of camping out in the wild alone. While the scenery and air by the coast were undeniably refreshing, he wouldn't have hesitated to choose a soft hotel bed if given the option.

He chose to camp out this time for one reason.

He hadn't yet dealt with the Vulpix he had snatched from Team Rocket, and he needed to communicate with this dangerous Pokémon personally.

"Come on out, Vulpix."

N took a deep breath, his eyes growing serious. He reached for the Poké Ball on his belt and pressed the release button.

In a flash of white light, an Alolan Vulpix appeared a short distance away. It was elegant and regal, its body covered in snow-white fur that transitioned into six flowing tails.

The moment it appeared, the air began to crystallize. A light dusting of fine snow started to fall from the sky.

Despite the mild weather, a bone-chilling breeze wrapped around N. Pure, crystalline snowflakes landed gently on his shoulders. This immediate change in weather was clearly the effect of the Vulpix’s Hidden Ability:

Snow Warning.

Upon entering battle, the Pokémon causes snow to fall; as its strength grows, this can even escalate into a severe hailstorm.

Unlike the Fire-type Vulpix found in other regions, those in Alola moved to snowy mountain peaks to avoid the habitats of other Pokémon. To adapt to the frigid climate, they gained the power to control ice.

To most of the world, Vulpix were known as gentle, rare Pokémon that coexisted harmoniously with humans, often kept as beloved pets.

However, the Vulpix N encountered today was the exact opposite of that image.

“Grrrgh!!”

The snow-white Vulpix bared its teeth, letting out a low, guttural hiss toward N. Its petite frame trembled, whether from fear or cold fury was hard to tell. Its eyes, which transitioned from a deep blue to a pale white, gleamed with a cold, murderous light. It unsheathed its claws as a clear warning.

The second it had been released, the Vulpix had fired an Ice Beam at N. It had reached a point where it no longer distinguished between "good" or "bad" humans; it viewed any human as an enemy to be attacked on sight.

The sheer loathing in its eyes was something N had rarely seen. Even for him, encountering a Pokémon that hated humans this much was a first.

Fortunately, N had specifically brought it to this secluded beach recommended by Professor Hein. No passersby would wander through here, ensuring that even if things went south, no innocent bystanders would be caught in the crossfire.

"It's okay. The people who hurt you are gone."

“Awoo!!”

Sensing N's movement, the Vulpix opened its mouth and unleashed a bolt of ice-blue energy. N remained calm, his gaze shifting slightly as he exerted his psychic power. He warped the trajectory of the Ice Beam, causing it to strike a nearby tree, instantly encasing the trunk in thick ice.

With the Vulpix currently at the Alpha level, it couldn't pose a significant threat to a human with N's psychic capabilities. This gave N the confidence to stand his ground.

However, he was surprised to find that even with his Viridian Power, the Vulpix remained deeply wary and resentful. Usually, his natural affinity with Pokémon allowed him to approach even a wild, enraged Gyarados, but he could barely get close to this small, snarling fox.

Its hatred for humanity ran too deep. Kidnapped from Alola and brought here by Team Rocket, it had been subjected to inhumane experiments every single day. No one knew exactly what horrors it had endured.

"If you don't want me to get close, I'll stay right here."

N crouched down and gave a soft laugh, lowering his eye level to match the Vulpix’s. This gesture was meant to be less threatening and more friendly than standing over it.

Since he had taken this Vulpix from the Rocket base, he was responsible for it.

Given its current temperament, if he were to simply release it into the Aoshin Forest, it would eventually become a threat to someone's life. Furthermore, he needed to investigate the genetic modifications Team Rocket had performed. He had to tame it before he could hand it over to Professor Oak for a full physical examination.

Due to the genetic tampering, the Vulpix’s life force was incredibly unstable. It was at constant risk of being consumed by its own uncontrollable power, which would be fatal.

"Gurdurr, could you help me set up the tent?"

"Eevee, you come help too. You're a big girl now; it's time you learned how to help prepare the food."

To the Vulpix’s apparent confusion, N proceeded to set up a tent right next to it. He even started a fire to boil water, acting as if he intended to move in permanently.

N deftly pulled out a discount bento box from the supermarket for himself, followed immediately by high-grade Pokémon food and specialized Pokéblocks for his team. The contrast was so sharp that an onlooker would have surely commented on it.

Thanks to the travel funds he had earned on the Joseph, N wasn't exactly hurting for cash, but the tradition of eating "on-sale" food was not something he intended to abandon.

After all, even a world-famous researcher like Samuel Oak lived on instant noodles half the time.

Chapter 57: A Massive Surge of Ice Energy

Dinner was always the favorite time of day for the three Pokémon in N’s party. This was especially true for Eevee; despite being a girl, she ate even more than the physically robust Gurdurr.

Zorua often watched in disbelief, wondering how she managed to fit so much food into such a tiny stomach.

Nearby, the Alolan Vulpix’s gaze remained cold. It stayed curled up, its six tails tucked tight, watching the other Pokémon eat from a distance. Eevee, who usually only had a narcissistic prankster and a muscle-bound powerhouse for company, spotted the Vulpix. Her dark, obsidian eyes lit up with curiosity.

“Eevee~”

Since they were both female Pokémon, Eevee felt a rare sense of kinship. She couldn't resist trotting over to invite the newcomer to join the meal. However, the moment she stepped within the Vulpix's range, the white fox snapped its head up and let out a raspy, low growl.

Eevee was startled, but her friendly nature urged her to take one more step forward.

That single step was the trigger. The Vulpix, which had been coiled like a spring, opened its small mouth. Frigid ice elements coalesced instantly into a high-powered, rainbow-colored beam of light.

Aurora Beam!

“Eevee!? Eevee!?”

The Aurora Beam scared Eevee half to death. Had it not been for N’s rigorous training of her reflexes and move-execution speed, she wouldn't have used Dig instinctively the moment the beam fired. If that hit had connected, she would have been knocked out instantly.

“Eevee... Eevee...”

Eevee emerged from her hole with tears practically pricking her eyes. She scrambled back on all fours, hiding trembling behind the team’s "big brother," Zorua.

Why is every Pokémon I meet scarier than the last? This is terrifying!

“Zua!”

Zorua reached out and gave Eevee’s head a sharp, scolding pat. He barked at her, “What were you thinking, provoking her?”, before dragging her back toward N.

Before leaving, Zorua shot a warning glare toward the Vulpix.

The message was crystal clear: if the Vulpix dared to attack them again, Zorua wouldn't play nice. He was the leader of this team, and he was fully prepared to leave her half-dead if she touched his teammates again.

The Vulpix’s eyes remained icy and unchanged. It curled its body tighter, its snow-white tails forming a protective ball. On this open beach, it had nowhere to retreat; it could only huddle in the shadows, watching N’s camp with unblinking vigilance.

N hadn't expected it to be this resistant. It likely hadn't eaten anything while held by Team Rocket, and it hadn't touched a morsel since he released it. By all accounts, it should have been starving, yet it refused to move.

"Eat something. I mean you no harm."

N placed a bowl of food a short distance from the Vulpix and stepped back. The Vulpix knew this human possessed a strange power that rendered its attacks useless. Combined with the presence of three other Pokémon, two formidable ones and one that seemed a bit dim-witted, the Vulpix knew it was at a total disadvantage.

Instead of a reckless assault, staying defensive was its only viable option.

Whine...

The Vulpix prepared to launch another attack to drive N away, but suddenly, a wave of agonizing pain ripped through its body. It began to shiver violently. Its blood vessels seemed to throb beneath its skin, and capillaries began to rupture, causing minor hemorrhaging.

Within moments, the Vulpix’s snow-white fur was stained crimson, matting the soft coat into dirty, bloody clumps. It finally collapsed, unable to hold its own weight.

"Zorua, get over here and help me!"

“Zua!”

Zorua didn't hesitate, rushing to N’s side. He stood ready to pin the Vulpix down if it went into a violent frenzy, while N knelt by its side and placed a hand on its spine.

Whine...!

The pain kept the Vulpix’s consciousness sharp, but the sheer agony left it paralyzed. It could only watch helplessly as the human approached.

"There's a massive surge of Ice-type energy inside its body. This isn't its own power," N muttered. "Its genes have been tampered with. It looks like the DNA of another Pokémon was forcibly injected into it."

Using his Viridian Power, N could see a chaotic mass of ice-blue energy rampaging through the Vulpix’s system. If left alone, the creature would be consumed by this uncontrollable genetic power and die.

Such a vast amount of ice energy was beyond the capacity of a normal Pokémon. Furthermore, N detected a faint, shimmering iridescent glow within that energy, a glow very similar to the aura he had seen on Mew.

"Could it be...?"

N frowned deeply. If the source was a Pokémon similar to Mew, it was almost certainly a Legendary Pokémon. Team Rocket had likely injected the DNA of an Ice-type Legend into this Vulpix.

Because an Alolan Vulpix is naturally an Ice-type and possessed exceptional potential, Team Rocket must have thought it could adapt to the power. Instead, the power was too great to contain; the genetic conflict was causing the Vulpix’s cells to die off in massive clusters.

"I have to neutralize it by force."

N raised both hands, channeling his Viridian Power. The gentle, glowing green light took on a searing, golden tint as he poured the energy into the Vulpix.

The healing properties of the Viridian Power were immense, capable of rapidly mending a Pokémon’s injuries. It began to force the regeneration of the Vulpix's cells.

Destruction, regeneration. Destruction, regeneration.

The brilliant green light intensified, generating heat as it mended the internal damage over and over again, slowly forcing the conflicting energy to fuse into the Vulpix’s own body.

Using the Viridian Power at this scale took a massive toll on N’s mental and physical endurance. If Mew hadn't unlocked his psychic potential earlier, significantly boosting his mental fortitude, his energy would have been drained long ago. As it stood, he was just barely able to maintain the output.

If I can actually save this Vulpix, N thought, I’m going to find some incense and offer it to Mew every single day.

Chapter 58: Vulpix Joins the Team

It was warm.

Since its birth on the high-altitude snowy mountains, Vulpix had known only endless blizzards. Even for an Ice-type Pokémon, such a harsh environment was difficult to endure.

The only warmth it had ever truly known was the sense of safety and comfort tucked beneath its mother’s tails.

But now, Vulpix experienced a different kind of warmth altogether. An inexplicable sense of security caused its body to relax, yet it struggled to keep its gradient blue-and-white eyes open.

It cast a long, deep look at N before finally succumbing to a heavy, peaceful sleep.

When it woke again, it was morning. The early sun spilled across Vulpix’s face; it slowly opened its eyes, squinting comfortably against the light.

Since being captured by those humans in black, it hadn't had a single day of good rest, enduring heart-wrenching pain every waking moment.

"..."

Realizing it was inside a tent, cradled in the arms of the green-haired, green-eyed human, Vulpix didn't struggle. It felt genuinely comfortable. After a moment of hesitation, it simply snuggled back down.

But sleep wouldn't come again.

This human had an Eevee sprawled on his head, a Gurdurr leaning against his side, and a Zorua draped over his shoulder. Counting the Vulpix in his arms, that was four Pokémon!

It was a wonder he could sleep at all.

"Mm... is it morning? Time for everyone to get up."

Perhaps sensing Vulpix’s movement, N woke up, though he looked like he hadn't slept particularly well.

Beside him, Zorua let out a massive yawn, its face a mask of grogginess. Gurdurr, on the other hand, climbed to his feet almost immediately.

That left only the Eevee on N's head. No matter how much N shook his head, she wouldn't budge. However, morning training was a mandatory ritual. Zorua shot a meaningful glance at Gurdurr, and the muscular powerhouse understood instantly.

“Eevee?”

Eevee stiffened. She felt herself being lifted away from N, and in the next heartbeat, she saw the ground receding as she was launched into the air like a rocket. The Normal-type Pokémon, who certainly couldn't fly, squeezed out tears of terror.

As the upward momentum vanished, she plummeted toward the ground, only for Gurdurr to deftly catch her in a practiced, steady embrace. Even so, she was scared half to death.

“Kukuku~”

Zorua snickered nearby. This display of mischief sent little Eevee into a fit of rage; she leapt down from Gurdurr and began chasing the prankster.

However, Zorua was significantly faster than Eevee. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch him.

Ignoring the three bickering Pokémon, Vulpix maintained a cold, detached expression that made it look quite out of place. However, its attitude was clearly much better than the previous day. Even after being held by N all night, it made no move to resist.

Vulpix watched the scene in silence. Even it wanted to comment on how incredibly eccentric its new companions were.

When N’s gaze turned toward it, Vulpix let out a cool huff and turned its head away, pretending not to notice. However, the six snow-white tails twitching behind it completely betrayed its composure.

"Vulpix, does your body still hurt?"

N asked with a note of genuine concern. Vulpix knew exactly who had saved it, but because it had attacked N so violently before, it felt too embarrassed to respond directly.

"If you don't mind... would you like to come with me?"

"I can't promise much, but I can definitely guarantee you'll never go hungry."

Seeing the Vulpix before him, no longer aggressive and a world away from its state last night, N finally felt a sense of relief.

Pokémon were simple creatures; they knew who meant them harm and who meant them well.

It was worth the immense effort he had put into using his Viridian Power to save it. Then again, he really did owe a debt of gratitude to Mew...

Faced with N's offer, Vulpix remained silent to the end. However, one of its six pure white tails reached out and gently pressed the button on its Poké Ball. A flash of red light enveloped the fox, drawing it inside.

This silent consent gave N a sudden, powerful sense of déjà vu.

He felt like he had seen this prickly, "tsundere" personality somewhere before...

"I look forward to working with you, Vulpix."

N held the Poké Ball in his hand, a look of uncontainable joy spreading across his face.

With this, he had officially caught his fourth Pokémon. To enter the Charizard Cup, he needed at least six.

The Larvesta Egg in his bag still showed no signs of hatching, which was becoming a major source of anxiety for him.

If the Larvesta hatched, he would have five Pokémon. He would only need to catch one more to qualify for the tournament. However, since he favored a "quality over quantity" approach, finding a Pokémon that truly fit his team wouldn't be easy.

…

"A-choo!"

Far away in the Nichiyo Forest, a young girl wearing a pink sun hat suddenly let out a massive sneeze. She looked around, confused.

She didn't have a cold, so why the sudden sneezing fit?

She was currently trekking through the Nichiyo Forest, planning to head toward the neighboring Nagatsuki City to challenge the Nagatsuki Gym. She had just caught a new Pokémon, and she excitedly ran over to retrieve the Poké Ball.

"YA ✩ DA ✩ ZE!"

"I caught it! Pignite, if we keep this up, we'll eventually be able to show that pretentious guy who's boss!! Hehehe~"

In high spirits, the girl struck a hilariously over-the-top pose and began humming to herself. She was already fantasizing about the Charizard Cup.

She imagined herself making a grand entrance with a fully evolved Emboar, scaring that guy with the permanent, calm smile half to death!

Chapter 59: Too Much of a Shock for Nurse Joy

At noon, N headed to the Pokémon Center to let his team recover and undergo a routine check-up.

Although Vulpix had been officially caught, she remained intensely hostile toward anyone but N. Consequently, she was the only one he couldn't leave in Nurse Joy's care; the rest of his Pokémon were checked in for a temporary stay.

"In that case, I'll leave them in your hands, Nurse Joy."

"Mr. N, please wait a moment!"

Just as N prepared to step away, the Aoshin City Nurse Joy called out to stop him.

This Nurse Joy looked nearly identical to the one in Nagatsuki City. She studied N with a meaningful, searching gaze, unable to stop herself from thinking:

He really is exceptionally handsome.

No wonder her boy-crazy cousin had praised this young man so much. From his looks to his composed aura, he was truly remarkable!

"Is something the matter?" N asked.

"Ah! My apologies. Regarding your rescue of Professor Hein, the rewards from the League have already been processed! They were delivered overnight via Dragonite Express."

"That fast?"

N blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected the rewards for yesterday's raid to arrive so quickly. Such efficiency was genuinely unexpected.

Yesterday, after he had turned the Rocket base upside down, he had sealed the entrance on his way out. This had turned Officer Jenny’s subsequent raid into a "fish in a barrel" operation. The police had spent more effort digging through the debris than actually making arrests.

Over a hundred Team Rocket members had been apprehended, with not a single one escaping, including the base executive, Cassidy, who had been hauled off to prison with a look of pure resentment.

However, knowing the League, N suspected a woman like Cassidy would be out on bail before long. She was likely too useful to keep locked up forever. Once she was out, N’s personal information would undoubtedly be leaked to the higher-ups of Team Rocket.

"Yes! These are the rewards authorized by the League. Keep up the great work!"

Nurse Joy handed N a supply box with a gentle smile, opening the packaging for him.

Inside, protected by transparent casing, was a jagged shard of ice that never melted and a vibrant, golden seed that pulsed with a warm light.

"Inside, we have Never-Melt Ice sourced from Mt. Coronet in the Sinnoh region, and a Miracle Seed that boosts the power of Grass-type moves. Additionally, there is a reward of 200,000 Pokédollars in cash, which has been credited to this card."

N was pleasantly surprised. Setting aside the Miracle Seed, the Never-Melt Ice was a perfect match for his Vulpix. With the 200,000 Pokédollars on top, the League had certainly been generous.

"Thank you very much, Nurse Joy."

"You earned this through your own skill, so there's no need to thank me... Oh, that’s right! Since your Pokémon are busy with their check-ups, why don't you spend your free time entering our annual Aoshin City Fishing Competition?"

"...?"

N paused. He had almost forgotten about that event. Kenji had mentioned it when he first arrived, but N had been too busy delivering parcels and dealing with Team Rocket to give it a second thought.

"The event actually kicks off today! If you head over now, you should still be able to register."

"I see. Thank you for the reminder, Nurse Joy."

N gave her a soft, grateful smile. He didn't realize that such a bright, charming expression would act like a physical blow to the heart of a Nurse Joy who had been single for over twenty years. She felt a literal jolt in her chest.

"Goodness... a gentle, handsome smile like that is just too much of a shock for us Joys," she sighed, watching N’s retreating back with a touch of helplessness in her eyes.

…

The Fishing Competition was held at Aoshin Lake. As an annual tradition, travelers were highly encouraged to participate. The moment N arrived, he was ushered toward the registration booth by enthusiastic staff members.

The rules were simple: the organizers provided each participant with thirty specialized Fishing Balls.

The goal was to catch as many Pokémon as possible before the time limit expired. Rankings were determined by the total combined weight of the captured Pokémon.

Naturally, some might try to simply catch thirty random, small Pokémon to pad their score, but the organizers had accounted for that. The specialized Fishing Balls provided were much like the Safari Balls used in the Great Marsh or Safari Zone.

In short: they were cheap and unreliable. Pokémon could break out of them with ease.

The catch rate of a Fishing Ball was actually lower than that of a standard 500-Pokédollar Poké Ball. This was exactly what the officials intended; the low success rate meant participants had to be extremely selective and strategic about which Pokémon they attempted to reel in.

Chapter 60: You Can Even Catch One of These?

"Heave-ho..."

After entering the competition grounds, N found a spot that looked reasonably comfortable and sat down. Perhaps because his clumsy movements were a bit too obvious, a middle-aged man sitting nearby, decked out in a red fishing hat and full angling gear, couldn't help but strike up a conversation.

"Yo! You must be a Trainer from out of town, huh? First time at a fishing competition?"

"Yes, just here to enjoy the atmosphere and pass some time," N replied, scratching his cheek awkwardly. Not only was this his first competition, but he had also never even touched a fishing rod before today. The one he was holding was just a standard-issue rod lent to participants for free by the organizers.

The man next to him, however, was a different story. With his bright red hat, a red vest festooned with various gear, and a rod that was clearly a high-end custom piece, he was obviously a seasoned pro.

Sitting next to someone like that usually put a person at a disadvantage. An experienced angler could often use their expertise to lure all the fish in the area to their own hook, leaving those around them to stare at the water in frustrated silence.

"Since you're a rookie, just watch me and try to pick up some pointers. I've been competing in the Aoshin fishing tournament for years, even took home the championship once!"

The Red-Hatted Angler was clearly proud of his record. Once, in the final moments of a tournament, he had reeled in a Wailmer to pull off a dramatic, last-second comeback victory.

This time, he was approaching the event with a relaxed mindset, intending to let the younger generation have their shot. Still, even if he held back, he figured placing in the top ten would be a breeze.

Just as the man was lost in his thoughts, the green-haired boy next to him, the one who looked like a complete amateur, suddenly gave his rod a sharp tug. A Magikarp, weighing easily thirty pounds, was yanked right out of the water and onto the shore.

"Not bad, kid! Snagged a big one right out of the gate!"

"Just lucky today, I suppose," N said with a soft smile. He waved a hand dismissively and promptly tossed the Magikarp back into the lake. The heavy body hit the surface with a loud splash.

The man was stunned. This boy actually released a Magikarp he had worked so hard to catch?!

Was this a joke? A Magikarp that size was a prize catch, easy to secure and heavy enough to boost a score significantly. Landing one early usually meant a massive head start.

And he just... let it go?

"I'm just here for the fishing. I'm not really interested in the prizes, and I don't want to catch too many Pokémon."

"Is the youth today really this Zen?" the man muttered, his mouth twitching. He turned his focus back to his own rod, but before he could even settle in, the green-haired boy beside him whipped his rod back again, landing a Goldeen.

The Red-Hatted Angler: "???"

"Alright, back you go."

N smiled as he returned the Goldeen to the water. The practiced ease with which he released the Pokémon caused the nearby onlookers' expressions to cramp in disbelief.

Every time N cast his line, it was as if the Pokémon were standing in line waiting to bite. The man watched in growing shock as N reeled them in one after another.

It was becoming impossible to believe. To save face, the man tried to convince himself it was just a case of "beginner's luck," surely the boy would hit a dry spell soon.

Instead, the frequency of catches actually increased!

Psyduck, Horsea, Shellder, Lotad, Corphish... they popped up one by one as if they were in a synchronized queue!

By the end of the day, the man had spent his entire time watching N whip his rod back and forth. His own rod hadn't even twitched once, as if he and the boy were existing in two completely different dimensions.

Wait! We're sitting right next to each other! Why is he pulling them in non-stop while I don't even have a nibble?!

The Red-Hatted Angler's confidence was shattered into pieces. By the time he snapped out of it, he realized that he and the boy were the only ones left in this section of the lake. Every other contestant had fled!

With this guy around, how was anyone else supposed to catch a thing?

"...Oh dear."

N watched as even the veteran angler finally decided to cut his losses and relocate. He felt a bit of a headache coming on. He truly just wanted to enjoy a quiet afternoon of fishing, but things kept biting his hook.

He could guess the reason: the passive "Affinity" effect of his Viridian Power. The Water-type Pokémon in this entire area were being drawn to his aura, which effectively meant no one else stood a chance.

"I guess I'll just do a few more casts and call it a day..."

Just as he was thinking this, he felt a heavy weight on the line. He instinctively pulled.

Splash!!

A fish leaped from the water onto the bank. This Pokémon had pale purple scales and a body that was pitted and lumpy. To put it bluntly, it was hideous. Its dull, vacant "dead-fish eyes" were remarkably similar to those of a Magikarp.

"A Feebas?"

N froze for several seconds before he realized what he was looking at. This Feebas was exceptionally small, about a size smaller than average, clearly a newborn.

Simply catching a Feebas wouldn't have shocked N this much, but the scales on this one weren't the usual earthy yellow. Instead, they were a soft, violet-tinted purple!

This was clearly its natural coloration!

[Feebas (Shiny)]

[Growth Phase]

Strength: Mid Normal

Potential: High Grade

It was actually a Shiny Feebas. Because they were so incredibly rare, even N, who had spent years as Professor Oak’s assistant, was seeing a genuine Shiny Pokémon in person for the first time.

N hadn't expected that a simple way to kill time would end up handing him such a massive surprise.