Strongest Lottery System in Pokémon World

Chapter 16: Pewter City

Buzz… Buzz… Buzz.

The Pokéball wobbled three times before letting out a soft click.

Marcel couldn't hide his grin. "That's my fourth Pokémon."

His pace in catching Pokémon was steady—maybe not as fast as someone like Gary, but it was far more efficient than Ash's haphazard methods. Marcel wasn't aiming to catch every Pokémon he came across, though.

He believed in quality over quantity. Building a strong, balanced team of well-trained Pokémon appealed to him far more than capturing a horde of Pokémon only to abandon half of them at Professor Oak's lab.

Ghastly was different. Its potential, rarity, and personality made it worth the effort. Finding one in the Viridian Forest rather than an abandoned building or graveyard was a pleasant surprise.

"Come on out, Ghastly!"

With a press of the Pokéball's button, a swirl of gas emerged, forming into Ghastly's familiar face.

"Kah~!"

Ghastly floated there, its aura visibly dim. It looked thoroughly dejected, fully aware of its loss.

Marcel chuckled, crouching down to meet it at eye level. "Alright, no need to mope. We're partners now."

He reached out and gently patted Ghastly's head—or, more accurately, the dense cloud of gas surrounding it. Despite its spectral appearance, the touch was cool and smooth, almost comforting.

"Kah..."

Ghastly blinked before leaning into Marcel's hand, rubbing against it like a pet seeking affection. Its acceptance was clear now; it no longer resisted its new role.

"See? That's better," Marcel said, smiling warmly as he patted Ghastly's round, gas-shrouded form.

But the warmth of the moment quickly evaporated when he felt a wet, prickling sensation spread across his palm. Snapping his hand back, he glared at the mischievous ghost. "You little..."

Ghastly floated back with a sly grin, its glowing eyes wide with mock innocence as if daring Marcel to stay mad. Shaking his head, Marcel gave it a light bonk on the top of its gaseous body.

Ghastly, clearly unrepentant, bobbed along beside him, emitting a soft, raspy chuckle, as though immensely proud of its little prank.

"Come on, let's meet your teammates," he sighed, gesturing to Eevee and Bulbasaur, who were waiting nearby.

Eevee stood with its usual pride, tail flicking as it coolly assessed Ghastly.

Bulbasaur, however, was a different story. The timid Grass-type peeked out from behind Marcel, trembling like a leaf. No matter how much Marcel coaxed, Bulbasaur refused to approach Ghastly, clearly still scared from the ghost's earlier antics.

Marcel sighed. "You're hopeless sometimes, Bulbasaur."

Ghastly, on the other hand, seemed delighted by Bulbasaur's fear. It floated closer, its mischievous nature kicking in, and shifted into a spooky, shadowy form to scare Bulbasaur further.

"Bulba!" Bulbasaur squealed, bolting to hide behind Marcel again.

"Alright, that's enough, Ghastly," Marcel said firmly. "Let's get moving."

With Bulbasaur, Metagross, and Ghastly safely returned to their Pokéballs and leaving Eevee by his side, Marcel continued through the depths of Viridian Forest. The air grew cooler as night settled in, and the forest began to quiet.

The battle site, once lively, returned to calm as the wild Pokémon crept back to reclaim their territory. The silence of the forest was almost serene.

---

Pewter City,

The next morning,

Marcel's sense of direction had served him well. By daybreak, he'd already emerged from the forest and arrived in Pewter City.

Although this part of the Viridian Forest was relatively small compared to the sprawling expanse of the true Viridian Forest that stretched across the Kanto region, traversing it in one night was still no small feat.

He made his way to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy greeted him with her trademark smile.

"Good morning! How can I help you today?"

Marcel handed over three Pokéballs. "Bulbasaur, Eevee, and Ghastly need some care. They've been through a lot."

Nurse Joy nodded, taking the Pokéballs. "Understood. I'll have them ready for you by this afternoon."

Leaving his team in the capable hands of the Pokémon Center staff, Marcel stepped outside to explore Pewter City.

---

Pewter City was a modest, industrious town nestled near Mount Moon, known for its rich mineral deposits. Its economy revolved around mining, and evidence of this was everywhere.

The air smelled faintly of stone and earth, and the streets were dotted with workers wearing miner's helmets. Rock- and Fighting-type Pokémon like Geodude and Machop were a common sight, their muscular builds reflecting years of hard labor alongside their trainers.

Marcel noted the city's balance between industriousness and livability. It wasn't as bustling as commercial hubs like Goldenrod City, but it wasn't run-down either. Its charm lay in its hardworking atmosphere.

As he wandered, Marcel considered his next move. His first Gym Challenge was here in Pewter City, and he needed to locate the Gym. Just as he began scanning the streets for someone to ask, a raspy voice called out from nearby.

"Young man, looking for a rare stone?"

Marcel turned to see a middle-aged man sitting on the roadside. His unshaven face and sly grin gave him a greasy appearance, and the cloth spread out in front of him was littered with stones of various shapes and sizes. Each one had a price tag attached.

The man's tone reminded Marcel of someone trying to sell pirated CDs.

"…What kind of stones are we talking about here?" Marcel asked, raising an eyebrow.

The man smirked, picking up a shiny pebble. "Keke, why don't you come take a look? Got everything from evolution stones to rare fossils. Guaranteed authentic!"

Marcel sighed, debating whether to humor the man or continue his search for the Gym.

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Marcel's Pokémon:

1. Bulbasaur

[Seed Pokémon.]

[Grass and Poison Type.]

[Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger.]

[{Bulbasaur} → Ivysaur → Venusaur]

2. Metagross

[Iron Leg Pokémon.]

[Steel and Psychic Type.]

[Metagross has four brains in total. Combined, the four brains can breeze through difficult calculations faster than a supercomputer. This Pokémon can float in the air by tucking in its four legs.]

[Beldum → Metang → {Metagross}]

3. Eevee

[Evolution Pokémon.]

[Normal Type.]

[Eevee has an unstable genetic makeup that suddenly mutates due to the environment in which it lives. Radiation from various stones or causes this Pokémon to evolve.]

[{Eevee} → ???]

4. Ghastly

[Gas Pokémon]

[Ghost and Poison Type]

[Ghastly is largely composed of gaseous matter. When exposed to a strong wind, the gaseous body quickly dwindles away. Groups of this Pokémon cluster under the eaves of houses to escape the ravages of wind.]

Marcel's Skills and Abilities:

1. Pokémon Breeding Knowledge (Elementary)

Marcel's Items:

1. Metal Coat

[An item that allows specific Pokémon to evolve.]

[When held by a Steel-type Pokémon, will increase the power of its Steel-type Moves.]

[Held by: Metagross]