Looking at the high-spirited Beedrill in front of him, Eddie's mouth twitched.
"What?"
"I should have thought that since the version I play is different from other players, the enemies in the hidden mission should also change accordingly."
"Fortunately, the first hidden mission was in the earliest stage, and I found it first, but if I encounter this situation again later, I'm afraid the mission will be canceled."
Eddie kept thinking and was glad he had read the information posted by the "good-hearted person" in his previous life and found this hidden mission. Otherwise, if he encountered this situation again later, he would be in trouble.
Most hidden missions are unique. Whether they succeed or not, they are gone after being completed.
Now Eddie was lucky to have found the simplest hidden mission in the early stage and discovered this matter. This had to be said to be extremely lucky.
"Lucky? This is also the effect of the world's favor."
Eddie thought for 3 seconds and ignored it. It didn't matter whether it was the effect of the world's favor or not. It was a good thing anyway. Why think so much?
"It's only level 12.
My Froakie can beat it.
Besides, Beedrill is a Bug and Poison type.
Froakie can use that move right after learning it."
Eddie looked at the level 12 Beedrill in front of him.
He didn't think it was a strong enemy.
He thought it was just a big experience pack. "You won't attack? Then I'll start first.
Beedrill, use [Twineedle]!"
The Bug Catcher Cole saw that Eddie didn't attack, so he attacked first. "Hiss!"
Hearing this, Beedrill shook its wings and rushed towards Froakie.
The Twineedle in its hand had already gathered energy. "Froakie, use [Quick Attack] to dodge from the side, and then use [Bubble]!"
Beedrill moved very fast; after all, it could fly.
But facing Froakie, who had already learned [Quick Attack], it was not hit. "Froak!"
Froakie gathered energy, then quickly left the place and jumped to the bushes on the side. "Hiss!"
Beedrill rushed straight at him. It was very fast, but its attack was easy to detect.
Froakie dodged the attack easily, then opened its mouth and sprayed a large number of Bubbles toward Beedrill.
Beedrill was hit, but the injury was not serious, though its speed was reduced.
[Bubble]: First, the user blows up countless bubbles to attack, which sometimes reduces the opponent's speed.
"This is my goal. Froakie, [Quick Attack] to close the distance, and then use [Lick]!"
Eddie's goal was this. Beedrill was very fast, but it was much easier to hit if its speed was reduced.
"Don't even think about it! Beedrill, continue to use [Twineedle] to fight it!"
The Bug Catcher Cole also reacted quickly. Since the speed had been reduced, he decided to fight.
Froakie used [Quick Attack] to quickly reach Beedrill and had already opened its mouth and stretched out its tongue, ready to use [Lick], but Beedrill's [Twineedle] also followed.
"Don't be afraid! Froakie, hold on, and then use [Lick]!"
It looked like both sides would lose, but Froakie was already using [Lick].
[Lick]: Use a long tongue to lick the opponent to attack; sometimes it can cause the opponent to fall into a paralyzed condition.
This move could attack the opponent and cause paralysis, but it wasn't the key point.
"[Lick] is a Ghost-type skill. Because of the effect of the Ability, Froakie is now a Ghost type, and the Bug-type skill [Twineedle] has half the power when attacking Ghost-type Pokémon."
This was Eddie's intention.
And the battle proceeded exactly as Eddie had planned.
Beedrill kept attacking Froakie with the Twineedle in its hand, but Froakie seemed unfazed and was not hurt much.
On the contrary, Beedrill was almost doubting its existence after being licked by Froakie... No, it was almost doubting its very "birth" after being licked by Froakie.
It was clear that Beedrill's condition was deteriorating rapidly. Its movements were growing slower and more sluggish until, finally, it was unable to move at all.
"Did the paralysis effect trigger? The probability of my skill effects triggering, with [Bubble] earlier and now with [Lick], seems much higher than the data indicates. This must be 'luck.'"
"Originally, I had other tactics, but since the opponent is already paralyzed, I'll stick with [Lick]."
"Froak!"
Froakie licked even harder upon hearing this.
"Hiss~"
In no time, the Beedrill fainted from Froakie's relentless licking.
However, its last cry—audible to Eddie, who possessed the power of Viridian—seemed both desolate and oddly content...
"... Is it possible this awakens certain habits?" Eddie muttered, grateful he wasn't eating or drinking, or he would surely have spat it all out.
Ding! Froakie gained 140 experience points!
Ding! Froakie has leveled up to Lv11!
Next, the Bug Catcher sent out a level 13 Butterfree.
Eddie was not surprised but quickly considered his options. Given Butterfree's ability to use [Poison Powder], [Paralysis Powder], and [Sleep Powder], he didn't want to drag the battle out. He substituted Froakie for Charmander.
"Charmander, use [Smokescreen], then follow up with [Flamethrower]!"
This time, Eddie struck first.
Charmander released a dense [Smokescreen], enveloping Butterfree and obscuring its vision. Butterfree, unable to see Charmander's position within the smoke, hesitated briefly.
However, Butterfree wasn't like a wild Pokémon—it was guided by its Trainer. At Cole's command, it broke free from the smokescreen and flew toward Charmander's assumed position.
What Cole didn't realize was that Eddie had anticipated this move.
"Now!" Eddie commanded.
Charmander opened its mouth and released a powerful [Flamethrower], engulfing Butterfree as it emerged from the smoke. The fire-type attack hit perfectly, taking advantage of Butterfree's Bug and Flying typing, which amplified the damage. Additionally, the move was boosted by Charmander's fire-typing, making it devastating.
Butterfree fainted from the overwhelming blow.
Ding! Charmander gained 150 experience points!
Ding! Charmander has leveled up to Lv12!
Ding! You defeated Bug Catcher Cole! You earned 500 Pokédollars and 1 Ultra Ball!
Eddie reviewed his earnings and found himself puzzled.
"...In my previous life, defeating an in-game NPC Trainer only rewarded Pokémon experience. Wasn't that it?"
"Maybe this is unique to this version of the game. That's possible."
"Defeating a junior Trainer earns me 500 Pokédollars and an Ultra Ball. What kinds of rewards will I receive for defeating a senior Trainer? Or a Gym Leader, an Elite Four member, or even the Champion?!"
Eddie's grin widened. He couldn't wait to find out what treasures awaited him after besting even stronger opponents.