Pokémon: My Name is Lucario

Chapter 12: I Can Finally Level up

The sounds of construction filled the air, drawing in Pokémon from all over the valley to watch.

"Come on, move that log over here!"

"Spit some silk, and this tasty berry is yours."

"Machop, help me chop this one more time, please!"

After much bustling, a set of unfamiliar training equipment was completed in front of the assembled Pokémon. From left to right, there were:

Wooden posts, crafted using Machop's Brick Break move, arranged as an obstacle course for practicing fighting footwork.

Various types of "dumbbells" and "barbells" made by Geodudes, with different weights attached to sturdy wooden bars.

Using the tough silk spun by Caterpies, the team connected various wooden and stone structures, resulting in equipment resembling a dragon gate and parallel bars.

"Phew, it's finally done," Riolu said, wiping the sweat from his forehead, gazing with satisfaction at the various gym tools he'd just constructed. The price for the help was, of course, that all the berries in his backpack had been "bribed" away to the Pokémon who assisted him, even the rare Oran Berries and Pecha Berries.

He stepped forward, grabbing the wooden bar of a barbell and performed a clean deadlift. The familiar feel made Riolu smile. "Feels just like being back in the gym."

Curious Pokémon such as Machop, Chimchar, Geodude, and Grass-type Pokémon approached, asking Riolu questions about the new equipment.

After a while, Riolu managed to send the curious bunch away, sweating as he did so. Who would have thought that a Pokémon without arms like the Budew would want to try lifting a dumbbell, or a Geodude with no legs would be so eager to try the footwork post. Meanwhile, Chimchar and Machop were climbing the parallel bars like old pros.

Now, with the curious crowd gone, Riolu had some time to himself.

Though it was getting dark, Riolu decided to begin his training. He picked up a dumbbell and began performing curls, extending and contracting his arms rhythmically.

"Oh, this familiar feeling," Riolu thought, feeling his biceps tighten with each rep. The sensation made him want to shout out loud.

In his past life, besides being a professional fighter, Riolu had been an avid fitness enthusiast. He was well-versed in various exercises, from curls to deadlifts and rowing.

"Ding! Experience gained, level up: lv5 -> lv6."

Just as Riolu was happily performing his bicep curls, push-ups, and pull-ups, an unexpected notification popped up at the bottom right corner of his vision.

"Exercising the body grants experience points?!"

Riolu blinked in surprise. As a former Pokémon game player, he knew the importance of leveling up. He had tried countless times since his rebirth to earn experience points, hoping to level up. For instance, he had once taunted a Caterpie, thinking a battle would help him level up. But after throwing some rocks at it, the Caterpie grew furious and chased him down, using Tackle to deal significant damage. Riolu had then tried to use some of his old fighting techniques, but the Caterpie, surprisingly kind-hearted, trapped him with its String Shot, rendering him helpless as it continued to beat him up. If the Caterpie had been more aggressive, Riolu might have learned what it felt like to faint in this world.

He had also tried to search the forest for Rare Candies, the Pokémon world's famous leveling items. But after mistakenly eating the wrong things, he ended up with stomach issues and a messy experience.

Yes, Pokémon also needed to eat and relieve themselves. Riolu shuddered at the memory of that unfortunate day.

But now, seeing the level-up notification, Riolu couldn't contain his excitement and quickly opened his Status screen to check his updated attributes:

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Status

Pokémon: Elite-Riolu (Male)

Level: lv5 -> lv6

Type: Fighting

Ability: Inner Focus (Cannot flinch)

HP: 27 -> 30

Attack: 20 -> 23

Defense: 12 -> 13

Special Attack: 11 -> 12

Special Defense: 10 -> 11

Speed: 17 -> 19

Special: ??

Moves: Quick Attack (lv0), Detect (lv0), ?? (lv?)

Evaluation: Agile and courageous Fighting-type Pokémon with enormous untapped potential.

---

"Attack increased by 3 points, Special Attack by 2, Speed by 2, but only 1 point for both defenses. Looks like I'll never be a tank," Riolu thought.

For a Fighting-type Pokémon, since most of its moves are physical, the higher the attack stat, the stronger the moves would be. Additionally, the faster speed would boost certain moves' effectiveness.

Riolu was pleased with his stats, but seeing the game-like interface also made him think of something else.

"This HP stat... In the game, if the HP reaches zero, the Pokémon enters the fainted state, but in this real world, what happens if my HP runs out?"

Although Riolu liked to treat this world as a game, every breeze on his face and every ray of sunlight reminded him that this was real. If his HP depleted, he might truly die.

Shaking off those heavy thoughts, Riolu snapped out of it.

"Anyway, I need to level up and get stronger. I can't just quietly fade away in this new world," he muttered, staring off into the distance. It felt as though he could see beyond New Moon Forest, imagining the vast world that lay beyond it.

---

Meanwhile, deep in New Moon Forest, at the highest level of a mysterious building:

"Finally, it's done."

A towering figure stood before a glass container over two meters tall, his excited reflection visible in the glass. Behind him, an elderly man and a middle-aged couple were restrained by guards, while several researchers in white lab coats were guarded by fierce-looking Pokémon.

"You can't do this!" The elderly man shouted angrily, struggling against his restraints.

The towering figure turned to face them, revealing a sneer on his face.

"Why can't I? In this world, I only believe in power."

The figure laughed maniacally.

"Thanks to the help of two great scientists, I'll be sure to remember your contribution, hahaha!"

The middle-aged man inhaled deeply, replying, "We've completed the experiment as you requested. So, when will you release my son?"

"Don't rush, great scientist," the towering figure said, clapping the middle-aged man on the shoulder, smiling insincerely. "The awakening of 'It' will take some time. During this period, I might still need your help," he said before signaling the guards to escort the scientists and others back to their rooms.

As the guards took the couple downstairs, the towering figure stopped pretending to smile. He turned to the elderly man with a cold expression.

"Now, old man, give up. You're only bringing disaster with your actions."

"We can't control 'It'."

The elderly man's voice trembled with anger. The figure ignored him, gesturing for the guards to drag the old man away to the basement.

The room was left with only the glass container, filled with a glowing green liquid, and the figure gazing greedily at it. The figure traced the surface of the container with his fingers as the liquid bubbled and changed continuously.

---

Outside, a pink glow hovered above the mysterious building, and a familiar voice echoed in the air, "It's such a terrifying yet familiar presence."

The glow circled the building a few times, seemingly finding nothing, and flew off.

---

Back in New Moon Forest, in another corner:

A round, chubby Pokémon with squinty eyes and a carefree demeanor sat contentedly, eating piles of fruit.

After finishing, the Pokémon patted its belly, its round face breaking into a satisfied smile. It then lay back and fell asleep, content with its meal.

But in its sleep, the peaceful expression shifted. A dark and sinister look briefly crossed its face, as if sensing something amiss.