Jinwoo walked through the dense forest, his pace steady but unhurried.
After his encounter with Professor Rowan, he had learned much about this world, its creatures, its trainers, and the systems that governed them.
However, knowing was not the same as understanding.
He needed experience.
For now, he kept his shadows hidden.
Only Beru remained nearby, concealed within the darkness, ready to be summoned at a moment's notice.
He had dismissed the rest after the professor's departure, ensuring he wouldn't attract unnecessary attention.
As he moved deeper into the wild, the natural sounds of the forest filled the air, the rustling of leaves, the distant cries of Pokémon, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.
Then, suddenly...
A presence.
Jinwoo halted, his instincts flaring.
Something, or someone, was nearby.
A rustling in the bushes.
A flash of white fur.
Then, a blur of movement.
A Pokémon leaped from the underbrush, landing in front of him with a low growl.
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed as he studied it.
Zangoose.
It stood on two legs, its sharp claws gleaming under the filtered sunlight.
Its fur was a mix of white and crimson, the red markings forming jagged patterns across its body.
It locked eyes with Jinwoo, its stance tense, not out of fear, but challenge.
Jinwoo exhaled slowly.
A test.
The Zangoose didn't flee, nor did it attack outright.
It wanted to fight.
From the darkness beneath him, Weavile emerged.
The ice-dark Pokémon landed gracefully, its blue eyes gleaming with anticipation.
It bared its claws, the air around it turning sharp and cold.
The Zangoose tensed.
Then, without warning, it attacked.
The battle was swift, both Pokémon moving in blurs of motion.
Zangoose lunged, claws slashing.
Weavile sidestepped, countering with a quick swipe.
Their strikes clashed in midair, the impact sending a faint shockwave through the clearing.
Jinwoo watched intently, analyzing every movement.
The Zangoose was fast, faster than most wild Pokémon he had encountered so far.
But Weavile had the advantage of experience and tactics.
"Ice Shard."
In an instant, Weavile formed a cluster of jagged ice and launched it at the Zangoose.
The attack struck its target, forcing the wild Pokémon back.
But it wasn't over yet.
With a low growl, Zangoose's claws glowed with a faint energy.
Swords Dance.
A sharp increase in attack power.
The real fight was just beginning.
The Zangoose charged again, its movements now sharper, more aggressive.
Weavile barely dodged the first strike before countering with a quick Night Slash.
The two Pokémon clashed once more, but this time, Zangoose was pushing harder.
Jinwoo observed closely.
It was strong.
But it would not fit to be a shadow, since he already has one Zangoose already.
Still, Zangoose determination and fighting spirit were commendable.
Jinwoo made his decision.
Instead of issuing the command to finish it off...
He reached into his coat and pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Let's try this out" Jinwoo said.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the Poké Ball.
The device struck Zangoose, opening in a flash of red light.
The Pokémon disappeared inside, and the ball dropped to the ground, shaking violently.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then, click.
Silence.
Jinwoo stared at the Poké Ball now resting on the forest floor.
He had captured a Pokémon.
He stepped forward and picked up the Poké Ball, turning it in his hand.
The device was still warm, pulsing faintly with the energy of the creature inside.
So this was how trainers built their teams.
He had no real need for another Zangoose as a shadow.
But as a captured Pokémon, it could still prove useful, for blending in, for trading, or for gathering information later.
He stored the Poké Ball inside his coat and turned to Weavile.
"Good work."
Weavile smirked, crossing its arms in satisfaction.
Jinwoo continued his journey, his mind already shifting to the next step.
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