Back then, Edward had immersed himself in Ash’s perspective.
He couldn’t fathom how an Electric Rat that hadn’t even evolved into Pika-god or learned Behemoth Blade was supposed to win.
Although in the end, it was still a scripted loss.
But to the Edward of that time, who didn’t even know about type advantages, it was the definition of badass.
Plus, there were quite a few depictions of Onix in the later anime.
Like the Crystal Onix and the Giant Onix.
So, in the first Pokémon game Edward played—the LeafGreen Version—he caught one immediately.
And then…
He was dumbfounded!
Why was his Onix so fragile!
It would faint from a single Water Gun and go down to one Razor Leaf!
And if being fragile wasn’t bad enough!
Why was its damage output so low too!
It was thanks to Onix that Edward learned what Base Stats, Individual Values, and type advantages were.
That was the first time Edward got burned by Onix.
And the second time came soon after.
Steelix.
With the release of the Gold and Silver remakes—HeartGold and SoulSilver—which Edward had been eagerly anticipating…
he really couldn’t stomach the graphics of the original Gold and Silver.
And in order to raise a Steelix.
He forced himself to train that Onix with its pathetic damage output all the way to level 55!
Level 55.
In Edward’s memory, that was a super high level, enough for even pseudo-legendaries to reach their final forms.
Which is to say, logically speaking.
It should have been the final step for evolution.
But the evolution that should have come long ago still didn’t happen.
Helpless, Edward sought help from netizens, only to learn a new concept.
Trade Evolution!
WTF?!
Edward was so angry he almost smashed the NDS in his hand!
He had plenty of pocket money, and his parents weren’t around.
That was why he could freely buy the latest handheld consoles to play.
But how could his buddies ever get such things from their parents?
Not to mention that online games were all the rage.
Someone like him playing handheld games was seen as an oddity.
So, to sum it up in one sentence.
There was no one he could trade with!
His Onix still couldn’t evolve!
After that…
Steelix got a Mega Evolution.
But by then, Edward’s heart had already been broken.
As they say, fool me once, fool me twice, but not a third time.
Plus, with more and more Pokémon being introduced while the party limit remained at six, that old flame of his became nothing at all.
Who would have thought that after transmigrating.
His ill-fated connection with Onix would dramatically continue once more.
Speaking of which, being caught by him in such a crude manner.
Onix must be very unhappy and defiant, right?
…
The thing Edward was worried about didn’t happen.
“Come on out, Onix.”
As Edward threw the Poké Ball in his hand, a red light flashed and then settled.
A giant rock monster appeared before Edward’s eyes.
It really is huge.
Edward looked up, sighing in admiration once again.
Although he already knew it was a behemoth from seeing its head lying on the ground earlier.
But when it truly stood up, it was a completely different feeling.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration at all to describe it as towering into the clouds and blotting out the sun.
The Pokédex said a normal Onix is about 8.8 meters long…
This one is almost ten meters, right?
[Species: Onix.]
[Ability: Rock Head.]
[Skills: Tackle, Bind, Dig.]
[Friendship: 70.]
[Potential Value: 8.]
Hmm, very ordinary.
Never mind egg moves; even the moves it can learn naturally are pitifully few.
It means its potential isn’t high.
After all, looking at its size and appearance, this guy is not only an adult but also somewhat overnourished.
Yet it was driven into a corner by a Larvitar…
It’s really quite disgraceful.
Its personality was rather chill.
It showed no hostility whatsoever toward Edward, who had caught it in such a bizarre way.
He couldn’t tell if it was happy-go-lucky, gentle, or jolly.
Of course, this wasn’t a game.
Whether personality had an effect on a Pokémon’s stats remained to be confirmed.
Effort Values and Individual Values were also completely unviewable.
There was, however, a Potential Value.
It should correspond to the potential points he obtained in his novice mission.
Edward shifted his attention to it.
Sure enough, a flashing “+” sign appeared in the next second.
Edward, who had a bit of OCD, clicked it twice in a row.
Instantly.
The 8 became a 10, and the color changed from white to green.
Edward:…
How tacky!
It’s that “Resurrect, my love” setting again with the white, yellow, purple, black, and red tiers.
Or to put it another way: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary…
blah blah blah.
Edward really wanted to complain.
But complaining felt like he was complaining about himself.
So he had to let it go.
Then he began the preparations before allocating points.
“Hello, Onix! Nice to meet you! I’m Edward, your Trainer!”
Edward reached out his hand.
Of course, he didn’t expect Onix to sprout a hand to shake his.
But this was his expression of respect.
Roar~
Onix was stunned for a moment, then slowly shifted its massive body back.
It lowered its head and carefully touched the palm of Edward’s hand with the tip of its large horn.
So well-behaved~
Edward was struck by how cute it was!
He happily hugged Onix’s horn and stroked it, then said.
“I’m very grateful that you don’t mind me catching you under those circumstances, but there’s something I have to tell you in advance.”
“If you follow me, there will surely be many battles in the future. And to prepare for those battles, you’ll have to do a lot of training. It will be very hard. I don’t know if you can accept that.”
Roar~ Roar~
“Are you willing?”
Edward could hear an affirmative tone.
But he still confirmed it once more, just to be sure.
He only let out a long sigh of relief after seeing Onix nod vigorously.
Meanwhile, on the panel.
Friendship quietly increased by ten points.
Roar…
However, seeing Edward happy.
Onix shook its head repeatedly.
As if saying he was celebrating too early!
Edward:…
Roar-roar!
“Are you saying that you’re very stupid and can’t learn anything?”
Roar…
It was visibly dejected.
So it wasn’t that it was chill; it had just given up.
That’s even better!
Onix’s problem wasn’t a problem for Edward!
Instead, another problem Edward was worried about was no longer a problem either!
A double blessing!
“Don’t worry! I’m here! Helping Pokémon become stronger is also my duty and obligation as a Trainer!”
“System! Add points for me!”
Don’t dawdle!
1000 points!
Max it out for me!
Then Edward watched as Onix’s Potential Value on the system interface soared, quickly breaking through the 99-point threshold!
The color of the panel also changed from green to purple.
And as only eight potential points remained, Edward eventually chickened out and hurriedly called for a stop.
Onix’s Potential Value finally reached a golden one thousand points!
A golden legend?
Will there be anything above it?
Edward, who originally wanted to stop there, couldn’t help but add one more point.
But he was prompted with [Potential too high, please realize it first].
Good news.
It can still be further strengthened.
Bad news.
I’ll have to keep spending money!
Isn’t this just trying to kill someone with OCD?!
After all, Edward possessed a whole world.
He couldn’t just look after Onix.
When he has a second, a third…
or even seven, eight, nine, ten Pokémon in the future!
At the very least.
He has to treat the six members of his primary team equally.
Fortunately, it’s too early to be discouraged.
Maybe those potential points aren’t worth much.
[Species: Onix.]
[Ability: Rock Head, Sturdy.]
[Skills: Tackle, Bind, Dig.]
[Friendship: 80.]
[Potential Value: 1000.]
Edward:…
Oh no, even the second ability has come out.
These potential points…
Are most likely insanely precious!
Edward panicked a little, but soon threw those negative emotions to the back of his mind.
Now!
Just celebrate happily!
Because only now could he be considered to have truly, truly caught his own Pokémon!
His first Pokémon in the truest sense!
“I’ll be in your care from now on! Onix!”
“Roar~”