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Houndour, Koffing, Geodude…
If the goal were simply to defeat Pokémon, the typing of the wild Pokémon in Infernal Pass would be a disaster for Ogerpon.
The environment of Infernal Pass is several times harsher than Oni’s Maw; the Pokémon that thrive here are predominantly Fire and Poison types—both of which have a type advantage over the Grass-type Ogerpon.
Moreover, the level gap was painfully obvious.
Sera surveyed the area, noting that all the wild Pokémon she saw were between levels 15 and 25.
That Geodude leader from earlier had only been level 20, which meant it was nearly impossible for the current Ogerpon to “conquer” Infernal Pass.
But Sera hadn’t come here to conquer the place.
The Electronic Pokemon Raising System didn’t require victory over an opponent to gain experience; as long as the training was deemed productive, the Pokémon would grow naturally.
Winning or losing didn’t really matter—it was more about the satisfaction of a good fight.
Sera carefully picked her target and chose a level 16 Houndour to test the waters.
[You offered the Floral Incense to Ogerpon.]
[Ogerpon is holding the Floral Incense and feels very happy!]
Everything was ready.
Sera tapped the Houndour wandering by the side of the road.
“Woof!”
[Houndour initiates a battle against Ogerpon!]
With a sharp bark, the small, black, vicious dog—its back covered in bone-like protrusions—lunged forward.
Houndour.
Sera was quite familiar with this Pokémon.
Beyond the data she had memorized from the Pokédex in her previous life, Houndour were a common sight in the Johto region.
These Dark/Fire dual-types typically roamed in packs, using their cries to communicate.
Their teamwork was exceptional, making them a terrifying sight for anyone in the wild.
Even average Trainers wouldn’t dream of provoking a pack of Houndour; like most Dark-type Pokémon, they were incredibly vengeful.
If you angered one, it would chase you for half the day just to vent its frustration.
Conversely, they made excellent partners for the right Trainer.
Fierce yet intelligent, these Pokémon were now widely integrated as companions for Trainers under the Pokémon League’s guidance.
Sera had actually considered raising a Houndour when she first started out.
If it weren’t for pulling Ogerpon in the simulator, she might have had a Houndour by her side in reality right now.
“Pon!”
Bringing her focus back to the simulator, Ogerpon stepped up to meet the Houndour.
Sera still hadn’t determined Ogerpon’s exact base stats, but based on past performance, she hadn’t yet encountered an opponent who could rival her in raw ability.
She had to be formidable.
Even though Ogerpon was lower level than the Houndour, Sera remained calm, even allowing herself a moment to deliberate.
The Houndour seemed savvier than its peers.
Upon seeing that Ogerpon wasn’t intimidated by its mask, it let out a cautious growl.
[Houndour used Leer!]
[Ogerpon’s Defense fell!]
[Because of Defiant, Ogerpon’s Attack rose sharply!]
Sera held back a laugh.
This was the first time she had seen Ogerpon’s Ability trigger.
Because of the Houndour’s caution, Ogerpon had gained an unprecedented power boost.
Sera noticed Ogerpon hesitate on the screen for a moment, clearly confused as to why she suddenly felt so much stronger.
But a second later, Ogerpon instinctively raised her hand.
[Ogerpon used Ivy Cudgel!]
Normally, a Grass-type Ivy Cudgel would only deal half damage to a Fire-type Houndour due to type effectiveness.
But with her Attack stat doubled, Ogerpon swung the thorny club with such force that the air itself churned.
The Houndour sensed danger before the strike even landed.
When the club finally came down, the Houndour collapsed to the ground with a whimper, clutching its back.
“Woo—!”
[Houndour is out of energy.
The battle is over.]
It seemed that even with a type disadvantage, Ogerpon’s power was more than enough to hold her own on the outskirts of Infernal Pass.
Sera pulled out two Oran Berries, tossing one to the Houndour and one to Ogerpon.
Berries were cheap to her, but feeding the local wildlife was an effective way to lower their resentment.
It was a tip she had picked up from a Trainer forum.
Fierce wild Pokémon often clashed among themselves, and in secluded, competitive areas, the Pokémon were usually high-leveled and hostile.
Battles were unavoidable for traveling Trainers, but there was an unspoken code to appease the wild Pokémon afterward.
If every Trainer just beat up the locals and walked away, the Pokémon in that area would eventually grow to despise humans.
But if you turned a fight into a sort of transaction—tossing them some easy-to-obtain food—the Pokémon in frequently visited areas would eventually become much friendlier.
Even though the simulator wasn’t reality, Sera still received a reward for giving out the berries.
[Houndour acknowledges Ogerpon.
Ogerpon’s prestige has increased slightly!]
[Ogerpon has gained insight into using the Ivy Cudgel move!]
Excellent.
Sera nodded in satisfaction and began looking for the next target.
While the cycle of picking opponents and fighting could be a bit monotonous, she noticed that the little demon was surprisingly enthusiastic.
[Ogerpon wants to become stronger for your sake!]
So that’s it, is it for me?
She kept reminding herself that this was just data, but a smile still tugged at her lips, and her heart felt a swell of warmth.
She wanted Ogerpon to grow stronger, too.
Not just for the sake of Effort Values.
Even though this was just an electronic Pokémon in a simulation, Sera always remembered that, according to her lore, Ogerpon had lived alone in the wild for a very long time.
She was just a little thing who feared loneliness and wasn’t particularly good at fighting.
She had been branded as a monster without even knowing it, forced to avoid both people and Pokémon until Sera came along.
If Ogerpon could become strong—become truly steadfast—then she wouldn’t just be called a monster; she would possess the true spirit of one.
And from then on, even if she had to live alone, she wouldn’t be so afraid of being lonely anymore.
Holding onto that hope, Sera tapped the screen to end the day’s training.
[Ogerpon is a little tired.]
[Ogerpon tugs at your hand, walking along the mountain path with you, sharing the day’s stories as she slowly heads toward home.]
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