Returning to the present.
Looking at Sprigatito, who had just finished eating but still looked like it wanted more, Xia Chi suddenly said, “Sprigatito, become my Pokémon!” This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision after awakening the system.
Even if “System Bro” hadn’t suddenly appeared today, Xia Chi had already planned to invite Sprigatito.
Unlike when they first met, after making videos and livestreaming for a few months, he now had some savings.
It was more than enough to raise a Sprigatito.
Not to mention that Xia Chi was now a cheat-carrying player with a system at his side.
Of course, these were secondary factors.
Most importantly, he really liked Sprigatito.
Whether in terms of personality or looks, this little cat was a perfect fit for Xia Chi, a devout believer of the Cat Cult.
As for its past of being abandoned by its trainer, and the label of “incompetent” attached to it?
Xia Chi hadn’t cared much about that originally; after all, he never planned on becoming a Pokémon Master anyway.
But now…
is that something a glorious cheat-user like me needs to worry about?
And so, he extended the invitation.
Xia Chi’s long-premeditated straight-ball pitch shocked Sprigatito.
Its tongue, which was still licking the Moomoo Milk cream cheese sauce from its mouth, instantly froze in place, making one tempted to playfully tug at it.
It took a while for Sprigatito to react.
Its eyes widened, and it asked as if to double-check, “Meow meow-fee?” Xia Chi nodded and smiled.
“Or to put it another way, how about I become your trainer?” Coming to its senses, Sprigatito instinctively wanted to shake its head in refusal, but looking at Xia Chi’s earnest expression, it hesitated.
Xia Chi wasn’t surprised by Sprigatito’s reaction.
Their time together had allowed him to figure out the little cat’s temperament.
Its experience of abandonment, combined with its naturally tsundere personality, had given it an avoidant attachment cat-ality.
In other words, Sprigatito had a hard time accepting other people’s goodwill.
Even their current nightly feeding routine was a tacit understanding established only after Xia Chi had spent a long time coaxing it.
However, Sprigatito’s hesitation did not stem from rejection, but from fear.
The fear of establishing a close relationship with a human again, and a subconscious fear of being abandoned once more.
Thus, Xia Chi needed to give Sprigatito a reason.
“Do you remember when we first met, Sprigatito?” “Meow-fee?” Sprigatito was startled, and the memory of Xia Chi’s pathetic, exhausted state back then flashed through its mind.
“You were the first friend I made after coming here, and my most cherished partner.
You saved me back then, so I want to change things for you too.” Xia Chi’s voice suddenly turned firm as his eyes locked onto Sprigatito.
“Sprigatito, surely you don’t want to leave that stage forever, do you?” Just as Xia Chi had said, he understood this little cat whose heart was wrapped in thorns.
Being abandoned hadn’t crushed its dignity and will; instead, it had made it even more self-reliant.
Whether it was its solitary lifestyle or its refusal to yield in the face of the Mankeys’ bullying, everything pointed to this.
Deep down, it still had a desire to grow stronger, perhaps even more than before.
Xia Chi’s short sentence struck right at the core of Sprigatito’s heart.
*Do I miss that stage?* This question existed in Sprigatito’s mind for less than half a second before vanishing.
The answer, of course, was yes.
Sprigatito thoroughly enjoyed the blood-pumping battles on the field.
In fact, it was the nature of most Pokémon to love battling.
If it could step onto the battlefield again, it would absolutely never refuse.
As for whether Xia Chi would make a good trainer?
That was even less of a question.
*Spending a single night with Xia Chi is happier than all the time spent with my previous trainer combined.* If Sprigatito could speak human tongue, this would be its most direct expression.
One could say Xia Chi’s personality was over ten thousand times better than that guy who only saw Pokémon as tools for battle.
So, what was there to hesitate about?
At this thought, Sprigatito immediately nodded firmly to Xia Chi.
“Meow-fee!” Xia Chi didn’t understand the Pokémon language, but he understood body language.
He reached out his hand in front of Sprigatito with a smile and said, “Then, I’ll be in your care from now on, Sprigatito.” Once it made a decision, Sprigatito never dragged its feet.
It placed its light-green paw onto Xia Chi’s outstretched hand, a rare smile appearing on its cute face.
“Meow-fee!” *From now on, you are my trainer!* *** [Host’s first Pokémon caught detected.
The Bond System has been activated.] A cold voice shattered the warm, cozy atmosphere.
Of course, it only shattered Xia Chi’s; Sprigatito couldn’t hear a single sound from the system.
Scratching the fluffy head of his newly obtained kitten, Xia Chi browsed the newly unlocked Bond System in his mind.
[Current Pokémon count (1/6): Sprigatito] [Currently active bonds: 0] [Bonds awaiting activation: Grass-type (1/2) – After combat begins, bonded Pokémon gain 1% Physical Attack, Physical Defense, and HP per second, up to a maximum of 100%!
(With 6 Grass-type bond, the cap increases to 200%, and upon reaching the cap, summons the Tree of Life onto the field!)] [Bonds awaiting activation: Dark-type (1/2) – Defeating opponents allows the collection of Dread.
Every 100 stacks of Dread provide 5% bonus damage and a Dread Chest.
Opening a Dread Chest grants rewards!
(With 6 Dark-type bond, double the Dread is collected after every victory!)] [Bonds awaiting activation: Speed-type (1/2) – Bonded Pokémon have move power and energy consumption reduced by 30%, but move execution speed is increased by 50%!
(With 6 Speed-type bond, move power is only reduced by 20%, and execution speed is increased by 100%!)] [Chosen Pokémon (can be activated using a [Chosen Crest]): The Chosen Pokémon has all stats increased by 20%, gains exclusive move enhancements, and provides +1 to its active bonds!] Xia Chi fell into contemplation.
Aren’t these just the “Elderwood” and “Noxus” traits from Teamfight Tactics?
System Bro, aren’t you afraid the Second Strongest Legal Team in the Eastern Hemisphere will send you a lawyer’s letter for outright copying like this?
Do you really think Nanshan’s undefeated law firm is just for show?
Oh wait, this is the Pokémon world, that red-scarfed penguin has nothing to do with it…
After silently complaining, Xia Chi began to seriously analyze Sprigatito’s three traits.
First was the Grass-type bond, which provided a simple and straightforward boost to multiple stats.
This would absolutely be amazing for defensive, stall-oriented Grass-type Pokémon like Ferrothorn or Cradily.
Of course, the increase in Physical Attack, Physical Defense, and HP would definitely come in handy for Sprigatito too.
The appearance of the Dark-type bond was a bit strange, though.
Before its third-stage evolution, Sprigatito was a pure Grass-type Pokémon.
This could only be understood as System Bro’s bond evaluation standard being based on a Pokémon’s final form.
But regardless, a scaling bond like the Dark-type was much more suitable for Sprigatito, which was currently in its starting phase.
Of course, the premise was that Xia Chi and Sprigatito could pull off a “win streak cash-out” playstyle.