Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

The hunter immediately looked away the moment he understood how much of a threat Alex was. He was definitely Champion ranked despite his Expert ranked facade, physically at the peak of his rank, and could, without a doubt, fold him like a pretzel if a fight broke out. Being a hunter who spent his days in the wilds capturing Pokémon to sell, survival depended heavily on instinct, and his instincts were warning him to avoid messing around. This wasn't an opponent he could outrun or hide from, let alone fight.

Alex, meanwhile, focused his attention on the gathered Pokémon. They weren't the most impressive in terms of species, but he liked the fire of ambition in their eyes. Every one of them wanted more from life, whether that be strength, adventure, luxury, or challenge. These were the kind of Pokémon that would be perfect for his attack team. The question, however, was what sort of team he could build from them.

“Jett, I brought you a client,” the young man leading Alex said. “He's looking for a team of three hybrid bruisers capable of locking down Pokémon one rank above them through teamwork.”

“The fuck are hybrid bruisers?” Jett asked honestly, surprising the young man.

“You know, ones who can do a bit of everything. They need to be fast, dish out damage, and survive a tough fight. They also need to complement each other.”

“Dumbass, there’s no such thing. What you’re talking about are Pokémon with an even stat distribution that don’t excel at anything.”

The young man was further surprised by Jett’s reply. It seemed he respected this particular customer quite a bit if he was unwilling to pull the wool over his eyes. He might have messed up by making false promises using gaming terminology to sound more knowledgeable than he actually was. It was a good thing he had brought him to Jett, a true professional in this market, rather than those whose tongues were a deeper silver than his own.

“Anyway, sir,” Jett said, addressing Alex as he removed his hat and adopted a more respectful attitude. “I don’t know what kind of bullshit this idiot has been spouting, but I ain’t got no hybrid bruisers. Just average Pokémon who can fight without being told, unlike the rest of the soft Pokémon in this market.”

“He did a good job,” Alex said, patting the young man on the shoulder. “He brought me to the type of Pokémon I’d be interested in. The problem is, I can’t decide on a team to fill out my roster, but this seems like a good place to start.”

“Glad to hear it,” Jett said, gaining a bit of confidence. “I don’t doubt these Pokémon would fight at their best for you. I guarantee it. Just keep in mind that they wouldn’t do too well in official battles because of their abilities and independence. Also, they aren’t top-of-the-line Pokémon either, so don’t expect any pseudo-legendary, rare variants, or competitive abilities.”

“That’s fine,” Alex replied. “I just need ones brave enough to fight Pokémon a rank above their own, or who wouldn’t hesitate to jump into an army a hundred times their number when commanded.”

“That, they’ll do gladly, with smiles on their faces,” Jett said with pride. “Here, let me show you around.”

The Pokémon immediately scattered to their designated places once they saw Jett escorting Alex with respect, a rarity for the man who had promised them a tough trainer. This meant Alex might just be the one who would take them far, and judging by their first impressions of him, they agreed. Alex was a trainer whose power was unquestionable; they would be lucky if they were chosen.

“Now, like I said, I don’t got them fancy Pokémon, but I do have some of the more powerful ones who’ve got the potential to go far,” Jett said. “There’s Magmar and Electabuzz, who excel at all-out combat, but you’ll need to source your own Electirizer and Magmarizer. I don’t think that’ll be a problem for you, though.”

“Not bad, but not enough,” Alex said, shaking his head. “They’ve got the damage and toughness, but not the sustainability. I need ones I can just toss into a battle and forget about.”

“Self-healing then?”

“Preferably.”

“How about a Seismitoad?” Jett suggested. “He’s tough, has decent output, isn’t too slow, and he can use Aqua Ring and Drain Punch.”

“Ability?”

“Poison Touch, so anything that picks a fight with him is on borrowed time. He also does particularly well against nests, thanks to moves like Hyper Voice, Icy Wind, Sludge Wave, Surf, Muddy Water, Bulldoze, Earthquake, and Rock Slide, all improved with range proficiency.”

“That… isn’t a bad idea,” Alex said as the gears started turning in his head.

There were plenty of abilities out there he hadn’t considered, and among them were contact-based abilities that punished or debuffed anything that touched the Pokémon. There was Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, Poison Point, Poison Touch, Flame Body, Static, Effect Spore, and others. This meant a team composed of Pokémon with these abilities would only need to survive long enough for their effects to wear down their enemies.

Unfortunately, they needed sustainability to maximize their abilities, which meant they required self-healing. They also couldn’t have skewed stats, since they would need to corner an opponent who was clearly stronger than they were. He needed sustainable Pokémon that were fast enough to get into position, tanky enough to survive a few hits, and capable of dealing enough damage to threaten their target while drawing attention.

“If that’s what you’re looking for, I’ve got plenty more sustain types with contact abilities. There’s Breloom, Talonflame, Toxicroak, Alolan Muk, Raichu, Ferrothorn, and Eldegoss.”

“I want them to have well-rounded physical stats,” Alex said. “That means Muk, Eldegoss, and Ferrothorn are out since they’re too slow. Seismitoad is tankier than Toxicroak, and I don’t want a repeat of abilities, so Toxicroak is out as well. As for Talonflame, Roost is a bit too slow since they’re required to stay grounded until the move is completed. That only leaves Breloom and Raichu.”

Of course, Alex had the option to go for the best of the best like Sneasler, Hisuian Electrode, or Volcarona, but he would have to put in a significant amount of effort to track them down. After all, they couldn’t be just any Pokémon; they had to have the drive and talent for combat as well, and as far as Alex could see, all the Pokémon here had already met that criteria. So he was willing to lower his standards for the sake of convenience.

“Sounds like you’ve got your team,” Jett said. “Seismitoad is your primary tank who will take all the heat. He knows how to handle himself and take hits, so you don’t have to worry about him flinching. Breloom will knock them out with her high Attack stat or Spore. She’s particularly obsessed with close-quarters combat, so her hits will always land and always be devastating. Lastly, Raichu will slow them down so Seismitoad can catch up. Even though he can’t take much of a hit, he barely gets hit in the first place since he knows how to use his speed. You have my guarantee these Pokémon will be able to take out a Pokémon an entire rank above them.”

“Gather them up,” Alex said as he released Gardevoir. “My commander will assess them and see if they have what it takes.”

“No problem,” Jett said, calling out to the three Pokémon and gathering them together, their excitement palpable at being given a chance. “Here are their Pokédex entries.”

Name: Seismitoad, Elite lvl 69

Type: Water Ground, Male

Ability: Poison Touch

Moves:

Expert:

(+100% Damage): Drain Punch, Echoed Voice, Acid, Mud Shot, Round, Bubble Beam, Flail, Uproar, Hydro Pump, Payback, Fling, Brick Break, Low Kick, Focus Blast, Bounce, Power Whip, Grass Knot, Dig, Stomping Tantrum, Earth Power, Ice Punch, Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Snore, Facade, Weather Ball, Venoshock, Sludge Bomb, Poison Jab, Venom Drench, Rock Tomb, Dive, Scald, Liquidation

(+100% Range): Hyper Voice, Muddy Water, Bulldoze, Earthquake, Icy Wind, Sludge Wave, Rock Slide, Surf

(Priority +2): Gastro Acid, Supersonic, Aqua Ring, Rain Dance, Hail, Attract, Substitute, Sleep Talk, Stealth Rock, Rest

(Effect Up +2): Growl, Screech, Protect, Endure

Description: Seismitoad, the Vibration Pokémon. It thrives in muddy environments, having evolved to harness the raw power of soundwaves and tremors. Despite its gruff and intimidating appearance, it maintains an aloof yet defensive demeanor, continuing to shatter boulders through the absolute resonance of its vibrating bumps.

“Not bad,” Alex said as he read Seismitoad’s entry.

His Range proficiency was particularly notable, as it would allow him to wreak havoc when faced with an army of Pokémon.

Name: Breloom, Elite lvl 67

Type: Grass Fighting, Female

Ability: Effect Spore

Moves:

Expert:

(+100% Damage): Absorb, Tackle, Mach Punch, Mega Drain, Headbutt, Feint, Counter, Force Palm, Brick Break, Seed Bomb, Dynamic Punch, Focus Punch, Pounce, Fling, Thunder Punch, Low Kick, Low Sweep, Drain Punch, Reversal, Focus Blast, Close Combat, Aerial Ace, Magical Leaf, Bullet Seed, Grass Knot, Giga Drain, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm, Solar Beam, Mud-Slap, Bulldoze, Mud Shot, Dig, Take Down, Facade, Swift, False Swipe, Body Slam, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Venoshock, Poison Jab, Gunk Shot, Sludge Bomb, Zen Headbutt, Rock Tomb, Rock Slide, Stone Edge

(Priority +2): Toxic, Leech Seed, Worry Seed, Sunny Day, Grassy Terrain, Sleep Talk, Substitute, Helping Hand, Rest, Rain Dance

(Effect Up +2): Poison Powder, Growth, Stun Spore, Spore, Fake Tears, Charm, Bulk Up, Protect, Endure, Swords Dance

Description: Breloom, the Mushroom Pokémon. It uses its immense physical agility to close the distance to its foes, allowing it to deliver light-speed punches and even release paralyzing clouds of toxic spores. By observing the movements of its opponent's guard, it can predict the exact moment to strike with its elastic, stretching arms. It is known for its competitive and relentless temperament, often appearing as though its mind is fixated on the thrill of the battle rather than its peaceful forest surroundings.

Breloom wasn’t bad either. Her proficiencies aligned perfectly with Alex’s own standards. The same couldn’t be said for Raichu’s, though.

Name: Raichu, Elite lvl 66

Type: Electric, Male

Ability: Static

Moves:

Expert:

(Priority +2): Play Nice, Sweet Kiss, Nuzzle, Nasty Plot, Charm, Thunder Wave, Double Team, Electro Ball, Feint, Spark, Agility, Iron Tail, Discharge, Light Screen, Thunder, Thunder Shock, Tail Whip, Growl, Quick Attack, Thunder Punch, Thunderbolt, Draining Kiss, Eerie Impulse, Charge, Fake Tears, Thief, Fling, Knock Off, Charge Beam, Volt Switch, Electric Terrain, Wild Charge, Electroweb, Disarming Voice, Play Rough, Alluring Voice, Brick Break, Reversal, Focus Blast, Focus Punch, Upper Hand, Trailblaze, Grass Knot, Dig, Take Down, Protect, Facade, Swift, Endure, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Substitute, Encore, Helping Hand, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Endeavor, Reflect, Rest, Rain Dance, Surf, Dazzling Gleam, Drain Punch, Fake Out, Skull Bash, Magnet Bomb

Description: Raichu, the Mouse Pokémon. It is known for unleashing devastating electrical discharges of up to 100,000 volts. To manage the intense voltage stored within its body, it plants its long, thin tail into the ground like a lightning rod, occasionally scorching the earth around its nest. If its electric sacs become overcharged, Raichu grows highly aggressive, its body glowing in the dark as its muscles tense up. It then actively seeks ways to safely discharge the excess energy.

“What the hell is up with this Raichu?” Alex exclaimed. “Why are all of his move proficiencies at Priority +2?”

“Don’t ask me,” Jett replied, holding his hands up. “The little bugger wanted to go fast.”

“Even Protect?”

“I like giving them the freedom to decide their own fighting style, and if that requires deploying Protect faster, then so be it.”

Alex took a moment to recover from his bewilderment before allowing Gardevoir to proceed with the examination. He figured it didn’t matter too much that Raichu was less effective, since he could still fulfill his role by slowing down enemies, even if his damage output was lower and he couldn’t protect himself against Master ranked Pokémon. At least he would be significantly harder to pin down even in a chaotic melee, and he might even give Raticate a run for his money.

Gardevoir immediately began scanning their memories for any foul play but quickly found none. These Pokémon were either troublemakers or loners that Jett had come across and captured. They were then trained minimally to preserve their preferred fighting styles, given promises of grandeur, and presented in the market for sale. Due to their lack of popularity, however, they hadn’t been sold for years.

Seismitoad was a bit too violent for the average trainer, preferring to fight his own way with sheer brutality in mind. He was open to suggestions, cooperation, and deadly battles, but didn’t like being micromanaged. As a result, he always ended up back with Jett after a trial period.

Breloom with Effect Spore simply weren’t popular because they weren't as tanky as other Pokémon like Vileplume, Amoonguss, or Eldegoss. Most trainers preferred Technician for maximum damage. As a result, she was forced to focus on training her accuracy, evasion, and combat techniques to gain an edge over others like her.

Alolan Raichu were far more popular in this region and were considered quite a bit cuter as well, so Raichu didn’t have any buyers. In addition, his niche build was a major drawback that no trainer wanted to experiment with. As a result, he spent his time training to attack and dodge at the same time, ensuring he never got caught by anything other than perfectly accurate moves.

Overall, they were more than capable of keeping up with the rest of the team with enough time spent training in combat formations. Given their personalities, it shouldn’t be a problem getting them in line, and this even included Seismitoad, who preferred lone, brutal battles. Breloom and Raichu were more than capable of adjusting to him.

With a final nod from Gardevoir, Alex smiled at having finally completed his attack team. After a bit of training, he wouldn’t have to worry about the average Master ranked trainer. Their main Pokémon would be shut down and isolated, while their weaker army, if they even had one, would be easy pickings for the defense team and his Stormline, ensuring he could take down any trainer with ease.

“I’ll take all three of them,” Alex said as he took out his phone, ready to pay.

“Pleasure doing business with you, sir,” Jett said, then turned to the three Pokémon. “I don’t think I need to tell you to behave, given who you’ve managed to land as a trainer. All I can say is good luck on your adventures.”

The three Pokémon smiled and waved goodbye before being returned to their Poké Balls and handed over to Alex after he paid an exorbitant amount of money. These were three Elite ranked Pokémon, after all.

Done with his business, Alex headed back to search for Vera and the others.

As for his new Pokémon, they would have to stay put for now and look forward to the studies and training ahead of them. Soon, they would understand exactly what kind of trainer they had found themselves under.