Chapter 13 - 013:Minimize Team and Grimer

After uploading the video, Natsume hurried off to attend his afternoon major-specific courses. Meanwhile, the gaming section of Nico Dou was once again buzzing with excitement because of that man. "Grandpa, the content creator you follow just updated!" "What kind of dirty strategies does he have this time?" "Scary!" The footage in the video was simple—Natsume-sensei's signature move: taking on six opponents single-handedly. On a rocky battlefield scattered with boulders, a cheerful Chansey stood tall, facing off against a bristling Jolteon. The opponent was a white-haired old man wearing a floral shirt, with a broad smile and a carefree demeanor. "Jolteon, Discharge!" Electric sparks flew everywhere as a dazzling surge of electricity spread out in a wild electric field. Chansey, still grinning foolishly, shivered slightly after being hit by the Discharge, then patted its belly as if to say, "Nice try." The old man was stunned. "Is this Jolteon just tickling Chansey?" "This is hilarious!" Despite Chansey's lackluster speed, its Special Defense and HP were terrifyingly high. "Chansey, Minimize!" Chansey's short arms came together, and its body began to glow with a white light. It visibly shrank, becoming smaller and smaller with each passing moment. Meanwhile, Jolteon was gathering energy. With a sharp cry, a dazzling surge of electricity shot from its body into the clouds. It was the Electric-type ultimate move, Thunder! The thunderclouds rumbled, and a thick bolt of lightning crashed down—only to miss completely! "Did it just miss at point-blank range?" "Wait, how did Chansey get so small already?" After three consecutive Minimizes, Chansey had completely vanished from sight, effortlessly dodging the thunderbolt. Meanwhile, Jolteon seemed to be gripped by an invisible force, lifted into the air as if thrown by a Machamp! "Lifted into the air!?" "That's Chansey's Seismic Toss!" Natsume calmly commented, "Minimize allows you to dodge most moves. Combined with Chansey's tankiness and sustainability, taking on six opponents is no problem at all." "???" "Is he even speaking human language?" Natsume continued, "Unless the opponent hits you with an Earthquake to teach you a lesson, the Minimize Team can counter most strategies!" "This is so dirty!" "Is this content creator bullying an old man?" "Suggest a permanent ban!" Since Chansey is relatively rare in real life, Natsume also recommended a lower-tier alternative in the video: Grimer. Grimer is not only easy to catch but also has low breeding costs, excellent resistances, and decent offensive capabilities. In short, aside from being smelly and ugly, Grimer has almost no downsides! Of course, Natsume wouldn't catch a Grimer himself. Aesthetics matter, after all. "Got it, I'm off to the sewers to catch a Grimer!" "Thanks, Natsume-sensei! I'll choose Grimer as my starter Pokémon!" "I'm from Team Rocket, and the organization gave me a Grimer. Natsume-sensei, how do I breed it?" Within just half an hour, the video had already surpassed 20,000 views. YouTube and Niconico had also reposted Natsume's video, and its influence continued to grow. Even Koga, the Poison-type Elite Four member from the Johto Region, shared the video. His caption: "On point." Koga himself is a Poison-type expert who specializes in Minimize strategies. In the special chapters, Koga's shoulder armor is equipped with Minimized Grimers, making him both offensive and defensive. But... perhaps this is also why Koga always wears a mask. The endorsement from an Elite Four member instantly solidified Natsume-sensei's authority. As the video's popularity soared, followers began speculating about Natsume-sensei's true identity. A Grass-type Gym Leader? A Poison-type master? No matter the guess, the conclusion was always the same. Natsume-sensei was no ordinary game streamer. To master such high-level strategies in real life. Natsume-sensei must be a Master-level Trainer! "Ranked seventh in the world at his peak... Could Natsume-sensei really be a Master?" "Be bold—maybe he's even an Elite Four member?" "Natsume-sensei, the god of dirty strategies!" Among Natsume-sensei's many followers. Onitsuka from the Kanto Region was a non-member of Team Rocket. Being a non-member meant doing all the dirty and hard work without any benefits or security, and being the first to take the fall when things went wrong. But Onitsuka had lost both parents at a young age and was taken in by Team Rocket. Having a straw mat to sleep on and enough food to eat was already more than he could ask for. The competition within Team Rocket was brutal. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, if you didn't crush others, you'd be crushed yourself. Yet, Onitsuka was a kind soul. He would blush when making eye contact, spoke softly, and never got angry even when ridiculed or insulted. Only at night, under the moonlight, would he sneak into the warehouse to talk to the battered and bruised Pokémon. Once, he secretly released an abused Houndoom, which resulted in him being bitten on the arm and having four ribs broken by Drill Instructor Viper. Later, Drill Instructor Viper told him that the Houndoom had killed an innocent civilian and was shot dead by Officer Jenny. Onitsuka was left in a daze. Life in Team Rocket was dark, with only faint glimmers of light. The only way to avoid being looked down upon was to climb higher. The silent Onitsuka was often mistaken for a mute, and without the fun of being insulted, others gradually ignored him. It took Onitsuka two years to rise from a non-member to a regular member. When it came time to receive a Pokémon from the organization, all the high-quality ones had already been taken by others. Only when the last Poké Ball remained did Drill Instructor Viper finally glance at Onitsuka. "Just survive," he said. Inside the last Poké Ball was a Grimer, covered in sludge and reeking of filth. Expressionless, Onitsuka clenched the Poké Ball and quietly avoided the crowd. Back in the basement, Onitsuka broke down in tears. Grimer stared blankly at Onitsuka, trying to wipe away his tears with its hand. But realizing how dirty it was, Grimer scratched its head in embarrassment. Grimer was definitely not a Pokémon suited for a beginner. But having his first family member was enough to make Onitsuka content. After finishing his chores, connecting to Team Rocket's intranet and watching live streams were Onitsuka's only pastimes. He loved the battle videos of "The Battler" Red and the breeding guides of "Breeding Prodigy" Blue Oak. But what he admired most was Natsume-sensei, whose strategies were as cunning as they were unpredictable. One day, exhausted, Onitsuka used a 3G connection to download a three-hour video. "Natsume-sensei's Battle Tutorial 04: Minimize Team." Watching a clumsy Chansey take down six opponents, Onitsuka couldn't help but laugh. "Grimer, look! Natsume-sensei's strategies are as dirty as ever!" Grimer leaned in, careful not to dirty Onitsuka, sharing in his joy. In the dimly lit basement, only the faint glow of the screen illuminated their focused faces. As the video progressed, Onitsuka's breathing grew heavier. "Here, I recommend a lower-tier alternative to Chansey," Natsume-sensei commented calmly. "Grimer is easy to catch and has low breeding costs." "Whether it's SubProtect Toxic or a Minimize Team, Grimer fits perfectly..." Onitsuka swallowed hard, feeling his hands begin to tremble. A new door slowly opened before him. Replaying Natsume-sensei's video over and over, a surge of warmth spread through Onitsuka's body. He slowly stood up, his voice hoarse and shaky. "Come on, Grimer... Let's go train!"