Chapter 19: Pressure Building
6:34 AM – Crimson Reef Island, Eastern Wetlands
Ten days had passed since Jayden found the Everstone.
Ten days of constant training, pushing Nincada harder than he'd ever pushed a Pokémon before. The Ground-type had responded remarkably well, growing stronger with each battle, each drill, each near-death experience that honed its instincts to razor edges.
But something had changed.
Nincada now sat at level seventeen, just three levels from the evolutionary threshold. Its carapace had darkened noticeably, taking on an almost metallic sheen in certain light. The compound eyes were sharper, tracking movements with predatory precision that made even experienced wild Pokémon hesitate. And its behavior had shifted subtly, becoming more aggressive, more confident in combat.
Most tellingly, Jayden could feel the evolutionary pressure building inside his partner. It manifested as restlessness, an edge to Nincada's movements that suggested something inside was straining against its current form, demanding release.
The Everstone sat in Jayden's pack, unused. He touched it occasionally, feeling that unnatural cold through the fabric, reminding himself the option existed. But he hadn't attached it to Nincada yet. The time would come, but not today.
Today was about refinement. About pushing Nincada to master every technique in its arsenal before evolution changed everything.
Jayden activated CIPHER, reviewing his partner's current status.
[CIPHER ANALYSIS: Nincada]
Pokémon: Nincada (Trainee Pokémon)
Gender: Male
Level: 17
Type: Bug/Ground
Aptitude: Green tier
Ability: Compound Eyes
Held Item: None
Inherited Moves: Night Slash, Bug Bite, Endure
Known Moves: Scratch, Harden, Leech Life, Sand Attack, Fury Swipes, False Swipe, Dig, Metal Claw, Protect (84% mastery)
Evolution Status: 75% threshold reached. Evolution pressure building. Estimated 3 levels until natural evolution trigger.
Combat Efficiency: 89%
Eighty-nine percent combat efficiency. That was exceptional for a pre-evolved Pokémon. Most trainers would be thrilled with seventy percent. But Jayden wasn't most trainers, and exceptional wasn't good enough when survival was the metric.
"Alright, partner," Jayden said quietly, watching Nincada warm up with practice swipes against a rotting log. "Today we're escalating. No more training wheels, no more pulling punches. We're going after serious threats."
Nincada chirped eagerly, antennae waving. The Ground-type had been getting bored with the constant stream of weak Bug-types. It wanted a real challenge.
Jayden consulted his mental map of the wetlands. Over the past week and a half, he'd identified several territories controlled by stronger Pokémon. The Poliwag colony to the east. The Grimer that lurked in the deeper swamps. And, most dangerous, the Pinsir that had claimed a section of old-growth forest as its hunting ground.
The Pinsir was level nineteen according to his last CIPHER scan. Bug-type, powerful, aggressive, and territorial. Exactly the kind of opponent that would push Nincada to its limits.
"We're hunting the Pinsir," Jayden decided. "It's two levels above you, type advantage neutral, and mean enough to actually test your defensive capabilities. Perfect training."
Nincada's antennae vibrated with anticipation. This was what it had been waiting for.
...
8:47 AM – Old Growth Forest, Pinsir Territory
The forest here was different from the wetlands. Older, darker, with trees so massive their canopies blocked almost all sunlight. The undergrowth was sparse, limited by the perpetual shade, which meant excellent visibility but nowhere to hide.
Jayden moved carefully, eyes scanning for movement. Pinsir were ambush predators despite their size, capable of remaining motionless for hours before exploding into violent action. Finding one meant looking for territorial markers: claw scratches on bark, sap bleeding from damaged trees, the occasional broken branches where battles had occurred.
Nincada stayed close, antennae sweeping constantly. Its Ground-type senses could detect vibrations through the earth, giving early warning if something large approached.
They found the Pinsir twenty minutes into the search. The Stag Beetle Pokémon was massive, easily four feet tall, with horns that looked capable of punching through steel. It was currently tearing apart a fallen log, searching for grubs or other prey hidden inside.
Jayden activated CIPHER immediately.
[CIPHER ANALYSIS: Target Acquired]
Pokémon: Pinsir (Stag Beetle Pokémon)
Gender: Male
Level: 19
Type: Bug
Aptitude: Yellow tier
Ability: Hyper Cutter (Prevents Attack reduction)
Held Item: None
Known Moves: Vicegrip, Focus Energy, Bind, Seismic Toss, Harden, Revenge
Threat Assessment: Very High. Extremely dangerous in close combat. Avoid being grabbed.
Recommended Strategy: Maintain distance, exploit Ground-type advantage, use hit-and-run tactics
Level nineteen. Yellow-tier aptitude. This was a serious opponent, the kind that could kill Nincada with a single mistake.
Perfect.
"Opening strategy," Jayden said quietly. "Sand Attack from maximum range, then immediately Dig to reposition. Don't let it establish range for Vicegrip. If it closes distance, use Protect and create space with Metal Claw."
Nincada chirped acknowledgment, settling into combat stance. The Ground-type's body language had shifted completely, all playfulness vanishing. This was business.
"Go."
Nincada exploded forward, claws already churning earth. Sand Attack struck the Pinsir before it fully registered the threat, spraying its face with debris. The Stag Beetle Pokémon roared, stumbling backward with compound eyes compromised.
But it recovered faster than expected. Focus Energy activated immediately, the Pinsir's body glowing red as it centered itself despite the blindness. This one had experience fighting despite sensory impairment.
Nincada was already moving, using Dig exactly as Jayden commanded. The Ground-type vanished underground just as the Pinsir's horns swept through the space it had occupied a moment before. Empty air. The Stag Beetle Pokémon snarled in frustration, scraping at the ground where Nincada had disappeared.
"Emerge behind it," Jayden ordered. "Metal Claw to the wing joints."
Nincada burst from the earth directly behind the Pinsir, claws glowing with Steel-type energy. The attack struck true, connecting with the thin wing membranes folded against the Stag Beetle's back. Not enough to seriously damage, but enough to hurt and enrage.
The Pinsir spun with frightening speed, one massive horn sweeping toward Nincada. Vicegrip attempt. Nincada triggered Protect on instinct, the translucent barrier appearing just in time. The horn struck the shield and bounced off, sending the Pinsir off-balance.
"Fury Swipes, aim for the eyes!"
Nincada didn't hesitate. Five rapid strikes connected with the Pinsir's face, each one drawing ichor. The Stag Beetle Pokémon roared in pain and rage, thrashing wildly. One massive arm caught Nincada with a glancing blow, sending the Ground-type tumbling backward.
[HP: 73%]
The hit had done damage despite being partially deflected. Pinsir hit like a truck when they connected. Nincada recovered quickly, shaking off the impact and repositioning.
"Again, Dig. Emergence pattern delta."
Nincada vanished underground. The Pinsir stomped the ground furiously, trying to collapse the tunnel, but Nincada was already moving. It emerged twenty feet away, behind a massive tree trunk that provided cover.
The Pinsir charged, abandoning tactics for pure aggression. Seismic Toss incoming if it caught Nincada. That move would be devastating, potentially fight-ending.
"Metal Claw as it passes the tree, then Dig immediately!"
Nincada waited until the Pinsir was committed to its charge path, then struck. Metal Claw raked across the Stag Beetle's side, tearing through exoskeleton. The Pinsir stumbled, and Nincada was already underground before it could recover.
This was the rhythm they'd trained for: hit-and-run, never staying in one place, always moving, always attacking from unexpected angles. Pinsir was strong but slow. Nincada was faster, more agile, and smart enough to exploit that advantage.
Ten minutes of brutal exchange followed. Nincada emerged, struck, retreated. The Pinsir raged and hunted, but couldn't pin down its smaller, faster opponent. Gradually, the accumulated damage took its toll. The Stag Beetle Pokémon slowed, movements becoming sluggish as energy reserves depleted.
"Finishing move," Jayden said. "Leech Life. Drain everything it has left."
Nincada emerged one final time, directly beneath the exhausted Pinsir. Mandibles clamped onto the Stag Beetle's underside, and crimson energy began flowing. The Pinsir tried to shake Nincada off, but it was too weak, too drained.
Thirty seconds later, the Pinsir collapsed.
[COMBAT COMPLETE]
[VICTORY: Nincada]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: Very Significant]
[LEVEL UP: 17 → 18]
[HP: 41%]
[PROTECT MASTERY: 84% → 87%]
Jayden exhaled slowly. That had been intense. Nincada had taken serious damage, and the fight had lasted far longer than their previous encounters. But they'd won against an opponent two levels higher with superior physical strength.
Proof that tactics and training mattered more than raw power.
Nincada chirped weakly, clearly exhausted. Jayden pulled out a potion and sprayed the Ground-type's injuries. The worst cuts closed immediately, though bruising would take longer to heal.
"Excellent work," Jayden said, kneeling beside his partner. "That's exactly how you handle stronger opponents. You never let it dictate the engagement, never fought on its terms. Perfect execution."
Nincada preened slightly despite its exhaustion, pleased with the praise.
But as Jayden stood, he felt it again. That pressure building inside Nincada, stronger now after the level increase. The evolutionary threshold was approaching fast. Another two levels, maybe three, and it would trigger naturally.
His hand moved to the pack where the Everstone waited. Not yet. But soon he'd have to decide: let nature take its course, or intervene.
...
2:34 PM – Training Zone Alpha
After returning to base for proper medical treatment and food, Jayden spent the afternoon drilling Nincada on move combinations. The Pinsir fight had revealed some timing issues with Protect, moments where Nincada hesitated fractionally before activation.
Those fractions of seconds could mean death against the right opponent.
They practiced for three hours straight: Protect drills, Dig emergence timing, Metal Claw accuracy against moving targets. By the end, Nincada was responding to threats before Jayden even gave commands, muscle memory taking over.
[PROTECT MASTERY: 87% → 91%]
Ninety-one percent. Combat-reliable now. Another week and it would be instinctive, requiring no conscious thought at all.
But they didn't have another week. The trial was accelerating, and Jayden could feel the pressure building not just in Nincada but across the entire island. Other recruits were getting desperate, taking bigger risks, hunting more aggressively.
The peace of the training phase was ending.
...
6:47 PM – Mess Hall
The mess hall was notably emptier when Jayden arrived for dinner. Several familiar faces had vanished over the past ten days. Dead, injured, or fled into the wilderness to avoid confrontation. The atmosphere had shifted from cautious cooperation to suspicious isolation.
Jayden grabbed his meal and found his usual corner table. Nincada received its own bowl of nutrient paste, digging in enthusiastically despite having eaten just three hours ago. The Ground-type's metabolism was running hot, burning energy faster as evolutionary pressure built.
A shadow fell across the table.
Jayden looked up to find a thin recruit with nervous eyes standing there, a Zubat hovering at his shoulder.
"You're Jayden Cross, right?" the recruit asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"Depends on who's asking."
"I'm not here to fight." The recruit raised his hands defensively. "I just... I wanted to ask how you're doing it. Surviving, I mean. Everyone else is either dead or hiding, but you're still training like nothing's changed."
Jayden studied the recruit for a moment. Genuine question or information gathering? Hard to tell.
"Simple," Jayden said finally. "I assume everything wants to kill me, I train like my life depends on it because it does, and I don't waste time on things that don't improve survival odds."
"Is that all?" The recruit sounded almost disappointed.
"That's all."
The recruit nodded slowly and walked away, Zubat following. Jayden watched him go, then returned to his meal.
The truth was more complex, of course. The Everstone. The decision to delay evolution. The constant balancing act between pushing Nincada harder and pushing too far. But those were advantages Jayden wouldn't share with anyone.
In the Rocket Team, information was ammunition. And he had no intention of arming potential enemies.
...
9:23 PM – Barracks
Jayden lay in his bunk, staring at the ceiling while Nincada slept curled nearby. The barracks were quiet tonight, most recruits either dead or camping in the wilderness to avoid ambushes.
He pulled out the Everstone, holding it up to examine in the dim light. The gray surface absorbed the illumination, casting no reflection. Cold seeped into his fingers immediately.
The evolutionary pressure in Nincada was unmistakable now. Another two levels, three at most, and it would trigger. When that happened, Jayden would have to choose: let Nincada evolve naturally into Ninjask and Shedinja, or use the Everstone to delay further, pushing the Ground-type past its natural limits.
Both options carried risk. Natural evolution was safer but meant losing control of the timing. Forced delay was dangerous but could result in a stronger final form.
Jayden closed his fist around the Everstone. He'd make the decision when the moment came. For now, there was still training to be done, still battles to be won.
The trial had four weeks remaining. Four weeks to prepare for whatever final test the Rocket Team would spring.
And Jayden Cross would be ready.
Whatever it took.
End of Chapter 19
"Power delayed is power concentrated. The question is whether the vessel can contain what you've compressed."