'I wonder how accuracy even works in the real world... Does it have something to do with the fact that deino are basically blind and rely on sound to navigate their surroundings? Maybe this "strength of a lord" upgrade will actually aid me with that underlying problem on top of the nice attack bonusses. Jack of all trades on the other hand, would only make it more difficult.'

'Well, I've decided. I choose strength of a lord as my Lv.1 hustle effect!'

Strenght of a lord (Epic) effect chosen. Hustle effect has been changed. Next effect level up at general level 30.

[Hustle] Lv.1

Hustle increases the attack and special attack stat by 35%. It no longer decreases accuracy. You can no longer land critical hits.

{Lv.1 effect: [Strength of a lord]}

As Felix selected the effect, a wave washed over him. It felt like the whole world opened up to him. Like he could see everything around him clearly. Yet he couldn't see at all. It felt like he owned his immediate surroundings. Nothing would escape him now.

HP

40

Atk

25 [+35%]

Def

22

Spec Atk

22 [+35%]

Spec Def

19

Spd

18

'Finally, sight! Sight and power! That should put me head and shoulders above the rest of these peasant mons!

...

I should probably hold back on the noble jokes untill I'm high enough level to ignore the other mons. I don't want to set off any death flags.

Alright, let's go. Adventure, awaits! Huzaaah!'

A pidove was lazing around on a branch above a tree, when, out of a small burrow, a green blur appeared. The pidove, startled, flew away as the green drake rushed by, eager to get to whatever bussiness such miscreants go about doing.

'This forest would be much calmer without such ne'er do wells!' thought the little bird, as it searched for a nicer, quieter tree to nap in.

-----------------------------------------------------------

'I'm genuinely surprised the forest is this green and healthy, despite the amount of wild mons living here. I would think that they would brawl on the daily, destroying all the trees in the process.

...

On second thought, maybe that's just me. How did I become this bloodthirsty in the first place? I couldn't have hurt a fly as a human, but here I defeat and kill other mons, who each might have families and friends. How sentient are these mons in the first place? Have I turned into a serial killer?'

Perhaps it was the calm environment that finally brought Felix back to his human morals making him undergo an emotional shock, or perhaps his new circumstances had finally caught up to him. The death of his siblings at his own hands, the life and death battles with what were previously living, thinking beings, his own death...

He started shivering, mind blank and eyes glazed over.

This moment only lasted a few seconds, before he took control of himself again, this time with newfound conviction.

'I don't want to die again. I probably won't get a third chance. As far as I'm concerned, it's them or me. I need to struggle every day if I ever want to reach my full potential. Maybe it's due to my new animalistic instincts that I lack empathy, but so be it.'

With his thoughts sorted, Felix sauntered forward, towards Rakou volcano, where he would receive either answers or a deadly fight. He wasn't going to run from this opportunity.

-----------------------------------------------------------

After a few days of traveling, Felix was quickly approaching his destination. On the way here, he hadn't come across many strong pokemon. He encountered a large skarmory roosting on a cliff's edge and a braviary had circled the burrow he had appropriated for the night. Well, he borrowed it from a zigzagoon that didn't need it anymore, being dead and all. The braviary gave up after a while though, since Felix wasn't stupid enough to show himself. His rash nature didn't affect him quite that much. Wanting to make quick time, and still needing to recover from his wounds, he hadn't engaged many wild mons other than the weakest ones in his path.

In the few fights he did have, his new ability had shown what kind of advantage he now had. Defeating mons that seemed to be of a similar level in one blow, he thanked the pokemon gods for their blessing and his own luck.

'Surprisingly, I didn't level up in all this time. I've only had a dozen or so fights true, but still. Is there something I'm missing here?'

Felix wasn't able to finish that thought, as that exact moment a furry monkey appeared in front of him. He almost jumped from the fright, but calmed down as he recognised the monkey from several days prior.

"Guhahaha! I see ya are still alive! I expected ya ta become a tasty morsel for one of the fringe mons living around the mountain!"

'Fringe mons? The hell are you talking about furry bastard! Don't scare me like that!'

"Guhahaha! Scaring young'ins is half the fun of life, kiddo! Just wait till you're old like me. Or die, whichever comes first."

'Don't be so morbid, old man. I'll live. What are you doing here anyway? I expected to meet you at the top of the mountain.'

"First of all, neither of us are allowed to go to the peak of the mountain. As for yer question, well that requires some explainin. This mountain... is actually a volcano!!"

'...'

"..."

'No kidding... incredible. I am so surprised right now. Can you see the surprise on my face? Can you hear the surprise in my monotone thinking voice?'

"HAH! I knew I would get someone with that one day! Finally!"

'...'

"Back to the explanation! This volcano is actually pseudo-dormant. It only erupts every several hundred years or so. That's why the dragon emperor rebuilds his fortress there after every eruption!"

'Dragon emperor? There's a pokemon with his own fortress?'

"Not jus a fortress kiddo! The entire dragon clan lives there! Each family has their own dragon elders, and all the families combine to form the clan. I'm actually a retainer for one of the families!"

'Wait, wait, hold on! This is way too much information. Are there multiple clans? And what are retainers? How come you've invited me here?'

"Well aren't you a curious fella! To answer yer questions in order, yes there are multiple clans. Most pokemon types have multiple clans, with the rarer one like dragon and fairy type only having one each. Each clan holds territory suitable to their type. The dragon clan holds this entire chain of mountains as their territory.

On to yer second question. Retainers are pokemon of particular skill and talent that want ta join a clan not o' their type, that they weren't born into. The clans hold the materials and methods to level up past the level trials, so they offer a pretty good deal. Swear loyalty to one of the clan's families, and in return the clan will protect your own family and give you opportunities to grow. I've been a retaina' for the hydreigon family my entire life.

That also explains why I'm here, conversin with ya. It's already pretty rare that a dragon becomes pregnant, happens maybe once every 50 years per family. Considerin' that a dragon can live anywhere from 100 to a 1000 years old dependin' on their level, that's not much. The hydreigon family makes it even more difficult for themselves. They leave their batch a' eggs in the mountains far away from the fortress on purpose. Only the little ones that can 'take care' o' their siblings and make it here on their own are worth a damn in their eyes. It's brutal, but it ensures they only have to spend resources on fighters.'

'Wait! So I'm a...'

"Yup, you're part a da family! Call me uncle guru, kiddo! Even better news, seein as how yer the grandson of the current family patriarch, the dragon elder hydreigon Farum! By escortin you I'll get quite a bit a reputation among the other retainers! I'm lookin to get the head retainer spot, so help me out her kiddo!"

'He has a name?'

"Of course he has a name! What, you think we're fringe mons or somethin'? Don't worry, you're about to get yer own name when you arrive in yer family anyway. My name is gurutompa, the oranguru, by da way."

'Gurutompa, what are fringe mons? You've mentioned them twice now, but I have no idea. Ans what about level trials?'

'That's uncle guru to you kid! Hmrph. Now for your simple question, which has a complicated answer. Have you noticed how some mons are smarter than others? Some are only relyin' on instincts, while others can be communicated with. Da dumb ones are called fringe mons. Yer grandpa should explain why dat is, ask him for the rest of the story. Might as well do the same thing with da level trials, I dunno how dey' work myself, just that mons stop levelin at level 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90, unless they do some special stuff, and comprehend their ability.'

During their lengthy conversation, Felix and uncle guru had arrived at a crevice in a cliff face. As they walked through, they happened upon a large drawbridge, attached to what is perhaps the largest walled city Felix had seen in his entire life. The city seemed to stand on an elevated plateau in the middle of the volcano. From their higher elevation Felix could make out an assortment of buildings with japanese architecture.

"Here we are. Feast yer eyes on the Draak fortress!"

'That's a pretty uninspired name. I'm pretty sure that just means dragon in another language.'

The monkey bonked Felix on the head with a stick as the two wandered down the drawbridge. Felix ruminated one final time on his new circumstances.

'A whole new family huh. Let's hope it's a good one. I don't want to be part of a dysfunctional family.'