Harsh reality

After defeating the leader Sandslash, its large body began to glow softly before vanishing into a black cloud. 

In its place, a light brown stone appeared, radiating a faint glow. It was much larger than the stones the previous three Sandslash dropped, making it clear that this one would be sold at a higher price. 

A few seconds later, the space in front of the team shimmered, and a gate materialized out of thin air. 

It looked exactly like the gate they had entered from, a swirling portal marking the exit from this harsh desert world. 

Without wasting any time, the team gathered their Pokémon and stepped through the gate. In an instant, Kay felt the shift in the air, and suddenly, they were back in their world. 

The hot desert air and golden sands were replaced by the cool breeze and familiar surroundings outside the gate. 

Once outside, the team didn't waste any time. They walked to a hidden area where they could safely count their spoils. 

The leader carefully laid everything out on a cloth: four Ground Power Stones, a pile of smaller crystals, and many eggs.

The crystals were duller and much smaller in comparison to the glowing stones and lacked the same energy. 

Kay had learned that these crystals dropped from Pokemons like Sandshrew, who hadn't yet evolved and, therefore, hadn't gathered enough energy in their cores to form proper Power Stones. These crystals were much cheaper and far less valuable on the market.

The leader grinned widely as he looked at their earnings. "Alright, now that we've counted everything, it's time to talk about you," he said, turning his sharp gaze toward Kay. The rest of the team fell silent. 

"You almost got us killed back there, that Sandshrew herd came because you didn't obey my commands. If you had let us know earlier about that Sandshrew, we could've killed it before it had the chance to call for backup. Because of that mistake, I've decided to reduce your share from 10% to 5%." 

Kay was shocked to hear that. First, he couldn't believe how exaggerated the leader had made the situation sound. 

Yes, the herd was dangerous, but the team had handled it without any real injuries.

Second, he realized just how greedy these people were. They were using the smallest excuse to cut down his already modest share of the spoils. 

The team's greed and willingness to blame him left a bitter taste in Kay's mouth. He clenched his fists, but he didn't say anything. He knew he had no power to argue with them right now. 

After selling their spoils to the Pokemon League, Kay's team received a total of 40,000 Pokedollars. 

Most of the earnings came from the eggs they had collected, which sold for 30,000 Pokedollars, while the remaining 10,000 Pokedollars came from the Power Stones and crystals they had gathered during their battles in the gate. 

When it was time to divide the money, Kay received 500 Pokédollars as his share. Compared to what the other team members received, it was an incredibly small amount. 

However, Kay wasn't entirely disappointed. In just one day, he had earned half of his father's monthly salary. 

To him, this was still a significant achievement, and he felt proud of what he had managed to accomplish despite the unfair treatment he received from the team. 

When Kay returned home that evening, he shared the good news with his parents. His mother, Reina, hugged him tightly, and his father, Max, patted him on the back with a proud smile.

That night, they celebrated together as a family. They enjoyed a warm meal and laughed together, for a moment, Kay felt like he was on top of the world. 

The weight of the unfair treatment he had faced earlier faded away as he spent time with the family. 

However, after a few days of resting and enjoying his hard-earned money, Kay was ready to face another dungeon. 

He started searching for new opportunities online and in public postings. This time, he was smarter. 

He avoided mentioning Eevee's Helping Hand move in his applications, hoping to avoid being seen as just a support trainer.

Kay wanted to fight, improve Eevee's strength, and gain real experience in battle to increase its level. 

Days passed, and Kay kept searching tirelessly. He refreshed online job boards every hour, checked public listings, and even asked around at Pokemon trainer meeting spots. 

Yet, he couldn't find a single opportunity. Every team seemed to be looking for experienced trainers or those who had Pokemon with strong offensive abilities. Slowly, Kay began to feel frustrated and hopeless. 

Sitting alone in his room one evening, Kay let out a deep sigh. He glanced at Eevee, who was resting beside him. 

'Maybe… maybe I should just add Helping Hand again,' Kay muttered to himself. With no other choice left, he updated his profile and added Helping Hand to his list of Pokemon moves. 

To his shock, just a few hours later, he received an offer from a team preparing to enter a gate in the same city. 

Kay stared at the message on his screen, feeling both relieved and frustrated at the same time. 

It became clear to him that the reality of gate-attacking wasn't limited to just his first team. 

Most teams were the same, they didn't value rookie trainers unless they had something immediately useful to offer. 

Kay sighed again but accepted the offer. Deep down, he knew this cycle wouldn't end unless he became stronger, strong enough that teams would want him for his strength, not just for a supportive move. 

Months passed, and Kay continued working as a support trainer in F-rank gates. His role was always the same: stay in the back, use Helping Hand, and avoid direct combat. 

Despite this, Kay's family was incredibly proud of him. His earnings had increased steadily, and he was now able to support his family in ways they never thought possible. 

His father, Max, no longer had to worry about overtime hours, and his mother, Reina, could finally relax knowing their financial situation was secure. 

But deep inside, Kay wasn't happy. Every time he stepped into a gate and stood at the back, watching others fight, he felt a growing frustration. 

He wasn't becoming stronger, and neither was Eevee. The experience points they gained from their supportive role were minimal, and Kay knew they would never grow at this pace. 

It felt like they were stuck in place while everyone else moved forward. Kay wanted to be on the frontlines, battling side-by-side with Eevee. 

Eevee's stats after this long period: 

 

Pokemon: Eevee

Type: Normal 

Potential: Orange 

Stage: Steel 

Moves: Tackle, Helping Hand, Wish, Bite, Sand Attack 

 

Despite months of hard work, Eevee hadn't passed through a breakthrough to the next stage yet.

Progress was painfully slow, and Kay realized that unless he made a drastic change, they would remain stuck in this cycle forever. 

A year and a half had passed since Kay became a Pokemon trainer, and his life had settled into a steady rhythm. 

Every day felt the same: join a random team, enter an F-rank gate, support with Helping Hand, and then collect his small share of the reward. 

Over time, Kay had become well-known among teams in his city. Whenever trainers needed a reliable supporter, Kay's name often came up. 

His Helping Hand move had become a very strong supportive move after countless battles, and his reputation as a specialist supporter was firmly established. 

As time went on, the dreams of becoming the strongest Pokemon trainer and protecting the world from Pokemon began to fade. 

The weight of responsibility toward his family anchored him in place. His high income brought stability to their lives, and seeing his parents happy and stress-free became his new source of pride. 

The fire of ambition that once burned brightly in Kay's heart was now just a flicker, hidden behind layers of routine and practicality. 

One ordinary day, Kay joined another random team to attack an F-rank dungeon. It was the same routine he had repeated hundreds of times before. 

But this time this dungeon would be unforgettable...

To be continued... 

If you liked the story add it to your library and drop some Power Stones.