Before setting out to chase Mew again, Ryusuke had already stocked up on enough water. There was no need to search for another water source. Since they were heading back to the city tomorrow, he no longer had to be as cautious with meals as he had been the past month.
Ryusuke had tried eating berries from the forest before, but what tasted decent to Pokémon was practically toxic for humans. Most berries were meant to be ground into powder and used as spices. Eating them raw might fill your stomach, but it was as uncomfortable as chewing on raw peppercorns and chili.
Gible's inability to even put up a fight against Mew had left it feeling pretty down. Ryusuke had to console it thoroughly before it regained some spirit. As for Mewtwo's request, Ryusuke wasn't in a rush. Legendary Pokémon like Mew were incredibly rare to encounter—even if you searched for them deliberately, there was no guarantee you'd find one. Anyway, once Mewtwo's gene adjustments were complete and it could leave the Poké Ball freely to battle, Ryusuke was happy to accompany it on a global journey to seek out Mew. With Mewtwo at full strength, tracking Mew wouldn't be that hard.
He pitched his tent and laid down on a comfortable mat. The special tent material blocked out the internal firelight. Ryusuke had long since grown used to this lifestyle. He used to struggle with insomnia, but now he could fall asleep almost as soon as he closed his eyes.
Just as Ryusuke was dozing off, Gible suddenly ran over and tugged at his shirt with a panicked look on its face.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Gible?"
Ryusuke yawned and opened his sleepy eyes, mumbling drowsily. But he quickly sat up, instantly alert. Sensing Gible's emotions, he lowered his voice and asked:
"...Someone's coming again?"
Gible nodded and pointed in a direction.
"Let's go check it out. Forget the tent, there's no time to pack it up."
Ryusuke stepped out of the tent with Gible and looked in the direction Gible had indicated. Using his psychic powers, he could faintly see a flickering light over there.
"Doesn't seem like a dangerous person, but let's stay cautious. Gible, go hide!"
Gible nodded eagerly and started preparing. Meanwhile, Ryusuke quickly climbed up a tree. After over a month in the wild, he felt like he could pass for Tarzan.
The light grew closer. From his perch, Ryusuke soon saw that the source was a Charmander's flaming tail. Walking beside it was a teenage boy around his age.
"Well, if it isn't Professor Oak's grandson!"
Ryusuke immediately recognized the boy and teased him from atop the tree.
—
Ever since leaving his parents' home in Viridian City, Gary's first travel stop had been the nearby Viridian Forest. But with zero travel experience, the fifteen-year-old quickly found himself in a bind. He hadn't packed nearly enough supplies or food. Just a few days into the forest, he'd run out of everything. Too stubborn and proud to admit defeat and head home for help, Gary had gritted his teeth and stayed in the forest for over a month.
Thankfully, he had been trained in kendo from a young age and had a strong physique. On top of that, he had Charmander by his side. Using its flame, he could cook mushrooms and plants found in the forest, heating them with water to make barely edible meals. Occasionally, he munched on harsh-tasting berries that numbed his tongue. Yet, against the odds, he managed to survive.
Today, he'd seen a massive flash of light in the forest, and wild Pokémon had scattered in fear. Driven by a trainer's curiosity, Gary had followed the signs slowly but hadn't found the source even as night fell. Just as he was about to give up and find a place to rest, a voice suddenly called down from the treetops:
"Well, if it isn't Professor Oak's grandson!"
Without hesitation—wary after all his hardships—Gary immediately gave the order:
"...Ember!"
Charmander flicked its tail, launching a ball of flame—not a spark, but more like a fireball—toward the voice. Gary saw a figure do a perfect backflip through the air and land gracefully on the ground. Instantly, Gary became cautious. This was the first human he'd seen in the forest in over a month.
"Damn, that's decisive—attacking before even knowing who it is. But honestly, I'd probably do the same... Now, let's return the favor. Gible, use 'Dig'!"
Ground-type Pokémon?!
Hearing the figure's lighthearted and amused tone, Gary wasn't laughing. He scanned his surroundings warily, but it was too dark—he couldn't tell where the opposing Pokémon was.
"...Forget the opponent's Pokémon, just atta—wait, Charmander, watch the ground!"
Just as Gary was about to command a direct attack, he shouted in panic.
The enemy hadn't just ordered 'Dig'—their Pokémon had already finished digging and was lying in wait. The command was just a distraction!
Charmander reacted quickly, but it was still a split-second too late. The ground beneath it erupted as Gible burst forth, smashing its hardened head into Charmander's jaw. The force, imbued with the power of the earth, could shatter rock. With a pained cry, Charmander was launched into the air.
"Charmander!!"
Gary yelled and ran toward his fallen partner. Meanwhile, Ryusuke quickly approached Gible. Though both of them were technically rookie trainers, they understood one basic rule of battle: never stray too far from your Pokémon!
"Sand Tomb!"
"Don't give him a chance! Flamethrower!"
Charmander, trained by Gary and not just a wild Pokémon, was no pushover. Though it was hurt, it propped itself up immediately and launched a blazing Flamethrower at both Gible and Ryusuke.
"You're using Flamethrower on a potential Ground-type? You're really just throwing everything at the wall now, huh, Gary?"
Ryusuke laughed, standing behind Gible with his body slightly bent. Using his arm to shield his face, he took the Flamethrower head-on alongside Gible. Had it hit him alone, he'd probably be covered in burns and blisters. But beside a Pokémon, under the effects of a special energy field, most moves were absorbed by the Pokémon. The trainer was rarely in real danger.
Gible's body was scorched and blackened in spots, but it was in much better shape than Charmander. That's when Gary noticed—his own body was sinking rapidly.
"Crap, the Sand Tomb was aimed at me!?"
He realized it too late. The ground under his feet had turned to quicksand. Only then did he understand—the opponent hadn't avoided the Flamethrower because they couldn't. It was because they were never targeting Charmander at all.
"You'd better forfeit now. If you give one more command, Gible will crush your skull. Or, we can test whether my Gible's teeth are sharper than your head is hard."
The eerie voice whispered right beside Gary's ear, sending a chill down his spine.
To be continued…