Gently wiping the small beads of sweat from his forehead, Aoki felt a tinge of nervousness despite his vast experience. If the Kakuna had suddenly evolved into Beedrill during their passage, escaping unharmed would have been nearly impossible. Beedrill, both Bug and Poison-type, posed a deadly threat. Without an antidote, a sting could be fatal.
Finally leaving the oppressive Kakuna-infested forest, Aoki breathed in the fresher air. Murkrow, relieved from the tension, soared vigorously in the sky. Despite being a Flying-type, even Murkrow could do little but flee if confronted by a swarm of Beedrill.
Their next destination was the Caterpie territory. Judging by the situation in the Weedle territory, it likely had evolved into a Metapod forest. However, Metapod were docile and posed no danger unless provoked. Even Butterfree, known for their gentle nature, were unlikely to cause trouble.
Aoki double-checked the map to ensure they were headed in the right direction. With confidence, he proceeded, letting Murkrow enjoy its freedom in the sky. It hovered like a bird released from a cage, clearly relishing the moment.
According to the terrain markers, they needed to walk a few more kilometers. Once they reached a hillside, the treasure would be waiting there.
The sun gradually dipped westward, casting elongated shadows across the ground. In the relative safety of the Caterpie forest, Aoki passed quietly by Metapod, patiently waiting for their transformation into Butterfree.
At last, Aoki reached the marked hillside. At its summit stood a massive tree, its trunk so wide that three people would be needed to encircle it. The treasure lay buried beneath this ancient giant. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel★fire.net
However, to Aoki's surprise, a Pokémon with two large horns perched on the tree, seemingly searching for something.
Raising his hand, Aoki signaled for Murkrow to descend.
Noticing Aoki's gesture, Murkrow stopped its aerial play and swiftly glided down to him. Together, they approached the hillside, and from about five meters away, Aoki used his system to scan the Pokémon:
Pokémon: Pinsir (Orange)
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Basic Moves: Vice Grip, Focus Energy, Bind, Seismic Toss, Harden, Revenge, Vital Throw
Taught Move: Bug Bite
Frowning, Aoki considered the data on Pinsir displayed before him. He knew Pinsir well, having had one with green qualification and the Hyper Cutter ability in his past life. It had been a crucial part of his team, known for its high attack power and solid defense. Pinsir's base attack of 125 and defense of 100 made it formidable. Despite lacking an evolution, its 85 base speed ensured it remained a threat.
Now, this Pinsir was the strongest opponent Aoki and Murkrow had faced so far. With its territorial nature, a battle seemed inevitable if Aoki wanted the treasure.
"Murkrow, be cautious. Avoid getting caught by its horns," Aoki warned seriously. Fortunately, Murkrow's Flying-type moves would be super effective against Pinsir.
"Caw!" Murkrow acknowledged, sensing the intensity of the impending battle.
A strategy quickly formed in Aoki's mind, focusing on minimizing direct contact.
"Murkrow, use Gust!" Aoki commanded.
Pinsir, enjoying its meal, was suddenly hit by a powerful gust. As a Bug-type, Pinsir was particularly vulnerable to Flying-type moves, and the attack visibly pained it. Enraged, Pinsir roared, its meal disturbed.
Taking a deep breath, Pinsir gathered its focus, readying itself with Focus Energy, increasing its critical hit chance.
Aoki, recognizing the danger, swiftly countered, "Murkrow, use Snatch!"
Dark energy enveloped Pinsir, disrupting its focus and transferring the boost to Murkrow. With its sharp eyes now benefitting from Focus Energy, Murkrow locked onto Pinsir's weak points.
"Murkrow, Gust again!" Aoki ordered.
Murkrow's wings stirred up a sharper gust, targeting the vulnerable spots it had identified on Pinsir.
"Thud! Thud!" The winds struck Pinsir, eliciting a pained bellow as it struggled to understand why its usual tactics failed.
Frustrated and hurt, Pinsir's eyes glowed red with rage. Unable to reach its airborne foe, it resorted to Harden, boosting its defense in a bid to endure the onslaught.