Chapter 20: There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [20]
On the other side, Lu Cheng was still brooding over missing the chance to catch Treecko.
"Tsk, why didn't I just capture it? What's the point of puffing up my cheeks like a stubborn kid?" He stomped his feet and let out a self-pitying sigh.
"Forget it; forcing a capture would go against my original intentions." Influenced by Pokémon animations since childhood, Lu Cheng believed that treating Pokémon as mere tools against their will would clearly contradict his ideals. If he couldn't establish a bond with Treecko, then capturing it would only make its abilities useless.
Even so, Lu Cheng still felt heartbroken. "Gahhh, Vulpix, use Extrasensory on that Metapod!" Nearby, a Metapod hanging from a branch was caught in the crossfire. Before it could even let out a cry, it was crushed by Extrasensory, its shell cracking open and spilling foul-smelling green goo. Hmm, the scene was quite gruesome. That'd definitely upset Bea, considering all that wasted protein!
To vent his frustration, Lu Cheng and Vulpix plowed through everything in their path, taking down a few Rattatas and even a startled Mankey. The system finally chimed in with a notification:
Ding—Task 'Yulin Governance' completed.
Objective: Defeat any 10 wild Pokémon in Yulin.
Rewards: 5 Pokéballs, 1 point in Attack, 1 potential point.
As Lu Cheng collected the five Pokéballs now lying quietly in the system's storage space, he sighed. At least the trip wasn't in vain. Even without capturing Treecko, Vulpix had gained a significant amount of experience. "Wait, Vulpix learned Quick Attack?" While scanning for any remaining wild Pokémon, Lu Cheng suddenly noticed that Quick Attack had been added to Vulpix's list of abilities. "Is this like an upgraded version of Tackle?" he murmured to himself.
"Ding—The number of skills a Pokémon has is an important indicator of its strength; the more powerful a Pokémon is, the more skills it can master,"
In theory, a Pokémon can learn more than four moves. However, most ordinary trainers can only effectively manage a Pokémon with four moves at most. Elite trainers, on the other hand, can skillfully use more than four moves, applying more varied tactics in battle. Even higher-level trainers, like gym leaders and champions, can sometimes have their Pokémon master eight or more moves. The number of skills a Pokémon can use is a key measure of a trainer's capabilities.
"Did you figure this out during your battle with Treecko?" Lu Cheng asked, leaning down to Vulpix.
The little fox lifted its head with a proud cry, then demonstrated its new Quick Attack, crashing into a nearby bush with incredible speed, splitting it cleanly in two. Clearly, Vulpix was still a little annoyed after watching Treecko slice through a tree trunk earlier and wanted to prove itself.
Lu Cheng chuckled as he patted Vulpix's head. "Forget it, what's done is done. We'll focus on what's in front of us. Now, let's track down that troublemaking Beautifly!"
Lu Cheng's frustration was peaking. If it weren't for that Beautifly, he might already have a second Pokémon! "Vulpix, stick close! When you spot Beautifly, blast it with Ember!" Nearby, the Beautifly with a missing wing shivered and tried to fly away, only to bump right into Lu Cheng.
"Found you," Lu Cheng sneered. "Vulpix, use Ember!"
---
Meanwhile, Treecko was locked in a tough battle. After the exhausting clash with Vulpix, it had very little energy left. As it passed by a hollow in a tree, a lurking Pokémon made its move. Arbok lunged out, sinking its fangs into Treecko's arm with a Crunch. If Treecko hadn't reacted quickly, it would have become Arbok's next meal! Treecko's arm was already badly injured, but it still gripped its branch tightly, staring defiantly into Arbok's eyes, refusing to back down.
Arbok, a massive purple snake-like creature, looked even more menacing with its reddish-brown patterns and sharp fangs ready to inject venom. Just from that last bite, Treecko's entire arm had gone numb! Now was not the time to fight. Gritting its teeth, Treecko prepared to retreat with Quick Attack, but Arbok lunged forward again, aiming to Bind its prey!
"Vulpix, do you hear that sound up ahead?" Lu Cheng asked as he pushed through the tall grass. His eyes widened when he saw the scene unfold. "Whoa, is that a giant snake?"
"Wait, is that Treecko?"
Arbok, furious at Lu Cheng for interrupting its hunt, abandoned its grip on Treecko and lunged at Lu Cheng with its venomous fangs bared.
Arbok
Status: Hostile
Ability: Intimidate
Moves: Crunch, Bind, Acid
Just before Arbok could strike, Vulpix leaped out from the bushes, delivering a powerful Tackle to slam Arbok backward, causing it to roar in pain.
"Tch, a wild Pokémon with three moves," Lu Cheng muttered, even as his legs trembled a bit. This was his first encounter with a creature like Arbok, but he forced himself to remain calm.
With others around, there's no room for fear! Vulpix tilted its head, letting out a cry before launching an Ember at Arbok, enveloping it in flames. Arbok, realizing it was outmatched, tried to retreat, but Lu Cheng yelled, "Vulpix, use Quick Attack!"
Vulpix became a blur of white light, crashing into Arbok with increased speed. Just then, Treecko reappeared at Vulpix's side, jabbing its branch directly into Arbok's eye in a coordinated strike.
"Screeeee!" Arbok let out a screech, its purple blood oozing as it turned and fled, its survival instincts kicking in.
"Let it go, Vulpix," Lu Cheng called, pulling Vulpix back. He then noticed Treecko's condition was dire. Its bruised arm was in worse shape, suffering from burns and wounds inflicted during the earlier battle. Lu Cheng felt a pang of sympathy.
With a sigh, he reached into his bag, pulling out a healing spray. "Hold out your hand," he said gently to Treecko.
Treecko hesitated, then extended its injured arm. "This might sting a bit," Lu Cheng warned as he carefully treated the wounds with disinfectant. "I'll apply some healing ointment after this. And to think this bottle costs 1,000 yuan…"
Treecko blinked at Lu Cheng, a mix of surprise and appreciation flickering in its eyes.
Ding—Quest 'Guardian of the Forest' completed.
Quest Objective: Defeat Treecko.
Rewards: 2 Speed Points, 2,000 cash, and an item: Charcoal.
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T/N: Changed Fire Spin to Ember, due to Vulpix and Lu Cheng showing no signs of Vulpix's Ember upgrading.
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