After lunch, the two rested for a while before setting off again.
"Bellsprout, remember—hold back and leave one alive. Got it?" Icarus looked at the three Caterpie ahead of them. They were perfect test subjects.
"Spri~!"
Bellsprout nodded, ready to attack.
It used Growth in advance, then slowly crept forward. The entire sequence flowed smoothly, almost beautifully.
"You've really mastered it," Icarus muttered in satisfaction. "The next generation surpasses the last… Bah, what nonsense. No dying today."
He shook his head and observed from a distance, with no intention of helping.
Although the beginner stage mainly focused on energy accumulation, once breaking through to high-level, move power increased significantly.
He wanted to see whether Bellsprout's current Vine Whip could one-shot a Caterpie. Previously, it could severely injure them—but not knock them out instantly.
"Spri spri!"
Bellsprout struck instantly.
Crack! Crack!
"Wuu!"
Two Caterpie were sent flying before they even reacted, slamming into a large tree.
Bang! Bang!
They hit the ground and immediately lost their ability to battle.
"As expected," Icarus murmured. "That's standard-level attack power now. Even the vine speed has reached the normal threshold."
With Growth boosting it, combined with Vine Whip's base power, Bellsprout—who had just broken through—now possessed the attack strength of a standard-level Pokémon.
"Spri~"
Bellsprout didn't even glance at the two defeated Caterpie. Before breaking through, it could already severely injure mid-beginner Caterpie. There was no reason they could still stand after its improvement.
"Wuu!"
The third Caterpie, terrified, spat out a strand of String Shot and tried to flee without looking back.
"Sprout!"
With a swift sidestep, Bellsprout bent its vine and instantly bound the Caterpie.
"Shu-sha—"
A burst of powder sprayed directly onto it.
"Wuu… wuu…"
The Caterpie struggled at first, then gradually fell asleep. The large dose caused it to forget even the wooden thorns digging into its body.
"Good job, Bellsprout. Let's head back to the entrance and test it properly."
Icarus approached with his dagger, signaling Bellsprout to carry the bound Caterpie back.
"Spri."
Seeing the bloodstained dagger, Bellsprout understood that the other two Caterpie had been finished off.
After all, with Icarus's cautious personality, he would never leave them alive.
"Spri~ (￣▽￣"
Feeling proud of its new power, Bellsprout swayed slightly as it carried the dangling Caterpie.
"Stop shaking it," Icarus warned. "If it wakes up, we won't know what level of sleep it's under."
"Spri spri."
Bellsprout immediately steadied its steps.
---
At the forest entrance—
Splash!
A stream of water poured over Caterpie's head.
"Wuu! Wuu!"
At first, Caterpie cried out in relief, thinking it had survived.
But when it realized it was still tied up—
"Wuu… (┯_┯)"
It became miserable.
"Stop screaming," Icarus said impatiently. "We're conducting an experiment. If you cooperate, I won't kill you. Understand?"
He was confident it could understand him. The old scars on its body showed it had survived in the wild for some time—and likely encountered humans before.
"Wuu! Wuu!"
Hearing it might survive, Caterpie nodded desperately.
"Good. Bellsprout, release it to about one meter. If it tries to escape, eliminate it immediately."
"Spri."
Bellsprout loosened the vines but remained ready.
Caterpie didn't dare run. At this distance, Vine Whip would strike instantly.
"Alright. Full-power Sleep Powder. Try to control the direction."
"Sprout!"
Bellsprout extended its leaf-arms. A tingling sensation gathered before it swung forward.
"Shu-sha—"
A dense cloud of powder engulfed Caterpie.
"Cough… wuu…"
Within five seconds, Caterpie lost consciousness.
"Let's test the depth."
Icarus put on his mask and took out his dagger.
First, he tapped Caterpie's head.
No response.
"Light sleep confirmed."
Then he made a shallow cut across its body.
It bled slightly—but still did not wake.
"Moderate sleep confirmed."
Finally—
Pfft!
The blade plunged deep into Caterpie's body.
At first, there was no reaction. As the blade went deeper, Caterpie began twitching—but remained unconscious.
Only when Icarus stabbed sharply again—
"Wuu—AAH!"
Caterpie woke up instantly in severe pain.
"Bellsprout, restrain it!"
"Sprout!"
The vines wrapped around it again.
Icarus sprayed wound medicine and wrote in his notebook.
"Conclusion: At one meter, maximum concentration induces deep sleep. Subject remains unconscious even under moderate physical damage."
Caterpie trembled in horror.
"Alright. Let it rest and recover. We'll continue shortly."
"Wuu… ( ;Д｀)"
Tears streamed down Caterpie's face.
---
Half an hour later, the second round began—this time at five meters.
"Sprout!"
Bellsprout attempted directional control again, though slightly less precise.
"Wuu…?"
Caterpie inhaled the powder.
This time, it took longer.
After about eight seconds, it grew visibly drowsy.
After twelve seconds, it fell asleep.
Icarus stepped forward and repeated the testing sequence.
"This time, sleep level falls between moderate and deep. Powder concentration medium. Drowsiness at eight seconds, unconsciousness at twelve."
"Wuu…?"
Caterpie whimpered weakly.
Was it over?
"Quiet. One final round," Icarus replied while writing. "After that, you can leave."
(End of this chapter)
---------------Author---------------
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