Bonus chapter coming soon
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Soon, Bellsprout placed the Caterpie about ten meters away—this was the maximum distance its Vine Whip could threaten.
After all, it was still only at the beginner stage. But just in case the Caterpie got any ideas because of the distance, Icarus threw a knife that landed right beside it.
"Wuu! Wuu! (òó)"
Caterpie nodded frantically, indicating it wouldn't run.
"Alright. Let's begin. Bellsprout, full-power Sleep Powder!"
"Spri!"
"Shu-sha—"
The visible powder began dispersing around seven to eight meters. By the time it reached Caterpie, only a thin layer settled over its head.
"Wuu? Wuu…"
At first, it felt nothing. After about eight or nine seconds, drowsiness began to set in.
But since the terrifying human wouldn't allow it to move, it continued inhaling the powder. After roughly thirty seconds, Caterpie tilted its head and fell asleep.
"Hmm. This test doesn't have much practical value. Thirty seconds is too long," Icarus muttered while writing notes. "Still, at ten meters, even if it doesn't induce immediate sleep, it clearly affects mental state. That can still be useful."
He recorded the preliminary results and planned to test a Weedle next.
After all, Weedle were poisonous and should have some resistance. Since Caterpie and Weedle were the two largest groups in the forest, testing them would reflect how most Pokémon reacted to Sleep Powder.
"Bellsprout, release it properly. We need to keep our word."
"Spri?"
Bellsprout hesitated. Were they really letting it go?
"Of course," Icarus said seriously. "I'm a good person. We'll secretly note where we release it. If we run into it again later, that's fate. Fair is fair."
"Spri spri?!"
Bellsprout was shocked. There was such a strategy?
"Ahem. Think about it. I already gave it a chance to live. If it wakes up and escapes, good for it. If not… that's destiny."
After all, in this world, wild Pokémon and humans were mortal enemies. Every year, villages were attacked. And countless rookie trainers died in the wild because they believed rumors about treasures everywhere.
At least this Caterpie had been given hope.
"Spri."
Bellsprout nodded, then flicked its vine lightly.
Bang!
Caterpie landed only about two meters away.
Then Bellsprout walked a short distance and turned back.
"Spri! Spri!"
It called to Icarus, indicating it had found a Caterpie.
"..."
Icarus stared, speechless.
He had at least left an escape route. Bellsprout hadn't.
"Spri? Spri?" Bellsprout asked eagerly. Could it finish it?
"Bellsprout… you're more ruthless than I am. Fine. Finish it."
"Spri!"
Crack! Crack!
Vine Whip lashed down repeatedly.
Caterpie never woke again.
---
"Alright. This time, let's test on a Weedle. It's poisonous, so it should have resistance."
"Spri."
Bellsprout nodded seriously.
Soon, they found two Weedle. Bellsprout easily defeated one, then bound the other and brought it near the forest entrance.
"Wuu?! Wuu?!"
Weedle realized it wasn't dead.
Was this human planning to capture it?
Should it act reserved? Seniors had said that Weedle living on the outskirts usually had poor potential. Life was dangerous here. Being captured might mean daily food and safety.
But they had also warned: humans didn't value what came too easily.
So it decided to act proud.
"Wuu~ Wuu!"
It twisted its body arrogantly.
"What's wrong with it? Did you hit its head?" Icarus asked flatly.
"Spri?" Bellsprout insisted it hadn't.
"Wake it up."
Crack!
A Vine Whip struck.
"Wuu?!"
Weedle immediately abandoned its pride and crawled forward submissively.
"Much better," Icarus nodded. "You can understand me, right? Nod if you do."
"Wuu! Wuu!"
"Good. Cooperate in this experiment, and you live. Refuse, and you die."
"Spri!"
Bellsprout cracked its vine beside it for emphasis.
"Wuu…"
Weedle, disappointed it wasn't being captured, still nodded obediently.
"Alright. Bellsprout, same procedure as before. If it shows any abnormal behavior, eliminate it immediately."
"Spri."
Icarus remained cautious. This Weedle seemed… overly expressive.
Better safe than sorry.
(End of this chapter)
---------------Author---------------
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