After Bellsprout fully mastered his three powders, Icarus decided it was time to go hunting again.
Pidgey's claw and beak training would still take time, but clear progress had already been made. It was time to test the results in real combat. As long as one Pokémon was left for Pidgey to finish off, that would be enough.
Well… in truth, he also needed to make money. He couldn't bear staying home for seven or eight days straight.
With his current strength, he could be considered nearly invincible in the forest outskirts.
Even if he encountered that ordinary-level Arbok again—well, assuming it had fully stabilized its strength by now—he might not win, but he could at least hold it off briefly and retreat safely.
He had visited the grocery store recently. The smallest energy crystal pack contained five pieces. For Bellsprout's future, he planned to buy the best available—fifteen Leaf Crystals. Naturally, the more, the better.
Pidgey would need them too. Both Pokémon would evolve at the lower stage of the Normal level.
Pidgey generally evolved slightly earlier than Bellsprout. It was very likely he would evolve upon breaking through to the Normal level.
Thinking about money and hunting again, Icarus couldn't help complaining about how novels described things in his previous life.
"Damn… only a handful of rookie Trainers in a town each year. No rookie tournaments, no rich prizes or bonuses.
There are store-sponsored competitions, but the entry requirement is Normal level. What am I supposed to do?"
In this real world, a rookie-level Trainer simply registered with the Alliance—like an intern. After all, there was no guarantee they would even survive the rookie stage.
Only after reaching the Normal level could one truly enter the Trainer circle and qualify for Alliance missions and competitions.
If you had a background, you could hire a master to escort you through the rookie stage quickly.
If not, you hunted in the wild and earned your own resources.
---
"Pidgey, scout ahead," Icarus said at the forest entrance.
Soon, Pidgey returned and landed on his shoulder.
"Pidgey~ Pidgey pidgey!"
He reported that although there were still small groups of Trainers in the area, the situation had eased. Three or four days had passed. There weren't many new Trainers this year, and unless a Normal-level Trainer happened to pass through, no one cared about these small fry.
The density of wild Pokémon had recovered somewhat—roughly five or six gathering together.
"Let's go. Pidgey, lead the way. Bellsprout, keep up."
A smile appeared on Icarus's face. He could almost see Pokédollars waving at him.
"Sprout!" Bellsprout hurried after them.
---
"Hm? Five Caterpie. Old acquaintances again. Tactical formation."
Seeing the familiar green worms, Icarus's smile widened.
"Sprout!"
Bellsprout raised his arms and released a large cloud of light-yellow powder—Stun Spore.
"Whoosh—"
Pidgey flapped his wings, spreading the spores more efficiently.
"Cater… Cater…"
The Caterpie, suddenly paralyzed and unable to move, panicked.
"Pidgey!"
He swooped down.
"Whoosh—"
A gust of Flying-type energy enveloped them.
"Cater—!"
The immobilized Caterpie cried out in pain.
"Pidgey, pick one. Use Quick Attack, then strike with your beak."
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip to finish two. Turn the remaining two into blood packs to recover your energy."
"Pidgey!"
His figure blurred.
Thud!
His sharp beak pierced straight through a weakened Caterpie.
The immense pain caused it to tremble briefly before going still.
On the other side, "Sprout! Sprout!" Bellsprout's Vine Whip struck down two more, then comfortably absorbed energy from the remaining pair.
"See, Pidgey? We didn't endure that pain for nothing. That's the power of your beak now."
"Pidgey? Pidgey!"
He was thrilled. Before, he needed both claws and beak to finish a weakened Caterpie. Now a single piercing strike was enough.
"It's working," Icarus thought.
The Caterpie had already been weakened. Quick Attack's burst of momentum combined with the sharpened beak created enough inertia to pierce clean through.
He wouldn't explain that detail to Pidgey, of course. Motivation was more important.
If Quick Attack and a peck were combined consistently, the power would increase dramatically.
---
"Sprout!"
Icarus snapped out of his thoughts. Time to clean up the spoils.
He took out his dagger.
But as he reached for the last body—
A purple blur rushed toward him.
Bang!
He staggered back two steps.
At the same time, another purple figure grabbed a Caterpie corpse and retreated.
"Damn. Haven't seen these rats for a few days, and they're already this bold."
"Pidgey, use Quick Attack on the one carrying the corpse!"
"Bellsprout, help me pin down the one that hit me with Vine Whip!"
"Pidgey!"
He dove instantly.
Bang!
Unexpectedly, the enemy also used Quick Attack. Even while carrying a corpse, the small Rattata managed to collide and rebound.
At the same time, Icarus threw three alloy knives.
The Rattata, though slightly exhausted, still dodged thanks to its speed.
"Sprout!"
But the real trump card was Bellsprout's Vine Whip.
The whips wrapped tightly around the other Rattata, wooden thorns digging into its body.
"Ratta—!"
It screamed in pain.
The previously knocked-back Rattata saw its partner captured and rushed forward, intending to bite through the vines.
"Oh? Instead of escaping, you came back to rescue?"
Icarus narrowed his eyes.
"One male, one female… a husband-and-wife thief duo, huh?"
He had originally expected them to flee.
"Fine," he muttered coldly.
"I'll let you two share the same fate."
(End of Chapter 69)
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