NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Clever Takeover of the Fruit
Night fell. Ron and his team prepared a simple dinner consisting of pre-packed rations for themselves and specialized Pokéblocks and Pokémon food for their partners, like Machoke. They camped near the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree, under the watchful guard of the Skarmory perched nearby. The vigilant Skarmory remained at its post, resisting the urge to venture out for food.
Shortly after, the rustling of leaves broke the silence. An elite mid-level Victreebel approached, carrying its prey in its grasp. With reverence, it laid the food beside Skarmory and then cast a covetous glance at the Golden Spirit Fruit before retreating to the shadows.
To ensure the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree remained protected, Skarmory had domesticated the Victreebel, promising it one Golden Spirit Fruit in exchange for its vigilance and regular offerings of food.
This arrangement explained why Warner, a pokémon hunter, had failed to claim the fruit. With the Victreebel on constant alert, any perceived threat would prompt it to immediately seek protection from Skarmory. Taking down an elite mid-level Pokémon like Victreebel wasn't easy, especially given its ability to use Sweet Scent to lure prey and disrupt tactics.
The greatest obstacle was Skarmory itself. If it sensed any danger, it could simply swallow the unripe Golden Spirit Fruit whole, ensuring that no one else could take it, even if the fruit's effects wouldn't reach their peak potency.
Warner, weighing these difficulties, had decided to postpone his plans until he grew stronger or devised a better strategy. He believed the remote location, combined with Skarmory's elite-tier vigilance, would keep the Golden Spirit Fruit safe.
What Warner didn't anticipate was being defeated by Ron before he could act.
Over two days, Ron meticulously observed the movements of Skarmory and Victreebel, uncovering their activity patterns. With only one day remaining before the fruit's full maturity, Ron knew this was his final opportunity. If he failed, the fruit wouldn't regrow in time before the Pokémon League in Indigo Plateau ended.
On the third morning of his stakeout, Ron identified Victreebel's lair. He dispatched Machoke and the others to spread out and prepare for an ambush. After ten minutes, Ron acted like any ordinary trainer exploring the forest, deliberately passing close to Victreebel's territory.
Alert and ever-watchful, Victreebel noticed Ron. Seeing him alone and seemingly defenseless, its eyes gleamed with predatory hunger.
To some wild Pokémon, humans wandering through forests are merely another prey item. Unfortunately for Ron, Victreebel was among them. Compared to other prey, a lone human without Pokémon companions posed only slightly more difficulty than catching a berry or small animal.
As Victreebel prepared to strike, an ominous sense of danger froze it in place. Machoke burst from its hiding spot, landing a Leer followed by a crushing Close Combat attack.
Reeling from the pain, Victreebel attempted to alert Skarmory, but Persian struck first with Hypnosis, lulling it into a daze. Taking advantage of its stupor, Machoke unleashed another Close Combat, and Bellossom emerged to slash with Leaf Blade.
The combined onslaught left Victreebel unable to even cry out. Finally, with swift and coordinated strikes, Machoke, Persian, and Bellossom subdued it completely. Victreebel was dispatched efficiently to ensure it couldn't recover and retaliate.
With Victreebel defeated, Ron used his own Fighting Aura to help his team recover fully. They rushed toward the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree, knowing time was running out.
By midday, hunger gnawed at Skarmory as it gazed into the forest. It expected Victreebel to return with food, but the delay made it wary. Could something have happened? As Skarmory grew suspicious, an enticing aroma wafted from a distance.
Ron had laid a trap. He left freshly caught prey in an open clearing and instructed Bellossom to enhance the smell using Sweet Scent. The blend of blood and sweetness created an irresistible allure for the starving Skarmory.
Unable to resist, Skarmory scanned the area from the skies. However, it remained cautious, using Air Cutter to clear any potential hiding spots. Convinced the food was within reach and Victreebel's absence was a minor delay, it decided to retrieve the meal before investigating further.
As soon as Skarmory flew toward the bait, Machoke dashed to the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree using Shave. With precision and speed, he plucked the ripened fruit and retreated without delay.
Persian kept watch, ensuring Skarmory didn't return unexpectedly. Within two minutes, Skarmory, now furious, returned to find its beloved tree bare. Its precious Golden Spirit Fruit was gone.
Stunned, the metallic bird hovered in the air, dropping the food it carried in shock. Rage overtook Skarmory, and it began searching frantically, its screeches echoing through the forest. Unfortunately for Skarmory, Ron's team had already escaped using Shave.
Ron anticipated Skarmory's reaction. The enraged Pokémon stirred a small-scale stampede, drawing nearby wild Pokémon into a frenzy. To divert attention, Ron set a smokescreen. He and Bellossom gathered wood and lit a smoky fire near the now barren tree before retreating swiftly.
With the smoke obscuring the area and Skarmory in a blind fury, Ron ensured his team's safety, leaving the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree behind.
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