NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Lavender Town
Soaring through the air, just as Ron had feared, Skarmory did indeed consider rallying the elite-level Pokémon—whether intermediate or beginner tiers—to frantically search for the human or Pokémon that dared to steal its coveted Golden Spirit Fruit.
After all, with just the strength of a single Pokémon like Skarmory, finding the target in the dense forest was nearly impossible.
Before Skarmory could act, thick smoke began rising from the direction behind it.
Upon closer inspection, Skarmory realized it was coming from the location of the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree.
Without further pursuit, and in light of the missing fruit, Skarmory had to prioritize the safety of the Golden Spirit Fruit Tree, its ongoing source of sustenance.
Rushing back at top speed, Skarmory attacked the fire below with Air Cutter from above.
By the time Skarmory landed, the flames had nearly been extinguished by its efforts.
The delay from its back-and-forth movements left Skarmory with no chance to track down the thief who had stolen its fruit.
Though its heart still burned with anger, Skarmory had no choice but to endure and wait for the tree to bear fruit again.
On the other side of the forest, Ron had successfully reunited with Machoke and Persian after his theft.
Carefully packing the Golden Spirit Fruit into his backpack, Ron and his companions moved swiftly toward the edge of the forest. They only stopped after reaching a region frequented by beginner-tier elite Pokémon.
Rare fruits like the Golden Spirit Fruit must be stored using specialized tools after being harvested; otherwise, their energy gradually dissipates.
Unfortunately, Ron lacked the foresight to prepare such tools. Left with no other option, he decided to consume the fruits directly.
Fortunately, while the energy within these fruits was potent, it wasn't destructive. Otherwise, Ron wouldn't have dared to attempt this method.
The five fruits were distributed evenly—one for each of them.
Despite its radiant appearance, the Golden Spirit Fruit wasn't particularly delicious. Its texture was firm, almost hard, and it lacked any juice.
After quickly finishing the fruit, Ron felt a warm current spreading from his abdomen throughout his body.
Sensing the fruit's effects, Ron closed his eyes, quietly experiencing the changes in his body.
Internally, there wasn't much of a noticeable change; the transformation seemed concentrated on his skin. Ron could clearly feel his skin becoming tougher.
Taking out a knife, Ron lightly tested its edge on his hand.
He already knew from earlier tests that even a gentle touch could leave a cut. Yet now, it only tickled.
Next, Ron pressed the blade against his arm, gradually increasing the force until it finally drew blood.
Although he wasn't invincible, his skin's defensive capabilities had significantly improved.
Meanwhile, for Machoke and Persian, the fruit's effects extended beyond protection from sharp tools; it also enhanced their resistance to moves.
After ten full minutes, the warm current from consuming the Golden Spirit Fruit finally dissipated.
Stretching comfortably, Ron didn't immediately resume his search for Persian's rival. Instead, he planned to rest and observe whether Skarmory would cause a beast stampede, ensuring they could deal with it calmly if needed.
At dawn, after confirming no unusual activity in the forest, Ron resumed Persian's training regimen.
While advancing, Ron deliberately avoided Skarmory's territory, steering clear of any unnecessary conflict.
Deep in the forest, Persian continued to locate and defeat one Pokémon after another.
Although Persian was already stronger than many of them, the synergy of Shave and Hypnosis made battles almost effortless. Some defeated Pokémon, even after being healed by Ron's Fighting Aura, remained confused, wondering if they had truly fought.
This relentless sweep even led certain wild Pokémon with decent relationships to gossip about Persian. Stories of Persian's prowess began to circulate, with some exaggerating that a high-level elite Persian was bullying lower-level Pokémon for fun.
The rumors grew, with wild Pokémon either fleeing or surrendering outright to avoid unnecessary suffering.
Eventually, Persian, an actual beginner-level elite, capitalized on this reputation to claim a large territory.
Unaware of these developments, Ron focused on Persian's training. Within days, Persian reached Level 36, prompting Ron to advance into areas populated by intermediate-tier elite Pokémon.
To expedite Machoke's growth, Ron set its opponents at intermediate-tier elites, forcing it into battles that maximized experience in minimal time.
After several days, Ron finally entered Lavender Town with Machoke.
Whether it was psychological or not, Ron felt the temperature drop as he entered the town.
Following the map, Ron headed straight for the Pokémon Center.
Lavender Town had few visiting trainers, likely due to its reputation. Those who came were either attempting to capture Ghost-type Pokémon or mourning their Pokémon.
For instance, Pokémon like Beedrill, known for their short lifespans, often passed away before their trainers reached their peak.
Legend has it that the Pokémon Tower's numerous burials have attracted the many Ghost-type Pokémon that inhabit Lavender Town.
After settling in, Ron began processing the Pokémon he had acquired.
Using a website recommended by Shadow, Ron quickly logged in.
The site resembled an online shopping platform from his previous life, listing tasks and even stores specializing in Pokémon recycling.
Without context, one might mistake it for a new e-commerce site.
Based on the Pokémon's conditions, Ron swiftly found suitable tasks and used a newly purchased portable transporter to send the Pokémon.
By setting the destination, the portable transporter could deliver Pokémon directly.
Soon, Ron's contribution points surged, reaching an impressive 10,000.
Browsing the Hunter Guild's shop, Ron discovered that a rare Life Orb only required 50,000 points.
Eager for more opportunities, Ron wished for troublemakers to come his way so he could quickly amass points.
After handling his tasks, Ron headed to areas frequented by Ghost Pokémon.
As for the Pokémon Tower, while it housed numerous Ghost Pokémon, it was also perilous.
Contrary to their mischievous reputation, some Ghost Pokémon could drain human life force to grow stronger.
Unless absolutely necessary, Ron had no intention of venturing there.
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