Deep within the dark forest, where dense branches and lush foliage blocked out the sunlight, Eldegoss wore a panicked expression as it desperately used Cotton Spore to fend off the foul-smelling liquid being sprayed from the tip of the tail of the purple beast before it.
The instant the liquid came into contact with the air, a stench spread throughout the forest.
It was several times worse than a pair of dirty socks worn continuously for a month and then sealed away in an airtight room for an entire year.
Eldegoss felt like it could barely breathe.
Its face turned purple, and every breath felt like torture.
But…
It couldn’t fall here.
While desperately defending itself, Eldegoss anxiously glanced behind it.
The two Gossifleur had already succumbed to poison and lay unconscious.
While they had been drifting happily along the wind, a sudden gale had swept them off course, blowing them straight into this Skuntank’s territory before they could correct their direction.
Skuntank tolerated no trespassers.
The moment it encountered them, it had poisoned both Gossifleur.
Now only Eldegoss remained, struggling to hold the line.
Shaking its body, Eldegoss scattered the poison-soaked cotton spores clinging to it before forcing its weakened body to unleash Cotton Spore once again to block Skuntank’s attack.
Despair slowly filled its heart.
(At this rate…
I won’t be able to hold on much longer.
Anyone…
please…
Please save us!) “Damn it, Serperior!
What kind of route did you lead us through!?
It stinks so bad!” A surprised male voice suddenly echoed through the forest.
As if enraged by the interruption, Skuntank’s fur stood completely on end as it glared viciously toward the newcomers.
Hope instantly ignited in Eldegoss’s eyes.
“Cough!
Cough, cough…!” Arven was nearly knocked unconscious by the smell.
It felt as though the stench had burned its way from his nose all the way down his throat, leaving behind a fiery illusion that made him cough uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Mabosstiff had already tucked its tail between its legs and covered its nose with its front paws.
Its sense of smell was dozens of times sharper than a human’s.
Michael and Arven were already on the verge of passing out.
For Mabosstiff, the smell was unimaginably worse.
Serperior lightly smacked Michael’s palm with the tip of its tail in dissatisfaction.
(Is now really the time to worry about whether it smells bad?
If you don’t do something soon, those three future ranch workers are going to be poisoned to death.) Serperior’s reminder snapped Michael back to reality.
Now really wasn’t the time to worry about the smell.
The Gossifleur’s bodies had already taken on a purplish tint.
They were obviously poisoned.
As for Eldegoss, after resisting Skuntank’s attacks for so long, it was probably only a matter of time before the poison fully took effect.
Judging by its appearance, Eldegoss had only recently evolved.
Translated into levels, it was probably just over Level 20.
Skuntank, on the other hand, had clearly been fully evolved for quite some time.
It might even have been approaching Level 40.
Which meant, it was time for the hero to make an entrance!
Covering his mouth and nose with his right hand, Michael swung his left arm forward.
“First, cover up that smell.
Sweet Scent!” Normally, Serperior would never use this move lightly.
But if it didn’t use it now, the next ones to pass out would probably be Michael and Arven.
(Fine.
I’ll make an exception today.
ω) Curling its body into a coil, Serperior released a rich fragrance of fresh grass and flowers from its body.
The sweet aroma rapidly spread outward.
In an instant, the foul odor was overwhelmed by the fragrance.
The result was a smell that was somehow even harder to describe.
But it was enough.
As long as Skuntank’s stench was suppressed, there were plenty of ways to deal with it.
Unable to endure it any longer, Skuntank fired several streams of foul-smelling poison from the raised tip of its tail.
Serperior had absolutely no desire to let its Vine Whips touch that disgusting substance.
Its eyes narrowed.
Grass-type energy condensed into razor-sharp leaves, which gathered into a miniature tornado before launching from the tip of its tail.
This wasn’t Leaf Storm.
If Serperior had actually used Leaf Storm, Skuntank would have been seriously injured.
After all, strictly speaking, Michael’s group had been the ones to enter Skuntank’s territory.
Michael had always taught it that possessing power didn’t give one the right to abuse it.
The Grass Mixer instantly shredded the streams of poison into scattered droplets.
Wherever the poison splashed onto the ground, the surrounding grass immediately withered.
Without losing momentum, the swirling blades of grass continued onward and engulfed Skuntank.
In the blink of an eye, Skuntank was slashed all over by the spinning leaves, crying out in pain.
Then its eyes met Serperior’s.
Those majestic crimson eyes, overflowing with dignity and overwhelming pressure.
Skuntank immediately understood.
This was an opponent it absolutely could not afford to provoke.
Without the slightest hesitation, it tucked its tail between its legs.
It didn’t even bother defending its territory anymore.
Turning around, it fled into the distance as fast as it could.
“Wild Pokémon survive in dangerous environments because they know how to judge situations.” Michael seized the opportunity to explain to the curious Arven why Skuntank had run away.
“The moment they realize an opponent is beyond what they can handle, they’ll immediately choose to retreat.” “Then why didn’t Eldegoss run away?” “Because they’re family.
When you have bonds…
when you have someone precious to protect…
There are some things you simply can’t abandon so easily.” “Oh…” “All right.
That takes care of it.” Michael gently placed the second Gossifleur onto the temporary vine bed Serperior had woven.
Watching the purple discoloration rapidly fade from its body, the tension on his face finally gave way to a smile.
He had to admit, this antidote really lived up to its reputation.
As long as he had even a small bottle of it, it could save most poisoned Pokémon.
Michael let out a sigh of relief before turning toward the still-anxious Eldegoss.
Smiling, he said, “The Gossifleur are out of danger now.
So, will you let me treat you too?” Eldegoss hesitated for a moment.
Remembering that it was Michael and Serperior who had saved them, and seeing that the Gossifleur were visibly recovering, it ultimately chose to trust him.
Closing its eyes, Eldegoss completely entrusted its body to Michael.
As before, Michael first used the half-empty bottle of antidote to cure the poison.
Then, seeing the bite wounds Skuntank had left all over Eldegoss’s body, he pulled another bottle from the canvas shoulder bag he had brought with him.
This one contained Potion.
Carefully and patiently, he applied the medicine to each wound.
Standing off to the side, Arven watched as Michael calmly and methodically resolved the entire situation.
For some reason, a thought quietly surfaced in his heart.
‘A dependable adult…
really is cool.
…I kind of want to become someone like that too.’ Serperior absentmindedly swayed the tip of its tail from side to side.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since Michael had treated its injuries so gently.
(Should I pretend to be hurt…
just so he’ll comfort me?
But…
Wouldn’t that be a little too deliberate?
Too obvious?) Serperior found itself caught in a dilemma.
Eldegoss slowly opened its eyes.
The numbness and weakness caused by the poison and its injuries had disappeared.
Its body felt light once more.
The discomfort was fading rapidly.
And all of it had been brought about by this human.
Eldegoss looked at Michael with eyes full of gratitude.
Seeing that Eldegoss’s condition had stabilized, Michael finally brought up what he had wanted to ask.
Rather than taking advantage of its vulnerable state, he wanted to leave the decision entirely in Eldegoss’s hands.
After organizing his thoughts, he spoke honestly.
“Have you ever considered living on a human ranch?”