Chapter 5: The Squirtle Wearing Sunglasses
In the nick of time, several streams of water of varying thickness jetted out from the side, knocking the Pidgey, which were in mid-flight, off course.
"Swish," Pidgeotto and the Pidgey once again streaked past Rio.
Feeling the biting cold wind brush past him, Rio, immensely relieved to have escaped death, broke out in a cold sweat.
Hearing the familiar "Squirtle, Squirtle" calls, he couldn't help but turn his head towards the source of the sound.
Behold:
A group of turtle-like Pokémon, reminiscent of the "憨憨挠头" (silly head-scratching) memes popular in his previous life, leaped out of the water pool. They had light blue bodies and carried rounded shells on their backs. Walking at the very front of this group of Squirtle was one with an extraordinary aura. However, the most surprising thing was that this Squirtle was actually wearing a pair of sunglasses on its face. Paired with its shiny, bald head, a formidable aura emanated from it.
The [Pokédex] information displayed on Rio's light screen further reminded him of this Squirtle's remarkableness:
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[Pokédex]
Encounter Progress: 6/10
Battle Progress: 0/10
[Real-time Analysis]
Pokémon: Normal - Squirtle x5
Level: lv11, lv12
Type: Water
Ability: Torrent (When HP is low, Water-type moves are powered up)
Moves: Tackle (lv1), Water Gun (lv1), Withdraw (lv1)
Pokémon: Leader - Squirtle (Male)
Level: lv36
Type: Water
Ability: Torrent (When HP is low, Water-type moves are powered up)
Dominion: Sunrise Valley (When Pokémon from Sunrise Valley are present, stats are greatly increased)
Moves: Water Gun (lv4), Surf (lv4), Protect (lv4), Water Pulse (lv3), Tackle (lv2), Rapid Spin (lv2), Iron Tail (lv1), Iron Defense (lv1)
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A Pokémon above level 30! And such a rich skill set! Rio's eyes widened.
Perhaps in the games of his previous life, a level 30 Pokémon was just entry-level. But now, after Rio's rebirth, from what he had seen while wandering and observing in the forest, the Elite Pidgeotto's level 18 was already the highest he had encountered in this forest. Moreover, the imposing manner of that level 18 Pidgeotto leading its flock to attack just now, the gale it stirred up was comparable to a small tornado.
However, that level 18 was still insignificant compared to this Squirtle wearing sunglasses. Not only was its level as high as 36, but it also held the title of "Leader." Although he didn't yet know the function of these titles, it sufficiently proved its strength. No wonder it had so easily disrupted Pidgeotto's attack with a simple [Water Gun].
"But shouldn't a level 36 Squirtle have already evolved into Wartortle or Blastoise?"
Realizing he was probably safe, Rio's mind wandered to some unrelated matters.
Returning to the scene.
The Pidgeotto and Pidgey, whose attacks had missed, landed on the ground, vigorously shaking their bodies to fling off the water clinging to them.
Taking advantage of this gap, the group of Squirtle also walked over to Rio's side.
The Elite Pidgeotto raised its crest feathers as if to bolster its own imposing manner, while its eyes, filled with some apprehension, stared fiercely at the Squirtle.
The Squirtle Leader's eyes under the sunglasses calmly gazed at the Elite Pidgeotto. Although not large in stature, an awe-inspiring aura naturally emanated from it.
"This is as far as it goes."
However, the Elite Pidgeotto seemed to have lost its sanity at this point. It ignored the Squirtle Leader's warning, and with the red light still enveloping its body, it flew back into the air. With a fierce flap of its wings, two gusts of wind, whipped up from the ground, blew towards the Squirtle and the other Pokémon.
"Is this the move, [Gust]?"
Looking at this familiar move from the games or anime, Rio couldn't help but think. He just couldn't understand why Pidgeotto could use moves by simply performing actions, while he couldn't.
"Whoosh whoosh—," the strong winds instantly swirled, forming two whirlwinds that howled towards the assembled Pokémon.
Facing this ferocious move, the Squirtle Leader's expression remained calm. It simply took one step forward.
"Bang," "Bang," "Bang."
The tornadoes seemed to have slammed violently into some indestructible barrier. No matter how fierce the wind, it couldn't break through even an inch, and ultimately, could only dissipate helplessly into the air.
Rio was captivated by this magical scene before him and observed carefully:
A greenish, translucent, grid-patterned hemispherical barrier enveloped all the Pokémon behind the Squirtle Leader, without a single gap or flaw.
"[Protect]!"
The Squirtle Leader's nonchalant voice only now slowly sounded.
Things weren't over yet. A brilliant azure light shone from the Squirtle Leader's right claw. Water energy began to rotate rapidly, circle after circle, and a powerful pressure emanated.
"[Water Pulse]"
Feeling the increasingly powerful energy fluctuations from the Squirtle Leader's move, even the extremely frenzied Pidgeotto couldn't help but feel its scalp tingle. It could only glare fiercely at Rio and the Oddish once more, then spread its wings, turned, and flew away.
Watching Pidgeotto and the Pidgey depart, the Squirtle Leader waved its right claw, dispersing the concentrated, powerful water energy.
Feeling that the situation had finally calmed down, Rio couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Looking at the inexplicably dignified Squirtle Leader, Rio felt it would be better to go up and greet him.
"Hello, I am..."
Before Rio could finish, the nearby Oddish started clamoring in shrill voices.
"Boss, Boss, you're finally here! That was terrifying for us grasses!"
"Yeah, yeah, why are these stinky birds so fierce?"
"Exactly, these stinky birds surrounded us and scared us for no reason!"
"It's over, it's over, I feel like the grass on my head is about to wither from fright. Ouch, quickly help me see if it's turned a bit yellow."
"…"
Rio had never imagined that Oddish could be so talkative.
The Squirtle Boss, as the Oddish called him, listened to the noisy chatter around him, and a vein throbbed on his head.
"Alright, we'll talk about whatever it is when we get back to the 'Valley'," he interrupted the Oddishs' clamor.
At the same time, the Squirtle Boss looked Rio up and down, his eyes under the sunglasses showing goodwill.
"You come along too."
After saying that, he led his Squirtle companions and the Oddish towards a certain direction in the forest, leaving Rio standing there in a daze.
"Awooo, how did an innocent little Pokémon like me, just passing by, suddenly experience such dramatic ups and downs in life?"
From the confusion of birth, to the joy of arriving in the Pokémon world, and then to the harsh reality of the law of the jungle he had just experienced, Rio felt that his less than a month in this new world had been more exciting than his entire twenty-plus years in his previous life.
"Hmm, they don't seem like bad Pokémon. There shouldn't be any problem following them, right?"
However, considering he had nowhere else to go, Rio scratched his head and decided to chase after the group of Squirtle.