The canopy grew thicker the further they walked, branches knitting together to block most of the sunlight. Only faint streaks of golden light filtered down, painting the moss-covered ground in shifting patterns. Every step they took echoed with unseen life—the flutter of wings, the buzz of insects, the faint growl of predators hidden behind the leaves.
Nina clutched Metapod close to her chest, while Luxio padded quietly at her side, ears twitching at every sound. Roggenrola hopped along, occasionally bumping its sturdy body against stones it seemed to collect.
Tharion walked ahead, his eyes sharp, his mind heavier than usual. His last battle still played in his head. Charmeleon's Ember and Larvitar's Rock Throw had worked fine against wild Pokémon… but Pewter City's Gym was different. Brock was a Rock-type specialist, and Fire would be smothered by stone. Rock would not break Rock.
He needed another edge.
His boots stopped suddenly, crunching against dry leaves. The forest had gone unnaturally still.
"…Something's here," he muttered.
Charmeleon hissed, tail flame flaring brighter. Larvitar stomped the ground, growling low.
From the shadows, a low humming sound filled the air—deep, vibrating, unnatural. The leaves rustled, then parted. Emerging from the dark brush was a Pokémon unlike the others they had faced so far. Its sleek, metallic body gleamed faintly under the broken rays of sunlight.
A wild Ferroseed.
It hovered just above the ground, spikes twitching as it rotated slowly, the hum deepening.
Nina's eyes widened. "That's… not a forest Pokémon…"
Tharion's gaze sharpened. "Steel and Grass."
He exhaled slowly. This was it. A Pokémon that resisted Rock. A Pokémon that shrugged off Grass. A Pokémon whose presence alone proved it didn't belong to this shallow forest, yet had made it a lair.
Perfect training. Perfect challenge. Perfect chance.
"Charmeleon. Larvitar. Test it."
The Ferroseed's eyes glowed faintly before it released a barrage of sharp barbs—Pin Missile—forcing Charmeleon and Larvitar to scatter. The ground around them quivered with thuds as the spikes embedded themselves into the earth.
Tharion's commands cut sharp through the chaos."Charmeleon—circle left, use Ember barrage!""Larvitar—flank right, hurl Rock Throw to pin it down!"
Charmeleon spat flames in rapid succession, each blast exploding against the Ferroseed's spinning shell. It didn't flinch—only spun faster, shaking off the fire. At the same time, Larvitar hurled chunks of stone that cracked against its armor, but the impact only made it glow faintly, like it was feeding on the attack.
Tharion's eyes narrowed. "So… it absorbs too much punishment. Not brute force. We'll break it with coordination."
Ferroseed hummed louder, and suddenly a wave of Leech Seed fired out, tangling toward Charmeleon.
"Dodge high!" Tharion barked. Charmeleon leapt, tail flame cutting through a few vines, but Larvitar was caught. The vines wrapped tight, draining its strength as Ferroseed's glow intensified. Larvitar groaned, falling to one knee.
Nina gasped, stepping forward. "Brother!"
But Tharion raised a hand, calm yet sharp. "No. Watch. This is their fight."
His eyes narrowed on Charmeleon, whose claws burned with rising fury. "Slash. Strike with precision."
Charmeleon roared, claws glowing hot with fire as it dashed in a blur. The steel shell met it head-on, spikes whirling. For a moment, sparks flew, fire clashed against iron, and the air cracked with heat. Then—shhk!—Charmeleon's claw tore across Ferroseed's faceplate, sending it spinning back, wobbling violently.
Tharion turned his gaze to Larvitar, still caught in the draining vines. His voice dropped lower. "Larvitar. Dig. Now."
The little rock-type's eyes flared. It slammed its claws into the earth, disappearing underground in a spray of dirt. The vines collapsed around an empty hole.
Ferroseed, distracted by Charmeleon's heat, hovered unsteadily. Its glow faltered—just as Larvitar erupted from below, striking upward with full force, hurling the metallic seed skyward.
"Finish it!" Tharion's command cut through like a blade.
Charmeleon spun, inhaled deep, then exhaled a burning wave of fire. The Ember volley struck midair, detonating across Ferroseed's spinning body. It crashed into the ground with a metallic clang, smoke curling from its frame.
Silence followed. Then—click.
Tharion tossed a Pokéball, watching it snap the weakened Pokémon inside. It rocked once. Twice. A third time. Then—ding.
Captured.
Nina cheered, hugging Metapod tight. "You did it, Brother! And Charmeleon and Larvitar were amazing!"
Tharion retrieved the Pokéball, rolling it in his hand with a thoughtful look. "Ferroseed…" His voice was low, calculating. "Steel. Grass. Exactly what we need for Pewter."
His eyes flicked to his partners. Charmeleon's chest heaved, flame burning steady. Larvitar shook the dirt from its body, still glaring at the now-captured foe. Both were battered but proud.
"Yes," Tharion murmured. "We'll sharpen you against the hardest stone."
He clipped the Pokéball to his belt, his mind already racing ahead. With Ferroseed, their foundation widened. Their strategy deepened.
The Viridian Forest was no longer just a trial.It had become the forge.
Tharion's eyes narrowed as the wild Pidgeotto swooped through the clearing. Its wing attack whipped through the air—but Charmeleon dodged nimbly. Unfortunately, the wind from its strike sent the nearby Beedrill nest tumbling, disturbing a hornet-like clamor that filled the forest with shrill, angry buzzing.
Before Tharion could even react, a swarm of Beedrill erupted from the canopy, their stingers glinting viciously.
"Larvitar, Charmeleon, Ferroseed—defend!" he barked.
Charmeleon's claws flashed, flames roaring as it slashed through the first wave, knocking several Beedrill aside. Larvitar stomped furiously, sending tremors across the forest floor, toppling stingers and scattering the swarm. Ferroseed rolled forward, spikes spinning like mini-cannons, deterring any that tried to flank.
Behind him, Nina crouched low, shielding Metapod with her arms while Luxio prowled aggressively, teeth bared and fur sparking lightly, ready to pounce on any Beedrill that got too close. Roggenrola rolled forward, adding a boulder shield to the front line.
But the Beedrill were relentless. Dozens of them, each faster and more coordinated than the last, dived at Tharion's team. Larvitar and Charmeleon took the brunt, but even Ferroseed started to shake under the sheer numbers, sparks flying from its steel body as it absorbed repeated stings.
Tharion gritted his teeth. "Ferroseed… now."
The little Steel/Grass type shook violently, its shell cracking slightly, and a brilliant green light enveloped it. Tharion barely had time to shout a warning before the evolution completed.
"Ferrothorn!"
The evolved Pokémon towered taller, vines tipped with spiked thorns whipping aggressively as it countered multiple Beedrill with a sudden Power Whip, sending swarming attackers flying in all directions. Larvitar and Charmeleon now had the advantage, their coordinated attacks cutting through the remaining swarm with renewed efficiency.
Nina gasped as her Metapod shivered and glowed. "Brother! It's happening!"
She held it steady as the cocoon quivered violently, splitting open as brilliant wings unfurled. Butterfree emerged, colorful and majestic, flapping slowly before hovering in front of Nina.
"Butterfree!" she whispered, eyes wide with awe. The newly-evolved Pokémon released a gentle Confusion wave, dispersing lingering Beedrill and keeping them at bay while Nina's team regrouped.
Tharion allowed a rare smile. Both evolutions had come at the perfect moment—Metapod had transformed into Butterfree just as Nina began learning command coordination, and Ferroseed had reached its evolutionary peak at precisely the point it could hold its own against two-versus-one combat against Larvitar and Charmeleon.
He glanced around at his team. Larvitar, panting but unbroken, stomped the ground once more. Charmeleon's tail flame burned brighter than ever, and Ferrothorn's vines twitched eagerly, ready for the next round. Luxio growled at the scattered Beedrill, while Roggenrola had secured the perimeter.
"Good," Tharion said, his voice calm but commanding. "This is how we fight. Coordination. Timing. Adaptation."
Nina hugged Butterfree close. "We did it… we're really getting stronger!"
Tharion's gaze swept the forest, already calculating their next path. Viridian Forest still held surprises, and he knew the Pewter City Gym wouldn't be easy—but with his team evolving and adapting under pressure, the groundwork for victory was being laid.
The forest was alive with challenge, and Tharion welcomed it.
This was more than a training ground. This was a crucible.