I almost died due to suffocation because of all the Pokémon on top of me.
When they finally left me alone, I was able to catch my long-lost breath.
"Huhhhhh"
"Arcan Arcanine"
Said the majestic-looking Arcanine.
"Fen Fennekin"
Gloated the little fox like Pokémon.
"Bin Binacle"
Added the rocky Binacle.
"Bel dumm"
"Bel dumm"
The two pseudo-legendaries chimed in.
"Zor Zorua"
Said the Zorua with a little smug face.
And indeed, it had reason to act smug. Without Zorua's Illusion, it would have taken me at least a couple of days to break the Pokémon out of those cages.
As I finally left the tent into the open sky, I realized that,
"It's already pretty late. We have a couple of hours before it gets completely dark."
As Zeraora followed behind me,
"Zera!"
"Yeah, looks like our berry gathering will have to wait until tomorrow."
Since we couldn't gather berries, it is better to check the remaining two tents for anything of use.
"Come on, Zeraora."
"Let's check out those two tents."
I said, pointing to the two tents on the opposite side.
"Zera"
He was quick to reply.
Before I moved on to the remaining tents, I quickly turned to the gathered Pokémon, who were looking at me with curious eyes.
"Hey, guys, you can leave if you want to. You are no longer captured. Just as the Pokémon turned around and began to leave."
"However,"
I suddenly blurted out.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't resist the urge to try to take at least one Pokémon along for my journey. All of these were incredibly powerful and rare Pokémon in the games and the anime. Looking back at the way, the hunters used special cages to restrain them, and not poke balls into the others, meant these Pokémon were unique even in this world.
I mean, it couldn't hurt to try, right?!
I wouldn't force any of them.
The Pokémon who were about to head off in their respective directions all again turned around to face me.
These Pokémon looked to have developed a certain kind of trust towards me.
This was good.
The trust would definitely earn me some extra points.
Thinking of such thoughts, I started
"Before you guys leave, I want to give you an offer. An offer to get stronger."
This perked their ears up.
In the anime and the movies, almost all Pokémon wanted to get strong.
Based on this, I theorized that Pokémon in this world also should have the desire to get stronger.
And, looking at the expressions on their faces, I could tell it was definitely working.
"I will be going out of this forest. I want to explore the world beyond this forest."
"I want to enjoy life to the fullest".
"And, I would like to invite those of you who would like to accompany me."
"Sure, you can get stronger, living here as well."
"But, there are too many Pokémon living here. The resources that the forest would provide would be divided. However, if you come with me to the outside world...."
Before I could even finish my sentence, the little Zorua started walking toward me.
"Zorua."
It said before jumping onto my small shoulders.
A big smile came onto my lips.
I was delighted.
But then, a small bipedal Pokémon with a dragon-like appearance appeared from the mix of dragon-type and fairy-type crowds. Its body is covered in a mix of smooth, scaly skin and small, protective plates. Its most distinctive feature was the large, heart-shaped scale on its forehead. It had a short tail and small, stubby arms and legs.
My eyes widened.
"Jangmo-o"
I nearly shouted.
It was the dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Alola region in the anime.
The little dragon kept walking towards me; it was almost the same height as me.
Maybe a little bigger than me, but shorter than Zeraora.
"Jangmoooo"
It said, looking at me with eyes filled with promise, and his hand on his chest. It looked as if it was taking a pledge.
"Jangmo-o, do you want to come with me?"
"Jangmo-o!!"
It replied happily.
I was about to burst with excitement when I saw two more Pokémon heading towards me.
They were the Fennekin and the Binacle that helped me break the first cage that had held Zorua.
"Fen Fenne"
"Bin Binacle"
Fenneking stood on its four legs with elegance.
While Binacle looked at me with admiration.
"You guys also want to come with me?"
I asked, stunned by the sudden development.
I had expected not even a single Pokémon to agree to come with me.
You could say that I have very minimal expectations.
But that is what was happening to me until recently. For the past four or five months, I have been trying to recruit more Pokémon to come with me. But I managed to convince only Shinx and Archen.
Most of the other Pokémon would even stop to listen to me anymore, as if I had gone mad.
But now, within seconds, without even having to explain myself much, four Pokémon had come forward.
"Fen Finnekin"
"Bin Binacle"
Both of them had seen how hard this human had tried to save the captured Pokémon.
Both of them felt that this human was a good person who would take care of them. Not only that, but he also promised to make them stronger.
While it is possible to become strong by staying in the forest.
The Obsidian forest definitely had a lot of resources, from evolution stones to consumable treasures to increase a Pokémon's strength.
However, there was also a huge number of Pokémon eyeing these treasures and stones.
Going with me to the outside world, which they had never seen or heard about, made them want to go there even more.
"Fen Fen"
"Bin Bin"
They both said that they immediately started shaking their legs.
After a few minutes, the rest of the Pokémon started going back.
I also introduced the new members of my team to the old members who had just woken up after falling asleep in the morning due to insomnia.
Now, I was ready. I had a team of seven Pokémon, all of them with the potential to grow into monsters.
Zeraroa.
Shinx.
Archen.
Huisian Zorua.
Jangmo-o.
Fennekin.
Binacle.