With Natsuhiko's constant reminders, Weedle's somewhat agitated heart gradually calmed down.
Mouth slightly open, a certain power was accumulating inside.
The opportunity is only once!
If it fails, Natsuhiko might suffer a severe blow.
So failure is absolutely not allowed.
Absolutely!
Weedle's eyes were exceptionally steadfast, with its gaze flickering, seemingly with green and purple glows swirling deep in its eyes, blending something else between the two colors.
The mysterious energy stirring within its body had originally been beyond its control, but now as Weedle calmed down, it surprisingly settled too.
Subtly being stirred.
The attention of both Trainer and Pokémon was keenly focused on the Leader of the Spearow.
Spearow's initial speed wasn't slow, and with Electric Flash, it became even more terrifying.
Whipping up gusts as it moved.
Whoosh—
In the blink of an eye, the Leader of the Spearow wrapped in white light drew close to Natsuhiko, a sharp gaze carrying intense cold.
It was confident that with a single strike, it could eliminate Natsuhiko.
And without Natsuhiko's direction, Weedle's battle prowess would be questionable.
"Here it comes."
Natsuhiko silently cried out in his heart.
Reminding Weedle at this moment might disrupt its rhythm and preparations, so Natsuhiko chose unconditional trust in Weedle's capabilities and judgment.
The training during this period not only made Weedle trust Natsuhiko severely, but also allowed Natsuhiko, as a Trainer, to profoundly trust Weedle.
Now's the time!
Natsuhiko's eyes shot open wide.
Weedle's response did not disappoint him; almost at the perceived perfect opportunity, Weedle moved.
Though Spearow was fast using Electric Flash, as long as it chose to attack, there would inevitably be a moment when its flight path became fixed and predictable.
And Natsuhiko and Weedle waited for this precise moment.
"Woo!"
Along with Weedle's low roar, its mouth gaped wide, and a net-shaped silk it had been accumulating for long surged forth, aimed at the anticipated flight path of Spearow.
Simultaneously, as Weedle spat out the web, it felt something odd, like it had been mildly electrified, causing a gentle tremor.
To the surprise of both Natsuhiko and Weedle, yellow arcs of electricity danced across the web, though faint, they unmistakably existed.
Power Grid!
At this crucial moment, Weedle's far superior understanding capability for its kind proven its worth once again.
Of course, Natsuhiko's prior training with Weedle's Power Grid was equally indispensable; through repeated training, Weedle merely lacked the understanding of Electric Energy, an energy not part of its inherent Attribute Energy.
And at this moment, under the transformation from anger to reassurance by Natsuhiko, Weedle took that pivotal step.
Furthermore, the timing and opportunity grasped by Weedle were perfectly on point, hitting the critical junction of Spearow's final linear attack during Electric Flash.
As Spearow was less than a meter away from Natsuhiko, the Power Grid successfully struck Spearow.
Even though the electric current on the web wasn't strong, Electric techniques had a substantial restraining effect on Flying Type Spearow.
"Jie!!!"
With just a horrendous scream from Spearow, the mere meter became a chasm it couldn't overcome to reach Natsuhiko.
Electric currents shocked Spearow's muscles, and the web glued its feathers, greatly restricting its mobility.
"Spinning Silk."
However, this Leader of the Spearow was strong enough that even with restrictions from the electric current and web, it managed to struggle and fly again.
Yet, given its current state, it was evidently unable to avoid Weedle's attack now.
A silk thread shot out, continuously coating Spearow's body, further escalating the restrictions on its already overburdened form.
Tightly wrapping Spearow.
"Poison Needle." Natsuhiko, watching the struggling Spearow, calmly uttered two words.
Weedle fired Poison Needle, which undoubtedly struck, the needle embedding itself into Spearow, resulting in Poison effects.
Spearow struggled further, its eyes glaring defiantly at Natsuhiko and Weedle, filled with unwillingness.
"It's a pity; this Spearow isn't too bad, I haven't prepared a Pokeball. Otherwise, it could fetch a good price on the black market, if not captured." Natsuhiko silently thought.
Given his current resources, even nurturing one Weedle was a stretch, making it absolutely impossible to consider a second Pokémon anytime soon.
Moreover, even though this Spearow was decent, Spearow was not a Pokémon he desired.
Weedle was a choice made out of necessity.
However, later he discovered that despite Weedle being a very ordinary Pokémon, upon excavation and training, he found unique aspects and talents within Weedle.
With effort in nurturing, it will certainly not be weak.
Further confirming the saying that there are no useless Pokémon, only useless Trainers in one's mind.
This gave him more options.
"Hang it up. If it's still alive when we return later, we'll take it back." Natsuhiko instructed Weedle.
Weedle nodded, using silk to hang the incapacitated Spearow on a relatively high tree branch.
"It seems this Dense Wood Forest is much more troublesome than I imagined..."
Natsuhiko took out a small Energy Block, pre-cut, and handed it to Weedle.
Always maintain optimal condition.
"However, Wild Pokémon gathering so frequently into Dense Wood Forest, is there a reason?"
Pokémon have a strong sense of territory, meaning they won't easily leave their domain, but inter-Pokémon competition is simple.
If one Pokémon defeats the original ruler of a territory, the defeated party will leave and not return.
The Pokémon in Dense Wood Forest have been cleared out dozens of times; why are they still persistent?
"Perhaps it's a new batch."
There's certainly that possibility.
For now, putting this doubt aside.
"Weedle, take a good look, search thoroughly, Spearow-type Pokémon are fierce, with strong territorial instincts; they must have collected or be guarding some good things, we shouldn't miss them." Natsuhiko reminded.
"Woo!!"
Weedle nodded eagerly, its eyes gleaming at the mention of valuable items.
Sneakily glancing about.
The Dense Wood Forest wasn't large, and what five Spearow could occupy in terms of territory was equally limited.
Very Soon.
Natsuhiko, accompanied by Weedle's searching here and there, discovered a nest built at the top of a high tree.
"Woo."
Weedle's tail pointed to the nest above, as if discovering a New Continent.
"It should be here, go take a look."
Natsuhiko placed his hand on the tree trunk, Weedle crawled up his arm onto the tree, entering the nest that seemed rather simple.
Inside, items were piled up messily.
Weedle rummaged around a few times, tossing some items down.
But when it reached the bottom of the nest and saw something hidden in a corner, its eyes lit up and began to salivate uncontrollably.
Natsuhiko down below, hearing the sudden halt in noise above, guessed somewhat, asking: "Discover something?"
Soon he saw Weedle with a thumb-sized dark purple sphere in its mouth emerging at the edge of the nest.
"Let me see." Natsuhiko beckoned.
Weedle hurried down with little steps, placing the item in Natsuhiko's palm, obediently waiting beside him, its small beady eyes gazing at the thing in his hand.
Natsuhiko carefully approached, squinting as he sniffed lightly.
A pungently stinky odor pierced his nose.
Egg-shaped with rounded ends, skin smooth, slightly flattened though elongated, dark purple on the surface seeming to conceal viscous purple liquid flowing inside...
His eyes flickered with a peculiar gleam, "If my guess isn't wrong, this... should be a Poison Sac of a snake-type Pokémon?"
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