The next morning, Silas left the Pokémon Center before the city had fully stirred. He stopped at the PokéMart and purchased 30 Poké Balls and 10 Great Balls for 10,000 Pokédollars, watching his remaining balance drop to 20,000 without hesitation. It wasn't reckless spending. It was infrastructure. If he intended to climb the Hunters Guild ranks, he needed supply.
From there, he headed straight toward Viridian Forest.
The forest air was cool and damp, carrying the scent of soil and moss. Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves in broken shafts, illuminating drifting spores and flashes of movement overhead. The deeper he walked, the more the city faded behind him until only rustling branches and distant insect hum remained.
Monferno moved slightly ahead, alert but disciplined. Elekid stayed near Silas's right side, sparks faint but ready. Silas activated his scanner. He discovered the radar function.
Radar function is now active. All pokemon within a 30 foot radius will have their level, species, and potential listed.
The first promising reading appeared near a patch of filtered light.
Oddish — Level 17 — Potential: C
The Oddish noticed them immediately. Its leaves stiffened, then snapped forward in a spinning arc.
Razor Leaf tore through the air, cutting low and wide. Monferno twisted aside, but two blades clipped its shoulder and thigh before embedding into tree bark behind it.
"Vacuum Wave," Silas said calmly.
Compressed air burst forward and struck Oddish, forcing it back but not dropping it. Instead, green energy flared from its body. Mega Drain.
The energy turned into vines and latched onto Monferno's chest, pulling vitality away. The small cuts Oddish had suffered began to close as Monferno's stance wavered slightly.
"Don't trade blows with it," Silas said. "Close the distance."
Monferno darted forward through another Razor Leaf volley, taking a shallow cut across the forearm before slamming Brick Break into Oddish's center. Oddish stumbled but refused to fall, immediately trying to use Mega Drain again at close range.
"Use Flame Wheel to burn the vines."
Monferno ignited fully, severing the draining link in a burst of fire as it rolled forward and struck Oddish cleanly. The impact scorched the ground and finally knocked the wild Pokémon unconscious.
Silas stepped in and threw a Poké Ball.
Three shakes.
Click.
Monferno stood breathing heavier than expected, minor cuts visible across its arms.
"Surprisingly tough for a weaker wild pokemon," Silas said astonished.
Silas punched the air in frustration. He should have led with Flame Wheel from the start and there'd have been zero chance for counterattack.
They moved on.
They ventured deeper in the forest when suddenly the air got heavier and more unpleasant.
Gloom — Level 25 — Potential: C+
This one was stronger.
Gloom emerged from behind a thick trunk and immediately unleashed Razor Leaf in a broader spread than Oddish had managed. The blades tore through brush and clipped Elekid and Monferno along the side before Silas could reposition.
"Thunder Shock"
Electricity arced forward and struck Gloom, staggering it, but the wild Pokémon rolled through the impact and retaliated with Mega Drain, locking onto Elekid this time. Green energy surged violently between them.
Elekid's dropped to one knee.
"Monferno counterattack." Silas said.
Monferno lunged in from the flank, coating itself in flames, slamming a Flame Wheel into Gloom's side and severing the drain. Gloom took severe damage but still answered with another Razor Leaf burst at close range. This time Monferno absorbed several blades while shielding Elekid.
"Elekid–Cross Chop quick," Silas said seriously.
Elekid charged forward through the lingering leaves and delivered a solid Cross Chop to Gloom's center mass. Gloom staggered but immediately attempted Mega Drain again at point-blank range, the pull stronger now that Elekid had already been weakened.
Monferno reacted before being told, driving a full-force Flame Wheel into Gloom's face and breaking the drain once more. Elekid followed with a concentrated Thunder Shock that dropped Gloom for good.
Silas used a Great Ball this time for good measure.
Both of his Pokémon were breathing hard now. This was better for the pokemon. Real resistance meant real training.
They continued deeper. Elekid froze suddenly and pointed at a clearing further ahead.
The target was visible so Silas used the scanner.
Eevee — Level 14
Ability: Run Away
Potential: C+
Moves: Rank C Quick Attack, Rank C Tail Whip, Rank C Babydoll Eyes, Rank D Bite, Rank C Shadow Ball
This was the rarest pokemon they came across today. Silas crouched slightly, signaling caution. Monferno angled left, cutting off one retreat route. The Eevee's ears twitched then It bolted.
Its speed surged unnaturally, easily quadrupling as it darted through brush and vanished into thick undergrowth before Monferno could close the gap. Silas didn't pursue.
"Its not worth the effort, we would probably get lost trying to track down that Eevee."
Some Pokémon required preparation to capture.
The forest thickened as levels climbed. Several radar readings appeared nearly at once.
There were 5 Scyther and 5 Pinsir. The strongest of each showed strong level and potential.
Scyther — Level 23 — Potential: C+
Pinsir — Level 24 — Potential: B-
Silas slowed immediately.
Through a break in the trees, he saw them.
Two clans faced each other in a clearing scarred from previous battles. Several Scyther hovered low, wings vibrating in sharp bursts. Opposite them stood multiple Pinsir, horns angled forward in defiance.
At the center stood the 2 largest of each species. They had to be the leaders he scanned earlier. The Scyther moved with lean precision, blade arms twitching rhythmically. The Pinsir was heavier but grounded. Their natural exoskeleton were a powerful defense against Scyther's blade arms.
Scyther blurred forward, blades slashing in clean arcs. Pinsir answered with raw force, horns colliding with metallic screeches. The clearing tore itself apart beneath them.
The Scythers unleashed countless air slashes while Pinsir resisted using X-Scissor.
Then the leaders sensed something else and turned simultaneously towards Silas.
Silas scanned the two leaders.
Scyther — Level 23
Ability: Technician
Potential: C+
Moves: Rank C Air Slash, Rank C Slash, Rank C Wing Attack, Rank D Fury Cutter
Pinsir — Level 24
Ability: Moxie
Potential: B-
Moves: Rank C Horn Attack, Rank C Rock Smash, Rank C Brutal Swing, Rank C Rock Slide
"I never imagined I would meet a Pinsir with Rock Slide as an egg move and good proficiency at that.
Silas continued to watch the 5 VS 5 battle. The pokemon were clearly used to working together and coordinating attacks. The Scyther were getting the upper hand by abusing their Air Slash Attacks. The leader Pinsir suddenly unleashed Rock Slide on the attacking Scythers.
Several Giant Rocks materialized above the Scyther and rained down on them. Since they were focused on the other Pinsirs, the attack hit them directly for massive damage. 3 of the Scythers were knocked out by the rock type move.
Silas nodded his head understanding the double weakness a flying and bug type pokemon has with rock type moves.
The Air Slash Barrage did massive damage to the Pinsir at the same time leading to 3 knock outs as well. The 2 remaining pokemon on each side engaged each other fiercely with the 2 leaders knocking out the other's ally.
Now it was 1 on 1.
The fierce battle continued with neither side noticing they had an audience. Scyther and Pinsir were trading blows but neither showed signs of slowing down.
Suddenly Scyther seemed to have noticed something and looked intently at Silas' location.. Pinsir stopped its attack as well and looked in the same direction.