Rhydon were omnivorous Pokémon. They would eat anything, from plants and berries to large fish and meat. When driven by extreme hunger, they wouldn't even turn their noses up at ore; their powerful stomachs were capable of digesting almost anything.
The giant creature meticulously scavenged the few leftover beef bones on the beach and devoured them. It had quite a keen sense of smell, but after swallowing a few bones that were barely enough to get stuck in its teeth, the Rhydon felt its hunger grow even sharper.
It had set out specifically to forage, never expecting to find such delicacies on the sand.
Of course they were deliciousthe beef bones Hisoka had used for his soup were top-grade Wagyu femurs.
In this world, domestic Wagyu were said to share a common ancestor with Tauros, though they had diverged onto different evolutionary paths. Today, one was the primary source of beef for humans, while the other was a Pokémon possessed of immense power.
In the wild, ordinary animals stood almost no chance against the formidable abilities of Pokémon. Consequently, the price of meat in human society remained high, and there were only a handful of species that humans could successfully domesticate on a large scale.
Those ordinary species that managed to survive and multiply in the wild relied primarily on staggering reproductive rates. Any species lacking both power and a high birth rate had long since gone extinct. The cruelty of natural selection and the survival of the fittest were absolute constants in this world.
...
While simmering his bone broth, Hisoka had added premium berries like Cheri Berries and Petaya Berries, along with some rare Cordyceps. Combined with his own hand-ground seasonings, the flavor was naturally superb.
The Rhydon felt frustrated, but its empty stomach forced it to continue its search. It approached the coconut tree where Hisoka had been resting earlier. Its massive arms, as thick as stone pillars, wrapped around the trunk. With a few violent shakes, the ten-meter-tall tree swayed back and forth as if caught in a hurricane.
A moment later, a series of dull thuds echoed as over a dozen coconutseach as large as a man's headrained down upon the Rhydon's skull. A fall from that height was enough to knock a person unconscious or leave them bloodied, yet they bounced off the Rhydon like falling leaves, unable to inflict even a scratch.
The Rhydon grabbed a coconut in each hand and stuffed them into its wide maw, juice and meat included, without even spitting out the shells. Watching from his hiding spot, Hisoka felt his own teeth ache at the sight.
The dozen coconuts didn't last two minutes against the Rhydon's terrifying appetite. It patted the dark gray armor on its belly, still feeling famished. It had been asleep in its cave for an entire week and had woken up in a state of starvation.
Gazing out at the boundless ocean, a flicker of trepidation crossed the Rhydon's golden pupils. It detested seawater, but to find enough food, it had to overcome its natural fear and discomfort.
With heavy, thundering strides, the giant Rhydon began walking toward the shore. Only in the sea could it find enough to truly fill its belly.
Hisoka climbed down from his tree and began to follow the giant Rhydon stealthily. He wanted to see what the big guy was up to and get a better read on the situation. After all, it seemed he would have to live on this uninhabited island for a while until he was rescued or saved himself. Having such a "dangerous" neighbor nearby left him feeling uneasy.
He held Lulu tightly in his arms. If the Rhydon noticed them or made any threatening moves, he would have Lulu use Teleport immediately to escape. The giant Rhydon might possess earth-shaking physical strength, but such a massive body inevitably sacrificed flexibility and speed.
If they couldn't win, running away wouldn't be a problem!
The giant Rhydon stepped into the surf, suppressing the wave of discomfort rising from within. Although it had done this many times before, it could never truly rid itself of that unpleasant sensation.
Step by step, under Hisoka's shocked gaze, the giant Rhydon waded deep into the ocean until eventually, only its head remained visible above the surface.
At first, Hisoka wondered if the Rhydon had lost its mind. Was it trying to commit suicide?
If his memory served him right, Rhydon was a dual Ground and Rock type Pokémon. It was a creature that should hate water even more than Fire types did. Both of its types were completely countered by the Water type. And yet, this Pokémon had actually charged into the sea?
The world was truly full of wonders. Hisoka couldn't help but marvel. Today was an eye-opener; a giant Rhydon was one thing, but one that could break through type-based limitations to go for a swim was something else entirely.
Generally, a normal Rhydon's tail was about two-thirds of its body height. This giant Rhydon was just scaled up; its proportions remained normal. Hisoka estimated its tail to be about 2.5 meters long, roughly matching that two-thirds ratio.
The beast raised its tail, which was thick as a massive log. A silvery-white metallic luster suddenly shimmered at the tipproof that the creature was using the move Iron Tail.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Iron Tail lashed the surface of the sea repeatedly, producing a series of thunderous explosions. Water sprayed everywhere and geysers erupted. In that moment, the giant Rhydon proved that its size wasn't just for eating; it had the strength to back it up.
After thrashing the water for about five minutes, the giant Rhydon finally ceased its violent movements.
With his binoculars, the sharp-eyed Hisoka noticed a variety of fish and shrimp floating on the surface around the Rhydon. There were no Water-type Pokémon among them; those were intelligent enough to flee the moment the giant entered the water. Only the mindless common fish and shrimp had remained to face the beast.
Seeing the food within its reach, the giant Rhydon narrowed its bell-like eyes happily. It grabbed an unknown sea fishone even uglier than a Feebasand shoved it into its mouth.
The fish was quite large, nearly 90 centimeters long. But for the Rhydon, it was a three-bite snack: one for the head, one for the body, and one for the tail.
Hisoka actually recognized the fish. It was called a Dama Fish. Though ugly, its meat was tender and fresh, making it a favorite among fishermen in coastal regions.
Furthermore, this species was a slow swimmer with no bones and plenty of meat. Its reaction time was painfully long, making it a favorite prey for many large wild Water-type Pokémon.
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