Double Harvest

Pikachu and Butterfree had both been badly injured, handing Qian Bing a perfect opportunity to reap the rewards as a bystander.

Unable to contain his excitement, he murmured, "Damn, this is practically Pie Falling from the Sky. I absolutely can't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away again!"

As he spoke, he excitedly patted the bulb on Bulbasaur's back and quietly ordered, "Bulbasaur, it's up to you now. Use Vine Whip to sneak over along the ground. Bind Pikachu tightly with one vine, and ambush Butterfree with the other. Don't let either of them get away!"

"Bulba!"

Bulbasaur answered confidently and extended two vines from its left and right sides.

The tender green vines slithered swiftly across the ground like two little snakes. Before long, the vine on the left had reached Pikachu's feet and lay in wait.

Qian Bing restrained Bulbasaur's urge to launch the ambush immediately. Only after the other Vine Whip had also spread beneath Butterfree's feet did he instruct Bulbasaur to make its final preparations.

"Bulbasaur, you've done very well. Once their exchange of moves ends, don't hesitate—attack immediately."

Almost as soon as Qian Bing finished speaking, the electricity around Butterfree's body completely faded. It looked even more miserable than before. Not only was the left half of its wings scorched black, but half of its right wing had also completely changed color.

Wings were practically one of the most important organs of a butterfly Pokemon. After being severely injured by the electric current, even with Butterfree's strong will, its constant flapping could no longer keep its body steady, and it began plunging toward the ground.

For Qian Bing and Bulbasaur, who had been waiting to ambush it, this was practically divine assistance.

The Vine Whip beneath Butterfree shot into the air. It did not even need to aim before it lashed fiercely against Butterfree's blue-purple body, instantly sending it spinning backward through the air.

However, the gap in strength between Bulbasaur and Butterfree was simply too great. Furthermore, Grass-type moves were at a type disadvantage against Bug-type Butterfree. Thus, although the Vine Whip looked imposing, it did not actually inflict much damage on Butterfree.

It even managed to steady itself and prepare to counterattack.

But Qian Bing naturally would not give Butterfree another chance to turn things around. He looked up, waved to Pidgeotto, and shouted, "Pidgeotto, finish Butterfree off with Gust! Knock it out directly!"

Upon hearing the command, Pidgeotto quickly dived down from the sky. Only when it flew close to Butterfree did it beat its wings hard and unleash a Gust.

With the damage bonus Flying-type moves had against Bug-type Pokemon, the result spoke for itself.

Knowing the outcome had already been decided, Qian Bing shifted his attention away from Butterfree. At that moment, Bulbasaur also dragged the tightly bound Pikachu directly before him.

After suffering the combined torment of Sleep Powder and Confusion, Pikachu was in far worse condition than Butterfree. Its eyes were unfocused, and it was already on the verge of completely losing its ability to fight.

Qian Bing pulled a Poké Ball from the backpack on his back. Just as he was about to throw it, his eyes flashed, and he stopped.

"This wild Pikachu has excellent potential in every respect. Now that I've taken down Butterfree, my money problems are basically solved. I'll even have spare funds to invest in raising Pidgeotto. Why not..."

With that thought, Qian Bing raised his right hand and summoned his Spirit Ball Spirit, then aimed it at Pikachu in an attempt to capture it.

However, as good as his idea was, no matter how hard he concentrated on controlling the Spirit Ball Spirit and trying to capture Pikachu, nothing happened.

It was as though the Spirit Ball Spirit had lost its ability to capture Pokemon after capturing Pidgey!

Qian Bing's heart sank. The Spirit Ball Spirit was currently his greatest reliance. If it could no longer capture Pokemon and turn them into his next soul ring, did that not mean he would be stuck at the rank of Soul Master?

If that was truly the case, it would be devastating news.

However, after giving it some thought, Qian Bing felt that possibility was extremely unlikely.

"The reason the Spirit Ball Spirit can't capture new Pokemon is probably because it's limited by my current Soul Power level. Perhaps once my Soul Power reaches level 20 and I can obtain another soul ring, the Spirit Ball Spirit will be able to capture the next Pokemon."

Though Qian Bing optimistically came up with a highly plausible explanation for why the Spirit Ball Spirit could not capture Pikachu, it still affected his mood.

The delight on his face vanished. He took out an ordinary Poké Ball and captured Pikachu instead.

By then, Pidgeotto had also completed its task, blowing Butterfree until it completely lost its ability to fight.

In the end, Qian Bing barely had to expend any effort to claim both valuable Pokemon.

However, he knew that both Pikachu and Butterfree had suffered very serious injuries. If they were not treated in time, not only would it affect their future growth, but it would also lower their selling price.

Therefore, Qian Bing had no intention of lingering. He put the two Poké Balls into his backpack and hurried back to Viridian City without stopping.

Viridian City Pokémon Center.

Nurse Joy had just finished receiving a Pokémon Trainer when she turned and saw Qian Bing's figure drift through the doors like a gust of wind.

Before she could greet him as usual, the panting Qian Bing had already pushed four Poké Balls in front of her and anxiously said, "Huff... huff... Nurse, Nurse Joy, please hurry and help me treat my Pokemon. My Pikachu and Butterfree are both seriously injured."

"Don't worry, Little Trainer Bing. Please wait here for a moment. I'll treat your Pokemon's injuries right away. Chansey, let's go."

Seeing Qian Bing's state, Nurse Joy's relaxed expression became serious. She picked up the four Poké Balls, called to the Chansey beside her, and headed toward the treatment room behind the counter.

The treatment room was separated from the reception hall outside by a wall. Aside from a door serving as its entrance, there was also a small window opened for the conveyor belt used to transport Poké Balls.

Qian Bing was extremely worried about the two Pokemon's injuries, so he kept watching the situation inside the treatment room through that small window.

Nurse Joy first released Pikachu from its Poké Ball and laid it on a hospital bed specially made for Pokemon. She then said to Chansey, "Chansey, please use Sing on Pikachu first and let it enter a deep sleep, then use Life Dew to restore its injuries."

"Lucky, lucky~"

Chansey agreed, walked to the bedside, and began singing softly to Pikachu.

At that moment, Joy reached out and drew the white curtain beside the bed. Unable to keep watching what was happening in the treatment room, Qian Bing could only pace back and forth through the Pokémon Center's lobby, waiting for Joy to come out.

About forty minutes later, Joy finally emerged from the treatment room carrying two Spirit Balls. Seeing Qian Bing's anxious expression, she smiled faintly.

She handed the two Spirit Balls to Qian Bing and said:

"Little Trainer Bing, your Pidgeotto and Bulbasaur weren't seriously hurt. They've already recovered.

"As for Pikachu and Butterfree, their injuries are a little more severe. Chansey is still treating them."