After staying in Goldenrod City long enough, Sato, with a full harvest, bid farewell to Master Yasumura and Akane before setting off for Ecruteak City.
Looking at the letter of introduction to Ecruteak Gym that Master Yasumura had given him at parting, Sato couldn't help but feel a trace of warmth in his heart.
"Chirp?"
Spinarak lay on Sato's shoulder, curiously glanced at the densely packed words on the letter of introduction, failed to understand a single one, and promptly looked away in boredom.
Near noon, Sato turned back and could no longer see Goldenrod City's towering buildings. After taking a brief rest, he continued onward. He wanted to reach Ecruteak City as soon as possible and complete Haunter's evolution.
"Rustle~"
"Spinarak!"
"Pfft~" Snow-white spider silk frantically sprayed from Spinarak's body, automatically forming a huge web that extended in all directions.
"Sentret?"
A Sentret suddenly appeared from the low bushes and hurriedly hopped away into the depths of the forest.
But Sato did not relax in the slightest. His eyes remained fixed on his surroundings. Unbeknownst when, all chirping of insects and birds had vanished, and the forest had fallen eerily silent.
"Spinarak, Toxic Spikes!"
"Chirp!"
Dark-purple globules of venom shot into the air before bursting apart, scattering evenly around Sato.
A web above and Toxic Spikes below, Sato curled his lips into a smile and simply waited in silence.
One minute, two minutes... Ten minutes passed. Sato stood rooted to the spot without making the slightest move. Clearly, both sides were extremely patient. He slowly lifted his foot...
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three small, swift darts suddenly shot at him from different angles!
"Protect!"
"Chirp!"
Unbeknownst when, Spinarak had climbed onto Sato's left hand, its six spider legs tightly gripping it. With two sharp clinks, two darts were blocked, while