"If I walk another five hundred meters and still don't find a berry tree, I'm leaving."
Aiven made up his mind, patted the Ironclad Rhinoceros beside him, and continued deeper into the Black Forest.
Perhaps wary of the Ironclad Rhinoceros, the Pokémon around them only watched from a distance and didn't approach.
Just as Aiven was wondering whether he should head back, a fruit tree covered in White Oran Berries appeared before him!
At the same time, he spotted a purple figure lying beneath the tree.
A Tank Skunk. Aiven's gaze sharpened.
It was a skunk-like Pokémon standing over a meter tall, its body purple with milky-white markings.
When Aiven spotted the Tank Skunk, it looked back at him. Then it slowly rose to its feet and bared its teeth.
Clearly, the Tank Skunk was warning Aiven not to approach the White Oran Berry tree, or it would attack.
"This Tank Skunk is in great shape. No wonder it can guard this White Oran Berry tree." Aiven didn't make a rash move. Instead, he sized up the Tank Skunk.
He soon formed a rough estimate of its strength. By the standards used to classify Pokémon in his previous life, this Tank Skunk had already reached the elite level.
A wild Pokémon reaching the elite level certainly made it a local powerhouse.
Even his Petilil and Ironclad Rhinoceros, despite all their training, were only at the ordinary level, still a considerable distance from elite.
And although Cherrim had evolved once, its strength was still at the lowest, beginner level.
In a one-on-one fight, none of the Pokémon he had with him could beat this Tank Skunk. But if all three teamed up—
They had a good chance of winning. Aiven quickly reached his conclusion.
Just then, seeing that Aiven wasn't leaving, the Tank Skunk's gaze slowly turned cold. It lowered its body slightly, taking up a fighting stance.
"Ironclad Rhinoceros!"
Aiven shouted.
The Tank Skunk suddenly sprang into action. Despite its large size, it moved with incredible agility.
Petilil reacted first. A green beam shot from its body as it used Absorb Technique.
In an instant, the Tank Skunk was enveloped in green light. But only moments later, it broke free and continued charging toward Aiven.
The Ironclad Rhinoceros reacted half a beat too slowly. By the time it realized the enemy was attacking, the Tank Skunk was already upon them. It rushed forward and used Tackle.
Boom!
The two equally massive Pokémon collided.
The Ironclad Rhinoceros staggered from the impact. It was no match for the Tank Skunk in terms of strength.
Just as the Tank Skunk drove back the Ironclad Rhinoceros and prepared to attack again, Petilil used Absorb Technique once more, disrupting its movements.
"Ironclad Rhinoceros, use Till!" Aiven quickly commanded.
The Ironclad Rhinoceros nodded. It raised its feet high as Ground attribute energy gathered, then stomped hard on the earth. Ground attribute energy rippled outward like waves!
The earth between the Ironclad Rhinoceros and the Tank Skunk immediately became uneven and pitted, hindering the Tank Skunk's movements.
When Petilil saw the tilled ground take shape, it leaped into the area. Green light enveloped it, and Absorb Technique's power surged.
The Tank Skunk had previously been able to break free from Absorb Technique with ease, but now it had to take the energy-draining green light seriously.
"Cherrim, use your Flower Gift Ability!" Aiven's commands didn't stop there.
Ever since entering the Black Forest, Cherrim had kept itself wrapped in purple petals, remaining in its overcast form.
During that time, it had steadily absorbed and stored solar energy.
Now, under the power of its Flower Gift Ability, the petals wrapped around Cherrim began to bloom, transforming it from its overcast form into its sunny form!
At the same time, milky-white waves of energy radiated from Cherrim and flowed into the Ironclad Rhinoceros.
It wasn't actually sunny out, but by drawing on the solar energy stored inside its body, Cherrim had brought the power of its Flower Gift Ability to its limit!
Moo! Moo! Moo!
The Ironclad Rhinoceros immediately felt strength surging through its entire body.
It fixed its gaze on the Tank Skunk charging at it again and met it with another Tackle.
Boom!
The two Pokémon collided.
The first time, the Ironclad Rhinoceros had staggered from the impact.
This time, however, the Tank Skunk was sent stumbling backward—a complete reversal of their previous clash.
With the boost from Flower Gift, the Ironclad Rhinoceros's attack power had surpassed the Tank Skunk's!
As the Tank Skunk reeled backward, Petilil formed two Leech Seeds and fired them toward either side of its body.
Vines immediately sprouted from the seeds. Nourished by the vitality of the tilled ground, they grew at tremendous speed, binding the Tank Skunk tightly in a dense mass.
Moo! Moo! Moo!
Seizing its chance, the Ironclad Rhinoceros charged up and launched another full-power Tackle.
With no way to defend itself, the Tank Skunk went flying and slammed hard into a nearby tree!
Pressing its advantage, the Ironclad Rhinoceros rushed after it. This wasn't a turn-based game. As soon as the Tank Skunk fell, it was sent flying again by another charge.
Between Leech Seed and Absorb Technique, the Tank Skunk finally ran out of stamina. It lay helplessly on the ground, panting heavily.
"Ironclad Rhinoceros, that's enough."
Seeing that the Ironclad Rhinoceros still wanted to attack, Aiven hurriedly stopped it.
The Tank Skunk had already lost most of its strength and no longer posed a threat to them.
Besides, Tank Skunk was a Poison-type Pokémon, and it could release foul-smelling fumes to attack. Aiven didn't want to push it too far.
Moo, moo.
The Ironclad Rhinoceros nodded innocently and backed up to Aiven's side.
The little fellow was still alert, though. Like a bodyguard, it stayed close to Aiven, wary of a possible sneak attack from the Tank Skunk.
"Good job."
Aiven praised all three Pokémon, then took out a bottle of Healing Potion and gave it to the Ironclad Rhinoceros.
As for Petilil, it had been using Absorb Technique and Leech Seed the whole time. It hadn't lost any stamina at all—in fact, it had plenty to spare.
After they defeated the Tank Skunk, the little Pokémon hopped onto the Ironclad Rhinoceros's back and happily chatted with it.
With the Tank Skunk, guardian of the White Oran Berry tree, taken care of, Aiven finally reached the tree.
Before you continue