Geniuses and Consumables!

"We'll be leaving first. We'll come by this afternoon."

After saying goodbye to the greedy Pidgey outside the gazebo, Mu Yun carried Weedle home.

Although keeping Pokémon in Poké Balls was more convenient, Mu Yun still preferred having them by his side.

After all, how much space was there inside an ordinary red-and-white Poké Ball? Staying cooped up in one every day could drive even a mentally healthy Pokémon crazy.

"Pidgey~~ Pidgey~~"

On the way back, Mu Yun seemed to recall something. He suddenly stopped and looked at the Pidgey perched on the tree trunk.

[Pokémon: Pidgey]

[Gender: Male]

[Level: 9 (Normal Level)]

[Ability: Tangled Feet (when confused, its reaction speed increases)]

[Potential: Normal Level]

[Pokémon: Pidgey]

[Gender: Female]

[Level: 11 (Normal Level)]

[Ability: Keen Eye (its accuracy cannot be lowered)]

[Potential: Normal Level]

Pidgey were calm Pokémon and very friendly toward humans, so they could be found almost everywhere in the residential complex.

Mu Yun only gave them a glance before seeing their detailed information. Both had the lowest-tier Normal Level potential.

One possessed the same Keen Eye Ability as the greedy Pidgey, while the other had Tangled Feet.

Speaking of Tangled Feet, it was necessary to mention one of this world's negative statuses—

Confusion!

Confusion was a rather interesting negative status. Unlike Burn, Freeze, Poison, Sleep, or Paralysis, it had no obvious negative effects.

Confusion was more like a random superposition of clarity and haziness. A Pokémon afflicted with Confusion might not even notice it throughout its duration. Only when it triggered would it experience dizziness or chaotic energy surging through its body.

Just like landing a critical hit, the chance of Confusion triggering was random.

Mu Yun still attributed that to the mighty power of the Alpaca God.

Rule-based abilities were terrifying indeed!

However, Mu Yun had not suddenly stopped to discuss the connection between Tangled Feet and Confusion. His target was the two Pidgey themselves.

"Pidgey, interested in playing a game?"

Mu Yun set Weedle down, walked beneath the tree where the two Pidgey were perched, and took out two apples from his backpack.

They were not Apple Berries that restored energy, just ordinary, bright-red apples.

The kind that cost two yuan per jin.

"Pidgey?"

The two Pidgey tilted their heads at the same time, clearly puzzled.

But when they saw the two large apples in Mu Yun's hands, they immediately flew over happily.

"It's a very simple game. In a moment, he'll fire String Shot five times. Every time one of you dodges, I'll give you another apple."

Mu Yun pointed at Weedle beside him.

It was not as though he had seen a pair of Pidgey being affectionate in a tree and suddenly felt like teasing some birds.

He was simply curious whether the greedy Pidgey had been able to dodge Weedle's String Shot because all Pidgey were naturally calm and sharp-eyed, or because that greedy Pidgey was exceptional.

"Pidgey~~"

After exchanging a glance, the two Pidgey immediately nodded in agreement.

Dodging the String Shot of a little bug would be easy.

Seven big apples would be enough for them to eat for several meals.

"Then let's begin. Xiao Du, I'm counting on you."

"Woooh!!"

Weedle nodded, bracing himself seriously.

In his mind, Pidgey were troublesome opponents. He had to give it his all.

"Pidgey~~"

The lower-level male Pidgey called out, seemingly signaling that Weedle could begin whenever he wanted.

Seeing this, Weedle straightened his body. Energy swiftly coursed through him before gathering in his mouth.

Then—

Thwip!

Snow-white String Shot shot out like an arrow released from a bow, whistling through the air as it instantly streaked forward.

Before the other female Pidgey could even react, the male Pidgey was hit with a splat amid her disbelieving gaze, bound into a ball.

The male Pidgey had been ready!!!

The male Pidgey had fallen???

The male Pidgey was dumbfounded...

"Woooh?"

Weedle was dumbfounded too. Why had this bird not dodged?

Mu Yun, however, looked thoughtfully at the Pidgey lying on the ground, whose eyes seemed much clearer now.

"Pidgey!!"

Perhaps the male Pidgey's embarrassing state had awakened the female Pidgey's Competitive spirit. She immediately became serious.

Seeing this, Weedle had no time to think. He puffed out his little mouth and fired four snow-white strands of String Shot in succession like a repeating crossbow.

The female Pidgey swayed left and right, only barely managing to dodge one before the second strand stuck to her wing. The third and fourth both hit as well.

In the blink of an eye, she had become a larger, rounder snow-white ball than the male Pidgey.

"Woooh?"

Looking at the two snow-white balls, one large and one small, lying symmetrically on the ground, Weedle fell into deep thought.

Something was wrong. Extremely, utterly wrong.

Were these two Pidgey really from the same species as that "crybaby greedy dumb bird"...

[Ding! Weedle used String Shot in a simulated battle. Proficiency +2!]

[Ding! Weedle was full of fighting spirit and gained greater insight into the move String Shot. Additional proficiency +2!]

[Ding! Weedle used String Shot in a simulated battle. Proficiency +2!] *4

[String Shot (Perfected, 300/1000) → String Shot (Perfected, 312/1000)]

"Only the first time gave four times the experience. The other four were merely the normal double experience from simulated battles..."

Mu Yun did not pay much attention to the experience gained. He only glanced at it and understood the situation.

The additional experience mainly came from the emotional boost Yanhuang Language gave Weedle.

Without surging emotions, there would naturally be no additional experience.

What Mu Yun cared about was the performance of these two Pidgey.

The level-nine male Pidgey with Tangled Feet was understandable. His level was low, his Ability was poor, and his eyesight was bad. It was normal that he had failed to react in time.

But even the level-eleven female Pidgey with Keen Eye had failed to react.

Keen Eye was not simply an Ability that prevented accuracy from being lowered. Pokémon with this Ability also possessed exceptionally good dynamic vision.

"As expected, that greedy Pidgey itself has extraordinary talent in battle."

Recalling the Pidgey's changes over the past two days, Mu Yun once again concluded that it was not the Pidgey species that was strong, but that particular greedy Pidgey.

"You did great, Xiao Du."

Mu Yun stepped forward and rubbed the little head of the still-thinking Weedle, offering his usual praise.

In truth, Mu Yun felt that Weedle's current performance was what counted as normal.

After all, Perfected proficiency was described as maxed-out proficiency. In human professions, that was equivalent to champions, superstars, and other outstanding elites.

How could it possibly be ordinary?

He had previously felt that Weedle had not improved much only because his point of comparison had been wrong.

Comparing him to a genius naturally made it hard to see how much progress he had made.

But if he compared him to "consumables," the difference was obvious at a glance.

"Thanks for the effort. These apples are for you. As for the String Shot, it'll dissipate on its own in a little over an hour."

Mu Yun picked up the two snow-white "Pidgey Balls," placed them beneath the shade of the tree, then took out seven apples and set them beside them.

One red and one white, two large and seven small—it actually looked rather harmonious.

Although they had failed to dodge the String Shot attacks, they had successfully helped Mu Yun understand the difference between genius Pokémon and consumable Pokémon. That counted as a great contribution.

They deserved a reward!

"Pidgey!!"

The two Pidgey did not understand why, but seeing the seven large apples still made them cry out happily.

They got apples even after losing. This human was so nice!

He was a good person~!