The Right Way to Catch a Zubat

"How?"

Azisa brought out a plate of colorful Berry pizza.

As she approached, the palace was greeted by a rich fruity aroma, which immediately made her mouth water.

Having a companion who can cook is so important. Unfortunately, Misdreavus Fairy was obsessed with cooking for a while, but after realizing she didn't have a talent for it, she immediately gave up and started looking for other fun things to do.

Maybe one day she'll develop an interest in cooking again, but I don't know if the prince will be able to wait that long.

"Hmm, bold, novel."

After hesitating for a moment, Dian chose two words to express his feelings.

After reading the entire article, that was indeed his first impression. Perhaps a professional researcher would have a different perspective.

"Yes, it is indeed very forward-thinking. This is one of the most radical articles I've seen recently, very much in line with Scholar Suzuki's consistent style."

Azisa placed the Berry pizza on the table and began cutting it. "After all, Scholar Suzuki is quite young, so his published articles are very bold, and his ideas are unexpected."

Do you know Azisa?

Dian asked curiously, and judging from her tone, it seemed that Azisa was quite familiar with Suzuki.

"Well, I wouldn't say I know them, I've only met them once."

Azisa nodded and thought for a moment, "I saw her once at a banquet before I left home; she was a great beauty."

She smiled mischievously, then sighed, "Perhaps when I saw Scholar Suzuki, I was extremely envious, which is why I had the idea of leaving home, and why all of this has happened today. From this perspective, I'm quite grateful to her."

The hall nodded. It seemed that this Scholar Suzuki had quite a background and considerable strength.

Three days later, at dawn.

The Hoppip effortlessly scattered yellow Stun Spore and deep purple Poison Powder across the vast grassland.

The palace watched from the side, while the Beedrill occasionally tasted the Poison Powder to judge its toxicity.

After closing its eyes and sensing the surroundings for a moment, the Beedrill flew over and nodded to the hall.

Meanwhile, Dian had a Cheri Berry in his mouth and then tasted the Stun Spore.

Pain...

It was truly painful; first it was spicy, then numb, and then as time passed, the Paralysis gradually disappeared, and the spiciness returned.

"No pain, no gain," Dian kept telling himself, wishing a little girl could comfort him.

Misdreavus Fairy flew over, clutching a small blue Little Flower in her hand, then looked at Dian and the others and Yawn.

Last night she was forced to practice Psywave all night long, and she was exhausted. Not only was she mentally exhausted, but she was also physically exhausted. Practicing a skill that wasn't fun was too boring.

"Come back and rest for a while."

The hall prepared to take out Poké Ball to recall Misdreavus.

He looked at the Hoppip on the ground, smiled, and praised it a few times.

Now we've finally completed learning these three powder skills; as for their power, that can only be honed over time.

Meanwhile, the remaining Coelacanth Grass can also be given to the Hoppip, and we also need to find some substances with extremely strong Paralysis effects.

Actually, there's something nearby— the Stun Spore from the Vileplume. It's sure to be extremely effective, but it's not easy to obtain. I'll probably have to rely on Azisa.

As for the Sleep Powder, it can still be given the black powder obtained from the antlers of the Stantler, so there's no need to worry.

However, now that he had finished learning about the three types of powder, Dian could go to a Nameless cave in the nearby mountains.

There are many underground caves in the mountains and forests near Violet City. Generally, no one dares to trespass. Even if the Lord sees them, he keeps his distance because he doesn't know what might be inside.

Johto entire Chengdu area has many famous underground caves, among which the Dark Cave and Union Cave are the most well-known.

It seems that there is a well-known Ruins deep inside, but this Ruins is currently sealed off by the League, and only relevant researchers can freely enter and exit it.

Dian wasn't simply looking for a peaceful life in the caves; rather, he had discovered signs of a group of Zubat living in one of the caves.

Furthermore, they seem to live on the outer layers, suggesting that there might be even more powerful Pokémon inside the caves.

If Dian's guess is correct, there should be some rare Rock-type or Steel-type Pokémon inside, which is his target for this trip.

He went back and greeted Azisa, asking her to obtain some Stun Spore from the Vileplume. He then prepared some supplies and hurried towards the direction he remembered.

After all, the caves and grottoes under this mountain forest are likely interconnected, and when food is scarce, precious Pokémon won't stay in one place forever. If you arrive too late, there's a possibility that you'll find nothing.

As Dian slowly parted the vines hanging down in front of him, he heard the sound of dripping water coming from the cave and felt a chilling aura.

The wind indicates that this cave has another exit, and it is not a dead end. The dripping sound suggests that there may be an underground river deep inside the cave.

"Very good."

Dian nodded. At least, there was a water source in the cave, and with the food he had brought, survival wouldn't be a problem.

However, he didn't go in directly; that would be too foolish. It would be better to find someone to guide him.

After thinking for a moment, Dian walked directly into the nearby jungle and began to collect some dry grass and a few suitable branches.

The Forest is rich in resources; it just depends on whether you know how to utilize them.

However, if you're planning to cut down trees, be sure to check for any Pokémon on the trees, such as Spinarak. One Spinarak isn't scary, but a group of Spinarak plus its evolved form Ariados, is quite dangerous.

"Hoppip, sprinkle some Sleep Powder and Stun Spore into this pile of grass."

Dian immediately began his plan. He intended to first smoke out the cave to see if he could lure out any lone Ultrasonic Beasts. The Stun Spore and Sleep Powder in the Smokescreen could also help him select the stronger individuals to use.

If they can't withstand the two powders in the Smokescreen, they won't have time to fly out and will faint inside the cave. Even if some Zubat manage to fly out, they probably won't have much energy left.

Furthermore, since the caves are interconnected, there won't be any situation where Smokescreen accumulates inside, preventing him from entering.

Ideally, he could lure out all the rare Pokémon deep inside the cave, then he wouldn't need to go back in.

The only problem is that Dian is worried that too many Pokémon will escape, and he might not be able to handle it.