Fleeing in Disarray

In the dense jungle, a black-haired boy with delicate features and an odd getup hid in a thicket. Binoculars in hand, he furtively surveyed his surroundings.

Bai Shi had been in the forest for some time.

To be safe, he had not rushed to catch a Pokémon.

Instead, he had patiently searched for a suitable target.

"That group of Oddish straight ahead looks promising."

"They're Grass-type, and they can evolve twice."

"Too bad they're all together. There are too many to catch one easily."

"There seems to be a Tangela hiding in the bushes on the left."

"Once it evolves into Victreebel, it'll be a force to reckon with."

"But that Tangela looks pretty wary."

"It probably won't be easy to catch. Better forget it."

"There's a Burmy hanging from a tree on the right, too."

"It has several possible evolutions. It wouldn't be a bad choice."

"If I don't find a better Pokémon, I could try catching it."

Bai Shi weighed his options as he watched the Pokémon.

"Huh? That Pokémon is..."

Suddenly, Bai Shi's eyes lit up. He had spotted a Pokémon that was just what he wanted.

Hanging from a tree to his front right was a yellow, cocoon-like Kakuna.

Its eyes were shut, and it was fast asleep, completely unaware that Bai Shi was watching it.

That gave him the perfect chance to catch it.

"Kakuna evolves into Beedrill."

"If I catch it and raise it for a while, it should evolve. Then I'll have a Pokémon that can fight."

"And if I get incredibly lucky someday and find a Key Stone and the matching Mega Stone, the possibilities will be endless."

"Besides, that Kakuna is asleep."

"My chances of catching it are much better than if it were awake."

"For me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

He pictured himself commanding a Mega Beedrill as it swept through every opponent in its path.

Bai Shi's blood heated up, and his breathing quickened. He made up his mind.

Caution went straight out the window.

He took an ordinary red-and-white Poké Ball from his trouser pocket.

Then he crept silently toward the Kakuna.

"Go, Poké Ball!"

He aimed at the Kakuna hanging from the tree and threw it.

Bai Shi had practiced throwing Poké Balls for this very day.

That throw carried the skill of more than ten years of training.

The Poké Ball traced a beautiful arc through the air and struck the Kakuna.

On impact, the Kakuna turned into a beam of red light and was drawn inside.

The ball fell to the ground, shook violently, and flashed with dazzling red light.

"Goh, bless me! Let me catch it with one ball!"

His nerves taut, Bai Shi pressed his palms together and prayed to a certain "one-ball wonder."

Apparently, Goh did not consider them close.

Pop!

After rocking twice, the Poké Ball burst open.

The Kakuna inside popped back out.

Nearly caught, the Kakuna lost all trace of sleepiness and woke completely.

Its eyes blazed as it glared at Bai Shi, who had ambushed it.

"I knew I couldn't count on Goh!"

"Forget it. I'll just try again!"

Unwilling to give up, Bai Shi took out another Poké Ball and prepared for a second attempt.

But the furious Kakuna suddenly began to glow white.

Wrapped in the light, its body gradually changed.

"It's... evolving already?"

Bai Shi stared, dumbfounded.

At the same time, a bad feeling came over him.

When the white light faded, a wasp-like Pokémon appeared before him.

"Beedrill!"

Having evolved, Beedrill let out a piercing cry.

"Bzzzz!"

Before Bai Shi could run, a whole swarm of Beedrill flew toward him.

Clearly, the newly evolved Beedrill had called them.

From the way they charged in, Bai Shi did not need to think twice to know they were not here for a friendly chat.

His makeshift gear might offer some protection against a petty thief.

Against a swarm of Beedrill, it would be about as useful as paper.

"Oh no!"

Bai Shi's face changed. Forgetting all about catching the Pokémon, he pocketed the Poké Ball and reached for his waist with his other hand.

He pulled a handful of blue powder from a small pouch.

It was Sleep Powder secreted by Grass-type Pokémon.

Bai Shi had paid a hefty sum for it at a shop as an emergency lifesaver.

It could put both people and Pokémon to sleep.

"Take this! Sleep Powder!"

As the Beedrill drew closer, Bai Shi held his breath and tossed the blue powder into the air.

The few Beedrill at the front flew straight into the cloud.

They wobbled, dropped to the ground, and fell asleep.

But they were only a tiny fraction of the massive swarm.

Bai Shi's move only angered the remaining Beedrill, and they flew at him even faster.

"Then take this! Smokescreen!"

Bai Shi pulled out a small black ball and hurled it at the ground.

Thick black smoke immediately billowed around him.

The ball was a Smoke Bomb Bai Shi had acquired from a veteran Pokémon Trainer.

He had only one, and he had saved it as his last resort.

Now that things were desperate, Bai Shi could not afford to hold back.

"As long as I'm alive, I can try again!"

"Time to get out of here!"

Under cover of the smoke, Bai Shi turned and ran.

His yellow helmet fell off, but he did not even stop to pick it up.

"I remember there's a river nearby."

"If I jump in, I should be safe."

Before coming here, Bai Shi had carefully surveyed the area in case a failed capture led to a Pokémon chasing him.

He had planned several escape routes.

The one he was taking now was among them.

In theory, Bai Shi's plan to save himself was sound.

He even took off the two wooden boards he had strapped to himself.

That let him run faster.

Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan.

Bai Shi had overestimated the Smoke Bomb and underestimated the Beedrill.

After a brief spell of confusion, the Beedrill recovered.

They beat their wings hard, whipping up a powerful gust that swept away the smoke.

The Smoke Bomb Bai Shi had pinned his hopes on had accomplished little.

Free of the smoke, the swarm immediately chased after Bai Shi.

In the blink of an eye, they were right behind him.

He was still a considerable distance from the river.

His plan to survive had fallen apart completely.

"Is this how I, Bai Shi, die for nothing?"

"I've been in this world so long, and I haven't even caught one Pokémon. I can't accept this!"

As the swarm closed in, Bai Shi's face went ashen, and he cried out in despair.