The Great Capture

On his way to Jubilife City, Bai Shi unknowingly arrived at a dense forest.

According to the information Bai Shi had gathered, a large number of Stantler lived here.

The antlers atop these Stantler's heads possessed the ability to confuse others.

They often used this ability to toy with passing travelers, causing them to lose their way in the forest.

That was why this forest had also come to be known as the Forest of Bewilderment.

Bai Shi needed to be especially careful when passing through this forest.

He had to avoid being toyed with by Stantler and getting lost here like certain unlucky Pokémon Trainers.

"Stantler, the Big Horn Pokémon. It's a Normal-type, yet it possesses formidable mental powers and can learn many Psychic-type moves."

"In the games, after learning a certain move, it can even evolve into Wyrdeer, a dual-type Normal- and Psychic-type Pokémon with tremendous potential."

Information about Stantler rapidly flashed through Bai Shi's mind.

Considering that Psychic-type Pokémon were practically "bugs" in the real world,

Bai Shi had always dreamed of capturing a Psychic-type Pokémon.

Unfortunately, there were truly very few Pokémon like that.

Before this, Bai Shi had never even encountered one, much less captured one.

Now that a Stantler capable of evolving into a Psychic-type Pokémon was nearby, Bai Shi naturally began having other ideas.

"This place isn't far from Jubilife City anymore."

"With my current strength, I won't have trouble finding suitable work there."

"Even if I capture a new Pokémon, I won't need to worry about being unable to support it."

"The biggest problem is, how should I capture it?"

Bai Shi was still rather wary of Stantler's Hypnosis.

Before coming up with a foolproof plan, he simply didn't dare enter the Illusion Forest rashly.

Aside from Stantler, there were also signs of Ursaring activity in the forest.

And the latter was a Pokémon renowned for its violent temperament.

If he had bad luck and encountered one in a narrow place, Bai Shi had no confidence that he could retreat unscathed.

"To be safe, I'd better have Staravia scout ahead!"

After thinking it over, Bai Shi decided to send Staravia in as the vanguard to fly into the Illusion Forest.

While eliminating potential dangers, it could also search for an isolated Stantler to capture.

Perhaps Bai Shi's luck was fairly good today.

"Staravia~"

Before long, Staravia flew back to Bai Shi's side.

Through various gestures and facial expressions, it reported the information it had gathered during its reconnaissance.

There seemed to be a deer-like Pokémon not far ahead.

Still harboring some doubts, Bai Shi naturally had to go over and investigate.

"Come out, Dunsparce!"

As a precaution, Bai Shi released another Pokémon.

He had it hide underground as his trump card.

Only after making these preparations did he begin to act.

Following Staravia, he arrived at the place where it had discovered the Stantler.

A short while later, a deer-like Pokémon came into view. It had a pair of ring-shaped antlers, a completely brown body with two beige spots, a black sphere in the center of its antlers, and a tufted tail.

This Pokémon was precisely the Stantler he wanted to capture.

"Stantler~"

The Stantler had originally been leisurely chewing grass, but its senses were unexpectedly sharp.

Before Bai Shi could approach, it had already noticed him.

Unexpectedly, however, the Stantler did not attack after discovering Bai Shi. Instead, it immediately turned and ran.

Bai Shi couldn't help staring blankly at the sight.

"Don't let it get away, Staravia!"

Coming to his senses, Bai Shi immediately shouted at Staravia.

At his words, Staravia shot out like an arrow, flew in front of the Stantler, and attempted to use a move to intercept it.

It was a timid Pokémon similar to Dunsparce. With just a little force, Staravia could easily take it down.

However, the opponent was far more cunning than Staravia had imagined.

It directly fired a strange ball of light, striking the completely unprepared Staravia.

After being hit by the ball of light, Staravia instantly fell into a state of Confusion. Stars swirled before its eyes, its mind went completely blank, and it seemed as though it had drunk counterfeit liquor. It completely lost control of itself.

No matter how loudly Bai Shi shouted, he could not get Staravia to return to normal.

"Stantler~"

As it passed by Staravia, the Stantler cast it a disdainful glance, its heart filled with contempt.

What kind of thing was this to dare block Lord Stantler's path?

If it weren't worried that the human might have other Pokémon, it would have stayed behind to teach the other a proper lesson.

"Dunsparce, use Mud-Slap!"

Seeing that the Stantler was about to escape, Bai Shi could no longer worry about outnumbering it. He directed Dunsparce, which was hidden underground.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dunsparce emerged from the soil and released a large amount of mud toward the Stantler's face.

Yet this sudden attack abruptly froze in midair, as if someone had pressed a pause button.

"That's Confusion? Dunsparce, use Rollout!"

Bai Shi was delighted rather than alarmed and ordered Dunsparce to continue attacking.

Dunsparce curled into a ball and rolled rapidly toward the Stantler's legs.

The Stantler forcefully leaped upward, jumping into the air and narrowly dodging Dunsparce's collision.

Then its eyes glowed as it used Confusion to bind Dunsparce in place, preventing it from rolling any farther.

"This Stantler has quite a bit of battle experience!"

Bai Shi couldn't help frowning as he watched the scene before him.

He was somewhat worried that he wouldn't be able to take it down quickly, causing further complications.

Fortunately, Staravia, which had fallen into a state of Confusion, regained consciousness at that moment.

It was furious about its performance just now.

Without waiting for Bai Shi's command, it used Quick Attack, transforming into a streak of white light as it charged toward the Stantler.

Together with Dunsparce, it formed a pincer attack.

Hearing the howl coming from behind, the Stantler's expression changed dramatically.

It hurriedly abandoned Dunsparce and tried to move its body to evade Staravia's attack.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Staravia's swift strike still hit the Stantler.

It staggered several steps before barely maintaining its balance and avoiding a fall.

Dunsparce also took the opportunity to break free of the Stantler's control and regain its ability to move.

It used Rollout again, charging toward the Stantler, which was unable to defend both front and rear, and knocked it to the ground.

"Staravia, use Wing Attack!"

Bai Shi's face lit up. Seizing the opportunity, he ordered Staravia to continue its fierce assault.

Staravia spread its wings and swept them toward the Stantler's head with a sharp whoosh.

Facing Staravia as it drew closer, the Stantler could already vaguely foresee its fate.

Its eyes widened, its pupils filled with nothing but despair and regret.

If it had known this would happen, it would never have abandoned its fellow Stantler to come here and eat "alone" today.

"Smack~"

The Stantler's vision went black. It lost consciousness completely and fell motionless to the ground.

Bai Shi then used a Poké Ball to capture it.

After several flashes of red light, everything finally settled.

"Hehehe..."

Looking at the Poké Ball in his hand, Bai Shi rejoiced inwardly, feeling as though he had gotten an incredible bargain.