Cat and Snake

"J and the Double Battle Tournament really have made me impatient lately."

"All I could think about was catching Ursaring as quickly as possible. I failed to direct my three Pokémon into working together, so they charged in one after another like the Calabash Brothers trying to save Grandpa. In the end, I nearly lost."

"I've been traveling for so long. I shouldn't still be making mistakes like that."

After failing to catch Ursaring, Bai Shi took a hard look at what had gone wrong.

Only then did he realize the problem was his own state of mind.

Fortunately, he had caught it in time. Otherwise, it would have led to disaster sooner or later.

Pat, pat.

Bai Shi raised both hands and gently patted his cheeks. He closed his eyes, then drew a deep breath and let it out.

He emptied his mind and drove away every stray thought.

After holding that routine for a minute, Bai Shi felt much lighter, as though he had shrugged off a set of shackles.

It was a habit he had developed long ago, one that helped him quickly steady his mind.

Only after he felt settled did Bai Shi dare to make his next move.

"Stantler's performance was even more ridiculous than mine. I need to catch a new Pokémon soon to make up for the fighting strength we lose whenever he starts acting up."

With that in mind, Bai Shi continued searching the forest for Pokémon.

Before long, he found a target.

It was a Bug- and Fighting-type Heracross. Blue from head to toe, with a huge horn and a body covered in hard armor, he looked like a rhinoceros beetle.

Thanks to the anime, Bai Shi had a pretty good impression of Heracross.

Besides, in his previous life, Heracross had earned the title of "Bug King."

That was proof enough of Heracross's considerable strength.

Now that Bai Shi had encountered him, he naturally wanted to try catching him.

Having learned his lesson from Ursaring, Bai Shi did not rush to attack.

Instead, he hid and carefully watched Heracross's every move.

He waited for the right moment to launch a surprise attack.

Ideally, one decisive burst would be enough to make the catch.

But while Bai Shi patiently waited for his chance, something unexpected happened.

A fierce fight broke out nearby, startling Heracross off the tree where he had been resting.

Bai Shi's plan to catch him was over before it had even begun.

"I'd like to see who ruined my chance!"

Bai Shi's face darkened as he stormed toward the sounds of fighting.

There, he discovered that the two Pokémon battling were Seviper and Zangoose.

In the Pokémon world, the two species were mortal enemies.

Whenever they met, they fought to the death, stopping only when one side fell for good.

And now that these two had crossed paths, both were out for blood.

Zangoose swung his sharp claws, trying to tear Seviper apart.

Seviper fought back with his pointed fangs and blade-like tail.

They traded blows, each intent on killing the other.

After several exchanges, the stronger Seviper gradually gained the upper hand.

The wounds on Zangoose's body multiplied.

His movements slowed noticeably, and he began to show signs of exhaustion.

Seviper seized his chance and lashed Zangoose with his tail, knocking him to the ground.

Then he opened his jaws wide and lunged in to bite.

Zangoose still tried to fight back, but he could no longer get to his feet. He had clearly spent the last of his strength.

"Stantler, use Confusion!"

With Zangoose about to meet his end in Seviper's jaws, Bai Shi could no longer stand by.

Stantler pinned Seviper in place with Confusion, creating an opening for the other Pokémon.

"Staravia, use Quick Attack!"

Staravia became a streak of white light and slammed into Seviper, driving him back several meters.

"Dunsparce, use Mud Shot!"

Bai Shi then had Dunsparce spit a barrage of mud pellets, blanketing Seviper with attacks.

The short combination dealt Seviper a fair amount of damage.

Even so, it was not enough to take him out of the fight.

"Hiss!"

Furious at being caught off guard, Seviper raised his purple-glowing tail and prepared to strike Bai Shi's Pokémon.

"Staravia, use Aerial Ace!"

Bai Shi had no intention of letting him, and called out to Staravia.

Staravia plunged at incredible speed, the air whistling around her, and struck Seviper hard.

Seeing that things had turned against him, Seviper gave up on attacking Zangoose.

He spewed out a thick cloud of Haze and fled.

"Zang!"

Badly injured, Zangoose struggled to his feet and tried to pursue Seviper.

He made it only a few steps before collapsing again.

All he could do was watch Seviper disappear from sight.

Seeing this, Bai Shi took out a Potion, intending to treat his wounds.

But Zangoose wanted none of it. He even put on a vicious expression, trying to scare off the stranger in front of him.

"Hah, you've got quite a personality!"

"Stantler, use Confusion to hold him still for me."

Even as he praised Zangoose, Bai Shi gave Stantler an order.

Only after restraining Zangoose could Bai Shi spray the medicine on him.

Unable to break free, Zangoose had no choice but to accept Bai Shi's treatment.

Overwhelmed by humiliation and his severe injuries, he closed his eyes and briefly lost consciousness.

"That Seviper was clearly stronger than the one I encountered before."

"He took attacks from four Pokémon in succession and still got away. That says plenty about his strength."

"Zangoose held his own against him for a while, so he's no pushover. He meets my need for a Pokémon who can fight right away."

"His stubborn personality is a plus in my book, too."

"Even if he's a little weaker than I'd hoped, he's still within the range I'd accept."

Looking at the unconscious Zangoose, Bai Shi rested his chin on his hand and thought it over.

Zangoose was certainly not as strong as that Ursaring.

But with Hearthome City drawing closer, Bai Shi could not be sure he would encounter another Pokémon on the way who met his requirements and whom he was capable of catching.

He might as well settle for Zangoose for now.

Having made up his mind, Bai Shi took out a Poké Ball he had obtained through a sign-in reward and gently touched it to Zangoose's body.

Zangoose turned into a beam of red light and was drawn into the Poké Ball.

It shook twice, then went ding.

Bai Shi had caught him.

"Zangoose is a Normal-type. His possible Abilities are Immunity and Toxic Boost."

"Immunity prevents poisoning and severe poisoning, while Toxic Boost raises his attack when he's poisoned or badly poisoned."

Information about Zangoose flashed through Bai Shi's mind.

He had fought Seviper for quite some time without showing the slightest sign of poisoning.

From that, Bai Shi guessed this Zangoose's Ability was most likely Immunity.

In the future, he could confidently send Zangoose against Poison-type Pokémon.

"Still, by catching Zangoose, I've taken another big step toward specializing in Normal-types without even meaning to."

"I have to admit, there really does seem to be some inexplicable bond between me and Pokémon of this type."

Bai Shi had given up worrying about his "ill-fated bond" with Normal-type Pokémon.

He would take things as they came and focus on raising all his Pokémon well.