He had ultimately failed to get a Chansey last night. Although this Pokémon was not particularly strong in battle, it was very rare and subject to restrictions. Without special connections, even his grandfather would have trouble getting one.
Fortunately, a Chansey was not essential to him. He simply wanted a Pokémon with healing abilities of his own, and Chansey's attributes made it an ideal tank for soaking up damage.
"As planned, we'll enter Phoenix Forest from these three directions and meet here at the end. If anything happens, use a Signal Flare to contact the others!" After packing up and confirming the three teams' respective routes and assignments once more, they set off separately.
Xiao Ran's group took the right flank, following a River that cut across all of Phoenix Forest. But this route was not an easy one either.
Along the way were small waterfalls, Pokémon gathering grounds, Lakes inhabited by large numbers of Water-type Pokémon, and powerful Pokémon that occasionally came to drink.
They therefore proceeded with great caution, only advancing once they were certain there was no danger ahead.
"A Beedrill just flew past." Hiding beneath a large tree, Ye Ling pointed somewhere overhead.
It was a black-and-yellow figure. They could not make out its entire body, but it was easy enough to recognize.
"It's probably late Entry Class. Beedrill rarely act alone, so there's definitely something wrong with this one. It looks like it's patrolling," Xiao Ran said gravely.
They had barely entered Phoenix Forest and had already encountered the other party's Pokémon. This reconnaissance mission looked considerably harder than they had imagined.
"It flew away. A Beedrill acting alone... could someone really be raising it?" Xuan Yuan Nian asked in confusion as she spread out her psychic power.
"Almost certainly. Besides, we've encountered noticeably fewer