Slowing the car, Shen Qi recalled what he knew about the Berry field.
A single Berry cost anywhere from several dozen to over a hundred b. They were relatively expensive fruits, rich in medicinal and nutritional value, and required more care.
Aunt Chunhe's Berry field lay on a gentle slope slightly above ground level, passed down from the previous generation.
Without systematic techniques or methods, relying only on traditional practices and help from their Pokémon, the field's earnings were enough for no more than an ordinary life on Island 6.
If flooding or a flash flood washed away the foundation and made the land unsuitable for growing Berries, Chunhe's entire family would lose their livelihood.
Driving toward the market, he could slow down without losing much time. When his headlights swept across the slope, quite a few people in straw rain capes and raincoats looked over.
"Shen Qi!"
"You silly boy, didn't we tell you not to drive?"
Coming to Chunhe's place on foot in the rain took about half an hour, but it was much safer than driving.
"It's fine. I know what I'm doing."
"Quick, come help!"
Over the past few days, the rain had washed rocks down the mountain, blocking both ends of the gully. The trapped water kept rising and had already submerged one corner of the Berry field.
If this continued, never mind the energy balance point-even the ordinary topsoil would be swept away. They wouldn't be able to grow regular crops, let alone demanding plants like Berries.
Chunhe and her family were already covered in muddy water. Their Furret was frantically darting about, carrying a small bucket to scoop water out and occasionally plunging its head into the muddy water to inspect the energy pathways, leaving its fur caked in mud.
"Hang in there, everyone! Don't let the water flood the Berry field!"
"The pump will be here soon!"
Rain poured from the sky. The water in the blocked gully was rising far too quickly. Trying to save the Berry field by bailing it out one bucket and basin at a time was so foolish it was almost laughable.
Yet not a single person there gave up hope. Everyone was doing their best to help Chunhe's family.
"Chansey, can you knock down the blockage in the gully?"
Judging by that Furret's behavior, it probably didn't know moves like Dig that required a Technical Machine to learn. His Chansey, meanwhile, had taken the path of toughening up her body.
Although her physical Attack stat was nothing special among Pokémon, all she needed to do was break apart the loose piles of earth and rocks to drain the water.
"Jili!"
Chansey waved her little fleshy hands, eager to try.
Pushing off with her short legs, she launched her round body high into the air. Normal-type energy gathered in her leg as she struck diagonally downward.
Mega Kick!
Crack!
Chansey's attack wasn't powerful enough to break through the mass of sediment. Instead, she shattered a larger rock at the top, creating a low point like a short stave in a wooden barrel, and the water level dropped.
"It's Shen Qi's Pokémon!"
"Amazing!"
"Don't let your guard down!"
Shen Qi realized the mud and rocks washed down from the slope were unstable. By shattering part of the blockage, Chansey had effectively hollowed out its support. More mud and rocks immediately surged down the slope, plugging the gully back up to its original height, and the water continued rising.
"Jili!"
Chansey repeated her attack, opening a gap. After a little water drained away, the gap was plugged again.
This treated the symptoms, not the cause. But the real causes were the torrential rain overhead and the mud and rocks on the mountain, neither of which they could do anything about.
Squelch-
At last, Chansey's attack failed to accomplish anything.
Almost all the substantial rocks had already been shattered. Her kick sank into soft mud and sand, its force dissipating without effect.
Growing anxious, Chansey used Work Up, then unleashed Double-Edge despite the recoil she would suffer. Her attack still vanished into the mud without a trace.
"This won't work. We need to move to the other end of the gully."
There were still large boulders there that she could shatter, which would at least buy them some time.
A tractor rumbled below the mountain. The pump Dev had sent someone to borrow had arrived. Powered by a Diesel Generator and connected to a hose, it began noisily pumping water out.
"Whew, I'm exhausted."
With a brief chance to rest, everyone sat straight down without caring about the muddy ground.
They knew that once the gully could no longer drain, the pump alone wouldn't be enough. They hurried to snatch a little rest before they had to get back to work.
That thought had barely crossed their minds when the machinery suddenly fell silent.
The large amounts of sand and gravel in the water had clogged the pump's intake.
Everyone scrambled to help clear it, but it had barely resumed working before it clogged again.
At the other end of the gully, Chansey panted heavily. She had shattered every rock she could. The remaining soft mud and sand absorbed the force, making it impossible to punch through with direct attacks.
Chapter 41: Energy Coordination
I'm still too weak. It's all because I haven't trained hard enough.
The wind and rain filling the sky were enough to drive anyone to despair. The darkness seemed as though it would stretch on forever.
Shaking the rain from her face, Chansey's gaze grew resolute again.
I can't give up!
Brick Break's move pathways were damaged. Until she spent time repairing them, she couldn't use it.
That left the even more powerful Mega Kick.
As a Normal-type move, it matched Chansey's own type, giving its final damage an additional boost.
However, as a tremendously powerful move, Mega Kick had more complex and unstable energy chakras, meaning it could be used fewer times within a short period.
As these thoughts raced through her mind, Chansey didn't stop to fret over every detail. She spun sharply, gathering as much Normal-type energy into her leg as she could.
Mega Kick!
Squelch-
A hole the size of a manhole cover burst open in the mud and sand. Water spilled out, only for fresh earth to quickly fill the gap.
Compared with shattering rocks, dealing with this soft, sticky buildup of mud and sand truly left Chansey feeling helpless.
Watching the gap gradually disappear, Chansey felt a flicker of confusion.
Something's off... That Mega Kick seemed a little stronger than usual, and there was more Normal-type energy, too.
An extra portion of Normal-type energy...
Shen Qi!
Chansey abruptly turned around. Amid the lightning, headlights, and camping lights distorted by the downpour, Shen Qi stood gripping his right wrist with his left hand. A faint trace of Normal-type energy was fading away.
"I think... I've found the feeling."
Between sensing energy and controlling it, and then between controlling it and tracing out Trainer skill pathways, there was a transitional stage.
A foundational skill that didn't count as a skill: energy coordination.
Pokémon Trainers used the energy they drew upon to strengthen and stabilize the effects of their Pokémon's moves.
It was a little like Chansey's Helping Hand, encouraging a teammate and boosting the power of their move on the next turn.
Because it could only work through a Pokémon, energy coordination didn't count as an independent Trainer skill, but it was the foundation for learning skills.
"Chansey!"
Right!
No more words were needed. Chansey knew she had to keep going and fight alongside Shen Qi!
Normal-type energy gathered in Chansey's leg, and in Shen Qi's hand as well.
During the recent days of torrential rain, Shen Qi had spent plenty of time watching Chansey train, while also practicing his ability to sense and control Normal-type energy. He had gained some understanding of Mega Kick's move pathways.
Feel the Pokémon's intentions, and fit my own Normal-type energy into her move pathways!
"Jili!"
She kicked. Bubbles rose one after another beneath the muddy water, and less than half a second later, a large mass of accumulated mud and sand burst apart, sending the sediment behind it sliding outward as well.
Amid the flying mud and sand, Chansey hurriedly covered her face, feeling water flowing steadily out from behind her leg.
"Whew..."
Shen Qi caught his breath, but kept his mind focused, holding firmly onto the feeling he had just found.
That feeling of energy coordination.
This was a basic foundation of learning to be a Pokémon Trainer.
Mega Kick had received a boost and become somewhat more effective. That was all.
There was too much mud and sand, packed too densely, and Shen Qi had only just stumbled upon a flash of inspiration. He was still taking his first unsteady steps.
Worse still, during their last joint effort, Shen Qi had felt Mega Kick's energy chakras reach the limit of their damage.
In player terms: PP depleted.
She couldn't use the move again in the short term.
"Chansey..."
Shen Qi, keep going.
Normal-type energy surged again, this time spreading over Chansey's entire body.
Work Up.
Her Attack and Special Attack rose.
A second Work Up.
A third!
"Calm down!"
Before you continue