"Bzz~"
Vespiquen gave a soft buzz, then pointed at the honeycombs filled with honey inside the hive.
Her meaning was clear: it was ready.
"That fast?"
Yushu leaned closer. Inside the honeycomb, several hexagonal cells were already brimming with amber liquid, crystal clear.
He dipped a finger into it and put it in his mouth for a taste.
An intense sweetness burst across his tongue. Its texture was rich and smooth, its flavor lingering with a faint floral fragrance that made him want another bite.
"This tastes amazing."
Yushu could not help praising it.
Compared with the Honey before him, the honey he had bought from supermarkets in his previous life was practically industrial garbage mixed with syrup. They were not even in the same league.
"Bzz~"
Vespiquen nodded slightly, then continued directing the Combee at work.
Yushu had grown used to Vespiquen's style. That was simply her personality.
Unlike Staraptor's lively, "Come praise me!" manner, Vespiquen was truly as aloof as a queen.
She would not act cute with him or mess around, but she would keep everything meticulously organized.
Soon, however, Yushu noticed a problem.
The Honey's fragrance was far too strong. Carried on the breeze, it had already attracted quite a few wild Pokémon.
In the grass nearby, Oddish, Starly, Kricketot, and others poked their heads out, their eyes fixed on the honey inside the hive as tears shamefully trickled from the corners of their mouths.
But these Pokémon only watched from a distance, not daring to approach.
The pressure Vespiquen radiated was simply too strong.
To these wild Pokémon, most of whom were below the intermediate level, an elite-stage Vespiquen was an insurmountable mountain.
Calling her terrifying beyond belief would not have been an exaggeration.
So they could only gaze longingly at the Honey, not daring to cross the line.
But there was always someone stubborn enough to try.
"Roar!"
With a roar, a vicious-looking figure emerged from the woods.
It was enormous, covered in dark brown fur, with a conspicuous yellow ring on its chest.
"Ursaring? Here to steal the Honey?"
Yushu frowned.
One of the three great Pokémon bullies, it could be called a rookie Trainer's nightmare.
Relying on brute strength and a savage temper to throw its weight around in the wild, it specialized in stealing food. There was nothing it dared not steal, only things it could not manage to steal.
The little Pokémon watching immediately scattered in terror.
"Roar!"
This Ursaring had clearly also set its sights on the freshly produced Honey inside the hive.
To a bear, Honey was no less tempting than the woman of your dreams wearing black stockings right in front of you.
Absolutely impossible to resist!!!
Smelling the sweet fragrance in the air, Ursaring involuntarily gulped, dizzy and dazed, as though the scent had stolen its very soul.
"Roar..." (So good. It smells so good! That's the stuff!)
It could no longer restrain itself at all and strode toward the hive.
"Bzz!"
Several Combee near the front saw Ursaring approaching and immediately flew up to stop it.
Ursaring did not even spare them a proper glance. With a casual swipe, it sent several Combee flying before they could react.
It walked up to the hive and reached out a claw, about to snatch all the Honey that had been produced.
Vespiquen was instantly furious at the sight.
Bullying my bees? Stealing my honey?
Who do you take me for?
"Bzz!" (Soldiers! Hear my command!)
Vespiquen swept her arm.
Attack Order!
"Bzz!" "Bzz!" "Bzz!"
Dozens of Combee beat their wings in unison, producing an ear-piercing resonance!
Bug Buzz! An area-of-effect sonic attack!
BZZZ!!!
Before Ursaring's claw could touch the hive, the high-frequency sound waves blasted it head-on.
Its body jolted as though struck by an invisible heavy punch, leaving its whole head ringing.
"Roar!"
Clutching its ringing head, Ursaring staggered back several steps, its eyes filled with rage.
You dare fight back?
Do you really think that bully reputation was unearned?
It clutched its ringing head, its eyes turning bloodshot. Its mouth opened, and golden energy began gathering in its throat, radiating a destructive aura.
Yushu's pupils contracted. "Vespiquen, watch out! It's Hyper Beam!"
If it landed head-on, Vespiquen's fragile body would probably go down in one hit.
"Bzz!"
Vespiquen gave Yushu a reassuring look, then swept her arm down again.
Defend Order!
Battle formation! Assemble!
The airborne Combee immediately abandoned their pursuit and darted back to Vespiquen like swallows returning to their nest.
Green light shone from their bodies and gathered before Vespiquen, forming an energy barrier.
Struggle Bug!
"Roar!"
Ursaring opened its mouth, and a golden beam erupted from it, carrying destructive energy straight toward Vespiquen's face.
BOOM!!!
Hyper Beam struck Struggle Bug, unleashing a dazzling light!
Energy scattered in all directions, and a shock wave spread outward, kicking up clouds of dust.
Though the green barrier shook violently, it stubbornly withstood Hyper Beam's onslaught.
"This... is kind of cheating."
Yushu marveled at the sight.
Dozens of Combee used Struggle Bug simultaneously, pooling their strength to create a defense far stronger than any one of them could muster alone.
What was this? A righteous group beatdown? Enough ants biting an elephant to death?
A question suddenly occurred to him: would using this tactic in a tournament be allowed?
"Roar?"
Ursaring froze too, confusion written all over its bear face.
Its Hyper Beam had actually been blocked?
Since when had these bees become so tough? Weren't they supposed to get blasted away like Beedrill?
Yushu: Well, well, well. A repeat offender, too!
"Bzz!"
Vespiquen gave it no time to stand there in a daze.
She dispersed the shield, and the green light shattered, bursting into countless fragments!
Crack, crack, crack!
Struggle Bug's second-stage attack!
The energy fragments shot toward Ursaring like countless throwing knives.
This was a hidden effect of Struggle Bug: after successfully defending, actively detonating the energy could deal a second round of damage to the enemy.
"Roar..."
Caught by the sudden second-stage attack, Ursaring was sent flying backward, several gashes sliced into its chest by the fragments.
It was not over yet.
Vespiquen then beat her own wings.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
A string of Air Slashes shrieked through the air, striking Ursaring's body with precision.
Ursaring had just suffered the second-stage attack and had yet to regain its footing when Air Slash struck it head-on. Even its thick hide could no longer withstand the assault.
"Bzz!"
Seeing that Ursaring still showed no intention of retreating, Vespiquen raised her arm again, preparing to launch the next round of attacks.
"Roar?" (Again?)
Seeing Vespiquen directing a swarm of Combee to prepare another round of attacks, it immediately chickened out, turned around, and ran.
What a joke. It was reckless, not stupid.
If it could not win, it could just go mooch somewhere else.