Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof
-----------------
After Sato commanded Arcanine and Ariados to repel the attacking Scyther and other wild Pokémon, the area around the cave fell into complete silence. No wild Pokémon dared to approach within ten meters of the cave entrance.
However, Sato didn't let his guard down. He had Ariados—with its Insomnia ability—stand watch at the entrance while Arcanine and Kecleon remained inside to protect him.
Once he finished reapplying medicine to Ursaring's wounds, Sato crawled into his high-tech sleeping bag and prepared to sleep.
The expensive high-tech sleeping bag lived up to its reputation. The moment Sato placed it on the ground, it instantly camouflaged itself, blending seamlessly with the terrain.
Sato slipped inside, covering himself up to his nose, leaving only his eyes exposed. To an outside observer, it was as if he had completely vanished.
The sleeping bag's incredible concealment gave Sato an extra sense of security. Thanks to its sleep-enhancing function, he soon drifted off.
Though his first night on the mysterious island was somewhat restless, it passed without incident.
At 7 AM the next morning, Sato woke up to his alarm. He neatly folded the sleeping bag, stored it in his backpack, and after a quick wash, began preparing breakfast for his Pokémon.
However, when he had Arcanine and Ariados drag the three trussed-up wild deer out of the cave, he noticed a small pile of berries placed just beyond the ten-meter perimeter.
Most were ordinary fruits, with only a few being actual Berries.
Sato couldn't help but smile. Clearly, these were offerings from the local wild Pokémon, paying tribute to Arcanine—their new "lord" who had replaced Ursaring.
The presence of these gifts also meant that Sato and his team had gained some level of acceptance from the wild Pokémon in the area.
Sure, this acceptance was achieved through force, and the wild Pokémon likely feared them more than respected them. But the result was the same—Sato knew they had successfully established their presence in this territory.
Without hesitation, Sato collected the pile of fruits. Since he had just arrived on the island, the more supplies he had, the better. This way, he could sustain more Pokémon in his team.
Three deer and over fifty fruits—this was breakfast for Sato and his Pokémon.
Arcanine devoured an entire deer by itself, while Sato, Ariados, and Kecleon shared another. The last one went to Ursaring.
Yes, Ursaring had woken up. Its physical resilience was extraordinary, and with the help of Sato's Burn Heal and Potions, its injuries had mostly healed overnight.
Of course, its fur wouldn't grow back so quickly. Right now, Ursaring was completely bald, looking rather comical.
Surprisingly, Ursaring held no resentment toward Sato, its "temporary master." It didn't even mind that Sato had taken over its cave and territory.
As a battle-hardened warrior and the former ruler of this area, Ursaring understood the law of the jungle. This cave hadn't originally been its either—it had taken it from the previous owner.
Yesterday, it had lost a direct fight against Arcanine. Sato had every right to kill it, and without intervention, Ursaring would have soon succumbed to its injuries. But instead, Sato had spared it and even saved its life.
Because of this, the straightforward muscle-headed Ursaring quickly acknowledged Sato and expressed willingness to follow his orders.
Of course, another major factor was the delicious roasted venison—something Ursaring had never tasted before.
Sato had specifically coated Ursaring's portion with some wild Beedrill honey, instantly winning over the bear's stomach.
Pokémon were simple creatures at heart. They respected strength, and if a trainer could defeat them fairly and treat them well, most would willingly follow.
After breakfast, Sato pulled out his map and began planning his next move based on the information it provided.
The main task of this island trial was to survive for three weeks. Now that he had secured a foothold in this area, as long as he didn't do anything reckless, he could probably coast through the three weeks without issue.
But Sato knew that if he simply holed up in one spot, even if he made it to the end of the second phase, his chances of competing for the 1st place would be slim.
In Sato's eyes, the second phase was a free-for-all—a perfect opportunity for those aiming for a high ranking to exploit the chaos.
By seizing the initiative or forming alliances, weaker competitors could potentially take down stronger opponents and climb the ranks.
Winning the 1st place in the competition had been Sato's goal ever since he gained Giovanni's backing. Even after witnessing top-tier competitors like Tomoki and Vanna, he hadn't given up on this ambition.
Now that he possessed the Reverse Dragon Scale—a treasure for raising pseudo-legendary Dragon-types—his desire for the top had only grown stronger.
The grand prize—a pseudo-legendary Pokémon egg of his choice—was a one-time opportunity. He had to seize it.
So instead of hiding in one spot, Sato's next move was to take the initiative: hunt down other competitors, steal their number tags, and quickly reclaim the Pokémon he had temporarily left at the Team Rocket base.
At the same time, he intended to use this island—filled with high-level wild Pokémon—as a training ground. Three weeks of intense battles could help him close the gap between himself and elite young trainers like Tomoki.
In gaming terms, this mysterious island was a high-level grinding zone.
Still, Sato also hoped to stumble upon more opportunities.
From veteran Team Rocket members, he had learned that the island held many treasures capable of enhancing a Pokémon's strength. There were even rumors of someone once bringing back a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type egg.
In short, while dangerous, this island was a genuine treasure trove. With enough strength and a bit of luck, a trainer could rapidly grow stronger using its resources.
Sato believed this wholeheartedly. He hadn't even been on the island long before capturing Kecleon—a Pokémon that could greatly strengthen his team.
"Alright, first I'll scout around Slakoth Forest to see if there are any other competitors or special Slakoth. Then I'll head south to Poliwag Lake and try my luck at catching a Poliwag with Swift Swim."
After studying the map for a while, Sato finalized his plan.
He had Kecleon climb onto his shoulder and turn invisible, acting as his hidden guard. Then he mounted Arcanine and dashed eastward into the forest.