While strategizing for the Florges and its companions, Maki also took a moment to evaluate their strength. Unfortunately, he could only come to one conclusion—completely untrained!
Whether it was their reaction time or proficiency in using battle moves, they all appeared as if they had never fought a single battle in their lives. They were even less experienced than Mawile, the least battle-hardened member of Maki's team.
However, when it came to moves like Floral Healing and Synthesis, they executed them with astonishing speed. Observing their performance, Maki couldn't help but think—these Pokémon were utterly wasted here. If they were at a Pokémon Center, they would be treated like treasures.
Among them, a few Florges could use the move Ally Switch, so Maki specifically called them over. Ally Switch is not only a tricky move in the games but just as devious in reality.
The reason lies in its priority level of +2, allowing a Pokémon to instantly swap places with an ally. This makes it incredibly useful in battle.
For example, if a teammate is charging up a Focus Punch in the backline, I could rush toward the opponent, then use Ally Switch to instantly put my teammate in striking distance, landing a devastating hit.
Or, if an opponent is about to unleash a Dragon-type move on me, I can swap places with a Fairy-type ally. Not only would my ally be immune to the attack, but they'd also be placed right in front of the Dragon-type foe, creating a tactical advantage.
If there's a downside to this move, it's that it drains a significant amount of stamina. A move this strong and with such high priority naturally comes with some drawbacks.
Moreover, it's difficult to use on an opponent. Any resistance from the target would cause the move to fail unless there was a significant difference in power. But if the power gap was that wide, why bother with Ally Switch? Just take down the opponent directly!
After barely managing to organize the Florges' group to an acceptable standard, Maki noticed that the sky within this mysterious realm was gradually darkening. However, the duration of daylight here seemed unnaturally long to him.
Unfortunately, Maki's phone and other electronic devices had malfunctioned when passing through the Ultra Wormhole, leaving him completely unaware of the actual time.
Feeding the Florges wasn't an issue. Despite being pure Fairy-types, they still had many plant-like characteristics as "flowers." In this sunshine-abundant environment, they thrived remarkably well.
As for Absol, the surrounding forests contained plenty of berries, which served as its primary food source.
Originally, Absol was perfectly content eating its berries—until Maki pulled out a large stash of Pokéblocks from his bag. The moment the fragrance of Pokéblocks filled the air, it engulfed a small section of the area.
Absol: "For some reason… these berries suddenly don't taste as good anymore."
Maki wasn't stingy either. Since both Cottonee and Mawile were Fairy-types, he set aside a portion of Pokéblocks for the Florges and their companions as well.
"How is it? Tasty?"
Maki narrowed his eyes as he watched the Florges cautiously nibbling on the Pokéblocks, his expression resembling that of a mischievous uncle tempting children with candy.
Honestly, after witnessing their capabilities, Maki did have an ulterior motive. If he were still in Kanto, as the heir to Team Rocket, he wouldn't have given these Pokémon a second glance.
But times had changed. While the Florges might not be strong in direct combat, they were exceptional in support roles. Not to mention, the nectar they produced had incredible healing properties.
All these factors combined made them invaluable teammates in the wild.
Naturally, Maki was now seriously considering taking them with him. As plant-like Pokémon, they might even have insights into crop cultivation, which could be useful in the long run.
In short, having them around was like finding a treasure trove.
Of course, outright asking them to follow him wouldn't work. The Florges were simple-minded, but not foolish… right?
Even if they were that easy to deceive, there was still Absol to deal with. That one wouldn't be so easily swayed.
"Flaa~"
The Florges carefully took the Pokéblocks Maki handed them, their wide eyes seemingly asking, Is this really for us?
After living in this secluded realm for so long, they had never seen anything like Pokéblocks before. They instinctively assumed it was something rare and precious.
"No worries, they're all yours."
After distributing Pokéblocks to the Florges, Maki turned his attention to Absol.
The Dark-type Pokémon, momentarily distracted by the delicious aroma, quickly snapped out of it and awkwardly lowered its head, continuing to eat its berries.
"These Pokéblocks aren't suited for you."
Maki wasn't lying. The Pokéblocks he had prepared for Cottonee and Mawile were rich in Fairy-type energy, which wouldn't suit Absol. While Dark and Fairy-type energies didn't clash as strongly as Dragon and Fairy, they still weren't compatible.
As for the Pokéblocks meant for Charmeleon, those weren't Dark-type either, so they weren't ideal for Absol.
"Saa~"
Absol bit into a berry, seemingly unfazed by this revelation.
"But while Pokéblocks might not be suitable, I do have something else you might like."
Seeing Absol's reaction, Maki chuckled and pulled out a Poké Bean from his bag. This was one of his emergency rations. Due to their large size, he hadn't brought many, but at least they were coming in handy now.
Absol hesitated for a moment but eventually took the Poké Bean with its mouth.
The moment its fangs pierced the outer layer, the juices inside burst forth, flooding Absol's mouth with rich, savory flavors—perhaps the most delicious thing it had ever eaten.
Although the environment in this realm seemed ideal for growing berries and other plants, none of the berries here had undergone a Breeder's refinement. They wouldn't naturally transform into Pokéblocks on their own.
As for Poké Beans, Maki hadn't seen any of those growing here either.
After enjoying Maki's Pokéblocks, the Florges group led him toward a tree hollow. They pulled back the vines covering the entrance and, using a leaf, carefully collected some golden liquid before presenting it to Maki.
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