Chapter 13: Oddish's Enticement
Having settled down in Sunrise Valley, Rio began a new life.
Ever since he understood how to use moves and discovered that he could gain experience points and level up through training, Rio had stayed in the valley, carrying out his own training to become stronger.
"What are Fighting Pokémon best at? It must be physical attack and speed. In the world of martial arts, nothing is unbreakable, only speed is invincible."
"Defense? What's that? It doesn't exist. As long as we're fast enough, no enemy attack will land on us. Since the enemy can't hit us, what's the point of defense?"
"And as long as you're fast enough, your fists will be stronger. There's nothing that can't be solved with one punch. If there is, then give them countless punches."
Rio stood before the various training equipment he had set up, speaking eloquently to the assembled Pokémon.
However, the audience present expressed that while he spoke very well, what did it have to do with them?
The Caterpie and Weedle, whom Rio had moved from under the large tree, stared with puffed-up cheeks and only began to munch with smiles after Rio fawningly handed them a few fresh leaves.
The Squirtle and Poliwag had curiously come over to listen, but finding it uninteresting, they started spraying water at each other for fun.
"Yawn~," a few young Geodude were narrowing their eyes, drowsily dozing off.
Only the few Oddish were "pat pat pat patting" the ground with the leaves on their heads, as if applauding.
The youngest female Oddish among them actively raised her leaves and asked loudly, "Then what if you don't have fists?"
Finally having an audience member respond, Rio coughed lightly, clasped his hands behind his back, and, with the air of an old scholar, strolled over to the little Oddish sister, saying slowly, "Young man..."
"Awooo, I'm not a human, I'm a Pokémon."
"...Don't interrupt, ahem, young Oddish, you don't have fists, but you can use the grass on your head to fan other Pokémon, just like this."
Rio got down on the ground, imitated Oddish's form, and performed an Oddish-limited version of "Continuous Slaps."
The little Oddish sister quickly patted the ground to applaud. This handsome young fellow knew so much and spoke so nicely; she really liked him.
While Rio and the little Oddish sister were frolicking here, the second eldest Oddish, who was getting bored listening, thought for a moment, turned, and whispered to his eldest brother, "Big brother, we've been in the valley for so long, it's so boring. Why don't we go to that place again?"
The eldest Oddish brother instantly perked up. "Not bad! That place is absolutely fantastic for moonbathing. But, what if those stinky birds find us again?"
"Hey," the second Oddish brother pointed at Rio with a leaf. "Don't we have a helper who's pretty strong now?"
The two Oddish discussed in a sneaky, conspiratorial manner.
Then, the eldest Oddish brother trotted over and tugged at Rio's leg with a leaf.
"What's up?"
"Um, do you still remember that flock of Pidgey?"
Rio pursed his lips. How could he forget? Being chased by a flock of birds was a first-time experience for him in both his past and current lives.
The eldest Oddish brother continued in an enticing tone.
"Look, you've trained so much and become so strong now. Why not go settle the score with that Pidgey flock? You talk here all day, and no Pokémon is willing to listen, right? Don't worry about not finding the way; we remember that place very clearly."
Rio slapped the Oddish on its forehead.
"Nonsense, look how seriously they're listening."
The Caterpie Rio pointed at rolled their eyes.
The Oddish looked at Rio with disdain, making him feel quite embarrassed.
However, the Oddish's words did make Rio feel a little tempted. He had spent several weeks in Sunrise Valley. During this time, he had used the plum blossom stakes to train his combat footwork, used weighted runs to train his speed, and used various stone and wooden equipment to train his muscles and core strength. This training had brought him various benefits, such as: becoming more proficient in controlling Riolu's body, and gaining experience points through exercise, leading to growth.
However, two problems existed:
First, as he trained his body to become stronger, the experience points gained from training had slowly begun to decrease. A decrease in experience points meant a slowdown in leveling speed. It should be known that in the early stages when Pokémon are weak, a small amount of experience can allow them to grow rapidly. Reflected on Rio's panel, starting from lv6, he could have quickly reached lv20 with very little experience. But the diminishing experience points had only allowed him to reach lv12 by now, which really wasn't a fast leveling speed.
Second, he had always been training alone. Fighting skills emphasized practical combat experience. No matter how proficiently fighting techniques were practiced, if they couldn't be used in actual combat, it was basically wasted effort. In the valley, it wasn't that there were no Pokémon Rio could spar with, but these spars were mostly light and controlled, lacking the kind of opportunity that would allow Rio to unleash himself fully.
"The Pidgey and Pidgeotto I encountered last time, the strongest was the lv18 Pidgeotto. If we go by game settings, the difference in strength between Pokémon at early levels due to level difference shouldn't be too obvious. So, my lv12 should still be able to beat its lv18."
"And, I've learned two new skills..."
Rio looked at the two new skills that had appeared in his move list, quickly considering them.
These two new moves seemed to be naturally engraved in his bloodline. As Rio's level increased, the names and methods of performing these two new moves naturally appeared in his mind.
"Perhaps this is why Pokémon automatically learn moves?"
As he was thinking absently, the eldest Oddish brother impatiently patted Rio's leg again.
"Well, are you going or not?"
"Alright, your proposal has indeed moved me." Rio finally nodded. "But, shouldn't we tell the Squirtle Boss, or maybe Sister Vileplume?"
"No, no, no."
The Oddish frantically waved their leaves.
"Hmm?"
Rio looked at them with some suspicion.
"You see, those two are so busy. One has to patrol the surroundings for danger, and the other has to manage matters inside and outside the valley. They're so busy! There's no need to bother them with such a small matter. We can just set off on our own."
Listening to the Oddish's flustered explanation, Rio felt something was not quite right. Then, without thinking too much, he carried the Caterpie, who were happily munching on leaves, back to the forest on the left side of the valley (Caterpie: (╬￣皿￣), You've had enough!), while the Squirtle and Poliwag had long since slipped away to play.
After "dealing" with all his listeners, Rio arranged to meet the Oddish at the valley entrance at night, then returned to the wooden shed where he lived.
"Whoosh—," a gust of wind blew past.
Only the Geodude were still there, fast asleep.