"Bellsprout, today we'll focus on improving speed and move fusion. Only by preparing properly can we minimize risks in the wild!"
Early on the eighth morning, Icarus and Bellsprout were already outside, beginning their combo training.
"Spri spri!"
Bellsprout responded confidently, indicating it was ready.
"Alright, let's begin! Use Vine Whip first—"
Before Icarus even finished speaking—
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The sound of vines slicing through the air rang out. This was the move Bellsprout had trained the most, and it had already reached a level of near-instinctive execution.
"Good. Now add the thorn enhancement mid-air!"
"Spri!"
Bellsprout adjusted its energy flow, and sharp wooden thorns began forming along the vines.
"Hm? The speed slowed down. There was a pause."
Although the thorns were successfully added, the transition was still slightly stiff.
Icarus didn't interrupt. He allowed Bellsprout to complete the attack.
"Crack!"
The thorned Vine Whip struck the tree heavily, sending sawdust flying.
"Spri! (> <)"
Bellsprout looked delighted at the increased power.
"The strength is great," Icarus praised first. "But did you notice the slowdown and the brief pause? Why do you think that happened?"
"Spri? Spri spri~"
Bellsprout explained that it felt uncomfortable changing the energy direction mid-air.
"That's normal. It's a matter of move proficiency. Don't stop because of that discomfort. You need to overcome it. Let's repeat Thorn Whip training."
"Spri spri!"
And so the repetitive practice resumed.
Icarus watched Bellsprout train independently and nodded in satisfaction.
"Keep practicing on your own for now. I'll go buy today's Pokémon meat and sell the videotape."
After saying that, he went back inside, grabbed his wallet and the videotape, and headed out.
"Spri~"
When Bellsprout heard that Icarus was buying meat for it, it instantly became energized. It had thought yesterday was the last portion, meaning today it would have to eat that unpleasant grass feed again.
"It seems Icarus really cares about me. I can't disappoint him," it thought, silently increasing its training speed.
---
Icarus headed straight to the butcher shop.
Soon, he arrived and saw the busy Boss Wu Er and a thin young man struggling to cut ordinary meat.
The sight felt strangely familiar.
That used to be him.
"It seems the boss really does have a sharp tongue but a soft heart," Icarus thought.
Though his large build and fierce appearance were intimidating, the fact that he was willing to hire skinny orphans spoke volumes.
Not to mention—
Back then, when Icarus brought in captured prey, the boss would scold him harshly. Yet every time, he would secretly give him a bit of Pokémon meat under various excuses.
Without Boss Wu Er's help, Icarus wouldn't even have had enough to eat, let alone train daily.
"Boss, long time no see. Five catties of Caterpie meat, please."
"Hah! It's you, brat. I heard you actually became a Pokémon Trainer. Why didn't you die in the forest yet?"
The mountain-like figure looked up with small eyes, still as sharp-tongued as ever.
"Boss, you're still just as sarcastic."
"Thud! Thud!"
The cleaver chopped down rhythmically.
"I tried to talk you out of it. You're an orphan with nothing. Why take such a dangerous road? Wouldn't it be better to live as an ordinary person?"
"You know me, Boss. I have to try. I want to avenge the villagers… and I want to see the view from the top."
A trace of hatred flashed in Icarus's eyes.
"Here. Your meat. Be careful. Don't die out there."
The boss wrapped the meat and tossed it over before turning back to handle another Pokémon carcass.
"Boss Wu Er, here's the money."
"Take it back. It's just scraps. Worthless. If you insist, throw it in the trash. And if you catch extra Pokémon meat, bring it to me."
The man never looked up.
Icarus stared at the neatly cut meat in his arms.
"Thank you… for everything all these years."
He bowed deeply before leaving.
---
After placing the meat in his backpack, Icarus went to Second-Hand Street and sold the official League videotape to Uncle Li at a 70% resale value, recovering 3,500 Pokédollars.
He then stopped by the department store and purchased ten empty Poké Balls for 3,800 Pokédollars.
Once everything was done, he hurried home.
---
"Spri spri!"
Hearing the door open, Bellsprout, which had been resting, immediately ran over happily.
"Alright, alright," Icarus said helplessly as it hugged his leg. "Let me see today's training results first. If it's good, you get meat. If not—you eat feed."
"Spri!"
Bellsprout immediately dragged him outside.
"Whoosh!"
The Vine Whip shot out smoothly, wooden thorns forming mid-air without any pause or slowdown, striking the tree in one fluid motion.
"Crack!"
Sawdust scattered everywhere.
"Excellent. This is your Pokémon meat."
"Spri~ spri spri!"
Bellsprout devoured it happily, face full of satisfaction.
"Next, we'll combine it with Absorb. This combo is simpler—no mid-transition change required. But you must focus on absorption speed. Inhale faster and absorb more. That can be trained too."
"Spri spri!"
As long as there was meat, it promised to complete the mission.
---
The day passed quickly.
With enough Pokémon meat as motivation, Bellsprout's Absorb was now comparable to that of a natural Oddish. After all, Absorb was a common low-level Grass-type move—just like Vine Whip—widely known among Grass Pokémon.
That night, before going to bed—
"Bellsprout, we leave early tomorrow morning. As they say, the early bird catches the worm—but in the forest, there are plenty of early worms too."
"Spri~"
Trainer and Pokémon once again began planning how to deal with those overconfident Caterpie and Weedle.
(End of Chapter 27)