No wonder the previous Bulbasaur was so arrogant. It turns out there are two such powerful and solid backings. No wonder these Bulbasaur and Ivysaur can forage for food so leisurely. Even in this mysterious space where the levels of wild Pokémon are very high, the two Champion-level Pokémon are definitely overlord-level existences.
But thinking of this, Aoki frowned slightly. "It shouldn't be so easy to cultivate two Champion-level Pokémon in such a forest..." Aoki considered. If a Trainer has two Champion-level Pokémon, there is nothing surprising about it, since Trainers can gather resources from everywhere for their Pokémon. In other words, encountering one wild Pokémon that reached Champion level was something Aoki could understand. With excellent talent, long-term energy accumulation, and some fortunate opportunities, a Pokémon could indeed reach Champion level. But the probability of two Champion-level wild Pokémon appearing together was very low. What's more, these two Pokémon seemed to be partners, making this possibility even more unlikely.
Moreover, the overall size of this Venusaur group was somewhat exaggerated. Not to mention the Venusaur encountered earlier, the two Venusaur now were even larger. While it was normal for an unusually large Pokémon to occasionally appear in a group, having two appear simultaneously—both as partners and both having reached Champion level—was statistically improbable.
Thus, Aoki reached a conclusion: there was something unusual about this Venusaur group. Perhaps they possessed a rare treasure or some mysterious energy source. In any case, this group of Venusaur was extraordinary.
As his interest grew, Aoki also had to deal with these two Venusaur first. Fortunately, this aligned with his goals. If he could capture these two Bulbasaur, his island would gain two powerful guardians. Not only would they help develop the island more efficiently, but they could also enforce the rules Aoki established. There would be no need to worry about wild Pokémon or humans intruding carelessly, significantly increasing the island's security.
Additionally, the two Venusaur had outstanding potential, meaning their offspring would be exceptionally strong. With Aoki's intervention, they could produce high-quality Bulbasaur efficiently. This would save Aoki time on early training, and even if he didn't sell them, the Bulbasaur could still improve the island. Both Bulbasaur knew the move Grassy Terrain, so their offspring would likely inherit the ability. A perfect addition to Aoki's island plans!
However, the two Bulbasaur seemed to have a bad temper. Perhaps Aoki hadn't made the best first impression. But it didn't matter—once subdued, there were plenty of ways to train them properly.
Aoki said to the Drapion beneath him, "It seems the battle you've been waiting for has arrived." With that, he jumped off Drapion's back.
Drapion looked excited—the long-awaited battle was finally here. Apostrophe and Blaziken were also eager, though they were no match for the two Bulbasaur at this stage. Still, after defeating the previous Venusaur, Apostrophe had reached level 51, and Blaziken had leveled up to 53. This was where they had fought the most battles.
Aoki couldn't let Drapion face two Venusaur alone. No matter how skilled his commands were, an overwhelming power difference would leave no room for strategy. So, he tossed two Poké Balls, releasing Slowking and Florges. At the same time, Gengar, who had been hiding in Aoki's shadow, emerged beside him.
Overwhelming numbers? No shame in that.
Originally, Aoki had considered summoning Honchkrow and Weavile, given their type advantages. But after some thought, he decided against it—partly for safety, but mostly because relying too heavily on numbers might make it harder to earn the Venusaur's respect later.
"Slowking, use Trick Room!"
"Drapion, Hone Claws!"
"Gengar, support Drapion!"
"Florges, use Lucky Chant!"
Aoki calmly issued orders. But as soon as he spoke, two blinding Solar Beams shot toward him—Champion-level firepower!
Slowking instantly teleported next to Aoki, then used Teleport again to evade the attack. Aoki's eyes glowed with psychic energy—he had anticipated the attack and commanded his Pokémon in time.
Gengar sank into the ground, avoiding the beams entirely.
Florges, having changed her type to Grass with Flower Shield, endured the attack with minimal damage.
Drapion, however, didn't dodge. The best defense was offense! With its pincers and tail, it blocked one of the beams head-on. As the Solar Beam faded, smoke rose from its claws and tail, its normally light-purple shell now slightly reddened.
Unbelievable! They were trying to roast it alive!
Drapion's face twisted in fury. Without even checking its injuries, it charged at the two Venusaur, four legs pounding the ground.
One against two—no hesitation.
As Drapion rushed forward, Slowking's Psychic energy wrapped around it, increasing its speed. This was a new tactic Aoki had developed during training—Slowking would amplify the team's mobility and burst potential before focusing on its own attacks. This way, Slowking became a force multiplier, integrating seamlessly into Aoki's battle strategies, whether in rain or sandstorm teams.
Florges, having taken little damage from Flower Shield, waved her hands, casting a shimmering, colorful barrier around Drapion.