"We… we won."
Peter looked at the fainted Rattata on the ground, then at Oddish, his face lighting up with joy.
Oddish, seeing that Rattata had fallen, didn't stop attacking. It used Absorb again.
Since the Rattata was asleep and unable to resist, its energy was continuously drained away by the green light. Its body visibly shriveled as its strength was siphoned off.
Once the Rattata's energy was completely drained, the green light from Absorb slowly faded away.
Seeing this, Oddish let out a long breath. It was the first time it had independently defeated a Rattata, filling it with a sense of pride.
Then, it recalled the human's timely and precise commands during the battle, feeling a strange sense of emotion. Without that guidance, it wouldn't have been able to defeat the Rattata so easily.
Before Oddish could react further, it suddenly found itself scooped up in a warm embrace. The human's delighted laughter rang in its ears.
"Oddish, you were amazing!!!"
Meanwhile, on the roof of a nearby building, Aven quietly observed the scene in the orchard below. Watching Peter and Oddish hug each other, a smile appeared on his face.
…
Sutter felt his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Even though he wore thick layers of clothing, he couldn't stop the chill that arose from deep within his heart.
"Damn it, faster, faster!"
Hearing Fessen's increasingly weak breathing on the back of the Rhyhorn, Sutter desperately wished that the Pokémon could somehow grow an extra pair of legs and run even faster.
Rhyhorn ran with all its strength. Sutter clutched his injured companion tightly in his arms, occasionally glancing back at the direction of the Black Forest, his eyes full of fear.
Just a little while ago, he and his partner Fessen had been patrolling as usual.
But out of nowhere, a pack of Mightyena had leaped out from the Black Forest and launched a vicious attack on them!
A whole pack of Mightyena—why were they at the edge of the Black Forest?
Sutter screamed internally.
Normally, there were no Mightyena packs in the Black Forest. It was clear they had come from Mt. Coronet.
Given the Mightyena pack's strength, they would usually dominate the Black Forest.
The fact that they had been driven out could only mean one thing—something even more terrifying had emerged there, something even the Mightyena couldn't resist.
During the attack, Fessen's Rhyhorn and Staraptor had stayed behind to hold off the Mightyena, while Sutter and Fessen had escaped under their cover.
"We have to reach Aspiration City. Only the apothecaries there can save Fessen," Sutter gritted his teeth.
Fessen's injuries were far too severe. Ordinary healing potions were completely ineffective!
Cough, cough, cough—
Another fit of coughing erupted. Fessen's breathing grew heavier and more labored.
Seeing this, Sutter—a man known for his strength—couldn't help but clench his fists tightly, his heart sinking into despair.
He could feel it: Fessen wouldn't make it.
Even if they reached Aspiration City, the apothecaries there might not be able to save him.
If only there were an apothecary nearby, Sutter thought painfully.
"Wait—there's one in Fruitvale Village!"
Suddenly, Sutter remembered something.
Before winter came, he had once escorted a batch of healing potions from Fruitvale Village to Aspiration City along with the knights.
Those potions had been made by a young apothecary named Aven!
Although he wasn't sure how skilled Aven was, it was their only hope now.
Thinking of this, Sutter quickly adjusted their course, steering Rhyhorn toward Fruitvale Village.
On the way, he passed several Villages. Even from a distance, he could see signs of beast activity in each.
I hope that apothecary hasn't evacuated yet… Sutter thought anxiously.
Every winter, beasts would rampage around the Black Forest area. Only Aspiration City's tall walls could truly fend them off.
Thus, every year before winter, those with the means would temporarily move to Aspiration City to survive the cold months.
Given Aven's status as an apothecary, he would surely have enough wealth to live comfortably in Aspiration City for three months.
But there was no other choice now.
If Aven had already left for Aspiration City, Sutter would have to continue toward the city as well.
As they neared Fruitvale Village, Sutter's anxiety only deepened.
However, when he finally laid eyes on the village, he was utterly stunned.
"Is this really Fruitvale Village?"
Sutter muttered in disbelief.
Compared to the destroyed villages he had seen on the way, Fruitvale Village was like it belonged to a different world.
While other villages were left in ruins by the beast invasions, Fruitvale Village stood perfectly intact—untouched.
No matter what, I have to go in…
Gritting his teeth, Sutter urged Rhyhorn to charge toward the village.
…
Meanwhile, inside the village, Aven had already learned from Starly what was happening outside.
Frowning with concern, Aven hurried to the village entrance.
There, he saw a Rhyhorn in a deep sleep and two human knights on its back.
"Patrol knights from the Black Forest perimeter? What happened?"
Aven's expression turned grim.
His gaze fell on the blood-soaked Fessen, and he quickly assessed how critical the knight's condition was.
There's no time to waste. If I don't act immediately, he'll die!
Aven swiftly made a decision, hoisted Fessen onto his back, and carried him into the village.
…
Huff, huff, huff—
In one of the village's rooms, Sutter suddenly jolted awake, gasping for air.
He had dreamed of being torn apart by Mightyena.
"Just a dream," he muttered, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
Looking around the unfamiliar room, his expression quickly changed.
He remembered everything now—he had been riding Rhyhorn toward Fruitvale Village when he lost consciousness.
"Fessen! Where's Fessen?"
Sutter scrambled off the bed, flinging open the door.
Outside, he spotted a young man sitting at a table, calmly mixing potions.
"Looking for your companion?"
Without turning around, Aven spoke while continuing to prepare medicines.
"Don't worry. His life has been saved. He's just not awake yet."
Hearing this, Sutter felt all the strength drain from his body.
He slumped to the floor, murmuring over and over:
"Thank goodness… Thank goodness…"