The Super Ball opened as soon as it touched Snorlax, the red light pulling it into the Pokeball.
Thunk.
The Super Ball fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.
Thunk! Thunk!
The sound emitted from the Super Ball, the red light flashing on the central button, accompanied by intense shaking.
Snorlax was asleep and hadn't consumed enough nutritious food for a long time. Its condition was nearing the critical point, yet it could still resist the Super Ball so strongly.
Bang!
Just as expected.
Without surprise, the Super Ball burst open, and Snorlax reappeared in the cave amid the red light.
Yujira, who was ready, quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Luckily, after Snorlax's eyelids struggled twice, it still couldn't wake up. Togetic's "Yawn" did have some effect after all.
"Togetic, again," Natsuhiko said.
What followed was a process of continuous repetition, repeated over and over.
However, Natsuhiko didn't have many Super Balls. If he ran out, he would have to try using regular balls, which would have an even lower chance.
Luckily, when Natsuhiko had only two Super Balls left, a clearer sound came from the Super Ball.
Thunk!
The Super Ball stopped shaking and lay quietly on the ground, signaling the successful capture of the Pokémon!
"Whew—"
Natsuhiko clenched his fists and let out a long breath.
Fortunately, after the Meteor Falls incident, he brought many Pokeballs; otherwise, success was uncertain.
Now, with the capture complete, Natsuhiko's heart became more lively.
Capture was the key; now there were many more options for strategies and methods.
He instructed the Pokémon to be ready; he was going to summon Snorlax.
Although successfully captured by a Pokeball, a Snorlax captured in such a state absolutely wouldn't obey Natsuhiko's commands.
Even a rational Snorlax might not follow his orders, let alone one currently in an absolute state of rage due to hunger.
He pondered.
First, he took out the cheapest Energy Block and placed it on the ground, prepared for Sharpedo and the others.
Although Sharpedo and the others served as special tools for Natsuhiko, he didn't neglect them; the Energy Blocks they deserved, they still ate.
It's just that the quality wasn't as high as those eaten by Togetic and the others.
After doing these, he took a few steps back and opened the Pokeball to summon Snorlax near the Energy Block.
Bang!
"Snorlax!!"
As soon as Snorlax emerged, it roared out.
But soon, its expression froze, its small nose gently twitching, smelled the scent of Energy Block.
Its eyes sparkled as it looked at the box of Energy Blocks on the ground, eagerly grabbing them.
Gulp, gulp—
It shoved the entire box into its mouth, chewing noises mixed with the sound of the box being crunched like chocolate.
Seeing this, Natsuhiko was speechless.
Just relying on a powerful stomach to do whatever it wanted.
No wonder the Wormadam kept a significant fear of it. It's possible that it could swallow a Wormadam whole.
During Snorlax's only somewhat quiet moment, Natsuhiko didn't remain idle, using Yujira's telepathy to attempt communication with Snorlax.
But the result was evident; a rational discussion with Snorlax was impossible at this time.
Yet after Snorlax finished the Energy Block, Natsuhiko quickly took out another box.
A hungry Snorlax in normal conditions needs to eat four hundred pounds of food to be full.
For a "skinny" Snorlax like this, it needed at least eight hundred pounds.
Natsuhiko didn't have eight hundred pounds of Energy Blocks, and Energy Blocks shouldn't be compared directly to regular food.
Otherwise, Snorlax would be a Pokémon that an ordinary trainer couldn't afford to raise; only core members of certain corporations could have the qualification.
The Energy Blocks are small, but they are packed with nutrients incomparable to regular food.
Natsuhiko prepared plenty of Energy Blocks for Sharpedo, Shuckle, and the others.
After Snorlax consumed each box, he quickly took out another one.
Even if the Energy Blocks for Sharpedo and the others run out, Natsuhiko wouldn't mind; he could make them himself. Since awakening his psychic abilities, he's been more confident in making Energy Blocks.
However.
Soon, he regretted it.
It could really eat...
'Snorlax, Snorlax...'
Natsuhiko's voice echoed repeatedly in Snorlax's mind.
Perhaps because food was provided, or perhaps Snorlax developed some fondness for Natsuhiko, who continuously fed it, Snorlax finally responded.
"Snorlax?"
It was observable that Snorlax's eyes had returned to normal.
Though still looking thin, at least a possibility for communication existed.
At its core, Snorlax was still a generally mild Pokémon.
And then the following scene unfolded.
Natsuhiko painfully handed box after box of Energy Blocks to Snorlax, while trying to communicate with it.
"Snorlax, is it tasty?"
"Yes!"
Snorlax tossed an entire box of Energy Blocks into its mouth, naturally finding the taste delightful.
"Your body is severely depleted right now. If you don't get timely treatment, you might suffer irreversible damage, losing strength and abilities that might never be recovered." Natsuhiko explained the seriousness of the situation.
"Damage?"
"Yes, if the damage sets in, you might never eat as much again in the future."
"No way!"
Hearing that it wouldn't be able to eat, Snorlax got anxious.
Natsuhiko slowly grasped what Snorlax truly cared about.
It wasn't concerned at all about permanent bodily harm—just whether it could keep eating.
Nearby.
Togetic cautiously approached Yujira.
"Cha-coo-ee?"
'Big fox, what are they doing?'
Yujira gave it an imperceptible glance, as if looking at the "village idiot."
"Yongji."
'Watch and learn well.'
Still a "Social Butterfly"? Based on what Natsuhiko has shown so far, that's far from it.
On the other side.
The conversation between Natsuhiko and Snorlax continued, and he had already found the key to "negotiating" with Snorlax.
Natsuhiko: Do you want to eat delicious and energy-rich food like this every day?
Snorlax: Eat!
Natsuhiko: Then come with me. I'll take you to taste all sorts of foods, nothing worse than this time.
Snorlax: Go?
Natsuhiko: Yes, your strength is great. You shouldn't be idle in a place like this. I can teach you how to battle, how to defeat opponents.
Snorlax: Battle? No!
Natsuhiko: Let me put it another way. You don't need to fight a lot. You just need to help when I call on you.
Snorlax: No!
"How about I add more of these Energy Blocks?"
Natsuhiko pulled out a new box of Energy Blocks, ones belonging to Togetic, higher in quality and notably delicious due to Togetic's preference for sweetness.
Snorlax's eyes shone brighter; it remembered the taste from earlier, though there hadn't been enough.
Time to bolster the offer.
"And there's this one!"
Another box came out.
Snorlax slightly opened its mouth.
"This one too!"
Followed by yet another box.
Snorlax's mouth stopped closing, saliva dripping down.
"And these aren't even the best. I have even tastier options. So, what do you say? Want to come with me? I'll ensure your daily meals, and for every time you help me in battle, I'll give you even better food than this."
"Ka-moo!"
Snorlax eagerly nodded.
Finally.
Natsuhiko let out a long sigh of relief.
He finally managed to entice this food lover with snacks... and secure its help.
At one time, he could never afford a Pokémon with Snorlax's appetite.
But now...
It was still somewhat difficult.
But it didn't matter; he was confident he could craft more advanced Energy Blocks, creating a new revenue stream.
And with the plans for Combee and Wormadam, future resource income should be even higher.
Moreover, Snorlax didn't need excessively precious Energy Blocks—whichever were rich in energy would suffice.
Most importantly.
Even in this condition, Snorlax could exhibit Gym Leader Level strength. Natsuhiko was curious about the strength Snorlax might command once fully restored.
Gym Leader level's pinnacle?
Or perhaps Elite Candidate level?
A bodyguard of such power was worth the extra bit of pressure.
When facing an unbeatable opponent, just sending Snorlax out might scare the opponent away.
Furthermore, Natsuhiko also knew so much about Snorlax's battle tactics. If it could follow his orders, its combat performance and abilities would surely surpass its current level.
Security just got more assured.
Anyway, just keeping it fed, no need to train further.
It could function like Sharpedo, managing security matters as a tool Pokémon.