The Death Archipelago was composed of three islands, but the one beneath Feng Che's feet was by far the largest. After a quick scout of the perimeter, he harvested some high-quality fruits from the orchard and drew fresh water from the lake.
He wasn't in a rush to head into the heart of the island yet. Instead, he planned to craft a backup supply of energy cubes and Pokémon potions. In his philosophy of breeding, these two worked in tandem: energy cubes provided subtle, long-term physical enhancement, while potions acted as a catalyst to boost cellular activity.
Just as he began his preparations, an uninvited guest burst from the thicket.
It was a massive Seviper. The Pokémon looked like a giant black python with a golden underbelly and jaw. Golden armor plates lined its head and back, and six small gold nodules dotted its abdomen. It brandished sharp red fangs and a tail that resembled a serrated blade.
Pokémon: Seviper Gender: Male Potential: Elite (Orange) Ability: Shed Skin Level: 16 Type: Poison Moves: Wrap, Lick, Bite, Poison Tail, Scary Face, Smog Status: Hungry
[Seviper: Found another delicious human. Looks like I'll be eating well today.]
[Seviper: I need to be quick. If the others see this, I'll have to fight them for the meat.]
"Found another human"... so this snake is a man-eater, Feng Che thought grimly. This needed to be ended fast.
"Ditto!"
Feng Che barked the command. The Ditto leaped from his shoulder, shifting into a Raticate before it even hit the ground.
[Seviper: Ugh, I've eaten so many of these yellow rats I'm sick of them. They're weak and stringy.]
The Seviper's eyes glinted with boredom, but it opened its mouth wide nonetheless, exhaling a foul-smelling, purplish cloud of Smog.
"Ditto, stay sharp! That's Smog—one breath and you're poisoned!" Feng Che shouted, covering his own nose.
In Raticate form, the Ditto initiated a Swords Dance to boost its attack. Then, in a blur of motion, it rippled and expanded into the form of a massive Arbok.
The Seviper's small brain stalled.
[Seviper: How did the rat turn into a snake?!]
It couldn't wrap its head around it, but once it faced the towering Arbok, it took the fight seriously. Both serpents flicked their tongues, hissing at each other in a primal standoff. Thanks to the training sessions, Ditto's control over the Arbok form was much more refined; it could now execute moves with intent rather than just mimicry.
"Arbok, use Scary Face!"
The Arbok flared its hood, the terrifying pattern on its chest seemingly coming to life. The Seviper flinched, taking an instinctive step back, which only fueled its rage. Its blade-like tail began to glow with a sickly purple-black light as venom seeped from the edges, hissing as it dripped onto the grass.
"Arbok, Iron Tail!"
The Arbok's tail turned a gleaming silver, meeting the Seviper's Poison Tail in a violent collision. Venom splashed everywhere, turning the nearby leaves black and filling the air with a pungent, chemical stench.
Seeing its signature move blocked, the Seviper grew desperate.
"Again, Iron Tail!" Feng Che commanded, giving the enemy no room to breathe.
The silver tail slammed down directly onto the Seviper's head. The snake began to slither in erratic circles like a drunkard, suffering from a severe concussion. A visible lump began to swell on its head where the blow had landed.
Suddenly, a series of rustling noises erupted from the deep jungle.
"Arbok, don't linger! We're leaving!"
Feng Che turned and ran. Ditto shifted into a Golbat and followed close behind. Moments later, dozens of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows—a whole Seviper colony.
At the center of the pack stood a leader several times larger than the rest. Hanging from its neck was a golden key, glinting brilliantly in the sunlight. The leader's eyes flashed with cold malice as it tasted the air, trying to catch Feng Che's scent.
But Feng Che had been meticulous. He had used the overpowering fragrance of crushed berries nearby to mask his trail. Frustrated, the leader hissed and signaled two subordinates to drag their fallen comrade away.
Watching from the safety of a high branch, Feng Che exhaled.
That was close. I almost got swarmed.
He realized that the tropical climate had allowed the Seviper population to explode, fueled by the abundance of migratory bird Pokémon.
That leader had a golden key around its neck. If the Rocket Executives placed those on powerful wild Pokémon, there must be a reason. Is there a treasure chest somewhere on this island?
He rubbed his chin. That leader looks like a nightmare to deal with. I need to be even more cautious from here on out.
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