Feng Che naturally held several trump cards—Thunder Shells, Frost Shells, and Power Nets. However, these were best saved for true emergencies. If he exhausted them early, he wouldn't be so lucky when a real crisis hit.
Growl.
His stomach protested. He realized he hadn't had a proper meal since yesterday.
"Let's go, Ditto. To the fish pond. Transform into Golbat and help me catch some dinner."
He wanted to use this opportunity to train Ditto's control over Flying-type energy in its Golbat form. The Ditto rippled with visible reluctance but eventually shifted and flapped toward the water.
Because the pond hadn't been harvested in a long time, it was filled with large, mature fish. The Golbat-Ditto skimmed the surface, extending its claws toward a massive shadow, but the fish's scales were too slippery. It missed, getting splashed with water in the process.
Infuriated, the Ditto instantly shifted into Arbok and slammed its Iron Tail into the water. A three-meter wave erupted, and moments later, dozens of stunned fish floated to the surface, white bellies up.
Feng Che: "..."
Ditto used its tail to scoop up the three largest fish and toss them onto the bank. Feng Che moved quickly, using a sharp knife to sever their spinal cords—ending their lives humanely and instantly.
He hung the fish upside down from a branch, letting the dark red blood drain into a container. He planned to mix this blood with specific berries and herbs to create a potent "Aggro-Bait." If he encountered an unbeatable Pokémon, he could throw the bait to create a distraction while he escaped.
Once drained, he expertly gutted and cleaned the fish. "Ditto, gather some firewood."
The Arbok-Ditto eyed a fallen, dried tree. With a single, vertical sweep of its Iron Tail, the trunk was cleaved in half and then neatly segmented into logs. Having finished its chores, the Ditto reverted to its pink blob form, lazily watching Feng Che build a campfire.
Feng Che skewered the fish and rotated them over the flames. He sprinkled a handful of the custom seasoning he'd bought from the market stall, and a rich, mouth-watering aroma immediately exploded into the air.
He hadn't forgotten his caution, though. He'd performed a basic toxicity test by having Ditto taste a small piece first. After ten minutes with no signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or dilated pupils, he concluded the stall owner hadn't tampered with the spices. In the wild, "careful" was the only way to stay "alive."
The golden oils sizzled and dripped from the fish, which were perfectly charred on the outside and tender on the inside. He served the portions on broad leaves to Ditto and the Rookidee before taking a large bite himself.
The lake was surrounded by fruit-bearing trees, and he had noticed the fish frequently leaping to eat the fallen berries.
These are essentially 'Berry-fed' fish, much like the fruit-eating fish of Panama. They have a subtle, sweet fruity aftertaste, he noted.
Ditto ate in its own unique way—simply undulating and swallowing the fish whole, then spitting out the clean skeleton moments later. The Rookidee pecked nimbly at the meat. While Pokémon enjoy energy cubes, they are perfectly capable of eating natural food to get their vitamins and minerals.
As they ate, Feng Che kept a close watch on their scent trail. He spotted several Alolan Rattata emerging from the brush, sniffing the air for the source of the grilled fish aroma.
"Ditto, lunch is over. Time to work," Feng Che said, standing up.
Before Ditto could transform, the Rookidee suddenly took flight. It dived with surgical precision, pecking an Alolan Rattata squarely on the forehead. The rat collapsed, stunned.
The Rookidee's small size allowed it to be incredibly agile, using "hit-and-run" tactics to humiliate much larger opponents.
I haven't actually checked this little one's stats yet, Feng Che realized.
Pokémon: Rookidee Gender: Female Potential: Outstanding (Yellow) Ability: Keen Eye Level: 6 Type: Flying Moves: Peck, Leer, Power Trip, Hone Claws, Fury Attack Status: High Battle Spirit
Power Trip? That move gets stronger the more stat buffs the user has. She's a natural fighter.
He watched as the Rookidee toyed with her opponents, weaving through their Tackle attempts with effortless grace.
"Rookidee! Try to focus your Fury Attack! Direct all the strikes into a single point!" Feng Che shouted, testing the bird's comprehension.
If she could learn to overlap the strikes of a multi-hit move, she could end fights in a single burst. The Rookidee tilted its head, processing the command. Her beak began to glow with a sharp white light. In a blur of motion, she lunged at a Rattata. Instead of a series of chaotic pecks, five distinct wounds appeared on the rat's head and neck in a single heartbeat.
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