The Pinsir was no pushover. In Arbok's territory, the law of the jungle was the only law that mattered. If the Pinsir were weak, it never would have been able to claim such a prime tree as its own.
However, its strength was relative. While Arthur couldn't see exact level numbers for others, he could gauge them against his own power.
He estimated the Pinsir was around Level 15. In a one-on-one duel, Arthur might have struggled, but he wouldn't necessarily lose—his human intellect allowed him to manage his stamina and pick his openings far better than a wild Pokémon.
But this wasn't a duel; it was a three-way beatdown. The Pinsir barely lasted three minutes before its eyes swirled into dizzied circles.
Bella gave the defeated beetle a cursory glance but felt no appetite for it. Goldie was even less interested; Arthur had learned that Goldie had never actually eaten another Pokémon in his life.
Now that they had achieved "food security" with their berry stashes, the urge to hunt for meat was virtually zero.
Without hesitation, Arthur led the squad deeper into the "Ruined Zone."
Anything that crossed their path became a target for their "circle-kick" training. Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Rattata, Ekans, Nidorino, Venonat, Gloom—they fought them all.
It wasn't until they encountered a Parasect that was clearly north of Level 20 that they finally hit a wall. After a grueling battle that left all three Beedrills exhausted, Arthur decided to call it a day and head home.
Back at their small cluster of trees, Arthur felt a wave of relief. Whitey and Brownie were already snoring, their bellies full of fruit.
"Eat! Then sleep!" Arthur commanded.
They focused on the Oran and Leppa berries to patch up their HP and energy. Bella finished first, crashing onto a branch with zero "lady-like" grace. Goldie, being the largest, had the biggest appetite and continued to gorge himself. Arthur ate his fill and opened his status screen.
[Beedrill]
Potential: Blue
Level: 16
Type: Bug / Poison
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 60kg
Moves: Twineedle, Bug Bite, Poison Sting, String Shot, Harden, Fury Cutter, Laser Focus
Three levels in one day. Not bad, considering the XP was split three ways, Arthur analyzed.
He noticed his height and weight had ticked up again. He also noted his new move, Laser Focus, which allowed him to concentrate his spirit to guarantee a critical hit on his next strike.
Tomorrow, we keep pushing.
At Level 16, they were already upper-middle class in the Poliwrath's domain. Arthur knew that once they hit Level 20, the landlord would likely start looking at them as a threat to the peace.
He estimated they had two or three days before they'd have to officially relocate to the "Ruined Zone."
The next morning, Arthur woke to a rustling sound. Goldie was already eating. Arthur stretched, skewered a few plump berries with his white stingers, and fueled up for the day's violence.
For the next two days, the routine remained the same. Arthur, Goldie, and Bella focused on becoming the "vanguard" of the squad.
They didn't need a balanced team yet; they needed overwhelming power. Whitey and Brownie would get their turn once the leaders were strong enough to secure a permanent base.
By the third day, the trio had reached the very heart of the Arbok's territory. All three were now Level 20.
They were now on the Poliwrath's radar, even if he hadn't come to evict them yet. But Level 20 wasn't "high" here. In the center of the Ruined Zone, Level 20s were common, and Level 30s were the apex predators.
They were scouting for a worthy opponent when a sound hissed from the shadows.
"ARBOK~"
A massive weight dropped from a giant tree above, causing the trio to dart back several meters in alarm. As the dust settled, Arthur's expression turned grim. Bella hissed in agitation, while Goldie remained calm, hovering just behind Arthur.
Before them was a colossal Arbok, over six meters long. Even coiled on the ground, its hooded head towered nearly three meters high.
So this is the boss of this area. What a monster.
The pressure radiating from the cobra was suffocating. Arthur's heart hammered against his thorax. He didn't need a status screen to know: even if all three of them attacked at once, they weren't winning this fight. Not yet.
"Retreat!"
Arthur didn't let pride get in the way. He turned and led the squad away. With their aerial mobility, few things could catch them if they truly wanted to run.
Even if the Arbok was faster on land, it couldn't reach them in the high canopy. The Arbok seemed to realize this, watching them leave without giving chase.
"Bzz? (We aren't fighting it?)." Goldie asked, confused.
"We can't win yet. Give it a few days," Arthur replied. In the Era of Magical Beasts, a loss meant being swallowed whole. There were no "retries."
As they flew back toward the border, they heard a smaller hiss from the brush.
"Hiss-hiss~"
Arthur looked down. It was a large Ekans—the same one that had been bullying the Poliwag and Sandshrew a few days prior.
"You two stay out of this one," Arthur ground his twin white stingers together. "This one is mine."
The Ekans was likely no higher than Level 22—any higher and it would have evolved into an Arbok by now. Against an opponent this close in power, Arthur wanted all the experience for himself.