Eric had seen plenty of scummy humans in his life. This woman… wasn't one of them.
Abandoning her to her fate in this moment would make Eric exactly like those scummy humans.
That was fine in his last life, where survival was a struggle. But in this second life, he did not want to live so heartlessly.
There was no room for regrets in the peaceful life he was chasing. So, for his own selfishness, Eric decided to help the woman. .
"Gastly, prepare your strongest Ghost Balls and fire them at those 2. They are strong, but already quite wounded. Fearow, Poliwag, follow up with Aerial Ace and Water Pulse."
The Arbok lunged at the woman, fangs bared. But before it reached her, it was knocked back by a ball of condensed Ghost energy, alongside the Weezing.
Before they could recover, Fearow shot down like a missile, covered in white streams of energy, Aerial Ace straight into Arbok's skull.
At the same time, Poliwag's Water Pulse caught Weezing while he was still recovering, knocking him back further.
"Gastly, twin Ghost balls! Don't let them breathe!"
Two more projectiles. Two more direct hits. The Arbok and Weezing writhed, too disoriented to mount a counterattack.
"Fearow, Aerial Ace again, Poliwag Bubble beam."
It was an endless barrage of attacks. The poor Weezing and Arbok were not given a moment of respite, as they kept taking attack after attack, too disoriented to do anything. In the end, both Intermediate level Pokemon collapsed, unconscious.
Silence returned to the forest.
This was Eric's first battle against intermediate Pokemon, and he defeated them flawlessly. Primarily because they were heavily injured before the fight.
He jumped down from his hiding spot and landed in front of the black-haired girl.
Up close, she was striking. Jet black hair, sapphire eyes that looked at Eric in confusion and shock, a pink trainer's cap slightly askew. She wore a pink top, and black shorts. She looked to be about his age, around 16 or 17.
For a moment, the girl stared at him in bewilderment. Then her brain caught up.
"U-um… who are—no, first..."
She bent down into a perfect ninety-degree bow, so suddenly that her hat nearly fell off.
"Thank you for saving me!"
Eric blinked, unsure of how to respond.
"… It's fine. I was just passing by."
"Still, I won't forget this!" She jumped up, there were still tears in her eyes, but her fear was replaced with determination.
"I'm Ayame Misako! If you're ever in Celadon City, please find me. The Ayames always repay their debts."
"Fine." Eric just shrugged.
"So… how did you end up in this situation?"
Tears welled up in Misako's eyes as she hears the question.
"That…"
"E-eevee!"
The injured Eevee limped toward her, nuzzling her leg. Misako picked her up, and held her tightly with her arms.
"I was here with my older sister," she said, her voice trembling. "She came with me to help find some resources for my Misdreavus. That's when… we ran into that guy…"
Misako then gave a full acount of her story to Eric, as if he was not a stranger she just met.
---
Misako wanted to train her Misdreavus, so she decided to go the Lavender Woods. Her Sister, Ayame Haruko, was worried for her safety and tagged along to keep her safe.
Misako was overjoyed. She idolised Haruko. A Pokémon Ranger and an Advanced‑level trainer, her sister was practically invincible in her eyes. As long as they didn't venture too deep, their safety was all but guaranteed.
But what was supposed to be a pleasant training trip, turned disastrous.
Haruko has been to Lavender Woods many times. She knew all the mapped areas and Pokemon territories. Right now, they were in a Duskclops Territory.
So when they walked for nearly 20 minutes without finding any Duskell or Dusclops, alarm bells rang in her mind.
"Something is wrong."
She said, as she scanned the area.
"Misako, stay close to me. We're going deeper."
"O-okay!"
Misako was a bit scared but knew everything would be fine with Haruko here.
They kept walking in. The territory was eerily quiet.
Then they found it.
An open area where all the trees had been cleared to make space.
In the center of this area was a pile of cores.
Both their faces turned ugly the moment they saw this pile.
Ghost Pokémon don't leave bodies when they die. Only their cores remain. The pile in front of them contained at least a thousand Duskell and Dusclop cores, stacked like a pile of corpse.
Misako's hand flew to her mouth. "Who… why…"
Haruko's face was pale, but her voice didn't waver. "Misako. You're going back home. Now."
She released an Arcanine from her Pokeball. Arcanine did a low growl as he appeared, its body packed with power.
"Archie, take her back. Keep her safe."
Arc!"
"No!" Misako grabbed her sister's sleeve. "Big sis, I won't be a burden! Let me help–"
"Now is not the time, Misako. Whoever did this is powerful. I'm sorry but you have to leave right now!"
"But–"
Before they could continue the discussion, they heard another voice coming from the other side of the pile of cores.
"Well well... what do we have here?"
The voice was playful, as if they had just found a new toy.
Haruko looked in that direction to see someone wearing a jet black robe walk toward them. Their appearance was completely hidden, and even their voice was distorted, not revealing even the gender of this hooded figure.
"Tell me," The figure said as he tilted his head like a confused child.
"Does this count as interference?"
Haruko stepped in front of her sister. "Who are you? Why did you kill these Pokémon?"
The figure let out a long, delighted sigh. "I say this counts."
Then they laughed maniacally, their voice echoing through the woods.
"I'm allowed to do whatever I want with anyone who interferes… hahaha… ahh, this is the best."
"Misako, Stay behind me."
Haruko could tell as a Pokemon Ranger. This person… was dangerous.
She reached for her Pokeballs and released 5 more Pokemon. Including Arcanine, this was a full team of 6 Pokemon.
Blastoise, Arcanine, Scizor, Jolteon, Rhyhorn, and Pidgeot.
All of them were at the advanced level!
The cloaked figure was not intimidated after seeing this team. He even felt amused.
"Oho? Quite strong aren't ya. Must be nice to be born rich."
The cloaked individual said sarcastically.
"Well then, I guess I should use these to play with you."
He then threw not 6 or 7, but a total of 16 Pokéballs into the air.
16 Pokemon emerged and landed in front of him.
2 Nidoking, 2 Nidoqueen, a Golem, Crobat, Zangoose, Serviper, Arbok, Weezing, Venasaur, 2 Electabuzz, 2 Magmar, and a Honchkrow.
Sixteen Pokémon. Ranging from Intermediate to low Advanced.
Haruko's breath caught.
The cloaked figure spread his arms wide as if he was signalling the start of a play.
"Shall we begin?"
---------------------
Hope you're enjoying till now!
If you want early access (10 chapters) to the upcoming chapters or just want to support me, you can do that at:
www.patreon.com/GhostQuill407