[Bonus Chapter]

Rhydon saw how stubborn its son was and sighed—there was nothing it could do. Beating some sense into him would be easy, but then what? What would happen afterward?

They had lived their whole lives on this island and deeply hated humans who set foot here, since humans disrupted the island’s ecological balance. They had no interest in the outside world.

But ever since Rhyhorn met Reiji, its view of humans was clearly different. It didn’t understand how dangerous humans could be, and as for this human…

“Hmm?” Rhydon suddenly recalled—this human was avoiding Rhyhorn. He didn’t want to take him along at all.

Why was that?

Don’t all humans love strong Pokémon cubs?

Why didn’t this human? In fact, he seemed to be avoiding Rhyhorn altogether.

Feeling this strange, Rhydon called out to Reiji’s Pokémon for an explanation: “Hey, little tadpole—why doesn’t your trainer want Rhyhorn?”

“Yobo?” Poliwhirl, overwhelmed by the boss’s presence just like Reiji, didn’t dare speak. When Rhydon called out, it wasn’t even sure it had heard correctly. Why would a boss like that be talking to it?

“Yes, you. Little tadpole. Why doesn’t your trainer want Rhyhorn?” Rhydon repeated.

“Yobo…” Poliwhirl finally accepted it was being spoken to. It turned back to look at Reiji, silently asking what to do.

“Just tell it what it asked,” Reiji replied, unable to understand Pokémon speech and unaware of the specifics.

There was nothing to hide before a boss like this.

“Yobo. Reiji is afraid you’ll cause trouble, so he didn’t dare capture Rhyhorn.” Poliwhirl, now with permission, explained their reasoning.

“So that’s how it is…” Rhydon now looked at Reiji and his team differently. A new idea began to form.

Since its stubborn son clearly wouldn’t be persuaded to return—and beating him might even push him into depression—there was no point in forcing it anymore.

Besides, Rhyhorn had more than one child. Letting this one follow a human to the outside world to gain experience… might not be so bad.

Rhydon’s change of heart was thanks to Reiji’s attitude toward its cub.

Most humans scrambled to capture their young—or came secretly to poach them.

Yet Reiji, even when the opportunity was handed to him, didn’t want it. He outright refused to take Rhyhorn.

Not even trying to argue—just a flat rejection.

This kind of human was… interesting. It was just a single cub—maybe it was worth gambling on this human’s character. Maybe it could believe in humans again.

“Little tadpole. I agree to let him go with you. But you have to come with me. Are you willing?” Rhydon, of course, wouldn’t give up its son freely. It had its own conditions.

“Yobo…” Poliwhirl wanted to pass the message to Reiji, but he couldn’t understand Pokémon language, so it could only try with gestures.

“Yobo, yobo…” Poliwhirl pointed at the Poké Ball on Reiji’s belt, then at Rhyhorn, indicating it could now be captured. Then it pointed toward Rhydon, suggesting the boss had given its approval.

“What’s that mean?” Reiji looked at Poliwhirl’s gestures and got the general idea. He glanced up at Rhydon—but still found it hard to believe.

Did Rhydon really agree to let them take its son, and wouldn’t attack them?

“Yobo!” Poliwhirl, seeing Reiji pull out a Poké Ball, urgently pointed at Rhyhorn: “Yobo—go ahead and catch him!”

So Reiji captured Rhyhorn.

Then Poliwhirl pointed at Reiji, then at Rhydon, and finally at the forest—indicating Reiji should go with Rhydon into the woods.

Poliwhirl thought Reiji understood. It raised a foot to follow Rhydon, but Reiji quickly pulled it back.

Reiji had figured it out. Rhydon was offering Rhyhorn, but in exchange, Poliwhirl would have to go with it—deep into the forest, probably to the center of the island.

He didn’t even consider it. He refused on the spot, stepping in front of Poliwhirl and releasing the freshly caught Rhyhorn.

He crouched, rested a hand on Poliwhirl’s shoulder, and said, “Poliwhirl, even if I hadn’t caught Rhyhorn, I still wouldn’t let you go with it.”

He had no idea what Rhydon wanted with Poliwhirl.

But he wasn’t going to allow it. Not for any reason. Not even if it meant giving up Rhyhorn.

“Yobo…” Poliwhirl saw the reluctance in Reiji’s eyes as he held it tightly. It wrapped its arms around him in return.

From the day they met until now, they understood each other well. Reiji didn’t want it to take risks—didn’t want it to be in danger.

Especially now, with the situation unclear and Reiji unable to understand what was being said, he’d never agree to let Poliwhirl go off alone with Rhydon.

In truth, it wouldn’t be anything dangerous. Rhydon had no reason to harm them. If it wanted to, it could crush them all without hesitation.

“Rhydon, take your son back. We’re leaving the island now and won’t be coming back.” Reiji stood, pulling Poliwhirl away.

He didn’t want Rhyhorn anymore. They were leaving right now—without delay.

“…” Rhydon watched them leave, clearly rejecting its offer.

But Rhydon was the island’s boss for a reason. If this human had sparked its interest, then it wasn’t going to let him leave so easily.

“ROAR! Leaving? Too late!” Rhydon called out to Pidgeot, commanding it to block the skies: ” Dumb bird! Block the sky—don’t let him escape!”

“Bi-diao! What are you trying to do?” Pidgeot asked, flapping into the air to seal off the sky.

” Don’t talk—just do it!” Rhydon lost its temper and stomped forward, intending to forcibly take Poliwhirl.

Hearing movement behind him, Reiji turned to see Rhydon approaching—and immediately stepped in front of Poliwhirl.

He wouldn’t let Rhydon take it. Not unless it stepped over his dead body.

Butterfree and Pelipper flew in front of him too, forming a shield.

Rhyhorn and Pidgey also stepped forward, startled that it had come to this. They stood in front of Reiji and cried out, begging Rhydon and Pidgeot not to hurt him, and to let them go.

Rhyhorn, thinking this was his fault, immediately declared he would stay and not go—hoping Rhydon would calm down and spare Reiji and the others.

The surrounding wild Pokémon, fearing conflict would break out, stepped out from the forest and formed a barrier between Rhydon and Reiji.

They wanted to prevent a clash—and let Reiji leave peacefully.

They owed Reiji and his Pokémon, especially for risking their lives to put out the fire. They had to stand up now—to calm the boss’s rage.

The first group to step forward were the Oddish.

“Dona-dona!” Oddish called out.

“Hana-hana!” Gloom followed.

“Kwii-kwii!” Pinsir.

“Ziba-ziba!” Bellsprout.

“Moo-moo!” Weepinbell.

“Lada-lada!” Rattata.

And many more wild Pokémon arrived—drawn by the noise of Rhydon’s fury. Now they all stood behind Reiji.

Even with Rhydon’s intense pressure filling the air, none of the wild Pokémon retreated. They stood firm, forming a wall of Pokémon.

Rhydon was forced to stop.

“Raaahh…” Surrounded, Rhydon could easily crush any of these Pokémon underfoot—but it didn’t dare move. Especially not near the Oddish clan.

They possessed Grassy Terrain and had strong influence over the forest’s ecology. Rhydon didn’t want to harm them.

“Raaah! Why are you all surrounding me?” Rhydon asked, puzzled.

“Dona. Please don’t hurt them. Let them go,” said Oddish, stepping forward to plead.

“I’m not going to hurt them. I just want to train that blue little tadpole,” Rhydon explained. That was why it wanted Poliwhirl to come.

If it was giving Reiji its son, then Poliwhirl needed to get stronger. If it was too weak and died out there, Rhydon would lose its son forever.

Even though it had many children, it didn’t want to lose a single one. Poliwhirl had to be trained.

“Dona… really?” Oddish looked doubtful.

“I’m the leader of the clan!” Rhydon snorted, sending a gust of air that blew Oddish backward. How dare this tiny thing doubt it! It wanted to stomp it flat.

“Hana… alright! We believe you. We’ll go too.” Gloom stepped forward and helped Oddish up. No more questioning—best not to anger the big guy.

“All of you, get back. I’m losing my patience,” Rhydon barked, pushing the wild Pokémon to disperse.

Then it called out: “Little tadpole—you heard me! Come now!”

“Yobo! Coming!” Poliwhirl turned to Reiji and chirped twice to reassure him. It then told Butterfree and Pelipper, “Protect Reiji. I’ll be back soon.”

“Poliwhirl!” Reiji tried to stop it as it stepped toward Rhydon, but Butterfree flew in front of him, shaking its head, stopping him.

“Fuyii! Poliwhirl’s not in danger. Don’t worry.” That’s what Butterfree meant—but all Reiji heard was “Fuyii fuyii fuyii.”

Still, he understood the head shake. If there were danger, Butterfree would’ve warned him.

So he had no choice but to wait—unless he used the item he’d secretly taken from his backpack… the Silver Feather.

With it, he could summon Lugia—and snatch Poliwhirl back from Rhydon.

But Poliwhirl wasn’t in danger. No need to use it—yet. All he could do was wait.

As the wild Pokémon scattered and their departure was delayed, Reiji didn’t know when Poliwhirl would return.

Even if he was worried, it wouldn’t help. But he could send Pelipper to scout. “Pelipper, follow them—see where they go, what they’re doing. Then come back and report.”

“Peliii!” Pelipper nodded, flapped its wings, and followed Rhydon, Poliwhirl, Oddish, and Rhyhorn from above.

Rhyhorn had also been called away—for training.

After all, as the child of an Elite four-tier Pokémon, it couldn’t be too weak or it’d embarrass the whole Rhydon clan.

With Rhydon gone, the wild Pokémon dispersed. Pidgeot took Pidgey away too, leaving only Reiji and his team—minus Poliwhirl and Pelipper.

With nothing to do, Reiji lay under the shade and waited. He released all his Pokémon except for Farfetch’d and let them play or train as they pleased.

He didn’t care—he just wanted to hold Slowpoke and wait.

By noon, Pelipper still hadn’t returned. He called the Pokémon over for lunch.

Afterward, he laid back down, still worried but helpless.

Finally, Pelipper returned.

“Pelii, Peliii!” It had followed them to the island’s center, watched for a while—and saw them training.

Mostly, Poliwhirl was getting beaten. Rhyhorn too—but he got it worse.

Poliwhirl was being struck by some particular move. Pelipper noticed frost glimmering on Rhydon’s fist. It seemed Rhydon was trying to teach Poliwhirl a new move.

“Pelipper, what did you find?” Reiji perked up.

Seeing Pelipper return safely meant no real danger.

“Pelii!” Pelipper pointed toward the beach—at Krabby, who was training its Water Gun—and called out.

“The beach? Training?” Reiji looked at Krabby and guessed—Poliwhirl must be training at the island center.

But why there? Why not train here?

Unless… there was something on the island he didn’t have. Like Rhydon, an Elite four-tier boss, training Poliwhirl personally?

If so, he shouldn’t have tried to stop it.

But why would Rhydon train Poliwhirl? And why let him take Rhyhorn?

Reiji couldn’t figure it out. It made no sense.

Island boss Pokémon were supposed to hate humans—especially after that incident with the hunter.

Most of them did. Even the wild Pokémon did.

So why help him? Why let their cubs go with him? Why train Poliwhirl?

In the end, he could only conclude: wild Pokémon had simple hearts. Not as complicated as humans.

They remembered who caused harm—and who helped them.

That’s why they weren’t hostile to him and Poliwhirl.

Realizing this, Reiji relaxed. He fed Pelipper and told it to return to the training site.

“Unless something big happens, don’t come back. Just stay there and keep Poliwhirl company.”

He even packed a bunch of food into Pelipper’s beak to share with Poliwhirl.

Finally, he had Pelipper tell Poliwhirl that they would be waiting for him here. Butterfree and Krabby would protect him.

If Kingler attacked again, they’d retreat into the forest. Pelipper should tell Poliwhirl not to worry.

He also gave a bottle of medicine spray to Butterfree, who went with Pelipper to treat Poliwhirl’s injuries.

Once a night would be enough. He’d shown Butterfree how to spray it lightly over the wounds.

With Pelipper and Butterfree gone, Reiji lay down again under the tree. The sun set. Evening came. He called the others for dinner.

Tonight, fewer Pokémon joined. Only Krabby, Spinarak, Slowpoke, Wishiwashi, and Magikarp were left.

Poliwhirl was still training. Pelipper stayed behind. Butterfree would return later after treatment.

After dinner, they sat by the fire, waiting for Butterfree.

When it returned, Reiji asked, “Butterfree, everything okay over there?”

“Fuyii,” it shook its head, meaning no major issues—just that Rhydon’s training was rough. It had already treated Poliwhirl’s wounds.

“Good…” Reiji exhaled in relief, told his team goodnight, and drifted off to sleep.

Time passed slowly. No telling when Poliwhirl would finish training—or when they’d leave this island.

Still, becoming stronger was always a good thing…

…even if waiting for it was the hardest part.

(End of Chapter)

[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep