Chapter 20: peaceful River Forest

"This figure looks familiar..." Aron squinted his eyes, looking at the two figures—one tall, the other shorter—at a distance, muttering softly. "Maybe I've seen them somewhere."

Not many people came to the Peaceful River Forest today. In fact, only a few trainers were at this outpost, aside from the staff who were busy registering information.

Aron knew the importance of registration before coming here.

Though the law and order in Easton was generally good, there were still some wanted criminals and poaching teams hiding in the shadows. They often wandered in the wild, in places where they were difficult to spot.

These types of people were often more dangerous than wild Pokémon.

They were ruthless, cold-blooded, and would stop at nothing for profit. Snatching Pokémon from trainers was a trivial thing for them.

Aron was well aware of this. When you're alone in the wild, you have to be cautious not only of wild Pokémon but also of strangers.

"In the wild, many trainers help each other and will lend a hand," Aron thought, recalling his teacher's words.

"But where no one can see, in the dark corners, blood and death are common."

"And all of this is for resources."

After registering his information, Aron began his journey into Peaceful River Forest.

Stepping onto the green path, Aron threw his Luxury Ball.

"Com-busken!!"

Combusken appeared energetically, its curious eyes scanning the environment. Upon appearing, Combusken looked around eagerly, taking in the surroundings.

"Combusken, I'll leave the rest to you." Aron said.

"Combusken!!" Combusken responded with a determined nod.

Although Aron had never ventured into the wild before, his teacher had emphasized many times that Pokémon were the biggest guarantee for a trainer in such environments.

Once you step into the forest, your Pokémon should always be by your side, ready to protect you in case of any unforeseen danger.

"If we wait until the danger strikes before sending out our Pokémon,then it'll be too late."

"It's a shame there are no Flying-type Pokémon," Aron thought as he walked beside Combusken. "Flying Pokémon is perfect for scouting in the wild, offering a better view.That would be extremely useful."

Aron recalled how Ash often used Flying-type Pokémon to locate Pikachu when it was captured by Team Rocket. Their role was clear.

As Aron and Combusken went deeper into the Peaceful River Forest, Aron recalled what he knew about this place.

"According to geography class, the Kunlun Mountains in the west give birth to a large river. This river flows from west to east, passing through snow-capped mountains, plateaus, grasslands, mountains, and plains before emptying into the easternmost sea."

"The peace River is a tributary of this large river. It divides this forest into two, hence the name Peaceful River Forest."

"In other words, if I head north from Peaceful River Forest, I should eventually reach North Riverland City," Aron thought to himself.

North Riverland City and South Riverland City were close together, one to the north and one to the south, often playfully referred to as 'brother cities' by locals.

As they continued, the forest grew denser, with towering trees surrounded by thick undergrowth, casting the ground in shadow and making the air feel even darker.

Occasionally, there were rustling sounds around them. Though not quiet, the sounds felt eerie.

Aron remained calm, while Combusken was full of energy, scanning their surroundings.

Ekans rested on a tree branch with cold eyes, hissing; Murkrow perched on a branch, eyeing Aron; Oddish hid in the grass, shivering in fear.

"Well, this is a true display of biological diversity," Aron murmured.

They walked further into the forest, stepping over decaying branches as Aron recalled his lessons.

Because of the wild environment, Pokémon in these areas were often more ferocious and hostile toward humans than domesticated ones.

There were many types of Pokémon, each with different personalities. Some were gentle and avoided conflict, while others were aggressive and would attack humans without provocation.

"In the wild, we always have to be aware of Pokémon that might show hostility. If we detect any signs of danger, we need to act immediately," Aron said, his eyes narrowing.

"Com-busken."

Combusken nodded, its piercing gaze scanning every corner of the surrounding forest. Even the normally hidden Catterpie flinched and hid behind the leaves, too frightened to move.

Walking on, Aron and Combusken noticed the trees slowly thinning out. The light filtered through the gaps, casting spotty patterns across the ground.

Aron gnawed on his dry food, looked around, and searched for the Pokémon hidden in the dark.

"Combusken!!"

Suddenly, Combusken turned its head sharply, eyes narrowed, giving a warning.

"Hm?" Aron looked around and soon saw a figure emerge from the shadows. A large white cat-like Pokémon walking upright, its body marked with red patterns resembling scars.

The Pokémon had a soft white tail and sharp claws that glinted in the light.

It was a Zangoose—the nemesis of Seviper.

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[Pokémon: Zangoose (Normal Type)

Ability: Immunity

Qualification: Advanced

Level: 21 (Intermediate)]

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"A Intermediate-level Zangoose..." Aron muttered, eyeing the Pokémon carefully. "Looks like the first encounter is a big one."

He grinned and said, "Get ready to fight."

"Combusken!!"

Without needing any further command, Combusken entered a fighting stance, prepared to face the threat.

Zangoose was the first to strike, charging forward in a blur of white. Its speed was incredible, making it hard to track with the naked eye.

It used Quick Attack!

Combusken stood still, its eyes narrowed as it observed Zangoose's every movement.

In Combusken's vision, Zangoose's speed seemed to slow down, its movements becoming easier to follow.

Before Zangoose could strike, Combusken shifted left, narrowly avoiding the attack. Zangoose's claws swiped through empty air, causing the Pokémon to lose balance.

Seizing the opportunity, Combusken swung its claws in a powerful arc. The energy gathered into its claws, glowing white as it delivered a sharp slash.

"Za..ang!!"

Zangoose let out a pained cry, a long scar forming across its abdomen, bright red blood oozing from the wound as its fur became disheveled.

The pain caused Zangoose's face to contort in agony.

Without hesitation, Combusken followed up with a Ember attack. A small fireball shot from its mouth, striking Zangoose directly in the abdomen.

Boom!

Zangoose was knocked backward, slamming into a large tree before crashing to the ground.