Chapter 3

As Arcane stealthily moved through the forest, he hid as he watched the local creatures and mimicked their foraging behaviors, carefully selecting the berries and plants he had observed them eating.

After some time, Arcane spotted a cluster of small, red berries on a nearby bush. Remembering the various behaviors of forest creatures he had observed, he cautiously approached the bush, making sure it was safe before tasting one of the berries. The taste was slightly sweet, confirming that they were likely safe to eat. He managed to collect a small supply of edible items, carefully placing them into his Item Bag. This not only provided him with sustenance but also reinforced his understanding of his unique powers.

Gathering a small handful of the berries, Arcane chewed them slowly, savoring the nourishment. They filled his belly and provided some relief from his hunger. With his immediate needs addressed, Arcane found his body had begun to slowly recover and he was sure he would be fully healed soon.

Satisfied and with a supply of edible items now safely stored in his Item Bag, Arcane began to search for a suitable spot to rest and recover fully. The forest had grown darker as the day progressed, and he could hear the soft sounds of creatures settling down for the night.

Arcane eventually found a cozy nook nestled beneath a large tree, its roots forming a natural alcove. He settled in, using the soft, grassy ground as a makeshift bed. His thoughts continued to swirl with questions about his identity, the world he now inhabited, and the unique abilities he possessed.

As he began to nod off something happened and his fur stood on its ends and Arcance felt something urging him to move. Something quick crashed into the area where he had just been lying. A bit of debris flew towards Arcane so he fliched and was slow to react as he was attacked. The figure slammed into Arcane causing him to fly and crash into a nearby tree.

Arcane's world spun as he collided with the tree, his body aching from the impact. His vision was blurred, and his senses were disoriented. He groggily tried to regain his footing, struggling to comprehend what had just transpired.

As he steadied himself, he saw the source of the attack – a wild Pokémon, a Ferroseed. The Ferroseed resembled a cluster of metallic thorns with dead-looking yellow eyes. It was a formidable creature with a natural defense that was notoriously challenging to penetrate. The Ferroseed seemed agitated, its yellow eyes locked onto Arcane.

NAME: Wild Ferroseed

SPECIES: Ferroseed

Level: 7

Type: Grass/Steel

HP: 25/25

Ability: Iron Barbs

STATS

Attack: 12

Defense: 20

Special Attack: 7

Special Defense: 19

Speed: 8

Accuracy: 100

STATUS

Status: Aggressive

Experience: 200/ 1,370

Nature: Impish (Neutral)

MOVES

Tackle

Power Whip

Metal Claw

Pin Missle

ITEMS

Held Item: None

ABILITIES

Ability: Iron Barbs – When a Pokémon with Iron Barbs is hit by a move that makes contact, the attacker receives damage equal to 1⁄8 of their maximum HP.

Arcane's heart raced as he took in the sight of the aggressive Ferroseed. His aching body reminded him of the previous encounter with the Raticate, and he knew he was in no condition to face another formidable opponent, especially one with Iron Barbs, which could deal damage upon physical contact.

Arcane realized he needed to escape this dangerous situation. He mustered every ounce of strength left in him and darted away from the Ferroseed, his body protesting with each step. But before he could the Ferroseed shot the spikes on its body at the area he was running. Froced to quickly divert Arcane slipped and skidded across the ground.

It seemed the Ferroseed had no intentions of letting Arcane escape. As the Ferroseed's Pin Missile attack whizzed by, Arcane's vision continued to blur and fade. The pain, exhaustion, and the intensity of the situation had taken a toll on his body and mind. Panic set in as he struggled to maintain his focus and keep himself moving. Arcane's vision started to blur and fade.

As the Ferroseed launched another Pin Missle attack Arcane dodged with minimal effort barely moving. When he faced the Ferroseed he had a strange glow in his eyes. In that moment of crisis, his instincts as a Pokémon took over in a wild, bloodthirsty, and savage manner. The Ferroseed was still on the hunt, but it had momentarily let its guard down. With a sudden burst of primal energy, Arcane launched himself at the Ferroseed with fierce determination.

His body moved in a calculated and brutal manner, reflecting the predatory nature of his Pokémon instincts. Arcane's golden-yellow eyes glinted with an otherworldly intensity, and he unleashed a ferocious attack on the Ferroseed. He scratched, bit, and slashed at the metallic thorns with a savage and calculated aggression, driven by a desperate need to survive.

As Arcane's savage onslaught continued, the battlefield became a gruesome spectacle. His relentless attacks tore into the Ferroseed's metal frame with a sickening metallic screech, the sound echoing through the forest as though the very earth itself cried out in agony.

Arcane's own body was covered in scratches, and his golden-yellow eyes blazed with an otherworldly intensity. Blood mixed with metallic shards, painting a horrifying picture of the brutality of the battle. The scent of iron filled the air as the wounded Zorua fought with every ounce of strength he could muster.

The Ferroseed, now partially blinded due to the blood splatter in its eyes, struggled to respond effectively, its once-formidable defenses crumbling under Arcane's relentless assault. The creature's anguished cries only fueled Arcane's determination to overcome this brutal challenge.

Each attack was calculated and brutal, and Arcane disregarded the barbed thorns on the Ferroseed's body, allowing them to pierce his flesh as he pressed his savage onslaught. It was a visceral and horrifying display of survival, where the line between predator and prey blurred into a gruesome tableau of violence.

As the battle raged on, it was clear that only one would emerge victorious from this horrifying ordeal. Arcane's consciousness had completely faded away, leaving only his wild, bloodthirsty instincts as a Pokémon. The depths of his abilities and the primal nature of his existence were on full display as he fought for his life with unyielding determination. The forest bore witness to this brutal dance of death, and it would only end when one of them lay dead at the other's feet.