CH34 (164), Hunting Competition (2)

After walking just a hundred meters or so I returned to the meeting point since something came to my mind that I wanted to ask. The teachers were surprised when they saw me return.

"Mikail, why have you come back? Did you forget something?" Came from Ms. Yu who probably asked what everyone thought. I, however, shook my head in denial.

"No, Ms. Yu, that's not why I came back. I've got a question regarding the Pokemon that get caught. Could you tell me what's going to happen to them or am I not allowed to know that?" This question was something that sprung up in my head, and the answer would determine the policy I would follow while hunting.

If the academies were planning to sell them all to earn some money or something like that, then I would just catch whatever came up since I would have no idea where they would land.

It would be a bit tragic if a 4-star, or even a 5-star Pidgey, landed on a KFP platter. Okay, maybe I was exaggerating a bit, but the main idea was the same. So, depending on the answer, I would likely avoid catching high-potential Pokemon.

When I asked my question nearly all the teachers showed a happy expression, and Mr. Koetsuji was the one who replied.

"Good question. I'm happy that you are concerned about the aftermath of your actions. We don't see it often that students mull over the possible consequences of their actions before they do something.

That's a great habit to have. Most only do it after experiencing a few setbacks. So, don't lose it, I'm sure it will be useful in the future. It might even save your life.

Anyway, all caught Pokemon are going to have their potential tested. Those with 5-, or 4-star potential will be distributed to more rural distribution centers, PokeCenters, schools, and so on.

This is done by nearly all academies whenever events like these happen so that new trainers with good results from less fortunate, or rural, areas can receive better starters if the Pokemon is at the iron stage, or in exchange for contribution points if it is above that.

3-star Pokemon are also handed over to the distribution centers, but without being reserved for those with good results. 2-star Pokemon are handed over to the government for labor whenever possible, like Caterpie and Weedle for silk production, or Pidgey as a lookout.

Those that can not be assigned any jobs, along with any 1-star ones outside the Alive only category are handed over to "farms" responsible for feeding our military. While all 1-star Pokemon from the Alive only category are released into the wild.

Does that answer your question?" Came a lengthy explanation that settled any scruples I had about mass-catching regular or talented Pokemon for the competition.

"Yes, it does. Thank you for telling me," I replied, before thinking for a moment.

"Could I have some more Pokeballs, please?" I asked because I had only taken 30 balls before since I was planning to focus on stronger Pokemon.

Now I was thinking that I might as well do some charity and strengthen the new generation a bit by providing a batch of good potential Pokemon. They let me take another 70 balls, bringing my total up to 100 and told me to return for more if I used them up.

After thanking them I made my way out, this time for real. I briefly paused outside the meeting point to check out the time and call out Horus/Xatu, Luna/Clefairy, Thor/Pikachu, as well as Nyx/Umbreon to help with the hunt.

I had Horus create a mental link between all of us. Thanks to him piggybacking our bond, he did not need to use Miracle Eye to establish one with Umbreon as well.

Through the link, I told them about the competition and our goal. Xatu took position roughly 30 meters above me and he would keep that position while we were on the road as well.

This would allow him to get an elevated look at our surroundings while being close enough to use his psychic senses to keep an eye out on any potential targets.

Thor climbed up my body and sat on my head. He, Luna, and Ali/Ralts were the only ones that were still small enough to be barely able to do so. However, Thor had acted before she could, so he was looking pretty smug up there. I knew that because I could feel the smugness radiating from him, and Luna was pouting at missing the chance.

Unfortunately, Nyx was too large for any kind of head or shoulder riding so she was pouting as well after she saw Thor sitting on my head. Still, let me add this, at moments like these, I was supremely thankful for my enhanced strength.

I honestly did not think I could carry around Thor's roughly 15+ kg for prolonged periods otherwise, at least not without hurting myself. Anyway, it was currently 12:15 p.m, so I still had 5 hours 45 minutes left, which was more than enough to cinch this.

'Horus, we'll focus on high worth targets first to secure our victory before catching some weaker Pokemon with good enough potential. Keep an eye out for Pokemon on the list ranging from the (low) silver to the (low) gold stage.' I mentally told him, and he returned a roger.

We began striding around and just 5 minutes in Horus informed us about our first target, a (mid) silver-stage Raticate accompanied by a few Rattata.

Energy-sensitive individuals could roughly determine someone's strength as long as one was not withholding one's energy, and most wild Pokemon did not have a habit of masking their energy unless they were hiding or ambushing someone, which was how Horus could detect their strength.

I had no plan to go around challenging anyone to 1-on-1 battles or anything like that during this competition. It wasn't like I was catching them for myself, so our plan was pretty simple. We were going to gang up on them.

I had Luna immobilize the posse with Gravity. Meanwhile, Horus used Psychic to freeze Raticate in place so that Nyx could deliver an Iron Tail straight on top of its head. The hit did not manage to knock it out, but a second milder hit quickly rectified that.

Thor was just cheering them on, and I would have laughed if his shaking did not make my head wobble. Anyway, I threw one of the provided Pokeballs at it, and just like that, we earned our first 150 points.

While that was happening the Rattata could do nothing but watch, and after I caught their leader they stopped struggling as hard. We left the Rattata alone since none of them were at the silver stage.

The increased Gravity would fizzle out 30 seconds after we left, and I was hoping they wouldn't try to attack us after that happened. They didn't, which was good, for them that is.

Another 3 minutes later we came across another target. This time around it was an Arbok at the (high) silver stage that was moving in the direction of the Rattata we had left behind. I most likely saved their lives by catching it.

Little hypocritical self-praise aside, Luna slowed it down with Gravity and Thor was the first to attack by jumping up to fry it with a Thunderbolt. His sudden jump shoved my head down and just as I straightened my position he landed back on my head.

"Take it easy Mario. I want a little warning the next time you decide to jump around on my head, please." I warned him and he agreed in a chastised manner.

My scolding him made Nyx and Luna laugh a bit, and I just shook my head at their antics, which made Thor clasp my head to stabilize his position. I saw that Arbok was not knocked out yet, but decided to throw the Pokeball before it could regain control of its twitching body.

A click later I had gained another 300 points, and during the next 3 hours we easily caught 12 more silver-stage Pokemon by ganging up on them. 2 (low) silver Raticate, another (mid) silver Raticate, 2 (low), and 1 (mid) silver Furret, a (high) silver Ariados, a (low) silver Beedrill, 2 (low) silver Fearow, and 2 (low) silver stage Arbok.

Honestly, it took more time to find them than it took to beat them. Also, many of them were accompanied by a few weaker line members, and I caught roughly 20 (high) bronze stage ones since I wanted to bolster my points a bit more.

All in all, I managed to gather 1850 points through silver-stage Pokemon, and 640 points through bronze-stage Pokemon. Oh, and let's not forget the 120 points the silver-stage Parasect carcasses would bring me.

I came across them during the search and decided to follow the instruction on the backside of the paper we received, which was to eliminate them with prejudice.

I had a slight suspicion that whoever made the rules had a slight bias against the zombie mushrooms, I meant Parasect-line. Moving on, I had 2610 points for now, and I felt like 4000 points would be enough to win.

So, I set that amount as my goal, before I would start catching a few good potential Pokemon for charity since catching iron-stage Pokemon would only yield a meager amount of points.

I managed to catch another (low) silver-stage Beedrill, and a (high) silver-stage Fearow in the next 20 minutes before I stumbled upon my first competitor. I had been lucky enough to avoid meeting them until now, but unfortunately, I finally came across one.

Even more unfortunate was that it was someone from the Knight Academy and he did not look like someone I wanted to know. My cliche alarms were blaring at full capacity and sadly he demonstrated why that was the case.

"Midget, this is my, Leonard Fanfarone's hunting ground, so get lost before I decide to help you along." He yelled out in a pompous tone.

My eyelids twitched in irritation. No wonder my senses had been going haywire, I had encountered my first arrogant young master, Terran-edition. I had to suppress my groan at that. Still, I decided to be the bigger man. I would just ignore him and leave.

However, Mr. Peng apparently was as impatient as he was short-tempered.

"Shrimp, it seems like you're not only small but also either deaf or slow in the head, probably both." He shouted while I was thinking about sparing from a beating.

Nonetheless, it seems like he was insisting that I helped him rearrange his face. I mean seriously how stupid was that guy? Did he not notice the four Pokemon around me that looked pretty pissed?

The idiot looked like was going to open his mouth to release another brain fart, so interrupted him before he could do so while rubbing the bridge of my nose in irritation.

"Oy, Idiot. Say, are you blind, or too stupid to notice my Pokemon? Did your parents not tell you not to provoke others with better Pokemon than you?" only after I said that did the nincompoop notice the angry-looking Xatu, Umbreon, Pikachu, and Clefairy.

Furthermore, when I said angry-looking I meant that Thor was releasing sparks of electricity, Luna's hands were glowing in a pink light, and Nyx was baring her teeth. Xatu was just staring at him, but it was the look one would throw at a cockroach.

That was the moment the dunderhead knew he had f**ked up. I honestly could not understand how self-absorbed one has to be to somehow overlook the Pokemon besides a person.

"A, a, are threatening me? How dare you threaten someone from the Fanfarone family? Moreover, the rules forbid us from robbing others." He stuttered a bit before regaining his confidence as he kept speaking.

*sigh*

The rules actually only forbid us from robbing our competitors, but nowhere did it state that we could rough them up a bit. Still, I took pity on the poor lad. He was clearly retarded, so I decided to just scare him a bit as a warning.

'Thor, just release a Thunderbolt at the ground between his legs. He's not worth dirtying our hands.' I ordered mentally and just a second later a Thunderbolt struck right in front of his legs.

The guy fell backward in fright and pissed his pants. I couldn't stop myself from laughing at that and my Pokemon joined in as well. Seeing his situation I just shook my head and walked away.

For the first time, the idiot made the right decision and chose to be silent, most likely out of embarrassment. At least, my luck seemed to have returned after I left, because just 5 minutes after leaving the clown behind we came across our first gold stage target.

Horus said that it was a (low) gold Arbok, and while it was harder making the distinction if the target was at a higher stage than oneself, I was sure we could handle it as long as it was not at the (high) gold stage by ganging up on it.

If I had to I would just let out the others as well. I believed all of us working together could ensure that we could at least somewhat safely retreat from the fight. Besides I had a plan that could potentially finish the battle pretty quickly.

Having made up my mind, I told the others of my plan and we walked towards the Arbok. As soon as we were in range Clefairy began the fight with her Gravity.

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