Swift and Efficient
Dorms (after 5 minutes):
"Knock.... Knock"
"One second, coming...." said a voice from the inside while I was panting for breath.
The door opened and I saw Ethan still getting ready. He seemed to have just gotten up from his sleep.
"Arthur?? Munna informed me that you already left, What's the problem?" he asked confused.
"Ethan, I luckily noticed this simple special grade mission. It has a 2 million dollars or 20,000 credits reward, I would be needing your Munna to complete the mission," I said further explaining the details.
"Munna? what is the mission?" he asked in curiosity with the mention of a large number of credits.
"We just need to give some Dream mist, but I think we should hurry up so that no one will complete it by the time we go," I said in a rush.
"Really? great!! but exchange for credit points, there's no use for money. You take Munna with you and complete it while I get ready," he said pushing Munna out.
"Sure, but as Munna is the one completing the task it will be rude of me to take the reward," I said in embarrassment.
"You discovered the mission, right? I wouldn't even have seen it as it is on the notice board. I would have just taken my first-year mission and went away so you can take 50% of the reward for finding it" he said graciously.
"Really!! then I will accept the generosity shamelessly. Also, I owe you a million right? so take this reward in full amount and forget about the money I owe you," I said closing the pact.
"Deal, now better hurry up," he said closing the door.
-------------------
30 minutes later: (Missions Office)
"To think you would complete a special grade mission without even taking up a single task, seems like you have good fortune," said the receptionist taking the small bottle filled with pink mist.
Dream Mist is a pink cloud-like gas. If sprayed in your room before bedtime, you get a nightmare free sleep. But the way Munna produces this dream mist is by consuming scary nightmares, it's a two-way thing so Munna shines the best with people who have nightmares.
"Well, my friend had a Munna so I think he is the one who should be considered lucky," I said collecting the credit points.
"Either way, good luck with your E rank mission," he said waving me goodbye while I walked out with Munna following me.
"Hey Munna, how much of that mist can you produce in a week?" I asked in curiosity.
[I not sure, depends on bad dreams I eat,] she said with difficulty using Telepathy.
Munna's ability is Telepathy, it helps her communicate with others. The only problem is that she is not yet perfect, but she is gradually improving. A month ago, she could barely say a word with good pronunciation.
"Hmm, maybe we can earn money by selling it but only if you produce an excess amount of it though. It seems like dream mist has good demand in the market for people who have sleep depression," I said contemplating.
[It help Ethan?] asked Munna cutely.
"Yeah it will surely, I think Ethan can teach new moves to you by contacting tutors or he can even buy lots of delicious food," I said explaining the uses of having money.
[ I love cake] she said hovering around me with expectation.
"Oh really? I too love it, How about I buy you one before Ethan comes. Elekid also loves cakes," I said releasing Elekid.
[Thank you Athar] she said mispronouncing my name.
[Don't thank him!! Daddy takes Ethan's money all the time. You can take Daddy's money whenever you want, ] said Elekid degrading my prestige.
"Elekid can you not nonchalantly speak out the facts," I said giving a stern gaze towards my starter.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
15 minutes later:
"Okay, that was good. Now, it's time to go to the wild," I said patting my belly.
'This Ethan is taking forever to come' I thought gazing towards the dorm area in Wolks Hall.
.
.
.
After around 5 more minutes,
I could spot a small dot getting bigger as time passes on the far end of the corner, after another twenty long seconds, I recognised it was Ethan.
I immediately walked up to him and gave the credit points,
"Here take it, and also I think you can try selling Munna's dream mist to have a consistent supply of money. You told me you want to be independent right?" I said making him nod in understanding.
"Actually, I was going to do that but just forgot about it because of all the classes and battles," he said taking the credit point receipt.
"Anyways, see you. I am already late" I said bidding him goodbye. I did not want to waste any more time here.
-------------------
Outside the Academy:
"Ha, it's finally nice to be out, I was bored for one whole month," I said to Elekid who was curiously looking at our surroundings.
[Ohhh!! there's is so much empty land here and this is what outside looks like?] he said like a frog in the well.
"This is just a teaser, you should see the Royal Capital," I said explaining the difference in how the cities, towns and wild environment is like.
We barely stepped out of the academy and it already feels like we are near a dense forest. The Academy is on the outskirts of Striaton City, we need to move towards the North to hunt the flying type Pokemon.
In this world, the meat used is pokemon. Pidoves and Pidgeys are some of the tastiest meat available, at first I felt weird to eat Pokemkm but then I realized it's not just humans that eat Pokemon, Pokemon too eat humans in the wild. That was my first wake up call in this world, 'survival of the fittest'.
So, I need to be very careful and try not to upset any flock of birds. I prefer to target lonely pokemon and catch them without disturbing the poisonous bug types.
Also, the receptionist advised me that, the cleaner the dead body the higher the value. So Elekid needs to be precise and efficient in his thundershock. I also brought some extra Pokeballs just in case I find a talented pokemon, I can catch it and sell it for a high amount. Contracting a Pokemon is a far fetched dream for now as I know I won't be finding anything above orange grade in this periphery.
"Stop right there!!" I heard a sudden voice from the side of my vision. I turned to see what the problem was and realized it was just a patrol guard.
"Show your ID and authorization by the Academy to enter the wild," he said in a strict tone.
I nodded at the guard who was wearing light armour and showed the Mission papers and ID.
He immediately did a cross-check and said
"Okay, you can go. Don't stay up late, return before it gets dark, although you are just by the periphery, some dark Pokemon like Liepard hunt at night," he said giving me safety advice.
"Yes Sir," I said and took my first step with Elekid.
I was also taught in Professor Viola Thompson's Class about hunting in the wild. I brought some paralyzing powder with me along with some seeds as bait.
I walked around 50 metres into the forest, any deeper would make things worse.
'It's my first time in the wild so I need to be careful, but if I team up with someone, I can afford to go deeper,' I thought and started walking slowly while keeping an eye on my surroundings.
The trees were not that tall around here, the forest was tannin-brown with green all around. The grass was wet under our feet, probably due to the drizzle in the morning. I couldn't spot any Pokemon around but I know for a fact that they are hiding. Bug types are very careful with hunting, they back off if a human comes with a Pokemon partner. It's all good until we don't attack them, so it is always better not to offend or disturb the bug types.
I took a look at the surface around here as my first task is to sprinkle some powder.
The wood sorrel flecked the blanket of grass under our feet, there were weeds around too. We walked in and out of shady glades trying to look for a perfect bush. The only positive factor here is that the peace of the morning was soul-soothing. The forest's smell was fresh and organic, but the silence that followed the smell contradicted the atmosphere.
Any slight movement from us can be heard, all pokemon that are hiding here are beginner-level as guards clean up the periphery every three days.
"Elekid, we need to stay calm while I set the trap so stay as quiet as possible," I said whispering to him.
"Elekid Kidd," he affirmed in a very soft tone.
I carried a medium-sized forage bad made of deerling skin. It is a waterproof and lightweight one, it's the best wild bag that can be obtained around here to carry things.
I gently put on some basic gloves albeit unnecessary as I am immune to minor paralysis. I took out a bottle with a yellow powder, it was paralysis powder available in the shops from the Dorm basement. I sprinkled the powder around the grass floor in a very quiet manner, only electric Pokemon trainers can try this method as we are not affected by this powder.
After I sprinkled it around a 30-metre radius, I threw the bird seeds all around the area making sure that they blend well with the powder sprinkled.
"Now, it's the waiting period," I said finding a good empty bush to hide.
I turned towards Elekid and whispered,
"Always be ready with a thundershock or quick attack. At my signal, just take off without thinking and hit the target."
[Got that, but what if there are more than one?] he asked.
"It's good that you are thinking. If there are two or three, we still attack but anything more than that is tough. So we just let them eat and fly away," I said showing my newly bought long dagger to him.
It had two sharp edges forged from the steel of a pawniard. The blade was just ten inches long and has a brownish smooth grip, I bought it for 30,000 dollars. High cost is due to the steel material, normal steel can't penetrate these Pokemon so we always have to carry weapons made from Pokemon.
It's not just the Pokemon that hunts in the wild, I too have to hunt with them. It not only makes the bond grow between us, but it also proves your strength to the pokemon as a trainer. The basic step to be the control tower of your team is to show strength and absolute confidence in what you do.
We patiently waited for the whole area to turn normal and expectantly sat there for the Pokemon to take the bait.
.
.
.
.
.
.
25 minutes later:
[Dad, this is boring as hell. I am feeling agitated] whispers Elekid generating some sparks.
'Of course, you would, you are after all a hyperactive pokemon,'
"Remember, becoming a powerful Pokemon is not just to have power but also mental toughness. You need to understand the situation and decide when to be aggressive and when to take a step back," I said giving him advice.
Elekid heard what I said and started thinking. Although he is a bit offensive in nature, he tried to take in whatever I tell. I think it's because he is still young and at a learning stage. As he grows, he will start to act more independent, that's when the problem will arise. So, it is always advised to provide as much wisdom as possible during his growing period.
[Fine, I will wait 30 minutes more. If nothing happens, let us change the spot, ] he said semi-accepting my advice.
.
.
.
.
.
15 minutes later:
Luckily we did not wait long as the sound of flapping wings above were as clear as a bell. I tightened the grip of my dagger while Elekid intently focused on the branches around to spot the Pokemon.
I hoped it wasn't a pidgey group as they have the ability 'Keen eye'. They can spot the hiding targets more easily than Pidoves.
As fortune would have it, they were a trio of Pidoves. One stood for lookout while the other two landed on the ground to peck the seeds laying around.
"Pi... Pidove" "Dove Pidove" "Pi Pi Pi," they said nibbling the seeds.
I immediately opened my eyes to see their potential,
'Peak Red.... Light Orange and finally a Mid-grade Red'
'Great! there is only a 1% chance of any of these being above beginner stage' I thought.
I waited till at least one of them shows the signs of paralysis. After around 10 seconds of nibbling one of them suddenly stumbled while moving forward,
I immediately turned towards Elekid and gave some predetermined hand signs. I told him to take the Pidove on the branch with a thundershock. I was targeting the two on the surface. With my reaction speed, I can manage the paralyzed pidoves.
Elekid first built up Charge to one-shot the Pidove that stood on a branch. I took a posture that gives me the fastest maximum leap,
"Now!!!" I said and jumped out with the dagger. The Pidoves were immediately startled,
"Pi? Pidove!!!" they said in unison. An Electric bolt passed above my head while I closed in on the two semi-paralyzed pidoves.
"Booommm", was what I heard over the branch where the third Pidove was.
One of the paralyzed ones tried to take flight and released a pitiful gust,
"Dove Dove"
I side leapt with my improved senses and ran in a zig-zag pattern. The other Pidove couldn't even walk as it fell paralyzed,
"Katcha...."
I slashed the neck of the one in the air while the blood-splattered around onto my hands and face.
"Elekid, Quick attack and slash its neck," I said while swiftly finishing off the second Pidove.
"Elekidddd" it affirmed and hit the thunderstruck Pidove in a flash.
"Katchaa...."
.
.
.
.
"Okay good job!! that's half the job done. let's shift our spots. There is a lot of blood splashed around here" I said while collecting all my belongings.
-------Chapter End--------
Note: Hope you are liking the story so far. In the past week, there is a sudden surge of readers which is making me happy. Really appreciate your support.
I also wanted to show in this chapter that Academy is not just for show and Arthur is learning some skills while applying them in the wild.
Also, from here on till the end of this arc, there will be a bit more action and Pokemon battles.
NO UPDATE for one to two days