The purple tide rolled closer and closer.
Only when it drew right up to him.
Did Shiko notice.
That this surging purple tide.
Was actually hundreds of Rattata!
"Squeak, squeak!!"
"Squeak, squeak!!"
The Rattata skidded to a halt.
They glared at Shiko and squeaked at him, full of hostility.
They bared their mouths.
Showing off their own sharp, solid front teeth at Shiko.
Buneary was so scared that her whole body was trembling.
She hid behind Shiko's back.
Peeking out her little head.
Nervously watching the situation in front of her.
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
The Rattata noticed the Buneary behind Shiko.
Their emotions flared.
They started squeaking even louder and more frantically.
The piercing cries blended together.
Pounding against Shiko's eardrums.
"You want me to hand over Buneary?"
"Or else you're going to 'teach me a lesson'?"
Once Shiko understood what these Rattata meant.
His brows furrowed.
Even though he didn't know the full story.
It was obvious these guys had chased Buneary all the way here.
"Byune! Byune!"
Buneary immediately grew tense.
She pulled her little head back in.
Clutched tightly onto Shiko's tail, shivering.
In that moment.
She looked just like a drowning person clinging to their one and only lifeline.
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
When the Rattata saw that Shiko wasn't responding.
They grew impatient.
Their bodies lowered, eyes turning vicious, and even their squeaks dropped to a low growl.
"Telling me I'd better know what's good for me, or you'll take me down along with her?"
"So you're threatening me?"
Shiko's expression turned cold.
At first, he really didn't want to get dragged into this mess.
But these Rattata.
Actually dared to treat him with that kind of attitude?
That, Shiko could not tolerate.
He was a dignified Charmander.
Someone who would one day evolve into WarGreymon.
If he chickened out in front of a pack of Rattata like these.
How was he supposed to show his face in the future?
He swept his gaze over the info of the Rattata in front of him.
They were all level two or three, entry-level novice-stage Pokémon.
Extremely weak.
The only thing they had going for them was their numbers, which was why they were acting so overbearing.
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
The Rattata bared their front teeth, their postures itching for a fight, ready to lunge at Shiko.
"Shut up!"
Shiko roared, the sound like thunder exploding out of a clear sky.
It gave the Rattata a good scare, leaving them frozen in place.
Then.
He opened his mouth.
The dense fire-type energy stored within his body began to gather.
In his mouth.
A blazing ball of fire-type energy was rapidly condensing.
The terrifying heat.
Even caused the air to twist and shimmer.
These pieces of trash!
One Flamethrower and he'd wipe them all out!
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
The Rattata keenly sensed the aura of danger.
Before Shiko's Flamethrower had even fully formed.
They decisively chose to retreat.
The purple tide receded at lightning speed.
This time they were much faster than when they'd rushed in.
They ran?
Seeing this, Shiko was a little speechless.
How boring.
He'd been planning to test out how strong he was right now.
Wild Pokémon really were something else.
Their sense for danger was razor-sharp.
The moment they sensed things were going south, they bolted.
As the fire-type energy he'd gathered dispersed.
Shiko turned around.
Planning to ask Buneary what exactly had happened.
To figure out why those Rattata had gone crazy chasing after her.
But he hadn't expected.
That from the forest in front of him.
That familiar thumping sound would ring out once again.
In the next second.
The purple tide surged back out of the forest once more.
Only.
This time.
Within that purple tide.
Shiko caught sight of a jarring patch of earthy yellow.
Swoosh!!
Before he could react.
That earthy yellow blur.
Shot toward him from the distance.
Shiko didn't hesitate—he swung out his claw in a chopping motion.
Dragon Claw!
His sharp claws gleamed with white light.
Wrapped in dragon-type energy that flowed like blue water.
His Tough Claws Ability was triggered!
Clang!!
A loud metallic crash rang out.
Sparks flew everywhere!!
Shiko felt a powerful force slam into his arm.
The earthy yellow figure was knocked flying.
It staggered for a bit before finally managing to plant its feet not far in front of Shiko.
Only then.
Did Shiko get a clear look at what had attacked him.
A short, round, chubby body.
Its back covered in earthy yellow fur.
It stood on two legs, limbs short and stubby.
Most eye-catching of all.
Were the two massive, sharp front teeth—one upper and one lower—protruding from its mouth.
Under the sunlight.
They reflected a metallic sheen!
So it was a Raticate!
No wonder those timid, sensitive Rattata had come back.
Turns out they'd gone to fetch reinforcements!
Beat up the small fry and the big one shows up, huh?
Shiko grumbled internally.
He glanced over the attribute info of the Raticate standing not far in front of him.
He drew in a deep breath.
And his expression grew serious.
A decent opponent!
Perfect for testing what his current strength was really like!
(End of Chapter)
If I see that this fanfic has support, I will upload 20+ chapters to Patreon!!
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]