"Pidgeotto!"
At Icarus's command, Pidgeotto shot forward and appeared in front of the leader Raticate in an instant.
"Bang!"
The impact sent it flying, and the sharpened beak tore open a bloody wound.
At the same time, Pidgeotto grabbed the injured Machop with its talons and carried it out of the battlefield.
---
"Machop! Are you okay?! Hang on—I'll heal you!"
A panicked Takashima rushed forward, pulling out a potion and spraying it over the wound.
---
Icarus watched quietly, shaking his head.
No experience in team battles… probably just doing small jobs before.
Abandoning the fight mid-battle to tend injuries—dangerous.
Meanwhile, without orders, Geodude was left passively taking hits. It wouldn't last long.
---
On the other side—
Weepinbell, already prepared, lashed out with Vine Whip, binding the leader Raticate the moment it landed.
"Whoosh—"
A glob of corrosive acid followed.
"SKREE!"
The poison burned into its fur and flesh. Combined with the paralyzing vines, the leader Raticate was quickly losing strength.
---
"RATTATA!"
The female Raticate, still affected by paralysis, forced herself to move using Focus Energy. She screeched, calling the remaining Rattata to rescue the leader.
Immediately, the surviving Rattata shifted targets.
---
Geodude, finally freed from pressure, let out a relieved grunt—but its body was covered in scratches, some even cracked.
The female Raticate charged next, fangs glowing white.
---
"Naive."
Icarus's eyes turned cold.
"Pidgeotto—Tornado!"
"Pidgeotto!"
Wings beat violently—
A swirling tornado formed instantly, sweeping up the charging Rattata.
"Rattata! Rattata!"
Even a weaker tornado was devastating against already-injured enemies.
---
Icarus shifted his gaze to the female Raticate, ready to finish it—
—but Takashima suddenly shouted:
"Geodude! Rock Throw!"
"GRR!"
A large rock flew straight at the target.
---
"I'm sorry, Captain Icarus!" Takashima said quickly. "I lost my head earlier—Machop is my starter, so I panicked…"
---
Icarus adjusted instantly.
"Pidgeotto, use Gust to suppress it."
His expression showed just the right hint of dissatisfaction—not too much, not too little.
"Takashima, I'll leave this one to you."
---
"Got it!"
Takashima understood. This was his chance to make up for the mistake.
"Geodude—Stomp! Then Rock Throw!"
---
The ground trembled.
The female Raticate struggled to keep balance, eyes stung by wind and dust—
"Boom!"
Another rock slammed down.
"Raticate…"
It collapsed, defeated.
---
On the other side, the bound leader Raticate had already lost the will to fight, drained by poison and restraint.
With a final twitch, it went limp.
---
"It's over," Icarus said calmly.
"Pidgeotto, finish off the remaining Rattata."
"Geodude, assist," Takashima added quickly.
---
The cleanup didn't take long.
---
"Now then," Icarus said, pulling out Poké Balls, "we split them evenly. Capture everything first—then we check for any high-quality ones."
He paused slightly.
"The two Raticate… we'll process them afterward."
---
"Understood," Takashima nodded.
He had prepared for this too—bringing plenty of Poké Balls.
---
After more than twenty minutes, all the Rattata were captured.
The two Raticate were reduced to materials and stored away.
---
Icarus checked his supply.
"Used 14… still have enough."
Takashima looked more strained.
"I used 16… only four left."
---
Then Takashima handed over his captures.
"Twelve from my side. Should we head back and check them at the black market?"
---
Icarus shook his head.
"No need."
He reached into his bag—
and pulled out a black-painted Pokédex.
"I have this."
---
This was where the real plan began.
Not through force—
but through choice.
---
(End of Chapter 131)