"Pidgeotto, scout ahead—find our 'teammate.'"
After finishing his preparations, Icarus gave the order calmly.
---
To his surprise—
It took only a few minutes.
"Beep~beep!"
Pidgeotto returned quickly, clearly excited. It reported that the human target was extremely close—just over 100 meters away—and was currently treating Machop's injuries.
---
"Oh?"
Icarus smirked.
"So he thinks I'm already dead."
"Recover first, then escape safely… smart choice."
From Takashima's perspective, that was the correct move.
From Icarus's perspective—
It made things easier.
---
"Let's go."
"Time for our teammate to pay for his choices."
---
They moved quietly through the forest.
Soon—
"Beep~"
Pidgeotto signaled: target ahead.
---
Icarus raised his binoculars.
---
There they were.
Takashima.
And Machop.
---
"Hey…!"
The Machop was clearly grieving—its cries filled with pain.
Its longtime partner—Geodude—had just been sacrificed.
---
"It's fine," Takashima said casually.
"Geodude covered our retreat. We just need to move forward."
---
His tone was light.
Almost indifferent.
---
Inside—
He was already calculating.
---
"With these resources… Machop can finally evolve."
"And Xiaoling… she can become a trainer too."
"I'll even buy her a Water-type Pokémon."
---
His eyes drifted to the backpack.
Greed.
Clear as day.
---
Then—
"HEY!!"
A sudden cry.
---
"Pidgeotto—Tornado. End it."
---
"You—YOU'RE ALIVE?!"
Takashima's face turned deathly pale.
---
Icarus didn't answer.
---
"Vine Whip."
---
"SHUA—!"
Weepinbell's vines lashed out instantly—
Binding Takashima tightly.
---
"AH—!"
The thorns bit through his clothing—not piercing, but crushing hard enough to make him scream.
---
At the same time—
"Boom!"
Machop, caught off guard, was struck—
Lifted into the air by a powerful tornado.
---
"Thud!"
It hit the ground hard.
Unconscious.
---
Begging
Takashima panicked.
"Captain! Please—let me go!"
"I don't want anything! You can take it all!"
"Just let me live!!"
---
Silence.
---
Icarus walked forward slowly.
Ignored him.
---
He retrieved two Poké Balls from Takashima.
Sprayed medicine on Machop—
And recalled it.
---
Takashima's eyes lit up.
He misunderstood.
---
"Captain! You can take Machop too!"
"I'll convince it—it'll obey you!"
"It's about to evolve! It'll be strong—I swear!"
---
That did it.
---
Icarus's gaze turned cold.
---
"Shut up."
"I didn't expect this."
"You abandoned Geodude…"
"And now you're ready to abandon your starter too?"
---
Takashima froze—
Then muttered:
"…Pokémon are just tools…"
---
Icarus heard it.
Every word.
---
A faint, almost mocking smile appeared.
---
"No wonder you're still stuck at the bottom."
---
Judgment
He didn't argue further.
Didn't waste time.
---
"Put him to sleep."
---
Weepinbell acted immediately.
Takashima's struggles slowed—
Then stopped.
---
Reflection
Icarus looked down at the unconscious man.
---
That mindset—
"Pokémon are tools"—
Wasn't new.
It used to be common.
Especially among lower-tier trainers.
---
Train a Pokémon?
Waste time.
Waste resources.
---
Better to capture stronger ones directly.
Skip the effort.
---
Sounds efficient.
---
But reality proved otherwise.
---
Wild Pokémon didn't change just because of a capture.
They resisted.
Disobeyed.
Some even broke free—
Or killed their trainers.
---
That philosophy died quickly.
---
Now—
Whether in the Pokémon League or underground groups—
The truth was clear:
Only trust and bonds create real strength.
---
Takashima never understood that.
---
And now—
He'd pay for it.
---
Cleanup
Icarus retrieved his backpack.
Had Weepinbell carry the captive.
Returned to the battlefield.
---
Geodude was still there.
Barely alive.
---
"…You're tougher than I thought."
---
He gave it basic treatment.
Not kindness—
Just practicality.
---
Then secured everything.
---
His plan—
Was complete.
---
But this was just the beginning.
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