"Eevee~~"
"Oss Oss!"
"Cacaw!"
The three little ones chatted and laughed, discussing their "excellent" performance just now.
After evolving, Monferno had reached the Senior Level, making it the strongest among the three.
Latios was still at the Excellence Level, but it was believed that the residual "Dragon Crystal" energy in its body would allow it to have a rapid power surge in a short period.
Eevee was the weakest, still only at the Qualified Level.
After Natsuhiko had established a certain level of strength and capability, it became apparent that the progress speed of nurturing Pokémon was significantly faster compared to the Beedrill and Alakazam periods.
Choosing Pokémon with good talents was one reason, and the resources Natsuhiko invested in nurturing them was another.
After all, when nurturing Beedrill, Natsuhiko had to use every Energy Block precisely, and they were of low quality at that.
Now with Pokémon like Latios and Eevee, still in their infancy, they consumed Special Level Energy Blocks.
The level of investment was obviously not the same.
This was not an exception for him.
Many Trainers who reached a certain level of strength felt the same when nurturing new Pokémon.
That's why many people, after reaching a bottleneck, would turn to nurturing new Pokémon, attempting to break their limits from a different angle.
For example, Tom Rokicki, whom Natsuhiko had met once before, had nurtured several new Pokémon the next time they met, and they were close to the Elite Trainer Level in strength.
It had only been a few months, right?
Even if these Pokémon already had some level of power, it was too fast.
They continued forward.
Gradually, the sound of rushing water was heard.
As they approached, they discovered.
It was a fairly large lake.
The sound of the water came from a steep rock wall by the lake, with the water flowing down the wall, its sound created as it splashed onto the rocks.
Water source.
Particularly freshwater resources.
On such an island, it was indeed a precious resource.
Finding a water source guaranteed that many island Pokémon would be seen here, coming to drink.
It was a perfect place to lie in wait.
"Eevee?"
Suddenly, the Eevee walking upfront perked up its ears and looked back.
There, besides a hazy mist, was endless darkness.
"What is it?"
Natsuhiko squatted down and rubbed its head.
This Eevee's trait should be "Danger Premonition," though it didn't show clearly because it hadn't undergone systematic training and nurturing.
"Eevee~~"
Eevee shook its head, feeling a vague sensation for a moment.
But unsure if it was just an illusion.
Natsuhiko looked back in the direction it was gazing, seeing nothing.
Extending his psychic power, he sensed nothing either.
"It's okay." Natsuhiko patted its head, indicating it needn't worry.
Eevee indeed didn't think much of it, cheerfully running to Latios and Monferno's side, watching the rippling lake, and the three Pokémon started playing "mirror."
Making faces happily at each other.
"Aegislash, go have a look."
Eevee may not have been wary, but it wasn't like Natsuhiko to be so carefree.
Having Aegislash check ensured caution.
After all, he wasn't the only human on this island.
Although Noivern was monitoring the surroundings from above, wary of humans.
However, avoiding Noivern's ultrasound detection wasn't impossible, at least Natsuhiko knew a few methods.
With Latios active outside.
Should someone see it, Natsuhiko would not let them leave.
"Shaa!"
From Natsuhiko's shadow, Aegislash emitted a sound as it turned into a shadow swiftly moving in the direction Eevee had looked.
"Eevee!!"
On the other side.
Eevee and its companions called out to Natsuhiko, waving their arms with exuberance.
"What's up?"
Natsuhiko asked with a smile, approaching.
"Oss!"
He then saw, in the direction Latios was pointing, a head poking out from the lake surface where they were playing.
The brown head looked like a helmet, with a purple face and a sea horse-like mouth, and red eyes curiously blinking at Latios and the others.
Through the water, a body resembling decaying seaweed could be vaguely seen.
"Skelp?"
Natsuhiko was a bit surprised.
"Eevee?" Eevee tilted its head.
So it really was a Pokémon.
They had just been discussing whether this seaweed-like thing that suddenly appeared was a Pokémon.
Latios said yes, while Eevee and Monferno said no.
But hearing Natsuhiko's words, they were almost certain of its identity.
Skrelp, a Poison and Water Type Pokémon, its overall shape was like a sea horse, appearing to be decaying seaweed, it liked inhabiting algae-filled areas but wasn't good at swimming, often getting entangled in seaweed.
Occasionally, it would dash to the shallows to escape the seaweed's "chase."
Skrelp wasn't a common Pokémon and had a high value because its evolved form was a Dragon-type Pokémon.
Dragalge!
A Pokémon of Poison and Dragon Types.
Just like Horsea could eventually evolve into the Dragon-type Kingdra, Skrelp could evolve into the Dragon-type Dragalge, hence its high value.
Seeing Skrelp inside the island's water was unexpected for Natsuhiko.
But since he saw it, there was naturally no chance of letting it go.
Dragon-type Pokémon inherently meant high value.
Whether capturing it to train as Dojo Pokémon, selling it, or exchanging it for Hunter Guild points, all were good choices.
"Roar——!!"
However.
Things often went in the opposite direction of Natsuhiko's expectations.
The sky resounded with a warning roar.
Natsuhiko's facial expression slightly changed.
He immediately told Latios, "Invisibility."
Quick to react, Latios vanished from Natsuhiko's sight.
Whoosh——
With swirling air currents, Noivern descended somewhat disheveled from the sky.
Its wings bore a syringe.
Simultaneously.
Two figures emerged from the woods less than two hundred meters from Natsuhiko, each holding a special pistol, wearing mocking smiles.
Beside one was a Sneasel.
"Scree!!"
Another high-pitched screech, a Mandibuzz landed on a tree trunk beside them.
Their gazes were fixed on Natsuhiko.
One wore a deep blue top, exposing strong muscular arms, holding a long spear, looking unapologetically at Natsuhiko, even feigning surprise.
"Hey! Sorry, sorry, we thought this Noivern was wild, it was making such a racket in the sky, so annoying, we casually shot it, looks like it'll just faint for a day or two, not a big deal."
Ordinary firearms would naturally be ineffective against Noivern.
But with that turned Mandibuzz, and the Sneasel leaning with crossed arms against the tree, it was different.
The man with shoulder-length black hair shook his head, "Wasted a special tranquilizer dart, those are quite expensive."
"Hey, Shinta, look, it's a Skrelp!" The blue-shirted muscleman Pingye slapped his companion's arm.
"Asshole! Don't slap, it's painful, you know?"
Saying that, but the black-haired man's eyes brightened upon seeing Skrelp.
Gurgle——
Startled, Skrelp quickly fled back into the water.
Yet the two weren't worried, instead looking at Natsuhiko.
Pingye fiddled with his gun, its muzzle occasionally drifting toward Natsuhiko.
"Hey, I say, Joanna's little underling, clear the area, move along smoothly, we don't bully kids."
Clack!
Natsuhiko carefully removed the syringe from Noivern's wing, then expressionlessly crushed it in his palm.
Gently stroking Noivern's wing, soothing it.
He calmly looked at the two.
After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly grinned.
"Who gave you face?"