Agung felt a surge of adrenaline he hadn't felt since his days playing soccer in the narrow alleys of Pekalongan. He didn't want a "trick" like Fake Out—he wanted to see what his new partner was made of.
"Alright, Meowth! Let's see that shipyard grit!" Agung shouted, pointing at the blue bulb. "Get in there with a Scratch!"
The Galarian Meowth didn't need to be told twice. He leaped from Agung's shoulder, his shaggy fur bristling like iron wool. With a guttural growl, he lashed out with claws that looked more like rusted serrated knives than feline nails.
> [BATTLE START!]
> Meowth used Scratch!
> It's a direct hit! The wild Oddish tumbled backward, its leaves rustling in alarm.
> Oddish used Absorb!
> A faint green light drained a tiny bit of energy from Meowth, but his Adamant nature and tough hide barely felt the sting.
"He's a tank," Agung whispered, impressed. The Oddish was wobbling now, its health bar in the 'Yellow' zone on Agung's Warden Pokedex.
The little plant-type tried to retreat into the thicket, but Meowth blocked its path, hissing with a menacing grin.
> [WARDEN OPPORTUNITY]
> The Oddish is weakened. Its Tiny Mushroom is visible!
> Current Inventory:
> * 1x Lure Ball (Catch Rate: Normal for non-water types)
> * 1x Potion
> * 1x Warden's Hardtack (Bread)
Agung hesitated. If he used the Lure Ball now, he'd have another worker for the ranch—a "Gardener" for the future Miltank pastures. But if he missed, he'd have no way to catch the rare Water-types Misty was looking for later.
"System," Agung asked, "if Meowth knocks it out instead of me catching it, do we still get that Tiny Mushroom?"
> [SYSTEM RESPONSE]
> If the Oddish is defeated, Meowth's Pickup ability has a 50% chance to scavenge the Tiny Mushroom. However, a captured Pokémon brings its held item with it 100% of the time.
Agung looked at the Oddish, then at his Lure Ball. Then he looked at the dense treeline of the Ancient Forest where the Honey-Dew Nectar for the Combee egg was hidden.