I caught a Pokémon

Being caught like this, Magikarp naturally wouldn't stand idly by, and kept wagging its tail, trying to shake Froakie off.

But no matter how it wiggled its body or swam around, even if it leaped high out of the water and then crashed back in, it still couldn't get the croaking frog to let go of its claws.

"Well done, Froakie!" Just as Magikarp leaped out of the water again, trying to use the force of the fall to knock Froakie down, Xia You decisively gave the order, "Kick it onto the shore like that!"

In mid-air, Froakie adjusted its posture and performed a difficult spin. Just as it and Magikarp were about to fall into the water, Froakie used its legs to forcefully kick Magikarp's body, sending it flying to the shore!

At that very moment, Magikarp and the clownfish that was launched at the same time collided in the air in an 'X' shape and then fell to the riverbank at the same time!

This was completely unexpected by Hatsune Miku and Otsuka!

They really didn't expect that the situation, which was clearly under Fang's offensive just moments ago, would suddenly reverse.

Fish out of water can't swim for long, and Pokémon are no exception.

However, these two carp and pufferfish are different from their kind, so they did not sit idly by and wait to die after landing on the riverbank.

With its powerful physique, Magikarp used Splash, a leaping motion, to jump repeatedly on the shore, trying to get back into the river. In contrast, Feebas, which didn't have such a strong Splash ability, opened its mouth and spat an Ice Beam at Froakie and Squirtle, who were also returning to the shore!

Actually, Xia You had already figured it out by this point.

Although the sisters Hatsune and Otsuka did not explain their professions to them, there is no doubt that one of them is a Trainer Coordinator and the other is a Trainer.

Therefore, the different training methods have led to very different focuses for these two Pokémon.

Take Magikarp for example. It doesn't have any special moves; it relies solely on its excellent physical attributes to defeat its opponents with strength. It is clearly good at close combat, which is why it can have the strength to return to the river after coming ashore. Feebas, on the other hand, does not have that much strength and cannot jump around like Magikarp. However, it makes up for this with its more flashy moves, which is why it can fight back on the shore and still has the strength to fight.

This also made Hatsune Miku and Otsuka invincible in their previous battles against other trainers, and they never lost.

However, despite their extraordinary abilities, they clearly chose the wrong opponent this time.

The very next second, under Xia You and Xiao Yao's command, Froakie and Squirtle used Water Pulse and Water Gun respectively. With the release of the two moves, they not only shattered Feebas's Ice Beam, but the remaining energy continued forward, repelling Magikarp's attempt to return to the river and crashing into Feebas behind it!

This put the two Pokémon further away from the water, completely extinguishing their hopes of returning to it.

With Froakie and Squirtle coming ashore, the battle became virtually a foregone conclusion.

Hatsune and Otsuka exchanged a glance, then shook their heads in unison, admitting defeat.

"us……"

Hatsune took out a Poké Ball and put the Feebas, which was not yet unconscious but was already at the mercy of others, back into the ball. Just as Hatsune was about to say something, May's Squirtle was suddenly enveloped in a white light.

Although Hatsune and Oto had never experienced anything like this before, they clearly knew what it was, and their expressions immediately turned strange.

The light of evolution...

After all, for those who believe in 'non-evolutionism', this Squirtle not only defeated their Pokémon, but also evolved afterward, which was tantamount to a direct attack on their faces, leaving them with neither face nor substance!

But neither May nor Squirtle did it on purpose.

You should know that Squirtle was obtained by May after she arrived at Professor Oak's lab. It has accompanied May on her travels, earning her five Ribbon Medals and helping her achieve a runner-up finish at the Grand Festival. In terms of both experience and strength, it has long since reached the standard for evolution. Therefore, today's post-battle evolution is both unexpected and reasonable.

It's just that Hatsune Miku and Otone were unlucky to be caught in the crossfire!

Not long after, the white light enveloping Squirtle disappeared, and immediately afterward, a Wartortle replaced the Squirtle and appeared in front of May.

Xiaoyao was naturally overjoyed, and Xia You walked up to Hatsune and Otone at that moment, looking at them with a smile and saying nothing.

The two sisters had nothing to say, and they didn't mention bringing the two of them into the alliance again. After stuffing the money as part of the bet into Xia You's hand, they didn't want to say another word and simply turned around and left.

Watching their retreating figures, Xia You shrugged, then divided the money into two equal parts and handed the other part to Xiao Yao who was standing next to her.

"This is yours."

"Huh?"

Looking at the few banknotes Xia You handed over, Xiaoyao, who was in the midst of the joy of Wartortle's evolution, raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised, and hesitated to reach out.

"Brother Xia You..." She shook her head like a rattle-drum, quickly refusing, "You can keep this money. After all, you're the one who pays for our meals and lodgings. I don't need it at all, so I'll just give it to you!"

"One thing at a time." Xia You grabbed Xiao Yao's hand without further ado and forcefully stuffed the money into her hand. "As my companion and the older one, it's only natural for me to take care of you. The expenses along the way are nothing, but this money is different. It's what we earned through battles as trainers. It's both a customary rule in wild battles and the result of our Pokémon's hard work."

Although Xia You said that, Xiao Yao still didn't want to accept it.

After all, in her opinion, she and Xia You were companions, and there was no need to distinguish between them anymore. Especially after they split the money, she felt that her relationship with Xia You had changed.

However, just as she was about to say something more, Xia You had already turned and left. Helpless, Xiao Yao could only lower her head and look at the first sum of money she had earned through battle in her hand, filled with emotion.

……

Taking advantage of the early hour, which was only one or two o'clock in the afternoon, Xia You and Xiao Yao did not linger. Instead, they retrieved their backpacks, left Huayuan Town, and continued their journey towards Baidai City.

Following the country road heading north, Xia You and Xiao Yao walked side by side through a vast and vibrant sea of ​​flowers.

Beside the two, several released Pokémon played and frolicked as they traveled, making Xia You feel quite comfortable.

This is what travel should be like!

However, it was already afternoon, and as the sun slowly set, they still hadn't reached Baidai City by dusk. Instead, they arrived at a boundless forest.

According to the map, this forest is called Eternal Forest. In terms of both size and ecological environment, it is similar to the Evergreen Forest in Kanto. It is home to a large number of Bug and Grass-type Pokémon and is an ideal place for countless novice trainers to catch Pokémon and hone their skills. It is also the only way to reach Eternal City.

However, despite the large number of trainers traveling to and from the forest every day, thanks to the vastness and density of the forest, once people enter, they are like stones sinking into the sea, unable to cause any ripples at all. You might even turn around in there for several days and not see any other humans.

Deep and impenetrable has always been the impression this forest gives people.

Standing before this forest, looking up at the sky and seeing that the sun was about to set and the entire sky was shrouded in twilight, and looking down at the dark forest, Xiaoyao couldn't help but hesitate.

"Brother Xia You, it's almost dark. Should we enter the forest now?"

Nodding, Xia You gave her a reassuring look, then took the lead and walked into the forest.

"Since we're going to sleep in the wild anyway, there's really no difference between sleeping outside and inside the forest. Alright, let's hurry up and move on. Hopefully, we can find a water source and an open space before it gets completely dark."

Since Xia You had said so, Xiao Yao naturally had no objections.

She quickened her pace and followed Xia You into the forest.

She wondered if it was just her imagination, but as soon as she stepped into the forest, she felt a cold, damp wind blow by, which made her shiver involuntarily!

Is this forest haunted?

Chapter 937 Yami and the Forest Mansion

They had only been in the forest for a short time when it became dark all around.

Because the forest is dense and the treetops are covered with lush foliage, it is difficult for sunlight to penetrate and for moisture to escape. As a result, their feet are covered with soft moss and various fungi.

This is why so many insect and grass-type Pokémon gather in this Eternal Forest.

The surroundings were quiet, with only the occasional calls of birds and Pokémon. In the quiet, dark forest, these sounds seemed eerie and unsettling.

The sound of Xia You and Xiao Yao's footsteps was absorbed by the damp moss and did not travel very far, which made Xiao Yao feel even more strange and unconsciously moved closer to Xia You.

As we all know, just like Misty is afraid of Bug-type Pokémon, May is most afraid of ghosts and scary atmospheres. Even if there is nothing there, she will scare herself.

Seeing all this, Xia You couldn't help but say, "Why do you look so cautious?"

After hesitating for a moment, even though it might make her seem like a coward, Xiaoyao still spoke the truth: "This forest gives me a very uncomfortable feeling, as if... there is a pair of eyes watching us."

"Isn't this normal?" Xia You smiled lightly. "This forest is full of wild Pokémon, and to them, we are intruders, so naturally they will monitor our every move."

“I mean… something more special…” Haruka shook her head, hesitating, “It’s like… it’s like…”

"Are you talking about ghosts and phantoms?" Xia You patted her shoulder and laughed. "There's nothing to worry about. On the contrary, with so many Pokémon with us, we should be the ones worrying! No matter how powerful a ghost is, can it be as powerful as a Pokémon?"

After hearing what Xia You said, Xiao Yao thought about it and realized it made sense. Her mood improved, and she wondered if it was just psychological. Even the feeling of being watched seemed to have lessened a bit.

"That's...that's true."

Just then, Xia You suddenly pointed to some moss-covered stones in the distance.

"Actually, you should be more careful of those mossy rocks than ghosts and phantoms."

"Mossy rocks?" Xiaoyao looked at the large rocks with a puzzled expression. They were ordinary and unremarkable, having long since blended into nature. She couldn't help but feel very curious. "What's wrong with them?"

"If you don't want your Eevee to evolve into Leafeon, stay away from these stones. In this kind of forest, those moss-covered stones contain strong Grass-type energy, which is basically the same as the effect of a Leaf Stone. If your Eevee accidentally steps on one, it could evolve into Leafeon at any time."

Yeebu!?

May clearly hadn't decided on her Eevee's evolution path yet, and when she heard that this mossy rock had such an effect, she was so frightened that she quickly recalled her Eevee.

That was close...

If Xia You hadn't reminded him, and if he had continued to let Eevee travel with him like before, it might have accidentally evolved!

After bypassing the mossy rocks that occasionally appeared, the two walked forward for quite a while.

But even after it got completely dark, they didn't encounter any rivers, or even an open space where they could set up camp.

This is going to be difficult.

You can't just find any tree hollow to spend the night in, can you?

Just as Xia You frowned, hesitating whether to summon the Fire Dragon and have it carry her and Xiao Yao into the sky to find a place to stay, a song suddenly drifted into their ears.

At first, the sound was very far away and faint, but after only a few seconds, it became closer and clearer.

"Brother Xia You, listen!"

Xiao Yao let out a soft cry, and Xia You listened carefully. She could vaguely hear a woman humming a beautiful song in a soft voice, though she didn't know the name of the song.

"Why is someone singing so late?" Xiaoyao covered her mouth and whispered, "Could it really be some kind of female ghost or spirit?"

Even Xia You was a little unsure this time.

To hear a woman humming in such a dark forest at night seems rather unusual.

But it doesn't matter. Whatever it is, we'll know everything once we take a look.

Signaling to the somewhat frightened Xiaoyao to follow, Xia You took the lead and quickly walked towards the source of the sound.

Seeing that he had already taken big steps, Xiaoyao was reluctant and her legs were trembling, but she gritted her teeth and followed him!

After all, she knew that staying by Xia You's side was the safest option!

After we bypassed the bushes and trees and climbed over several towering rocks, the sound grew closer and closer.

Just as Xia You said, the Pokémon he had by his side were his greatest source of confidence, not to mention that he also had even more powerful Pokémon by his side. He was not afraid of even legendary Pokémon, let alone ghosts. This is why he dared to approach such a strange sound!

At that moment, Xia You and Xiao Yao finally bypassed a clump of bushes and saw the source of the sound.

Not far ahead, a woman was walking side by side with a Chansey, heading deeper into the forest, and the song being sung was the song being sung by this woman!

"It's a ghost!!" Squeezed next to Xia You, looking at the woman, Xiao Yao's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but exclaim again.

“Idiot, she’s human.” Xia You pressed her head down. “Look at her feet, they have weight when she steps on those moss, and she has a Chansey next to her. She looks like a living human!”

"Huh? It really is!" Looking down, and seeing that it wasn't a ghost as Xia You had said, Xiao Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still puzzled. "But why... is she singing so late? It sounds really nice, but it's still a little... scary..."

Although the two spoke very softly, the woman in the distance clearly noticed them in the quiet night.

The singing stopped abruptly. The woman in the distance trembled, then slowly turned around and whispered in a trembling voice, "Who...who is it?"

Now Xia You understood why she sang.

So he was just trying to bolster his courage!

However, since they had been discovered, and in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and being mistaken for bad people, Xia You and Xiao Yao had no choice but to show themselves.

Emerging from the bushes, the two men approached the woman.

Just then, under the beam of the flashlight, Xia You finally saw the woman's face clearly.

She appeared to be around twenty years old, with a thick head of long, green hair braided into a plait hanging down her right side. She wore a light green sweater, a dark green long skirt, and black knee-high boots, carrying a small travel bag on her back. She exuded a natural charm. Her face was quite pretty, with green eyes and smooth skin. However, whether from fear or natural features, two rosy blushes constantly lingered on her cheeks.

In short, she appears to be a very weak and easily bullied woman.

Upon seeing Xia You and Xiao Yao, before the two could even speak, the woman clutched her chest and took a step back.

"Who...who are you people?"

Now that they were certain the other person wasn't a ghost, Xiaoyao's courage grew. She looked at the older sister who was also a little scared and couldn't help but smile, "Don't worry, we're just trainers passing by. We came over because we heard the singing."

Perhaps it was Xia You and Xiao Yao's handsome and beautiful appearance that made the woman feel that they were not bad people, so even in the dark of night, when the two of them stopped her here, she still lowered her guard a little.

"Oh, I see. That really startled me. I thought some scary Bug-type Pokémon had rushed out." She chuckled. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yami, and I'm also a Pokémon Trainer!" (Note: Yami's appearance is not taken from the anime, but from the adorable character in episode 10 of Advanced Generation, The Forest Mansion. The plot is also taken from Advanced Generation.)

Although she didn't recognize her at first, once she got closer and saw the woman's attire and heard her name, Xia You remembered that she was a supporting character who had appeared in anime and games.

Of course, because she didn't have many scenes, Xia You didn't have a deep impression of her deeds and information. She only remembered her peculiar appearance and couldn't say she was familiar with her at all.

But in any case, at least you can recognize that she's not just some random passerby, and that's enough.

"I'm Xiaoyao, and this is Brother Xiayou." Seeing that Xiayou didn't intend to speak, Xiaoyao took the lead in introducing them, and then asked in confusion, "It's so late, Miss Yami, why are you still in the forest?"