Liao San and Haozi hadn't expected to run into someone so soon in the vast secret realm. Cursing their bad luck, they were completely unprepared as Scizor and Heracross caught them off guard.
In a single exchange, their main Pokémon were decimated—one knocked out, the other gravely injured. The gap in strength was glaring.
"Brother, we surrender. These Pokémon are yours. Let us go," Liao San said, raising his hands in defeat. He'd seen the chasm in their abilities; the four Treecko were out of reach. Now, survival was the priority.
People died in secret realms all the time.
Haozi's eyes burned red with frustration. A fortune had slipped through his fingers—four Treecko, each worth at least 100,000, totaling 400,000. It was heartbreaking.
"Leave the realm immediately through the sky exit," Xia Yu ordered, sizing them up. He decided to let them go. First, he wasn't bloodthirsty. Second, they posed no threat. His only concern was being seen killing them.
Liao San and Haozi exchanged a glance, their eyes flickering with reluctance. The realm was brimming with treasures, and leaving empty-handed, plus footing a medical bill, stung. But they were outmatched and had no choice.
Under Scizor and Heracross's menacing glares, they summoned Flying-type Pokémon and fled the realm.
With the two gone, Xia Yu turned his attention to the two injured Treecko on the ground. The other two had vanished, likely slipping away while he spoke with Liao San and Haozi.
The remaining Treecko were badly hurt. Fortunately, Xia Yu carried some potions. He quickly applied them evenly to their wounds.
Just as he finished, Scizor let out a warning cry. From the forest's edge, over a dozen Treecko emerged, joined by four or five Grovyle. Leading them were two Sceptile.
The dense Sceptile clan dazzled Xia Yu. His gaze settled on the two leaders—a male and a female Sceptile, with potentials of Gym Leader and near-Heavenly King rank, respectively, and both at Gym Leader-rank combat strength.
The Grovyle all boasted at least Lord-rank potential, with one reaching Gym Leader rank.
The dozen Treecko were slightly less impressive, their potentials ranging from Elite to an average of Lord rank. But one Treecko stood out, its potential a staggering Heavenly King rank!
**Treecko**
Gender: Male
Type: Grass
Potential: Heavenly King rank
Ability: Overgrow
Moves: Fury Cutter, Leaf Storm, Grassy Terrain, Dragon Breath, Grass Whistle, Leech Seed, Magical Leaf, Synthesis, Worry Seed, Night Slash, Pound, Leer, Absorb, Quick Attack, Mega Drain
This Treecko was clearly Xia Yu's mission target. It piqued his curiosity about the Bulbasaur in the Venusaur clan—its potential had to be at least Heavenly King rank, or the system wouldn't have set this task.
As Xia Yu stood lost in thought, the lead Sceptile suddenly attacked. Its wrist blades glowed with green energy, slashing toward him.
"Heracross, Megahorn!"
In a split second, Xia Yu ordered Heracross to intercept with Megahorn. The Bug-type move had an advantage over Sceptile's Grass-type Leaf Blade, and with both at Gym Leader-rank strength, Heracross's strike gained the upper hand.
"Wait!" Xia Yu shouted, seizing the moment of their clash. "We mean no harm. I didn't hurt these little ones—I was saving them. I just applied medicine."
Keen to avoid misunderstanding, Xia Yu handed the two Treecko to Sceptile. The two Treecko that had fled earlier stepped forward, explaining to Sceptile that Xia Yu wasn't their attacker but their rescuer.
The lead Sceptile, after hearing the Treecko, lowered its guard and stood still, gazing at Xia Yu with cool arrogance. Its striking appearance cemented its place among the top three Grass-type Pokémon in terms of looks.
"Scep."
Sceptile let out a low sound, perhaps a gesture of thanks. Xia Yu, unable to understand, could only guess.
It was probably gratitude.
After a lengthy exchange, Sceptile prepared to lead its clan back to their territory.
Watching them leave, Xia Yu couldn't let the opportunity slip. "Wait, Sceptile! I want to bond with a Treecko as my partner."
His words halted Sceptile. It turned, its gaze icy and laced with menace.
"I mean no harm. I won't force any Treecko to join me. But I hope you'll give your young ones a chance to see the world beyond this realm with me. This realm will soon merge with the real world. Humans will discover you. No matter how strong you are, your children will be captured," Xia Yu said, sensing Sceptile's hostility. He tried to persuade it, laying out the stakes with reason and empathy.
"Scep."
Sceptile's cold response left Xia Yu scratching his head. Language barriers were a curse. He mused that it might be time to catch a Psychic-type Pokémon to serve as a translator.
Undeterred, Xia Yu pressed on. "Your home will face human invasion. You have two paths: be captured and leave, or be confined here. Neither outcome is what you want. If any of you choose to come with me, I'll treat you as true partners."
Xia Yu spoke earnestly, meeting Sceptile's gaze. As he said, discovered Pokémon in secret realms faced only those two fates, and even he couldn't change that.
"Scep."
Sceptile's face flared with anger, its eyes brimming with killing intent as it glared at Xia Yu.
Xia Yu persisted. "Give me a chance. Let's have a battle—you against my Heracross. If you win, I'll leave immediately. If you lose, let me bond with a Treecko. Soon, stronger trainers will come, their Pokémon far surpassing Heracross. They won't reason with you—they'll take your clan by force."
"Scep." Sceptile's gaze locked onto Heracross. With a roar, it signaled its clan to step back, clearing space for the duel.
The other Sceptile, Grovyle, and Treecko retreated, leaving a battlefield for Sceptile and Heracross.
The mighty Sceptile faced Heracross, its wrists pulsing with Grass-type energy, poised to strike.
"You agree?"
"Scep." Sceptile nodded, then launched the first attack!
...