In the next second, an Oddish emerged from the dense grass.
This Oddish was exceptionally cute.
It had a round blue body, short little feet that wobbled as it moved, and five lush green leaves on its head. The tip of the central leaf was tinged with a faint pale yellow, shimmering with a moist luster under the sunlight.
It tilted its head, looking curiously at the three people who had suddenly appeared with its large red eyes.
"Wow!"
Delia's eyes lit up instantly.
She squatted down, cupping her cheeks with both hands, her voice filled with pleasant surprise.
"What a cute Oddish!"
The Oddish didn't seem shy at all. Instead, it hopped forward two steps, the leaves on its head swaying gently.
"Look, the tips of its leaves are pale yellow!" Misty leaned in as well, saying excitedly. "An Oddish with this color must be quite rare, right?"
"Mmm-hmm!" Delia nodded vigorously, her eyes full of affection. "I want to catch it!"
After that battle at Nanshan Academy, Delia's original worry about not being able to take care of too many Pokémon alone had quietly changed.
Watching Yuuto command Pikachu in battle, and seeing Misty happily holding Starmie… she also wanted more companions who could stay by her side and grow together.
[Ding!]
The system's notification suddenly rang in Yuuto's mind.
[Emotional Line Mission Triggered: Help Delia catch three Pokémon she likes.]
[Mission Reward: Sun Stone ×2 — Evolution items for specific Pokémon.]
[Aura Power upgraded to Intermediate — Range expanded, can communicate with more Auras, and initiate preliminary skill Aura amplification with Pokémon.]
*Oho!*
Yuuto felt a surge of joy in his heart.
*What a good girl, my Delia!*
The mission rewards were quite generous — two valuable evolution stones and even stronger Intermediate Aura Power.
This was essentially a double boost to both Pokémon combat power and his own strength.
As expected of a virtuous wife who knows me inside and out; the rewards triggered are just great.
Yuuto was just about to help Delia formulate a capture plan when the Aura Power within his body suddenly vibrated slightly.
It was like a pebble being thrown into a calm pool of water.
Ripples spread outward.
He keenly sensed that right behind that taller patch of grass ahead… there was another Pokémon individual.
Its presence was steady, carrying the unique freshness of vegetation, but vaguely tinged with a hint of vigilance.
"Eevee, use Tack—"
Delia's command wasn't even finished.
"Wait a moment!"
Yuuto suddenly spoke up to stop her.
But it was already too late.
The cocky Eevee didn't wait for the full command at all. Seeing its master pointing at the Oddish, it wagged its large fluffy tail and rushed forward excitedly.
Its hind legs exerted force, and its entire body became like a small brown cannonball, charging straight toward the still-dazed Oddish.
Just as Eevee was about to hit its target.
**Whoosh!**
An emerald-green Vine Whip suddenly shot out from the grass ahead like a bolt of lightning!
It was incredibly fast!
Accompanied by the sound of breaking air!
**Snap!**
The Vine Whip struck Eevee precisely, making a crisp sound.
Eevee yelped in pain, its small body sent flying backward. It rolled twice on the ground before stopping.
But that Vine Whip didn't stop its movement.
It swiveled flexibly as if it had a life of its own, instantly wrapping around the Oddish, which hadn't yet reacted.
The Oddish cried out in surprise as its entire body was bound by the vine.
In the next second, **swish!**
The Vine Whip retracted sharply, and along with the Oddish, it quickly vanished into the dense grass.
The entire process, from the appearance of the Vine Whip to the abduction of the Oddish, took no more than three seconds.
Fast, accurate, and ruthless.
"Ah! Oddish!" Delia cried out.
Misty's eyes also widened. "What was that? Vine Whip? Such speed!"
Yuuto's brow furrowed slightly.
In that instant, through his Aura Power, he had clearly perceived the appearance of that Pokémon.
Emerald-green skin, dark blue markings, and that familiar seed on its back…
[Ding!]
The system notification rang in Yuuto's mind once again.
*Hmm?*
Another mission?
Not long after accepting the emotional line mission, a new one had been triggered.
[Hidden Mission Triggered — Kanto Starters: Capture Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, and gain their recognition to have them sincerely join your team.]
[Mission Reward: Starters gain +3 levels immediately upon joining.]
[Starters' Exclusive Legendary Trial Space — You may choose one starter Pokémon to begin a Legendary Trial!]
*Oh?*
Yuuto's eyes brightened.
Had he stumbled his way into the vicinity of the village where that high-potential Bulbasaur lived?
Combined with that proficient Vine Whip skill just now, although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes yet, he was already certain.
He must have triggered the script mission point where Bulbasaur was located.
That Bulbasaur's performance in the original work was quite remarkable.
Even without evolving, it could master the ultimate Grass-type move, Solar Beam, ahead of time. Its potential was excellent.
Yuuto had originally planned to look for it specifically, and now he had happened upon it.
Plus, he had to help Delia catch Pokémon. It was like being handed a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.
However… the requirements for this mission were a bit special.
It wasn't just the traditional "defeat and capture"; he had to make them believe in him and join the team sincerely.
"But that's just a little bit more difficulty," Yuuto said with a curl of his lips.
He had Aura Power, which gave him a huge advantage in communication.
If he could communicate, he could move them with sincerity.
It was nothing more than spending a bit more time.
And that "Exclusive Trial Space" in the mission rewards sounded very unusual; it was worth the effort.
Yuuto quickly accepted the second mission in his mind.
"Delia, Misty, let's give chase!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
"Sister Delia, your Oddish is getting away! Quick, catch it, catch it!"
Misty was more excited than anyone and was the first to rush out.
She pushed aside the tall grass, her slender figure instantly vanishing into that sea of green.
"Misty! Wait!" Delia called out hurriedly.
But Misty had already run far off.
"This girl…" Yuuto shook his head helplessly and took Delia's hand. "Let's go, we'll follow."
The two followed closely behind, diving into the grass.
The grass was even denser than expected.
The blades of grass tickled their faces, and the soil beneath was soft and damp. Every step required care to avoid being tripped by the tangled stems.
"Misty! Where did you go?"
Delia shouted as she chased.
But only swaying blades of grass could be seen ahead; Misty was nowhere to be found.
Yuuto deployed his Aura Power, and his perception quickly spread outward.
The life fluctuations within a fifty-meter radius clearly appeared in his mind.
Delia was beside him, her presence steady but carrying a hint of anxiety.
Pikachu was perched on his shoulder, its Electric Sacs flickering slightly with sparks.
Eevee followed at his feet, its ears pricked up vigilantly.
And ahead… Misty's figure was moving rapidly in his Aura perception, having already run over thirty meters away.
But… Yuuto's brow suddenly furrowed tight.
The fluctuations of that Oddish and Bulbasaur were not in the direction Misty was heading.
They had gone to the left.
While Misty… was running to the right.
That silly girl had taken the wrong path again!
"Misty! Wrong direction!" Yuuto shouted loudly.
But the distance was too far and the grass too high; his voice couldn't reach her.
"Ahhh!!!"
Just then, Misty's cry of surprise suddenly came from ahead.
Immediately after, Misty's Aura fluctuation disappeared from within Yuuto's perception range.
"Misty's voice!" Delia panicked instantly. "What happened to her?!"
"Don't panic."
Yuuto comforted Delia, telling her to calm down.
He quickly analyzed the situation.
Oddish and Bulbasaur were to the left, Misty had disappeared to the right, and Delia needed protection…
"Delia, listen to me."
Yuuto held Delia's shoulders, looking directly into her eyes:
"Oddish and Bulbasaur went to the left. If you keep going in this direction, you should be able to find them."
"I'll go find Misty."
"But Misty, she…"
"Trust me." Yuuto's voice was steady and powerful. "I will bring Misty back safely."
He paused and looked at the Pikachu beside him:
"Pikachu, you follow Delia and protect her."
"Pika-pi!"
Pikachu ran to Delia's feet, its Electric Sacs crackling, its little face full of determination.
"Ee-vui! Ee-vui!"
Eevee also jumped out, tilting its head and barking loudly, indicating that it could also protect its master.
Yuuto smiled, squatted down, and patted Eevee's fluffy head:
"Alright, how about you and Pikachu work together?"
"Ee-vui!"
Eevee nodded seriously and then stood beside Pikachu. The two little fellows, one brown and one yellow, stood side-by-side, actually showing a bit of rapport.
After making the arrangements, Yuuto gave Delia one last look:
"Be careful. If you encounter a Pokémon you're not sure about, retreat immediately."
"Mmm…" Delia nodded, concerned. "You… you be careful too."
"Don't worry."
After saying that, Yuuto turned and rushed toward the direction where Misty had disappeared.
Yuuto sped toward Misty's last known location.
He burst through a wall of the densest grass, and the view suddenly opened up.
At the same time, the ground beneath his feet suddenly vanished!
"Crap!"
Yuuto's reactions were extremely fast, and he forcefully braked his forward momentum.
Grass leaves and soil fell away.
Before him was a four-to-five-meter-high drop-off, nearly vertical.
Below the slope was a stretch of turbulent river, the water rushing loudly and churning with white foam in the sunlight.
Yuuto steadied himself, his brow furrowed.
Looking at the situation, Misty must have been rushing too fast, failed to notice her footing, and fallen straight down.
The river was so fast; although Misty was a good swimmer, it would be trouble if she got hurt.
"Pidgeotto!"
Yuuto threw out a Poké Ball without hesitation.
"Take me downstream to find Misty."
Yuuto was brief and to the point.
Pidgeotto understood and lowered its body.
Yuuto nimbly climbed onto Pidgeotto's back, grabbing the feathers on its neck with both hands.
"Go!"
With a flap of its wings, Pidgeotto took off with Yuuto.
Yuuto narrowed his eyes, his Aura Power fully deployed.
The river below was like a winding silver ribbon, with lush forests on both banks.
His perception scanned the river surface, the banks, and the grass like radar…
"Further down."
Yuuto directed Pidgeotto.
They flew for about three or four minutes.
In his Aura perception, a familiar life fluctuation appeared.
It was just ahead at a bend in the river.