After setting up the portable tent and portable kitchen, Silas unpacked the food he had prepared before leaving Team Rocket's base.
Between himself, Jason, and the ten pokemon traveling with them, there was enough food to feed a small army, so the meal required more effort than simply placing a pot over the fire and waiting.
Ursaring helped tend the flames while Silas warmed the prepared dishes one by one. The food had already been cooked beforehand, but reheating it properly still took time.
The last thing he wanted was for his team to suffer because he had grown careless with something as simple as dinner.
Before long, the scent of warm food spread through the campsite. Meat, vegetables, and preserved grains mixed together in a rich aroma that drifted into the surrounding forest.
Ursaring sniffed the air, grinned, and added his own contribution.
Sweet Scent spread outward from his body in a gentle wave, carrying the smell of the meal even farther into the wilderness. It was a simple method, but simple methods often worked. Many wild pokemon were drawn to food, especially when it smelled this good.
Several minutes passed but nothing happened.
Silas wasn't surprised. The pokemon on Trial Island were not foolish.
Anything strong enough to survive here would naturally be cautious, and a strange scent appearing in the middle of the night could easily be bait for a trap.
Jason looked around for a while before relaxing slightly.
"Looks like we actually get to eat first."
Silas smiled faintly.
"I certainly won't complain."
The group settled around the campsite and began eating. Every pokemon received their own portion, and the atmosphere quickly became warm and lively.
Excadrill dug into his food with obvious enthusiasm, while Ursaring seemed proud of the meal despite only helping with the fire.
Tropius ate more calmly, her long neck lowering toward the neatly arranged bundles Silas had prepared for her. Espeon sat near Silas with her usual dignified posture, though the speed at which she ate betrayed how hungry she actually was.
Frogadier remained half hidden in Silas' shadow, accepting his food without fully revealing himself. That had become normal by now.
He preferred to remain alert even during peaceful moments, and Silas had no intention of forcing him to change.
For a while, the campsite felt almost ordinary.
The bushes suddenly rustled.
Silas looked up immediately. Jason's hand moved toward one of his pokeballs, but he stopped when Silas did not show any immediate hostility.
Several pokemon slowly entered the cleared campsite.
They were canine pokemon with yellow and blue fur, sleek bodies, sharp eyes, and electric energy crackling faintly around them.
Manectric.
There were 6 of them.
The lead Manectric stepped forward first, his posture cautious but proud. The others remained behind him in a loose formation, ready to respond if the situation turned dangerous. Silas' gaze passed over them quickly before stopping on the two at the back.
Both were injured.
One had a visible slash wound along its side, while the other had a stab wound in its shoulder. The bleeding had slowed, but the wounds were still serious enough to affect movement.
They had not come looking for a fight at full strength. They had come because the scent of food had tempted them despite their caution.
Silas activated Hermes and focused on the leader.
Manectric (M)— Level 39
Ability: Lightning Rod
Potential: B-
Moves: Rank B Discharge, Rank B Electric Terrain, Rank C Fire Fang, Rank C Quick Attack, Rank C Howl, Rank C Thunder Wave, Rank C Odor Sleuth, Rank C Light Screen, Rank C Bite, Rank C Roar, Rank C Flame Burst, Rank C Ice Fang, Rank C Fire Fang
The lead Manectric was decent.
Silas scanned the rest of the group shortly afterward. The others fell short of their leader, ranging from level 34 to level 36.
They were not weak, but they were not strong enough to threaten his team unless they acted recklessly or caught someone off guard.
Silas had no intention of indiscriminately slaughtering these pokemon for training. Killing wild pokemon that attacked without reason was one thing, but this group had not attacked yet. They were hungry, injured, and cautious.
That was different.
He expanded his psychic power and projected his voice toward the leader.
"Greetings. If you are willing to fight us and help with my pokemon's training, I will reward you with as much food as you all need for a meal."
The Manectric family visibly stiffened.
Several of them looked around in alarm, clearly startled by the strange voice entering their minds.
After a few moments, the leader realized Silas was the source and stared at him with heightened wariness.
"So win or lose, we will be fed?"
"Yes. I just need you to go all out, but stop short of serious injury or killing. We will do the same."
The lead Manectric studied him for several breaths. His instincts clearly told him not to trust a human too easily, but his injured kin and hidden young made hesitation costly.
Eventually, he nodded.
"Alright. We agree, but can you provide a few of your strange healing items first? We have a few serious injuries among us."
Silas did not answer immediately. Instead, he expanded his psychic and aura senses through the surrounding bushes.
There were more pokemon nearby.
His gaze shifted slightly.
"You can have those Electrike come out. We won't hurt them."
The Manectric were visibly surprised.
A human's senses should not have been that sharp. Even many pokemon would have needed a moment to notice the hidden young, yet Silas had located them almost casually.
After a brief silence, four small pokemon slowly emerged from the bushes.
They were green puppy pokemon with nervous eyes and small bodies that stayed close to the Manectric as soon as they entered the clearing.
Electrike.
Silas scanned the group and quickly picked out the best one.
Electrike (M)— Level 16
Ability: Lightning Rod
Potential: B-
Moves: Rank C Quick Attack, Rank C Howl, Rank D Thunder Wave, Rank D Thunder Shock, Rank D Light Screen, Rank C Flame Burst, Rank C Ice Fang, Rank C Fire Fang
A B- potential Electrike, that was a pleasant surprise.
Silas did not allow his interest to show too openly. These pokemon were not enemies, at least not tonight.
If he treated them with kindness only because one of their young had potential, then the gesture would lose meaning.
"Tropius, use Grassy Terrain."
Tropius stepped forward and released a soft green light across the campsite. Grass and gentle natural energy spread along the ground, wrapping the area in a healing atmosphere.
The Manectric flinched at first, but when the energy eased some of their pain, their bodies gradually relaxed.
Silas took out Hyper Potions and approached the injured pair slowly, making sure not to move too suddenly. The lead Manectric watched every step, but he did not interfere.
The potion sprays stung at first, causing both injured pokemon to tense. A moment later, the medicine began working.
The slash wound along one Manectric's side sealed visibly, while the stab wound in the other's shoulder closed enough that fresh blood no longer threatened to spill.
Silas then gave each of them a Sitrus Berry.
Both pokemon ate without hesitation.
Their condition improved quickly. The wounds had not completely healed, but they were no longer severe enough to impede them. With rest, food, and the lingering support of Grassy Terrain, they would recover fully in time.
Seeing their kin treated so well, the other Manectric finally let down some of their guard. Even the Electrike stopped trembling as much, though they still remained close to the adults.
Silas stepped back.
"Now that the pleasantries are over, can we battle?"
Jason's voice carried obvious anticipation.
At the same time, Scyther stepped forward.
Silas glanced at them, slightly surprised, but said nothing against it. His goal had always been to nurture his own force. If Jason and Scyther showed initiative, he would not stand in their way without reason.
Jason's Scyther had recently broken through and reached level 36. Silas scanned the Manectric again before pointing toward one of the level 36 members of the pack.
"You. Step forward."
The chosen Manectric looked toward the leader. Once the alpha nodded, it entered the open space across from Scyther.
Jason's eyes sharpened.
"Scyther, Air Slash."
Scyther swung one blade arm fiercely. A wide blade of compressed wind tore across the campsite toward Manectric.
Manectric met the attack directly. Its fangs flashed with electricity as it bit down with Thunder Fang, tearing into the incoming wind blade and dispersing it before lunging forward with Quick Attack.
Jason reacted immediately.
"We'll use Quick Attack too."
Scyther vanished from his position and shot forward.
The two pokemon collided in a blur.
Manectric and Scyther clashed several times at high speed, each impact producing sharp bursts of force. Neither gave an inch at first.
Manectric used its lower body strength and natural acceleration to attack from quick angles, while Scyther relied on sharper turns and blade control to keep pace.
"Use Double Hit."
Scyther suddenly shifted rhythm.
His blade arms struck twice in rapid succession. The first blow knocked Manectric off balance, and the second sent it flying high into the air.
"Now use Agility."
Manectric twisted midair and managed to regain control before landing gracefully despite the damage.
During that brief window, Scyther's feet moved in a strange, rapid rhythm as his body adjusted to a higher speed state.
The change was immediate.
Once Agility succeeded, Scyther became much faster than before.
Manectric unleashed a blast of electricity, but Scyther avoided it with almost insulting ease. Another burst followed, then another, yet Scyther slipped through each attack with rapid movements that left faint afterimages behind him.
Jason's confidence grew.
"Scyther, Fury Cutter rapid fire."
Bug type energy gathered around Scyther's blade arms as he rushed forward at blinding speed.
The first Fury Cutter struck Manectric across the shoulder.
The second followed before Manectric could properly turn.
The third landed from another angle entirely, forcing the electric type to stumble back with a pained growl.
Scyther abused his speed advantage fully, refusing to give Manectric a clean chance to counterattack. Every time Manectric tried to bite, turn, or release electricity, Scyther was already gone, circling around for another strike.
On the fourth Fury Cutter, Manectric finally caught him.
Its head snapped forward, fangs burning with fire type energy as it bit down on Scyther's swinging arm.
Fire Fang clamped onto the blade limb.
Flames briefly engulfed Scyther's arm, causing him to hiss in pain. Fortunately, the attack did not leave a burn, but Manectric was not finished.
Electricity erupted at close range.
The blast surged through Scyther's body before Manectric released its grip and let him drop to the ground.
Scyther hit the dirt hard.
Silas' eyes narrowed as he watched Scyther closely.
That electric attack had done serious damage. If Manectric had known Thunderbolt or Thunder, the fight might have ended right there.
Scyther slowly pushed himself up.
His eyes were furious.
————————————————————
Thanks for the continued support on my first fanfic!!
Moving forward, every 50 Power Stones, I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also be releasing bonus chapters for milestones. The next ones are 200k views and chapter 200.
Finally, I will be releasing 3 extra chapters once we reach 10 reviews. 5 star reviews are appreciated but not required, I want honest feedback so I can improve.
Once again, thanks for all the support and feedback!