Chapter 7: Viridian Forest and the Bug Catcher Boy

Aron isn't incapable of learning Crunch, but it would need to evolve to its final form – Aggron – and learn it through a special method.

After all, a Pokémon's moves aren't just learned through simple imitation; they're determined by the Pokémon's species and type. 

For example, most Pokémon that can learn Fly are Dragon or Flying types with wings. 

Some Pokémon can achieve flight through abilities like telekinesis, but this definitely wouldn't include certain pure Ground-type Pokémon, as they generally lack the physical attributes needed for flight.

In other words, his Aron possessed a certain "talent." This talent didn't necessarily represent raw power, but it showcased... the potential to break through existing species limitations and evolve in a completely new way!

But it shouldn't be that... Kazuki quickly dismissed this thought, which would drive any Pokémon researcher mad. 

New evolutionary lines weren't something that happened easily. 

The Aron that learned Crunch was probably just incredibly rare, and therefore had never been discovered by the academic community before.

To be safe, he should ask Professor Oak about it sometime. 

Thinking this, Kazuki subconsciously turned his head to look at the small, Aron perched on his shoulder. 

Noticing his gaze, Aron merely glanced at him before turning its head away with a surprisingly human-like expression of disdain.

Their current interaction was very subtle. 

Aron was different from any Pokémon Kazuki had previously encountered in the wild or at the research lab. 

Those Pokémon usually displayed distance and coldness towards humans based on a self-protective instinct, and once they became familiar, they would often express intimacy.

However, Aron's cold attitude towards him didn't seem to stem from distrust, but rather... a lack of interest?

He really didn't get it... Kazuki sighed deeply, looking up at the sky obscured by dense foliage. 

Suddenly, a small green head poked out from the bushes, hanging upside down, its two large, vacant eyes meeting his.

Caterpie, the most common Bug-type Pokémon. Whether in forests or grasslands, their figures could be seen everywhere. And in this Viridian Forest, chosen as the most hated area in the Kanto region by young girls and known as a "Bug Paradise," the sheer number of Caterpie was on full display.

As the human and the bug stared at each other, a loud shout came from afar. Startled, the Caterpie hastily retreated back into the shade of the trees, daring not to make another sound.

Kazuki's attention was immediately drawn to the sound. There was a rustling sound coming from the bushes ahead. Moments later, a boy, even younger than himself, wearing a straw hat, burst out, excitedly shouting at him:

"It's time for battle! Hey, Trainer bro, let's have an intense Pokémon battle!"

"No way," Kazuki, with a deadpan expression, immediately extinguished the boy's eager enthusiasm.

"Huh? But..."

"No buts... I'm not the Pokémon Trainer you think I am. I'm just an ordinary traveler."

"Oh... Okay."

Without giving the other boy a chance to think, Kazuki walked straight past the Bug Catcher.

...

"Do you know the beauty of Bug-type Pokémon?"

"Don't know, don't care, goodbye."

"Let's have a showdown!"

"..."

"I'll show you... Hey, don't go!"

As he gradually approached the exit of Viridian Forest, Kazuki had lost count of how many wild trainers he had rejected battle invitations from. His frown deepened with each refusal.

It shouldn't be like this. Although being a Pokémon Trainer was indeed a mainstream profession, it wasn't to the point where he'd encounter one every few steps... He even suspected that all the trainers who came to Viridian Forest for training were lined up to block his path.

He felt a slight pain on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw Aron tightening its claws, its body shaking restlessly, looking quite agitated.

(▼皿▼＃) So annoying... I want to kill them all!

That was Aron's thought at the moment. Unlike that stupid, clingy dog, her body was filled with wild, violent genes. In the jungle world where strength reigned supreme, challenges could come at any moment. The victor gained conquest, the loser sacrificed everything.

Aron wasn't exactly a battle maniac, but she never avoided any challenge. Leaving indelible bite marks on those ignorant challengers was her usual style.

Because of this, she couldn't understand why this guy below her was indifferent to others' provocations, just as she couldn't understand why this guy had been stupid enough to use his body as a shield to protect an enemy that had attacked him that day.

Humans were indeed a strange creature, Aron thought, but she didn't let her temper get the better of her. She obediently perched on the boy's shoulder...

Although not very obediently. Kazuki looked at his clothes, which were about to be torn, his eyelids twitching.

Just as he opened his mouth to say something, another shout interrupted him:

"Hey, big brother, please stop for a moment~"

Another one?

Hearing the familiar phrase, he looked in the direction of the voice. What entered his sight was a seemingly high-class bug net, a short stature, and crescent-shaped eyes and a smile that inexplicably made him angry.

Seeing that Kazuki had noticed him, the "high-class" Bug Catcher pointed at him, covering his mouth with one hand and snickering:

"Letting your Pokémon roam around freely, big brother, you're such a scrub trainer~ Scrub~ Scrub~"

What a brat...

Kazuki's eyebrows twitched slightly, and his fists began to harden. Fortunately, he wasn't one to stoop to the level of a brat. His gaze moved away from the annoying face, and he took a step forward, preparing to ignore the other boy and continue on his way.

"You really are a scrub trainer~ You don't even dare to accept a battle... Well~ Such an incompetent big brother, the Pokémon you've caught must all be useless too~"

As the last sentence fell, Kazuki, who had already walked several meters away, suddenly stopped. Aron jumped down from his shoulder, its gaze filled with anger and killing intent, directed straight at the Bug Catcher.

The Bug Catcher was startled by Aron's aura, unconsciously taking a few steps back. But remembering his goal, he braced himself and took out a red and white Poké Ball:

"So, scrub big brother, are you finally ready to accept my challenge?"

...Challenge?

Kazuki's face was expressionless, like a cold iron plate. Those who knew him well knew that, unlike the usual hysterics of anger, this seemingly extreme calm was the sign that Kazuki was truly angered.

"Aron, let's go."

As if responding to Kazuki, Aron raised its silver head and let out a clear cry, its metal claws scraping against the ground, creating cracks.

"Hmph~ Let's go too, Metapod! I choose you!"

The Poké Ball in the Bug Catcher's hand shot out a red beam. In the place where the light disappeared, a solid-looking green cocoon appeared, its smooth surface reflecting the light.

"Metapod, use Harden!"

"Aron, Crunch."

Metapod had a limited number of moves, so it was obvious that the opponent intended to strengthen its defense to an unbreakable level before launching a counterattack. Kazuki had no intention of letting him do so.

Hearing the command, Aron ran forward quickly. Its teeth, capable of easily cutting through steel plates, bit down hard on the glowing green shell.

A pitiful cry came from inside Metapod's cocoon. Even with its defense boosted once, it was practically useless against Aron's bite force.

Although the Dark-type Crunch couldn't exert its full power on the Steel/Rock-type Aron, it was a powerful move that could be considered an overwhelming blow to ordinary, low-level Pokémon.

Aron showed no mercy to the painfully crying Metapod. Its fangs pierced through, and several cracks quickly spread outwards.

It triggered that in one hit?

Witnessing the change in the battle, a hint of surprise flashed in Kazuki's eyes. 

The move Crunch, if it accurately found the opponent's weak point, could structurally damage protective layers like shells, weakening the enemy's defense.

Aron's precise Crunch, in addition to severely injuring Metapod, also rendered its hard-earned defense boost useless. 

From Kazuki's observation, this Metapod no longer had the ability to resist.

Sure enough, Aron headbutted the Metapod, which looked like it might crack at any moment, sending it flying. 

The only visible eyes within the green shell were swirling, clearly indicating that it had lost consciousness.

A red beam retracted the motionless Metapod back into the ball. The Bug Catcher could no longer maintain his previous "bratty" demeanor. 

He put the ball back in his pocket and muttered:

"What a useless thing, losing so quickly..."

"D-Don't get cocky, my trump card hasn't even appeared yet!"

Looking at Aron, who was even shorter than him but stood in the center of the battlefield, looking down at him with a contemptuous gaze, the Bug Catcher gritted his teeth and pulled out his trump card.

The red and white ball in his hand shot out a beam of light. A Pokémon with a yellow body, scarlet eyes, and thin arms ending in a pair of sharp, giant stingers appeared in mid-air.

The rapidly vibrating wings and the forward-curving tail stinger, seemingly condensed with deadly poison, all indicated that this Pokémon was an agile and fierce killer.

"I choose you, Beedrill! Use your stingers to pierce them!"