Chapter 110 – Spinarak’s Decision

Day 30 of survival on the deserted island. Cloudy.

The best part of the day is the morning—and since Reiji said they'd get Beedrill honey, they were going to get Beedrill honey. He was a man of his word.

But first thing after waking up, Krabby had molted again. This was its third time. Its growth rate was insane—practically changing by the day.

After three molts, its head had finally caught up to the size of its massive claws. Now, the body and claws were nearly proportional.

[Krabby]

Type: Water

Gender: Male

Potential: 57%

Level: 15.76%

Ability: Hyper Cutter / 8.22% / Hidden Ability: Sheer Force / 0.53%

Moves Known: (Hammer Arm / 0.22%), (Leer / 0.43%), (Water Gun / 9.95%), (Harden / 7.14%), (Metal Claw / 0.84%), (Dig / 8.54%), (Mud Shot / 1.34%)

No new growth in potential, but its level had now reached 15.

Its ability, Hyper Cutter, had improved by 3% in proficiency. After digging nearly two kilometers of tunnels the day before, Krabby had certainly earned it.

Water Gun was close to breaking the 10% proficiency mark—proof that it hadn't been slacking off in training.

Harden had also gone up by 2%. Today, Krabby would need to keep using Harden to accelerate the hardening of its shell.

Dig was now at 4%, surpassing Harden.

And that was it for changes. Reiji fetched it some fish bones to soak in the water basin. With Harden, Krabby could better absorb calcium and strengthen its exoskeleton.

With Krabby left in Wingull's care, Reiji brought Poliwag and Butterfree along to head toward Beedrill territory. Before leaving, he reminded Wingull, "Make sure you watch the base, take care of Krabby—we'll be back soon."

"Wooooh!" Wingull chirped from atop the treehouse, watching them go. Then she landed on the basin edge, peering in at Krabby and starting a conversation.

"Wooooh, wooooh…"

"Krack-cha, krack-cha," Krabby muttered, still bitter about having to molt again—just when its shell had hardened two days ago.

—

On the other side, Reiji and his team reached the Beedrill territory again. But it seemed the Beedrill weren't home. Where did they go?

Thud, thud, thud—ROAR!

"What was that?" Reiji halted just as he was about to lead Poliwag into the area. The ground trembled. A beast's roar echoed from deep within the forest.

That kind of roar could only belong to one Pokémon species on this island: Rhydon.

"Did Rhydon wander into the forest?" Reiji frowned. Guesswork wouldn't help, so he turned to Butterfree. "Butterfree, go scout it out. But be careful."

"Buh-weeeh," Butterfree nodded and flew toward the direction of the roar.

Reiji would decide whether to proceed with the honey theft depending on what Butterfree reported. Rhydon showing up was already strange—and now it had apparently run into Beedrill.

Could it be after the honey?

Unlikely, unless Rhydon had grown tired of eating rocks and decided to try something sweet. Maybe the floral scent of Beedrill honey had lured it in.

—

Butterfree soon returned, shaking its head. "Buh-weeeeh…"

"Nothing?" Reiji was thrown off. If the source of the roar couldn't be identified, then what about the Beedrill?

"Did they come back yet?"

Butterfree shook its head again.

"Alright then. Let's move quickly." Reiji picked up the bucket, signaled for Poliwag to follow, and instructed, "Butterfree, clear the path ahead—put any Weedle or Kakuna to sleep."

"Buh-weeeeh!" Butterfree took the lead, scattering Sleep Powder and Stun Spore to neutralize any wild Pokémon in the way.

Reiji and Poliwag followed close behind, pressing damp rags over their mouths and noses to avoid breathing in the spores.

They reached the tree where they had stolen honey before. No Beedrill in sight. Just huge footprints and signs of battle. Plenty of Charti Berries had fallen, and chunks of honey were lying all over the ground.

Looking deeper into the forest, there were collapsed trees and even cracked earth—likely from a Ground-type move.

Time was short. Reiji had no time to investigate further. He signaled Poliwag to climb the tree and carve out a large chunk of honey from a bite-marked gap in the hive. Butterfree carried the honey down.

Reiji picked berries off the ground and stuffed them into his bag, then called out, "Poliwag, Butterfree—let's go!"

He sealed the honey bucket and led the way out of Beedrill territory. This time, they had truly stolen it—there was no putting the Beedrill to sleep.

If they returned and saw him here…

He had Poliwag and Butterfree by his side—handling a few Beedrill was no problem. But an entire swarm? That would be a retreat mission.

—

They returned to the shelter without incident. Another lucky escape.

"Come on, everyone—honey time." First thing after entering the treehouse, Reiji portioned out the honey for Poliwag, Butterfree, Krabby, and Wingull. Then he released Spinarak from its Poké Ball and gave it a share too.

"Eetoh eetoh!" Spinarak lunged at the bowl of honey, licking like mad.

Reiji smiled helplessly. He resealed the bucket and stashed it deep inside the treehouse. There was still enough left for another round.

Then he took out a Charti Berry and, using a folding knife, chopped it up and dumped it into Butterfree's bowl.

"Buh-weeeeh!" Butterfree looked appalled, glaring at Reiji—why add that awful-tasting berry?

"Don't be picky. It's good for you." He rubbed Butterfree's head. She grumbled but ate it anyway.

He knew it tasted bad. But what, skip a meal just because it's not tasty?

Poliwag and the others also had fruit—mainly Rawst Berries, to help with the heat.

Spinarak had no such treat. It wasn't going to be caught, so just getting honey was already a privilege.

—

Once breakfast ended, morning training began. Poliwag resumed running laps.

Butterfree, Krabby, and Wingull continued learning new moves from Spinarak.

Reiji himself jogged laps around the treehouse for two hours, just like Poliwag, then stopped to wash up and prep lunch.

The main dish? Crab, of course.

During the honey feast, he'd left a spoonful beneath a tree by the beach, the spot he liked to nap at. Bait for crabs.

By noon, they'd caught over ten of them. Some had charged toward the scent of honey.

Spinarak had tied them all up—claws, four legs, even their mouths—then hung them from the branches.

He picked five to cook for lunch.

Once the crab was boiled, he prepared a pot of fish soup. Their fish stockpile still had a full bucket left, mostly reserved for Krabby.

As lunch was ready, the hungry Pokémon circled the table.

"Eetoh, smells amazing…" Spinarak inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma.

"Dig in," Reiji announced.

Everyone began to eat. Reiji tossed a crab leg into the barrel where Magikarp was soaking—it was its lunch.

After lunch came a nap. Then more training.

Poliwag resumed Moisture Sense Training.

Butterfree, Krabby, and Wingull kept learning their new moves.

Butterfree was making great progress with Electroweb. It already had Electric-type energy building in its mouth—just needed to shape it into a web.

Of course, it had been shocked quite a few times. Getting used to the tingle on your lips while releasing electric energy wasn't easy.

But the key was generating Electric energy at all. After enough zaps, something just clicked, like it had awakened a dormant organ.

Spinarak's method was simpler—it spat silk into a net, then electrified it.

If Butterfree could do the same—spin the web, then charge it—it would master Electroweb.

Meanwhile, Wingull was learning Agility. It had nearly nailed the movement, just needed practice to use it smoothly.

Krabby, however, was struggling.

All four-legged Pokémon… wait, Spinarak had six. Still, how was it so fast?

"It's okay if you can't learn Agility yet," Reiji comforted Krabby. He had an idea why Krabby was stuck.

Those giant pincers—it's both a blessing and a curse.

To use Agility, you needed speed as a foundation. Without a light body—or wings—learning it was tough.

It was like comparing a mountain bike to a heavy tank.

Spinarak was a nimble off-roader.

Krabby was an armored tank that couldn't even enter a forest.

That didn't mean Krabby would never learn it. It just needed more time—and maybe to run a marathon while holding its claws up.

"Krack," Krabby seemed to cheer up a bit. But it still felt dumb. It was always the slowest—Water Gun had taken forever too.

"Don't compare your weaknesses to others' strengths," Reiji said gently.

He'd made the same mistake in his past life.

"Krabby, didn't you pick up Metal Claw, Dig, and Mud Shot really fast? You're not slow, just not suited for this particular move. You're doing great."

Krabby perked up. It looked toward Poliwag soaking by the shore—still training hard despite not learning a new move yet.

If Big Bro Poliwag never gave up, how could Krabby?

"Krack-cha!" Krabby got up with renewed spirit and rushed toward the sea.

Reiji smiled wryly. It looked like Krabby was going to train Water Gun again.

Its shell had hardened enough by now—no need to stop it. What mattered was that it had found its motivation again.

If it couldn't learn Agility now, maybe later—once its head-to-claw ratio balanced out, and it could raise its claws freely, it might just get there.

—

Each Pokémon had its own training focus. Spinarak had finished its teaching job and was now napping on a branch, guarding the tied-up crabs.

Reiji took the opportunity to go fishing by the sea with his old rod.

Even if he didn't catch anything, the crab stockpile was enough. He covered the honey bait this time, so no more crabs would get lured in.

There were still seven crabs tied to the tree—dinner was sorted.

Tonight would be Spinarak's last meal. After that, Reiji would set it free.

If it agreed to go.

He already had six Pokémon. With Spinarak, that made seven—he could barely afford them all.

If it stayed… that would be a headache.

—

Reiji spent the whole afternoon fishing, but not a single bite. When he reeled in the line at dusk, the bait was gone.

Another empty day. Not even a nibble. Maybe the beginner's luck period had ended.

He sighed and packed up his rod, tossing some seaweed and shells into Magikarp's bucket. Then had Spinarak lower seven crabs for dinner.

Poliwag had finished training and was soaking with Magikarp.

Wingull and Butterfree chatted with Spinarak in the tree.

Krabby was bubbling in the water basin.

Dinner was ready soon.

"Poliwag, Butterfree, Krabby, Wingull—come eat!"

"Yoh yoh!" Poliwag shouted happily. More crab. It wasn't tired of it yet—dug right into the crab roe.

Everyone had crab again for dinner.

Krabby got fish meat instead, as usual.

At least it wasn't grass.

There was still sweet honey waiting afterward—that was the real treat.

Reiji doled out the honey to all seven Pokémon.

Then he made himself a mug of honey water and sat by the fire, sipping slowly.

—

Unknowingly, thirty days had passed since he landed on this island. A full month.

Time flew.

Now he had so many cute Pokémon by his side.

Butterfree, Krabby, and Wingull didn't worry him—their potential was strong. They were at least Elite Four-tier material.

But Poliwag…

"Ugh, better not think about it." Reiji shook his head.

He pulled out the Poké Ball meant for Spinarak and said, "Spinarak, this was the ball I used to catch you. I've removed the link—you're free now. You can go wherever you want…"

"Eetoh? Eetoh?" Spinarak paused mid-lick. It seemed confused. Free?

The other four Pokémon also stopped eating and looked up.

That's right—they'd nearly forgotten. Spinarak wasn't really part of the team yet.

Spinarak slowly lowered its head, thinking Reiji was kicking it out. It turned around quietly, ready to leave these kind, friendly Pokémon behind.

"Buh-weeeeh!" Butterfree quickly called out and explained, "Reiji's not kicking you out. He's just letting you decide."

"Eetoh?" Spinarak blinked its beady eyes, paused, then crawled back—and resumed licking honey.

If it wasn't being driven off, then it wasn't leaving.

Reiji exhaled deeply. One more mouth to feed.

He had hoped Spinarak would choose to go. That would've been one less Pokémon to worry about. But it decided to stay. He couldn't force it away—that would've been heartless, especially after all the help it had given.

Well, a bitter fruit of his own sowing—he'd eat it regardless.

As long as Spinarak didn't need a training plan, didn't eat too much, and didn't require emotional support… it was manageable. Think of it as a bodyguard.

—

After everyone finished their honey, Reiji returned Magikarp and Spinarak to their Poké Balls.

Spinarak was poisonous—leaving it out at night wasn't exactly safe.

Now he had four Poké Balls with three Pokémon inside.

Poliwag and the others? Free-range. He didn't even have enough Poké Balls for them.

Hopefully, he'd find another Poké Ball soon. You could never have too many.

He packed up and called the rest back to the house.

Early to bed, early to rise.

Tomorrow—they'd go steal Beedrill's honey again…

[End of Chapter]

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