READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 37: Trying out the Wilderness
Another week has passed. Thanks to Dante and Pikachu's constant efforts, they were finally promoted from Normal Rank to Bronze Rank.
In addition to Chatot rewarding them with the Defog move disc, the Exploration Federation awarded them as well with additional space in Kangaskhan's storage as well as a bigger Treasure Bag.
Dante was relieved after hearing the rewards. Their storage was almost full of Gummies. Dante thought they would have to eat some of them early. Kangaskhan was already giving the two of them weird looks for storing Gummies in their storage almost to the brim.
In addition, Dante has been constantly checking the progress of Spinda's Cafe everytime they go back from the dungeon. From the looks of things, they've already reached a decent progress in digging the space underground.
After submitting their task and getting back to the human world, Dante and Pikachu slept.
Early the next morning, while Dante and Pikachu were having breakfast, his phone sounded a notification. After opening it and taking a glance, he found that it was Shinobu.
Shinobu: Hey Dan, how're you preparing for the comp? Me and Shelly just finished working out.
There was a picture sent after the message. It showed Shinobu wearing a sports bra and workout leggings in the pose of taking a selfie. Behind her, Shelmet was seen running on a treadmill. (Pic in comment)
When Shinobu first started sending selfies with her messages, Dante couldn't decide whether she was flirting with him or just being more open. However, when he remembered what she was wearing during their Trainer exam, he felt that it was most likely the latter.
Dante only knew from their chat in the past two weeks that Shinobu came from Japan in order to study here for university two months ago. She cited her reasons for leaving Japan was due to some 'family conflict' which Dante didn't press further.
Shinobu herself mentioned one time that she just liked wearing 'skimpy' clothes because she felt more free with them.
Shinobu really likes trying out and experiencing various new things. However, she also hates being shackled. It was the reason why she chose to become a Pokemon Trainer. She wants to enter the Pokeportals and discover and experience many different things.
For her, training her Pokemons to become stronger is just the means to an end.
Dante: Me and Pikachu are still eating breakfast. We'll probably head out after.
Shinobu: Are you going to the forest again? Can Shelly and I come with you?
Seeing Shinobu's message, Dante thought for a moment before replying that he was just taking Pikachu out to relax around the city.
Even if Dante wanted to show off Pikachu's strength, he knew that risking their lives just to do that is both foolish and reckless. Although Dante has experience fighting wild Pokemons in Mystery Dungeons, he doesn't know whether that same experience will apply here.
While Pokemons in the forest are not as aggressive as the ones that just came out of a PokePortal, they will still attack humans if provoked.
It's okay in the outer area, the strength of most Pokemon living there is low and most of them are not aggressive. In the inner area however, the Pokemons are more territorial and most will directly attack humans if they found them in their territory.
Everyday, there will be news about humans coming out of the forest with severe injuries and with some even directly missing. Most of these people are Rookie Trainers who still haven't won a Badge and can't enter a PokePortal, with some being new Trainers hoping to catch their first Pokemon.
Aside from that however, Pokemons that are already acclimated to this world are rarely aggressive towards humans. The only thing they have to worry about is Pokemon moves accidentally hitting them during battles.
Dante himself doesn't have to worry. With his physique comparable to a Pokemon, even if he was accidentally hit by a move, he can just shrug it off. It would be a very different case, however, if it was Shinobu.
After promising to take her the next time he and Pikachu explored the forest, the two of them chatted a few more times about their upcoming spar next week and then said goodbye to each other.
After tidying himself up, Dante paused for a moment to think about what to do today. Remembering his previous conversation with Shinobu, Dante began to become more curious about the wilderness of this world.
Dante planned to just walk around the outer area of the forest and get a feel for the place. It's also to avoid embarrassment when Shinobu really accompanies them, and saw that Dante was as unfamiliar with the place as her.
With his mind made up, Dante and Pikachu got out of the house and proceeded to go to the nearest forest. Dante wants to experience the difference between the wild Pokemon here when compared to the Pokemon in the dungeon.
It only took Dante and Pikachu an hour to reach the Intra Forest that was located at the edge of the city. Because the forest was located next to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, the Philippines Alliance branch routinely patrols the place to prevent any mishaps from happening.
At the entrance to the forest, Dante saw many stalls selling things like rations, water, and some camping equipment. There were also mercenary Trainers that people could hire for protection if they wanted to enter the forest.
Dante ignored all of them. He only planned to get a cursory survey of the place today and had no plans on staying long or risking their lives going deeper. An official entry was placed at one of the entrances and Dante had to line up and get his Trainer ID checked before he was allowed to enter.
At the outer area of the forest, Dante and Pikachu encountered various Pokemons such as Rattata, Spinarak, Caterpie, Skwovet, Lillipup, and Beedrill. Except for Beedrill, which actively attacked them when they got closer, the other Pokemons just stared at the two of them from a distance and ran away when they got closer.
Dante and Pikachu continued to enter deeper into the area until they encountered a pack of Poochyena and Mightyena. After defeating the pack, the two of them backed out. Clearly, they've already entered a part of the inner area.
At dusk, Dante and Pikachu exited the forest with their bodies still as clean as when they entered.
"Hmm, what do you think, Pikachu?"
"Pika pi!" (I think it was easier than the Beach Cave. It feels a bit…odd though. I can't describe why, but I feel a bit odd when fighting them.)
Dante thought about what Pikachu said before he roughly guessed the reason. It must be because of the difference in stats.
In the dungeon, the Pokemon there have almost balanced stats. The difference between each of their stats is never more than 5.
Here, however, the Pokemon's racial limit often determines their stat distribution. Pikachu can face a Pokemon with a very high speed but can't even hurt him due to their low Attack/Special Attack. Or a Pokemon with low defense can easily be taken down in one attack but poses a threat with their high attack.
In short, their stats are more specialized.
"Take note of how you feel fighting them, Pikachu. The Pokemon of Trainers we will battle in the future will also be like that. We must make use of your balanced stats in order to target where they are least good at."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Pikachu climbed up Dante's shoulder as they headed home. Dante decided to come here once or twice a week in order to get himself and Pikachu more familiar with fighting the Pokemon of this world.
—
Standing with the guild apprentices for the morning assembly, Dante was idly waiting for the ceremony to end and then proceed to do tasks as usual. However, Chatot didn't start right away after Wigglytuff's speech.
"Everyone, we have received some news from the Exploration Federation. Far to the northeast, then farther into its outermost reaches, there lies a place named Treeshroud Forest. In Treeshroud Forest, time has apparently stopped…"
"Huh!?"
"What did you say!??"
"Time…has stopped?!"
After waiting for everyone to calm down, Chatot continued.
"Yes, you heard that right. Time has stopped."
"Time has come to a standstill in Treeshroud Forest... The wind has stopped... The clouds are motionless...Dewdrops on leaves won't fall... They just hang there, suspended. In Treeshroud Forest, time itself has truly stopped."
"And the reason for all of this…is because someone has stolen the Treeshroud Forest's Time Gear!!"
"The Time Gear!?"
"Why would anyone steal that?!!"
"Yes, the Exploration Federation is still unclear what the reason is, nor who the culprit could be. Officer Magnezone notified us in the hopes that we will ask the rest of the Rescue Teams to inform them if they notice any suspicious Pokemons."