Day 24 of surviving on the deserted island. Clear skies.
There was no rain today, and the weather was pretty nice.Reiji got up early, planning to do so morning stretches.
Even if he couldn't go running yet, he could still do neck, arm, and waist exercises.
Just a couple more days until his foot healed, and then he could start running again.
"Wake up, Poliwag, Butterfree, Krabby…"
After getting up, he called out to his little team. Poliwag and Krabby were already up and running, doing their own training.
Only Butterfree yawned and lazily fluttered out from the treehouse.
"Butterfree, we're doing Confusion training again today," Reiji said, watching Poliwag and Krabby already in the zone. Butterfree was the only one still half-asleep, yawning nonstop.
They had all gone to sleep at the sa ti last night, so he wasn't sure what was up with Butterfree. Why was it still so groggy?
"Buuuuh-reeee…" Butterfree groaned with no energy. Maybe it had overexerted its ntal energy during yesterday's training.
Still, sleeping all night and still being tired? That didn't make sense.
Seeing this, Reiji took out the honey—and suddenly Butterfree perked right up, eyes shining as it zipped toward him.
"Buh-reeee! Buh-reeee!"
"I knew it," Reiji sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. For a mont, he'd really believed Butterfree was out of it. Turned out it was faking it—pretty good acting, actually.
"All right, Poliwag, stop running. Krabby, co over here too," Reiji called. He decided to give them breakfast first before continuing training.
"Yoyo!" Poliwag had only run a few laps, but when it heard they were getting honey, it imdiately ca running with its little frying pan in its mouth.
"Kochi!" Krabby also approached, holding its food bowl with one claw, waiting to be served.
After Reiji poured half a cup of honey into each of their bowls, the bucket was nearly empty. Only about a kilogram left—just enough for one more dessert round.
"Caaaw!"
Right then, a familiar cry echoed. Wingull had arrived, perching on the rooftop, eyeing the others eating honey—wondering if there'd be a share for itself.
"Co on down, Wingull," Reiji called. What a coincidence, it showed up just as the others were eating honey. If he didn't share so now, all the goodwill he earned last night would go to waste.
Seeing it wasn't being left out, Wingull flew down and landed in front of its bowl to eat.
In truth, it hadn't even gone back ho last night. It had been sleeping in a nearby tree branch to wait and ambush so honey. And wouldn't you know it, the plan worked.
It was now letting its guard down a little around Reiji. After all, he hadn't drugged the honey yesterday. If he tried sothing today, then so be it.
Sticking with this human wasn't so bad. At least it ant eating sweet honey instead of scavenging and starving.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Just as the four Pokémon were enjoying their honey, so unexpected guests arrived—five aggressive Krabby waving their pincers.
"Five Krabby… and one of them is the leader that escaped before," Reiji's eyes narrowed as they surrounded the group. He instantly went on alert.
He quickly alerted the others—Poliwag, Butterfree, Krabby, and Wingull—who were still eating and hadn't noticed the threat yet.
"Poliwag, stop eating! We've got trouble!"
"Yo~yo?" Poliwag had just finished licking its bowl clean. But as it looked up, it saw five hostile Krabby closing in and imdiately rushed to stand guard in front of Reiji.
But the Krabby leader didn't care about warnings. It had co to get revenge—Poliwag had captured its three mates. The four other Krabby were backup it had called in.
To win them over, the leader told them about the honey.
It had slled the honey this morning and notified the others. Once they arrived and caught a whiff of that floral sweetness, they were sold.
They now knew the leader wasn't lying—there really was honey, and it was in the hands of a weak human.
Plus, just a Poliwag, a Butterfree, a Wingull, and a runt of a fellow Krabby stood in their way. That little Krabby? They knew it. It was infamous in their group—its claw was bigger than its head, it couldn't even lift it properly. No burrow, no mate, a total nobody.
And now it was eating honey while they scrounged seaweed and shells off the beach? It was enough to drive a Krabby mad with envy. They weren't having it—the honey should be theirs.
"Kochi!" The little Krabby was no longer scared. It stood angrily next to Poliwag, refusing to back down.
No matter what, it wasn't going to let these invaders past. They'd have to walk over its body first.
It wasn't afraid of fighting—it was tired of fighting. But not afraid. Especially not against fellow Krabby.
And it wasn't just about revenge anymore. These Krabby wanted to hurt Reiji and Poliwag. That was unacceptable.
"Buh-reeee… You again? You've got guts coming back," Butterfree remained calm. It hadn't failed to defeat the leader last ti because it was weak—it had simply run away. This ti, it wouldn't escape. They'd be having crab for lunch.
"Caaaw…" Wingull flew to the treehouse rooftop, trying to get a read on the situation.
Clearly, these Krabby were hostile. But what was their deal with Reiji's group?
Wingull decided that if a fight broke out, it'd side with Reiji—as long as it stayed safe. After all, it had eaten enough good food to feel a little obligation.
"Kochi-kochi, there's honey in that bucket behind the human. You've seen it already—I don't need to say more…" the Krabby leader said, pointing at the honey bucket and the half-full bowls.
The floral scent made the other four Krabby drool uncontrollably.
"That human's weak, but the tadpole's strong, and the butterfly can use Stun Spore and Sleep Powder. Be careful…"
"That weakling over there? One of us can handle it. The other two will take the tadpole and butterfly—2v1…"
"Good. Let's move."
The Krabby began their assault, targeting Poliwag first.
One Krabby went to intercept little Krabby, while the leader and another faced Poliwag. The last two took on Butterfree.
Reiji quietly noted how well-coordinated they were. These Krabby actually knew how to use strategy, aiming straight for their strongest threats.
He quickly shouted out orders: "Krabby, use Harden, then smash with your claw! Let's see who cracks first!"
"Poliwag, Water Gun for suppression! Butterfree, use Stun Spore!"
The trio snapped into action. Poliwag's rapid Water Guns struck the eyes of the four Krabby charging forward.
Three were hit—only the leader blocked with its claw, anticipating the eye-targeting move from experience.
Then Butterfree took to the air and began releasing Stun Spore.
"Clack-clack!" the leader barked a warning. All four Krabby fired Water Guns into the air to disrupt the spores and scatter them.
Pff-pff-pff!
The airborne spores got swept away. Butterfree had to dodge, releasing only a light mist before backing off.
As the Water Gun sprays lost montum and rained down, the droplets mixed with the Stun Spore and fell with it.
Reiji winced—so close! But hey, even diluted Stun Spore still worked. It just needed more ti.
"Poliwag, keep up the Water Gun harassnt! Don't let them close in! Butterfree, dodge the sprays and keep using Stun Spore!"
"Yo~yo!" Poliwag weaved around the battlefield, taking advantage of the rain-like cover to keep the Krabby at bay.
"Buh-reeee!" Butterfree relied on its waterproof wings and aerial agility to continue its dispersal from above.
Reiji stuck with Stun Spore because Sleep Powder and Poison Powder were too risky. If he got hit and knocked out, the team would be leaderless.
Paralysis only impaired the body—not the mind. Even if he got hit, he could still command.
That's where humans had the advantage—big brains. Trickery, strategy—that was their edge.
"Kochi!" Little Krabby bashed against its opponent and won again, returning to Reiji's side as protector.
"You're back?" Reiji smiled, feeling safer. He'd told Krabby earlier—just use Harden and go all-in.
Its move was so well-trained, and its claw so big, the opponent couldn't match it.
Max out defense and offense, and unless you get kited or hit with special moves, you're nearly unbeatable in lee.
"Kochi," Krabby nodded, still surprised by how weak the other one was—it only took a few hits before it dug a hole and fled.
"You're really strong, Krabby. Don't ever sell yourself short," Reiji grinned. It was important Krabby rebuilt its confidence. He didn't want it to stay depressed forever—he'd have no use for a spiritless Pokémon.
"Kochi-kochi…" Krabby was deeply moved. Poliwag had been right—being praised by Reiji felt amazing.
"Wait… why are there only four Krabby? Where's the one that fought Krabby?" Reiji scanned the battlefield—and his face darkened.
He looked down.
BOOM!
"Crap—this sneaky bastard!"
A Krabby burst from underground, pincers aid straight between Reiji's legs. Disaster lood.
SPLASH!
A Water Gun ca from above, slamming the ambusher in the face and breaking its attack.
Reiji felt claws grab his shoulders and lift him onto the treehouse roof.
He looked up—Wingull had saved him. "Thanks, Wingull…"
"I'm fine, Poliwag, Butterfree! Don't worry!" he shouted from the rooftop. They couldn't afford any distractions right now—they were already outnumbered.
With Reiji safe, the team resud their strategy. Krabby focused all its fury on the sneak attacker.
It didn't even bother with Harden—just went berserk with claw attacks.
This was the second ti Reiji had nearly been hurt under its watch. It was unforgivable.
The sneak attacker got absolutely destroyed—shell shattered, limbs broken, slamd into the grass.
The four other Krabby watched in horror and tried to help—but couldn't move. They'd all been paralyzed.
[Paralysis Status: Speed reduced by 50%, 25% chance of being unable to act each turn.]
"Now! Butterfree—use Sleep Powder!"
Reiji ordered a full takedown while they were immobilized. He was going to finish this fight before more reinforcents arrived.
(End of Chapter)
[ 100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20 chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]
User Comments
0 comments from readers