Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 238: The Carnivorous Pokémon—Ariados, Ho-Oh's Test

Marshadow and Rochan stared at each other, wide-eyed, silently assessing the other.

Rochan had no idea what it wanted.

On the other hand, sensing Ho-Oh's aura on this human, Marshadow watched him with great interest.

Ho-Oh's test was only given to those with a pure heart.

For those with pure hearts, Ho-Oh would bestow a Rainbow Wing. Once that trainer became strong enough, they would have the opportunity to challenge Ho-Oh.

Marshadow's role in this process was that of a guide, leading the chosen trainer to where Ho-Oh had appeared or was about to appear.

Such a person was known as the Rainbow Warrior.

This process had occurred many times before.

Even though this was a different world, Marshadow's role remained the same.

As part of this, it was allowed to implement certain tests for the Rainbow Warrior.

If an impure-hearted person obtained the Rainbow Wing, its radiance would dim, and Ho-Oh would never appear before them.

At that point, Marshadow would take corrective measures against those who obtained the Rainbow Wing with ill intentions.

During this process, it could also absorb the emotional energy of creatures around it.

Its favorite was fear.

At first, Marshadow thought Hikaru was the chosen one.

But upon closer observation, Hikaru's aura was not the mark of Ho-Oh.

Instead, it was Ho-Oh's life aura, a faint trace that suggested only slight contact with the Sacred Ash.

However, by staying close to Hikaru, Marshadow eventually found the true protagonist of this event.

Rochan.

Though he hadn't yet received the Rainbow Wing, Marshadow knew it was only a matter of time.

It could already sense Ho-Oh's presence...

"Do you need me to take you out of here?"

Rochan was momentarily stunned before realizing that Marshadow had the same telepathic abilities as Hikaru's Gardevoir.

He nodded. Right now, his only concern was his family's safety.

"Alright, hold onto me."

Marshadow extended a hand. After hesitating for a moment, Rochan reached out and took it.

The moment they made contact, a ghostly energy cloaked Rochan's body.

"Now, no one can detect your presence."

Marshadow's voice echoed in his mind, but before Rochan could ask any questions, the Pokémon melded into the shadows once again.

Left with no other choice, Rochan stood up and waved his hand in front of his nearby classmates. Seeing no reaction from them, he took a deep breath and sprinted toward the school gate.

Seeing the swarm of Beedrill fearlessly charging even at Charizard, Rochan's anxiety grew.

These wild Pokémon were far more aggressive than he had imagined.

Above, Hikaru's Charizard also seemed puzzled.

Most wild Pokémon fled after being defeated, but the Beedrill acted as though they held a deep grudge against humans.

On the streets, as more law enforcement officers and civilians joined forces, the wild Pokémon began retreating.

A common trait among them: Once defeated, they appeared dazed and immediately retreated back into the secret realm.

Sprinting all the way back, Rochan glanced at his house.

Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a sudden sense of dread gripped him.

Turning around, he saw an Ariados.

Its eerie, multi-faceted eyes were locked onto his home.

Gulp...

Rochan swallowed hard.

The Ariados clearly hadn't noticed him. Instead, its gaze was fixed inside the house.

That made it even more terrifying.

His parents weren't Pokémon trainers.

For a moment, Rochan hesitated. Just yesterday, he had been considering breaking his bond with Bellsprout and Butterfree.

But now, he realized something.

Without them, he was completely powerless.

Watching the Ariados preparing to enter the house, Rochan finally stopped hesitating and grabbed his Poké Balls.

A flash of red light—

Butterfree and Bellsprout appeared on the field.

The moment they materialized, Rochan frantically gestured apologies.

Words couldn't express the guilt he felt.

But Bellsprout held no resentment.

The moment it saw Ariados, its face became tense.

Butterfree reacted the same way.

Neither of them harbored any grudge over Rochan's previous doubts.

This realization made Rochan's whole body tremble.

They never even thought of abandoning him...

Even though, compared to other trainers, he was undeniably weak.

"Bell!"

The sudden arrival of Butterfree and Bellsprout made Ariados pause. Then, it moved forward on its spindly legs.

In the sky, Butterfree recognized it immediately.

This was the same Ariados they had encountered in the secret realm!

A grudge rekindled at the sight of an old enemy.

This time, it wasn't just a school entrance test.

It was a two-on-one fight.

Butterfree didn't believe they could lose again.

But Ariados had been strengthened by Marshadow.

This time, it was not the same opponent as before.

The moment Rochan released his Pokémon, Marshadow's stealth effect vanished.

Following Rochan's command, Butterfree immediately scattered Sleep Powder, while Bellsprout released a pink mist—Sweet Scent.

White phosphorescent powder mixed with the pink fragrance.

Just as Butterfree prepared to flap its wings and spread the dual debuffs—

Ariados moved.

Its shadow stretched into a long, dark line, then suddenly split into two and lashed toward the Pokémon.

Bellsprout, still on the ground, had no time to react before it was firmly bound.

Butterfree managed to dodge.

The speed and sheer force of the attack stunned Rochan.

This Ariados was at least at the mid-to-late Elite level!

And his Pokémon weren't even Elite-level yet.

The power gap meant that the battle was already shifting in Ariados' favor.

Binding Bellsprout tightly, Ariados began pulling it closer.

Ariados was a spider-like Pokémon.

Which meant it was a carnivorous Pokémon.

Above, Butterfree watched anxiously.

Sleep Powder had little effect on Ariados, now that it was fully alert and focused.

Rochan's mind went blank.

He sprinted toward Ariados.

A purple glow flickered in Ariados' mouth—

Bug Bite.

Ariados' preferred hunting technique.

It would inject venom into its prey, paralyzing them.

Then, it would liquefy their internal organs and consume them.

Typically, its diet consisted of Caterpie.

But every once in a while, a change of taste was refreshing...

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