Chapter 104: Cooperation
The next day, after handling various affairs within his territory, Lei Wen would immediately take the Dratini and Servine to the wilderness for practical special training.
This time, the opponents he chose for the two Pokémon were the evolved form of Rattata, a Pokémon called Rattata.
Rattata, resembling a large rat, often walks on two legs. Its fur is mainly yellowish-brown, and its most prominent feature is its rapidly growing large front teeth, which Rattata uses as its primary tools for attacking and foraging.
Although it appears harmless, Rattata’s personality is far more ferocious than its appearance suggests.
Within a few rounds, the Dratini and Servine bore several clearly visible wounds.
Rattata are appearing in large numbers in this grassland.
As soon as Lei Wen defeated one, other Rattata would swarm forward.
Lei Wen calmly commanded the two Pokémon to cooperate and assist each other, but it was clear that Servine’s strong pride made it unwilling to accept Dratini’s intervention.
It slid forward close to the ground on its own, using Vine Whip and Magical Leaf, shielding the relatively weaker Dratini behind it.
While effective against the swarm of Rattata, the result was obvious: it sustained many injuries that it didn’t need to.
Meanwhile, Dratini remained almost unscathed while Servine fought the Rattata alone.
Although the Rattata swarm was successfully repelled in the end, the injuries Servine sustained far exceeded Lei Wen’s expectations.
Lei Wen: “…”
Is this perhaps Servine’s only flaw?
Young Snivy were only a bit tsundere, but once they evolved into Servine, their pride would become extremely high.
It is common knowledge in future research circles that newly evolved Servine require considerable time to learn to cooperate with other Pokémon.
Looking at the proud Servine, Lei Wen said nothing.
Instead, he turned and found several more powerful wild Pokémon.
It was a herd of wild Explosion Head Water Buffalo living on the grassland, numbering around twenty. The leading ones were all well-muscled, their fur shining, and they exuded a palpable sense of power just by looking at them.
Lei Wen used some special methods to lure three of the Explosion Head Water Buffalo away from the main herd.
Watching the Explosion Head Water Buffalo charge towards them relentlessly, Servine and Dratini immediately prepared for battle.
Two Vine Whips extended, and Servine attempted to block the Explosion Head Water Buffalo’s Headbutt attack, but their immense power directly yanked the Vine Whips away.
“Servine?”
Servine was slightly surprised.
But before it could react, two other Explosion Head Water Buffalo arrived in close pursuit.
At this critical moment, with a command from Lei Wen, a strong electric current surged through Dratini.
Yellow electricity enveloped both Explosion Head Water Buffalo, paralyzing them almost instantly.
“Don’t stand there, Servine, use Grass Knot!” Lei Wen commanded sternly.
Servine immediately reacted. It placed one hand on the ground, drawing Grass-type energy from the earth, and created tough, intertwined grasses at the feet of the two Explosion Head Water Buffalo.
The Explosion Head Water Buffalo, having just recovered from paralysis, were about to charge again, but in the next second, they were tripped.
Their massive bodies crashed heavily onto the ground, and expressions of pain appeared on their faces.
As expected, with the cooperation of the two Pokémon and Lei Wen’s command, these three wild Explosion Head Water Buffalo quickly lost their ability to battle.
Lei Wen first healed the three Explosion Head Water Buffalo, then compensated them with some Berries. After watching them run away, he turned back to look at his two Pokémon.
“Servine, did you feel it?”
Lei Wen asked while feeding Medicine to the two Pokémon.
Servine blinked slightly: “Servine?”
“In that battle just now, do you know what would have happened if Dratini hadn’t used Thunder Wave to help you control those two Explosion Head Water Buffalo?”
Upon hearing this, Servine fell silent.
With the charging power of the Explosion Head Water Buffalo, if they had hit, it would have been sent flying instantly.
Seeing Servine’s expression, Lei Wen worried it might overthink things. He organized his thoughts slightly before slowly saying:
“Actually, what I mean to say is, you don’t need to take all the responsibility on yourself. Perhaps before you met me, you always lived alone, so you’re used to fighting solo.”
“But now you are no longer alone. You have me, and you have Dratini. We are all your partners and teammates, and even your closest family.”
“I know you feel Dratini is very weak now and not as strong as you, so you naturally protected it and faced the enemies alone.”
Beside them, Dratini also looked at Servine with its moist eyes.
“Woo~”
“Servine…”
“But, Servine, this cannot continue forever. The strength of one Pokémon is far less than that of two.”
“So, can you trust us a little more?”
Servine looked at Lei Wen blankly.
After a long while, it turned away.
“Servine.”
Seeing this, Lei Wen knew Servine had agreed.
It would slowly try to cooperate with Dratini.
“Alright, then let’s continue training!”
In the subsequent training, Lei Wen found that Servine had indeed begun to make changes.
It no longer fought alone but cooperated with Dratini in its attacks.
Although Dratini was still very weak, its Thunder Wave and Dragon Tail were two very effective control moves.
After a day of grueling special training, both little ones had grown considerably.
After dinner, Lei Wen took them, along with Larvesta and the Poffins, to the forest hot spring for a bath.
Many wild Pokémon still gathered here. Despite their different species, they seemed to have reached a consensus at this forest hot spring: they only bathed and did not attack each other.
Steaming hot spring water continuously created mist, and distant smoke curled from the territory.
Dratini swam leisurely on the water’s surface, and Servine closed its eyes, quietly enjoying the peaceful moment.
The warm spring water helped them relieve their fatigue.
Larvesta disliked water and stayed obediently on a stone by the bank, dozing off, as water would dampen its fluffy fur.
In contrast, the Poffins had fewer worries. They jumped into the hot spring like dumplings, splashing enthusiastically as they cleaned their fluffy tails with water.
Lei Wen would dry them afterward anyway!
Lei Wen closed his eyes to rest, quietly enjoying the rare moment of relaxation in the day with the Pokémon.
He wasn’t worried about encountering danger because there were Knight Order members patrolling nearby.
