"You've worked hard. Come eat something."
Damien called Ogerpon to a stop, patting her head with a smile as he pulled freshly washed fruits from a basket.
As a Grass-type Pokémon, Ogerpon could theoretically sustain herself with water and photosynthesis to meet her energy needs.
But survival alone wasn't enough for a Pokémon to grow.
A rich, nutritious diet was the foundation for becoming stronger.
Ogerpon happily took the fruit Damien offered, her two little fangs chomping down with a crunch.
Instantly, sweet and tangy juice filled her mouth.
Ogerpon sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Damien on a rock, her short legs dangling and swinging.
Savoring the tasty fruit with her family by her side, Ogerpon felt utterly content.
"We're running out of daylight today, so we'll just set up a simple tent. Tomorrow, we'll properly build our new home."
As Damien spoke, he wiped fruit stains from Ogerpon's body.
His every gesture was like that of a caring brother looking after an innocent little sister.
A gentle breeze rustled the trees, their shadows swaying.
The two lay under the shade, easing the fatigue accumulated from the day's work.
"Let's get started, Ogerpon."
After their lunch break, Damien and Ogerpon resumed their tasks.
Ogerpon sprang up, grabbing a log before Damien could even ask.
Damien planned to build a fence to protect their future home. "Oh, and we need to dig a deep trench around the perimeter."
Of course, he wouldn't leave all the work to Ogerpon... that would be unfair.
Damien would join in digging the trench.
Tools weren't an issue. During his time in the Pokémonverse, he'd purchased plenty of construction tools and brought them back to the Cardinal World.
Working together, Damien swung a hammer, driving wooden stakes into the ground.
Whenever he ran out of materials, Ogerpon was there in a flash, hauling over piles of processed timber.
The little creature was brimming with enthusiasm!
Suddenly, a sound from the jungle snapped the working duo to attention.
Damien's expression grew serious. "Something's coming."
A week of forest exploration had given him plenty of experience handling danger.
Instead of recklessly approaching, he cautiously stepped back.
Ogerpon dropped her log, flashing in front of Damien, her hand summoning a cudgel glowing with green light.
Soon, a bizarre creature... a mix of centipede and spider... emerged before them.
"What kind of beast is this?"
Damien had purchased a monster guidebook from the Free Guild back in the village.
Yet he had no recollection of this massive insectoid creature.
Without hesitation, Damien cast his Appraisal skill on the beast.
Multi-Legged Spider Beast
Type: Hybrid Insect Monster
Rank: C (Existence Value: 3800)
Inherent Abilities: Web Spinning, Deadly Venom
Description: A monster that recently appeared in the Jura Forest. It poisons its prey before consuming their flesh with its mouthparts.
'Was there anything in the original story?'
The thought crossed Damien's mind but was quickly dismissed. "The original story was just a novel. This is a real world."
'The forest has countless species. It can't just be limited to what's written in the book.'
'And since it's a monster, it should be possible to communicate, right?'
But the spider beast didn't look remotely capable of communication... it seemed even more beastly than the other creatures they'd encountered.
For now, Damien led Ogerpon back, keeping a safe distance.
Damien tried to reason with the creature. "Can we calm down? We mean no harm."
"If this is your territory, we can leave."
Both Damien and Ogerpon were principled at heart.
If this area was already claimed, their actions... cutting down trees and building a fence... could indeed be seen as intrusive.
But the Multi-Legged Spider Beast seemed to understand nothing, spewing a wave of venom toward them.
Damien and Ogerpon dodged swiftly.
Glancing back, they saw the trees and ground where the venom landed turn black and reek, as if corroded by acid.
There was no doubt... this creature meant to kill them.
Ogerpon awaited Damien's orders. His gaze hardened as he said, "Watch out for its venom and webs. Stick to ranged moves if you can."
"Then, take it down!"
Ogerpon's lips curled, her little fangs glinting with a mix of cuteness and ferocity.
She swung her cudgel with gusto.
With a stomp, a surge of pale green energy radiated from her, covering a ten-meter radius.
This was Grassy Terrain, a magic derived from her Pokémon move!
Unlike the original Grassy Terrain, which benefited both sides, Ogerpon's version only aided her and those she recognized as allies.
The spider beast was clearly startled by Ogerpon's move.
The scattered magical energy disrupted its sensory antennae, stripping it of environmental awareness.
In its panic, the beast instinctively sprayed webs forward.
But Ogerpon was ready, dodging the attack with a quick flash.
Damien shouted, "Use Seed Bomb!"
Ogerpon opened her mouth, unleashing a barrage of golden light particles.
The particles hit the spider beast, triggering a massive explosion that elicited pained screeches.
"Break all its legs!"
No longer hesitating, Damien gave the order for close combat. "Use Ivy Cudgel!"
Ogerpon had been waiting for this. With a mighty stomp that cracked the earth, she shot forward like lightning, her monstrous strength shattering every one of the spider beast's legs.
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
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