LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Training Grounds
Two minutes later, the battered and bruised Arbok lay helpless on the ground, barely clinging to consciousness.
Since evolving from Kakuna, Beedrill's diet had changed drastically. While they still collected nectar, they had also become carnivorous.
Creatures that dared provoke Beedrill without sufficient strength typically met a grim fate—reduced to nothing but bones.
Watching the swarm of Beedrill slowly carry the defeated Arbok in the direction they came from, Ron's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Even in the depths of the forest, encountering wild Pokémon took time and luck.
Whenever Ron stumbled upon wild Pokémon, he employed a "grind strategy"—defeating them repeatedly, healing them in between battles, then fighting them again.
However, this wasn't a video game. In reality, most Pokémon would become fearful or outright refuse to battle after a few defeats. In such cases, winning yielded minimal experience.
Now, with this many strong Beedrill in front of him, Ron couldn't help but think about their colony. Surely, it must also include weaker Weedle and Kakuna. It was the perfect training ground.
Ron was confident that after Machop and Meowth defeated the Beedrill swarm, their strength would grow immensely.
Moreover, Beedrill weren't just ferocious combatants—they also produced honey.
Unlike ordinary honey, Beedrill honey was not only sweeter but also enhanced a Pokémon's physical constitution. With sufficient consumption, it even boosted their experience, though achieving noticeable results required a large quantity.
Weighing the potential benefits, Ron began formulating a foolproof plan.
The last thing he wanted was to become the Beedrill's next meal instead of successfully training his Pokémon.
After the Beedrill had flown a safe distance, Ron followed cautiously. He intended to locate their nest first and use the terrain to devise an escape route to ensure his safety.
To avoid being detected, Ron kept his distance, relying on Meowth's keen sense of hearing to track the Beedrill's movements while maintaining a safe gap.
Thanks to the Beedrill clearing the way, Ron and his team progressed much faster. Even so, it still took over twenty minutes to reach the Beedrill nest.
Four towering trees formed a circle, with the Beedrill hive nestled in the center. A dense swarm of Beedrill buzzed around it, filling the air.
Including the Beedrill that had pursued the Arbok earlier, Ron estimated that there were at least a hundred in this colony.
Such a large swarm indicated that their leader was likely a particularly powerful Beedrill, with a level of at least 20. And that wasn't even accounting for the surrounding Kakuna and Weedle.
After carefully surveying the terrain and estimating the levels of the Beedrill, Ron quietly retreated with Machop and Meowth.
"Meowth, you've spent a lot of time living in the wild. Could you help us find a river or lake nearby that we can dive into if needed?"
Having located the Beedrill colony, Ron moved on to the next step of his plan: identifying a safe escape route.
Though Beedrill were fierce, they shared a critical weakness with ordinary bees—they couldn't pursue targets underwater.
Only by finding a suitable hiding spot could Ron safely plan how to use the Beedrill swarm to train Machop and Meowth.
Upon hearing Ron's request, Meowth immediately began searching.
Pokémon accustomed to the wild had their own methods of finding water sources, and Meowth was no exception.
The agile Meowth darted through the forest, occasionally climbing trees for a better view.
Ron and Machop, less skilled in such matters, watched quietly from the sidelines, content to let Meowth take the lead.
An hour later, they came upon a pristine blue lake.
Ron couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of the Pokémon world—such a crystal-clear lake, even in the heart of a dense forest!
Wild Pokémon had also gathered around the lake. They glanced at Ron's group briefly before resuming their drinking, as though he were invisible.
This didn't surprise Ron. In shared water sources like these, wild Pokémon rarely fought, ensuring the safety of the water supply.
With two key conditions met, Ron led Meowth and Machop back into the forest to search for one final essential tool: reeds or similar plants that could be used as makeshift snorkels.
Though reeds weren't native to the forest, Meowth managed to find a plant matching Ron's description—hollow, sturdy, and about two meters long.
Just to be safe, Ron collected over a dozen of these "lifesaving straws." When it came to survival gear, he believed more was always better.
With everything ready, the next step was simple: lure enough Beedrill to serve as effective training targets.
If there weren't enough, he could always try again. But if there were too many, they'd have to flee, wasting valuable time.
As they returned to the outskirts of the Beedrill territory, Ron still hadn't found an ideal method for baiting the swarm. These weren't NPCs programmed to behave predictably—they were living creatures.
Reluctantly, Ron decided to observe the Beedrill's habits more closely, hoping to find a solution.
Unbeknownst to the industrious Beedrill, someone was already watching their every move, planning their downfall.
From the treetops, three pairs of eyes fixated on the Beedrill hive with ill intent.
Determined not to miss any details, Ron and his team took turns monitoring the hive, even throughout the night.
By dawn, as groups of Beedrill ventured out in small teams to forage, Ron had his answer.
The offspring of the Beedrill—the Weedle on the outskirts—were off-limits.
Attacking them would provoke the entire colony.
The only viable targets were the foraging Beedrill themselves.
To ensure their safety, the Beedrill leader had organized them into groups of four. This tactic seemed foolproof—until today.
Spotting one such group, Ron and his team descended from the treetops and quietly followed.
A slaughter was about to begin.
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