Chapter 44: Long Wu Hunter Group
"You captured it!" Zhu Lan looked at Chen Xi with a hint of surprise.
As a Trainer from a noble family, she might not be able to identify which Small Pokémon had potential, but she could certainly tell which ones didn't.
That Magikarp looked sickly, and by no means seemed like a Small Pokémon with great potential. Zhu Lan didn't understand why Chen Xi had captured it.
"Mm!" Chen Xi didn't explain anything to Zhu Lan, just nodded at her.
The two once again expressed their gratitude to Milotic, then set up tents near the waterfall and rested for the night.
The next day, the two bid farewell to Milotic and the Feebas, and set off.
Under Milotic's guidance, Chen Xi and Zhu Lan successfully left the valley waterfall.
However, after that, what greeted their eyes was a mountain path with almost no discernible road, and the two could only grit their teeth and continue.
Chen Xi decisively summoned Torterra; this kind of terrain was better handled by it.
They then traveled for several days, and even Zhu Lan herself began to doubt if they were lost.
Suddenly, a violent explosion sounded. Chen Xi and Zhu Lan exchanged glances and decisively decided to go investigate.
When Chen Xi and Zhu Lan arrived, they saw a mercenary group being besieged by a Magnemite and Magneton colony.
Due to the magnetic force brought by Mt. Coronet's terrain, as well as occasional Thunder Shocks, and even environments where electric plains could form in some areas, Magnemite and Magneton inhabited Mt. Coronet.
Some of these Magneton even resonated with the mysterious natural magnetic field on Mt. Coronet, evolving into Magnezone.
At this moment, these mercenary members, for unknown reasons, had provoked these Magneton, and a battle had begun.
Magneton, especially after evolving into Magnezone, were quite strong Pokémon.
Theoretically, their biggest weakness was Ground-type Pokémon, as Ground-type attacks could deal four times the damage to them.
However, the Magnemite family almost continuously used Electromagnetic Levitation, making it nearly impossible for Ground-type moves to hit them.
The MTs of this mercenary group were Golem and Rhyperior. Unfortunately, both were weak to Steel-type attacks. Rhyperior, in particular, did not have the Lightning Rod Ability but rather Solid Rock, so it couldn't absorb the Magnemite's Electric-type moves. Although it could withstand the bombardment of Steel-type moves, it was still quite strenuous.
Without substitute MT-type Pokémon to give them a chance to catch their breath, once they were defeated, the entire Hunter team would likely be annihilated.
"Damn it..." Wu Zi watched her Hunter Group, which she had personally built, fall into a bitter struggle, and couldn't help but frown.
Unfortunately, her strongest Pokémon was an Altaria. Although Altaria's own defenses were quite good, its body wasn't large enough to serve as an MT Pokémon, providing that kind of space for the team.
It only managed to tie down a portion of the Magneton, but turning the tide of battle was extremely difficult.
MT Pokémon are essential in a Spirit Hunter team's organization.
They are different from the traditional physical or special walls; those two only have the potential to become MT Pokémon.
The requirements for an MT Pokémon are stricter. In addition to relative demands on stamina, physical defense, and Special Defense, the most important point is that its size and effective defensive range should be as large as possible.
The size of the tactical space it can create for its comrades determines the value of this MT Pokémon.
For example, Shuckle, while good as a personal Pokémon shield, cannot become an MT Pokémon due to its small size.
Just then, Zhu Lan's voice rang out. She said, "Gastrodon, use Mud Bomb!"
In an instant, Gastrodon spewed out Mud Bomb after Mud Bomb, which landed on the Magneton and Magnemite, almost directly incapacitating one with each hit.
Although Mud Bomb is a Ground-type move and its range isn't too far, it is an attack that doesn't rely on the ground as a medium.
As long as the Mud Bomb successfully landed on these Magneton and Magnemite, it could cause heavy damage.
Chen Xi also summoned Torterra and commanded it, "Grassy Terrain!"
In an instant, Grassy Terrain spread, and the Trainers on the Grassy Terrain couldn't help but show expressions of surprise.
They hadn't expected to encounter a giant MT-type healing Pokémon that also possessed healing abilities.
"It's Grassy Terrain! Hurry, get closer, get closer, set up a defensive line around the Grassy Terrain!" The Spirit Hunter Ju Shi shouted.
"We're saved! With Grassy Terrain, we can definitely hold on."
"Come on, come on! We will definitely win, definitely win!"
Watching the Grassy Terrain spread, what it brought was not just healing, but also the hope of survival.
More importantly, the one casting Grassy Terrain was not a support Pokémon that needed their careful attention, but a tank that could become a solid bulwark for them.
The Electric-type attacks from these Magneton and Magnemite landed on Torterra, and Torterra was naturally unharmed.
With Torterra providing cover, these mercenaries immediately began to counterattack.
At the same time, Chen Xi's other Pokémon, Floette, made her move, casting Lucky Chant across the field, thereby increasing the luck of the Pokémon present, especially Torterra.
As long as Torterra wasn't hit with a critical attack, it could definitely hold on.
More importantly, this was also a healing-type Pokémon. As Aromatherapy swept across the field, the Pokémon paralyzed by Thunder Shock, upon smelling the fragrance, found their injuries greatly alleviated and immediately perked up.
What bothered outdoor Hunter groups the most were negative status conditions like paralysis, poison, freezing, and burns.
Because medicine to treat these negative effects was always insufficient, and a Pokémon that could handle these negative status conditions was even rarer than a healing-type Pokémon that restored HP. They hadn't expected to encounter one here.
With an MT and a healer, if this group of Hunters couldn't defeat these Magneton with such support, it would be a strange occurrence.
They had been suppressed earlier because the Golem serving as MTs in the team were almost overwhelmed by the Magneton's Steel-type moves. Even with Altaria doing its best to turn the tide, it couldn't save them.
But now, with a defensive line re-established around Torterra, everything was completely different.
After finally repelling these Magneton, Wu Zi stepped forward and approached Chen Xi and Zhu Lan.
Chen Xi also observed Wu Zi. Perhaps due to her long career as a Spirit Hunter, Wu Zi's skin was predominantly bronze, her figure was well-proportioned and muscular, though a bit flat. Her rather thick lips gave her a slightly alluring feeling.
He hadn't expected the leader of this mercenary group to be a woman, which was quite uncommon.
Wu Zi extended her hand and thanked them, saying, "We are the Long Wu Hunter Group from Yuanzhi City. Thank you both for your assistance.
Otherwise, even if we had survived this time, we would probably have had to turn back. May I know your names?"
"Yuanzhi City?" Chen Xi and Zhu Lan were slightly taken aback, not expecting to encounter Spirit Hunters from Yuanzhi City.
Evidently, they had traveled quite a long distance, and it seemed they had also strayed from their path.
However, Chen Xi quickly reacted and said, "She is the Pokémon Trainer Zhu Lan, and I am the Pokémon Healer Chen Xi. We are crossing Mt. Coronet, heading to Qiefeng Academy in Qiefeng City to study!"
"Wow, to be able to attend Qiefeng Academy... that's amazing!"
"No wonder they have such strong healing abilities. We're so lucky this time!"
Chen Xi heard the discussions around him but responded calmly. Revealing his identity to a certain extent would provide him with excellent cover.
After all, being able to study at Qiefeng Academy inherently implied a wealthy or noble background, even if Qiefeng Academy itself wasn't a powerful faction.
Not to mention, he was also a Pokémon Healer, and these two facts easily led people to draw connections.
"Forgive my presumptuousness, but I saw you use Grassy Terrain just now. May I ask what your relationship is with the Elf Garden?" Wu Zi asked.
Just as Miss Joy and Chansey are symbols of the Elf Center, the Grassy Terrain move is a symbol of the Elf Garden.
It's not that others don't know it, but rather that seeing someone use this move in Sinnoh immediately brings the Elf Garden to mind.
"I'm just an intern at the Elf Garden." Chen Xi smiled shyly, as if admitting his background from the Elf Garden was a bit embarrassing.
In reality, Chen Xi silently added, 'Once the internship ends, I'll inherit the Elf Garden.'
Wu Zi, however, looked as if she had expected as much.
Because Chen Xi's Pokémon not only mastered Grassy Terrain but also Aromatherapy, a move that removes negative status conditions. For ordinary Trainers, this move is almost unheard of.
"How about you two join us?" Wu Zi invited Chen Xi and Zhu Lan. "Next, we Spirit Hunters have a grand event coming up!"
"Grand event?" Chen Xi and Zhu Lan were slightly surprised and asked Wu Zi, "What kind of grand event is it?"
"Because a Tianwang-level Salamence is incubating eggs, the Hunter Association has issued a mission: whoever can obtain this pseudo-legendary egg will become a new Letter Hunter. So, many powerful Hunter Groups are preparing to try their luck."
"Powerful Hunter Groups..." Chen Xi's gaze finally fell on the Level 65 Altaria.
Such a Pokémon was indeed very strong, but to snatch a pseudo-legendary egg from a Tianwang-level Salamence, he feared it still wouldn't be enough.
"Kid, what are you looking at with that gaze? Are you looking down on us?!" Wu Zi clenched her fists and feigned anger.
"No, no!" Chen Xi chuckled. Even if he was, he would never admit it and seek death.
However, Wu Zi put down her hand and said, "Our mercenary group has no intention of competing for that Pokémon egg.
However, Tianwang-level Pokémon in the wild will have their own subordinates, some strong, some weak.
We just plan to take advantage of this grand event to encircle some peripheral Pokémon and earn some extra money."
"I see." Hearing this, Chen Xi and Zhu Lan both understood Wu Zi's meaning.
Chen Xi thought for a moment and said, "We need some time to discuss this before we can make a decision!"
"Okay, this is indeed a relatively dangerous matter." Wu Zi nodded and did not force the two to agree.
"What do you think?" Chen Xi pulled Zhu Lan aside and asked. "Should we go meet them?"
"Yes!" Zhu Lan was quite firm and said directly, "It would be too regrettable to miss such a grand event."
"I just feel a bit worried." Chen Xi frowned slightly and said, "After all, there are too many people, and it's in the wild."
"Isn't it good that there are many people?" Zhu Lan was slightly startled by Chen Xi's words.
"Never mind, if you want to participate, then participate." Chen Xi said.
However, Chen Xi immediately said solemnly, "But let me say this first: your Garchomp must not be released unless it's a matter of life or death!
Believe me, if they see Garchomp, someone will definitely covet it!"
Zhu Lan was slightly startled by Chen Xi's solemn demeanor, and she decisively nodded, indicating that she understood.
Chen Xi and Zhu Lan joined the team and were quite welcome, though Zhu Lan was merely an added bonus.
There was no other way; this was determined by the nature of Hunter teams.
In Spirit Hunter teams, output-type Trainers were the most abundant, practically a dime a dozen.
What was most lacking were MT-type and healing-type Pokémon.
The former was because the casualty rate was genuinely high, and the cost of training them was even higher.
Almost every MT-type Pokémon required the resources of the entire team to train, and they had to be prioritized. Sometimes, just their food expenses alone were enough to bankrupt a team.
But even so, they had to invest, because MTs were the foundation of a Spirit Hunter team.
Because if the MT-type Pokémon couldn't hold out, the entire team would basically be at risk of falling apart.
As for healing-type Pokémon, they were purely rare and completely outside the options of ordinary Spirit Hunters.
Moreover, if a Trainer truly possessed such a healing-type Pokémon, most would be reluctant to send it into life-or-death situations for adventurous missions.
After all, if you owned such a Pokémon, even if you didn't join the Elf Garden, would it be a problem to open a private clinic?
Even if a Spirit Hunter possessed a healing-type Pokémon, such Hunters were either targeted and killed during activities or very likely to retire after witnessing too much life and death.
Therefore, the appearance of Chen Xi, a Pokémon Healer who also served as a secondary MT, was naturally very welcome in this team.
He was especially welcomed by Ju Shi, the team's main MT.
Originally, his Golem and Rhyperior had to bear all the damage themselves, but now with Torterra providing backup defense, it was naturally much more comfortable.