Scizor gazed at the familiar forest before it, memories surging like a tide. It couldn't help but recall its days as a Scyther—outstanding in strength yet limited by its potential, forever unable to cross the threshold of the elite tier. Unable to break through within its clan, it chose to leave, until it met Wen Qi, and its fate underwent a earth-shattering transformation. Now, Scizor's strength and potential were leagues beyond what they once were. It knew deeply that all these changes stemmed from its master Wen Qi's meticulous nurturing and support. Thinking of this, gratitude welled up in Scizor like a spring; it understood that without Wen Qi's guidance and aid, it might have struggled bitterly in battles, eventually succumbing to hidden injuries and fading away. Or perhaps it would have been captured by another, but such a life was far from what it desired.
Wen Qi also sensed Scizor's change—it seemed more reliant on him, more grateful for his efforts. At the same time, he noticed a peculiar bond between them, feeling that he and Scizor were on the verge of an opportunity for Mega Evolution. This feeling came suddenly yet intensely, as if heralding the awakening of some mysterious power. In his contemplation, Wen Qi finally found the reason for his earlier failed Mega Evolution experiments—the bond between them hadn't been deep enough. Now, their connection was strong enough to support an attempt at Mega Evolution. However, Mega Evolution required immense stamina, and this wasn't the right time. More importantly, the matter of the Bulbasaur still weighed on his mind; Wen Qi knew this couldn't be delayed. He had a premonition that if he procrastinated too long, it would invite greater trouble. As someone who always disliked complications, Wen Qi decided to resolve this quickly.
Without hesitation, he sat on Torterra's back, leading Venomoth and Scizor toward Venusaur's territory. Along the way, Torterra acted like a sage, occasionally pausing to sense changes in energy and adjust their direction. Scizor's formidable strength provided solid protection for the group. Though they encountered some Pokémon harassment along the way, these creatures backed off upon realizing Wen Qi's party wasn't easy to provoke. Yet, news of a strange human entering the forest still spread among the various clans in the inner zone. Wen Qi's group made no effort to hide their movements; any Pokémon could spot them. Strangely, though other clans might have been hostile, they chose to watch from a distance upon noticing their path led to the territory of the ruling Venusaur. After all, who would dare provoke that powerful overlord?
Wen Qi was also puzzled—why did the inner zone feel safer than the outer zone? Were the Pokémon here really so friendly? His mind was full of questions, but he could only leave the answers for future exploration. For now, he just wanted to resolve the Bulbasaur issue quickly and return to the farm with Scizor and Venomoth. As Wen Qi pressed deeper into Venusaur's territory, the Pokémon he encountered grew sparser. Meanwhile, Torterra conveyed to him that the surrounding energy was becoming denser—though not as rich as in the small world, it was more than double that of the farm. Wen Qi sighed inwardly: no wonder Venusaur had long ruled this forest—this was truly the most suitable place for Grass-type Pokémon to thrive.
As Wen Qi pondered, a Pidgeot soaring in the sky let out a crisp cry. He immediately understood it was a warning from the bird. He had specifically instructed Pidgeot to alert him if they encountered Pokémon like Venusaur. Upon receiving this signal, Wen Qi's Pokémon became extra cautious, moving with greater care. Before long, amidst a lush grove of trees, several Venusaur and some Ivysaur appeared before Wen Qi. Since the Bulbasaur incident, the ruling Venusaur had stationed some Venusaur and Ivysaur to guard the territory's entrance daily—partly to prevent more Bulbasaur from sneaking out, and partly to block unauthorized intruders. The leading Venusaur, upon seeing Wen Qi, found his aura quite pleasant, but given the clan's recent explicit rejection of strangers, it was wary. Fortunately, Wen Qi looked decent enough, and his Scizor was no pushover, so the Venusaur didn't attack outright but declared loudly:
"Stop right there. This is our territory. We're not welcoming outsiders lately. Leave now."
Wen Qi understood the leading Venusaur's words perfectly and knew why they were unwelcoming. He quickly replied:
"Hello, I'm Wen Qi. I've come to speak with your leader. Could you please inform them? Many thanks."
The Venusaur opposite was genuinely surprised that this human could understand it—it had only intended to speak to Scizor and the others. Unlike its leader, this Venusaur lacked the ability to project words directly into anyone's mind for universal comprehension. It was somewhat taken aback, but recalling that its leader was currently recovering from injuries, how could it let an unknown outsider in? That was absolutely out of the question.
"No. Leave now. Our leader isn't seeing anyone. If you don't heed this warning, we'll drive you out."
The leading Venusaur shouted, adopting an attacking stance. Wen Qi felt helpless. He thought he couldn't release the Bulbasaur—if the Venusaur mistakenly thought he was the one who stole it and attacked outright, he'd have no chance to explain. Should he really force his way in? He glanced at Scizor, eager for action, then at the several Gym-level Venusaur and Ivysaur opposite, and immediately dismissed the idea. He mused to himself: Had he been too arrogant lately, even entertaining such a terrifying thought? Forcing his way in with his current strength would be sheer suicide. The surrounding trees were tall and dense, sunlight filtering through the leaves in dappled patches, as if watching everything unfold.