Wen Qi had no idea that the Heracross had ended up like this due to an incredibly cliché story. The gist of it was that the Heracross clan and the Pinsir clan had always been sworn enemies. Pinsir were fiercely combative, and if not for their smaller numbers and slightly weaker strength compared to the Heracross, the Heracross clan would likely have been driven out long ago. In a previous battle, this Heracross's parents were killed by a Pinsir from the opposing side. From then on, this Heracross trained relentlessly, driven by a desire for revenge.
In a recent territorial dispute, this Heracross clashed fiercely with that Pinsir. Ultimately, with a stroke of incredible luck, it broke through its innate limitations at a critical moment, advancing to the Elite level and finally defeating the Pinsir, avenging its blood feud. However, even as its body gradually recovered, it had lost a significant amount of vitality, leaving it in its current state. Though the revenge was complete and the Heracross should have rested and recuperated, its habit of hard training persisted, which is why Wen Qi spotted this unique individual among a group of "slackers."
At this point, Wen Qi didn't know the full story, but he was genuinely drawn to this spirited, hardworking Heracross and wanted to capture it. Issues like low aptitude, severe injuries, and a shortened lifespan might be major problems for other trainers, but for Wen Qi, they were nothing. What Wen Qi valued was the Heracross's character—something that's hard to change.
Wen Qi and his group slowly approached the Heracross. "Hey, buddy, training like this isn't doing you any good. What you need right now is to rest and heal your injuries, or you won't live long." The Heracross, training with intense focus, was startled by the unfamiliar voice. It stopped its movements, looked around, and spotted Wen Qi and the others, along with their Pokémon, standing behind it. But the Heracross only gave them a brief glance, ignoring Wen Qi's words, and resumed training on its own.
Wen Qi hadn't expected the Heracross to be so stubborn, refusing to listen to anyone. "Training like this won't raise your level at all. Even though you broke through your innate limits, with your current physical condition, improving further is nothing but a pipe dream." This time, Wen Qi's words made the Heracross pause. Though it found this stranger's words grating, it knew deep down that its body was indeed riddled with hidden injuries, just as Wen Qi said. It had been training like this for over a month, only worsening those injuries with almost no level improvement.
Wen Qi keenly sensed the Heracross's hesitation and inner conflict. "I don't know why your body ended up like this, but I have a way to help you." With that, Wen Qi activated his Intermediate Viridian Forest Power. The Heracross initially wanted to ignore this human, but when it felt the energy Wen Qi released, it realized it was genuinely beneficial, stirring a restless urge within its entire body. Not only that, but Wen Qi also pulled out a Bug-type Energy Cube to tempt the Heracross.
At that moment, the Heracross stared at the two "treasures" in Wen Qi's hands and felt a strong impulse to rush straight toward him. However, it ultimately suppressed this urge with its formidable willpower. Wen Qi clearly noticed its hesitation. "Heracross, do you have some concerns?" "Why are you being so good to me? We don't even know each other." "I really admire your spirit, so I want to capture you and make you my partner."
Hearing that Wen Qi wanted to capture it, the Heracross fell into deep thought. After mulling it over, it figured being captured wasn't so bad. Its revenge was complete, its clan was full of unmotivated slackers, and it was the odd one out, training hard every day without being accepted by its own kind. Now, while it was still alive, going out to see the world might be a good idea. Besides, this human might actually be able to heal its injuries, extend its life, and offer delicious food. But giving in too easily wasn't in the Heracross's nature. "I'll go with you, but you have to beat me first." "No problem. I have a Gogoat and a Scizor here. Pick one. The Gogoat is a bit weaker but in top condition, while the Scizor is stronger but not in great shape."
The Heracross looked at the two Pokémon before it and saw exactly what Wen Qi described—one with a slightly weaker aura but full of energy, the other with a powerful aura but looking somewhat drained. At this point, the Heracross couldn't help cursing inwardly. This human was shameless! Both of them were stronger than it; no matter how it fought, it would lose. Though the Heracross was combative, it wasn't stupid. It couldn't beat either opponent. "Uh, um... is there another option? I don't like either of them."
Wen Qi nearly burst out laughing at the Heracross's "I don't like either of them." He never expected this seemingly serious Heracross to have such a funny side. But he also realized that using Gogoat and Scizor was a bit unfair. Considering the Heracross's poor condition, even though it was already at the Elite level, Wen Qi felt his Venomoth might be a fair match. "Alright, then how about my Venomoth here? It's still a high-level Pokémon, lower in rank than you, but in better shape. Fighting you won't be taking advantage."
The Heracross looked at the Venomoth and thought it was acceptable, secretly thinking, "This human isn't so bad. When we fight, I'll go easy. Even if I win, I'll act a little proud, but I'll still go with him." "From your expression, I take it you agree. Let's move somewhere else. Your clan is all around here, and if a fight breaks out, it might cause misunderstandings." The Heracross found this reasonable and led Wen Qi away from the clan. After a ten-minute walk, they arrived at a rocky area. The ground here was sturdy and durable, making it a popular spot for local Pokémon battles. Both sides took their positions on the field, and an intense battle was about to begin.