But at this moment, Wen Qi keenly sensed that the situation ahead was like a powder keg about to explode—one misstep and it would blow sky-high.
Ignoring his own physical discomfort, Wen Qi urged his Growlithe to speed up.
Soon, in the nick of time, Wen Qi arrived.
He immediately activated his Intermediate Viridian Force and shouted into the air:
"Everyone, stop! No one make a move!"
His voice was filled with authority, carrying an irresistible power.
Upon hearing his command, Wen Qi's Pokémon halted their actions one after another. Though their eyes still burned with reluctance and anger, they obediently complied.
However, the wild Pokémon on the other side didn't recognize Wen Qi. Instead of stopping at his shout, they grew even more agitated.
"Hmph! Who do you think you are to order us around!"
A hot-tempered Beedrill buzzed angrily, wildly brandishing its sharp twin needles, looking as if it wanted to charge at Wen Qi immediately.
"Don't be impulsive! Everyone, calm down!"
Wen Qi shouted again, simultaneously unleashing his Viridian Force at full power, trying to soothe these irritable Pokémon.
Under the influence of the Viridian Force, the emotions of the opposing Pokémon gradually stabilized. Though they remained wary and hostile, they were no longer as volatile as before, as if a single spark could set them off.
Seeing the tension ease, Wen Qi breathed a slight sigh of relief and continued:
"Everyone, hear me out. I know you're here for the berries. We all want to survive, to get resources—that's understandable. But fighting like this without purpose will only leave both sides battered.
Do you really think violence can solve the problem?"
At that, a Primeape jumped out, baring its teeth and roaring:
"Save your nonsense! These berries are our food. If you take them all, how are we supposed to survive!"
Wen Qi replied calmly:
"You need to understand, these berries grow on my trees. Before, I didn't manage them, and you ate them without me blaming you. But now you're looking for trouble—is that fair?"
A Pidgeotto flapped its wings and said:
"Then what do you suggest? We need to survive too!"
Wen Qi spoke earnestly:
"We can work out a distribution plan. For example, I'll give you a portion of the berries to meet your immediate needs.
But please understand, these berries are cultivated by us, and we put in a lot of effort. If we all give a little and coexist peacefully, wouldn't that be better?"
The opposing Pokémon began murmuring among themselves, seemingly pondering Wen Qi's proposal.
Wen Qi watched as they discussed for a long time without reaching an agreement, feeling quite exasperated. The sheer number of wild Pokémon made the situation chaotic.
But Wen Qi was also anxious—if this issue wasn't resolved soon, who knew what unexpected trouble might arise.
After thinking it over, Wen Qi said:
"How about this: to settle this fairly and quickly, let's have a contest.
You send out three Pokémon. If they can defeat my Torterra, I'll give you extra berries.
But there's a condition: these three Pokémon can't be above level 40, and they can't all attack at once—we'll do one-on-one battles in a rotation.
If you lose, you'll still get berries, just not as many as if you won. But I guarantee it won't be less than what you used to steal from the orchard. What do you think?"
Hearing this proposal, the opposing Pokémon erupted into a noisy discussion again.
A Raticate spoke first:
"I think it's worth a try. With so many of us, we can definitely pick three strong ones."
A Noctowl countered:
"But that Torterra doesn't look weak either. What if we lose?"
Then an elderly Butterfree said:
"What's there to fear? Trying won't cost us much. Even if we lose, we're not at a loss—we'll still get berries."
After a heated debate, the opposing Pokémon ultimately decided it was a viable plan. In the world of Pokémon, the strong rule, and taking a risk for more berries was worth it.
So a Beedrill stepped forward and said:
"Fine, we agree to this plan. Let's do it your way!"
Seeing their agreement, Wen Qi felt a bit more at ease. He turned to Torterra and gave it an encouraging look, ready to face the battle that would decide the berry distribution.
Soon, both sides cleared the field to allow the fight to begin.
Wen Qi's contender was Torterra, now at level 36—stronger than during the last tournament. Wen Qi firmly believed Torterra wouldn't lose.
On the forest side, the process of selecting three Pokémon for the battle was utter chaos.
"I think I should go. I'm fast and strong—I'll definitely beat that Torterra!"
A Houndoom barked loudly, pacing back and forth rapidly, its fur standing on end, eyes gleaming with confidence as if victory was already assured.
"What good is speed? I'm tough and can take hits and dish them out—pick me!"
A Rhydon roared defiantly, stomping its powerful hooves, kicking up clouds of dust, its sharp horn glinting menacingly in the sunlight, showcasing its strength.
"Stop arguing! My venom is unbeatable—choosing me is the smartest move!"
An Arbok hissed, flicking its tongue, its long body writhing as it bared its sharp fangs, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
"My flames can engulf the opponent in an instant—I'm the best choice!"
A Talonflame spread its massive wings and shot a burst of scorching fire from its mouth, the heat making the surrounding air searing hot, as if it would burn everything to ashes.
"My electric shocks can paralyze the enemy, leaving them helpless—I'll definitely win!"
A Raichu crackled with intense sparks, the "zapping" sound sending chills down spines with its powerful electricity.
"None of you are good enough. My psychic powers can control the opponent's movements, leaving them defenseless!"
A Hypno unleashed strong psychic energy, causing leaves to drift down around it, showcasing its mysterious and formidable abilities.
For a moment, over a dozen level-40 Pokémon argued back and forth, refusing to yield, their voices rising in a cacophony. Some glared angrily, others flailed their limbs, and a few even started attacking each other, turning the scene into a chaotic mess.
A Swellow flapped its wings and shouted:
"I'm incredibly fast in flight and strike swiftly—I can defeat the opponent by surprise!" Its sharp claws gleamed in the sunlight, as if they could tear through enemies instantly.
A Primeape bounced around, swinging its arms furiously:
"My fists aren't to be messed with! Let me go and smash that Torterra to pieces!" Its face was flushed red, its暴躁 temper fully on display, making its strength impossible to underestimate.
Each one insisted on their own merits, refusing to back down, their voices growing louder and the atmosphere tenser, as if a fierce battle could erupt at any moment.
Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, an elderly Noctowl stepped forward.
It cleared its throat and said loudly:
"Everyone, stop arguing. Let's think calmly. Talonflame has a clear speed advantage and can attack flexibly from the air, plus it's Fire-type, which counters Torterra;
Arbok's venom attacks are hard to defend against;
Primeape has great strength and excels in close combat. Let these three represent us in the battle."
After some deliberation and discussion, the group ultimately agreed to Noctowl's suggestion, deciding that Talonflame, Arbok, and Primeape—all level 40—would earn the right to fight.