Almost forgot about the three green caterpillars brought back from the forest. Not long after bringing them back, they evolved into Metapods. Wen Qi didn’t disturb them and just left them in the small world to absorb energy. He wanted to test whether equipping the Metapods with an Everstone and having the small world supply Bug-type energy could improve their level or potential. The result was indeed a pleasant surprise. Although the Everstone should have delayed evolution for about a week, the Metapods couldn’t suppress the evolutionary energy any longer and evolved into Butterfree just a few days ago. This Butterfree not only reached level 15 but also had its potential upgraded to light green. Wen Qi never expected such an unexpected delight. In fact, the Alliance’s research institute had long discovered that Metapods slowly improve their potential during evolution. But because this period is quite short, the potential increase is fairly limited. So they tried equipping Metapods with an Everstone to extend this period, hoping for a greater potential boost. Unfortunately, since Metapods can’t eat for long periods, combined with the suppression of the Everstone, they couldn’t evolve and eventually starved to death in their cocoons. Even when the research lab later developed a nutrient solution that Metapods could absorb by soaking, it only extended the period by a few days, and they still ultimately starved without any qualitative change in potential. In the end, that experiment fizzled out. The reason Wen Qi’s Metapods didn’t starve was mainly due to the small world’s effect. With a continuous supply of Bug-type energy, they managed to hold out until their potential underwent a qualitative change. The Everstone couldn’t suppress it anymore, and the evolutionary energy boosted them, causing the potential to transform. Although it was only light green, it was still a monumental change. Wen Qi realized this and never expected such an unexpected gain from this experiment. He planned to visit the forest more often in the future, catch more yellow-potential Caterpie, and run more experiments to see if he could turn them all green. If possible, he intended to raise dozens of them. If dozens of Butterfree all had green potential, then the eggs they produced would have a high chance of being green. Even if only half had that probability, these green-potential eggs would be excellent choices whether sold or raised personally. The three Butterfree had similar levels and moves.
Pokémon: Butterfree Level: 15 Type: Bug + Flying Ability: Compound Eyes (Boosts the accuracy of moves due to having compound eyes) Potential: Light Green Moves: Gust (Beginner), Disable (Beginner), Supersonic (Beginner), Confusion (Beginner), Poison Powder (Beginner), Stun Spore (Beginner), Sleep Powder (Beginner), Psybeam (Beginner), Bug Bite (Beginner), Toxic (Beginner), Acid Spray (Beginner)
The moves had barely been trained. Previously, due to their low potential, Wen Qi only intended for them to handle tree fruit pollination. He never expected their potential to evolve now. Any Pokémon with green potential is worth training, so he’d need to focus more on these three Butterfree going forward. In the future, their strength would surpass Pidgeot, and he considered having Venomoth mentor them more. Although Butterfree’s base stats are low, they grow quickly. With accelerated training for a month or two, they might reach level 30 and become great partners for guarding the orchard.
The Sandslash couple were definitely the farm’s best employees—patrolling, plowing, digging holes, and farming, practically all-rounders. With these two hardworking Sandslash, Wen Qi felt much more relaxed. But their strength hadn’t improved much. Despite good food and drink and time to absorb energy in the small world, they might have been too busy, only gaining three levels to reach 29. If they didn’t step it up, their child might catch up next month. However, they didn’t seem to care and actually liked it this way. Now they could eat, drink, dig, and stay safe every day, living a comfortable life, even showing off their affection in front of Wen Qi. If not for their hard work, Wen Qi would have kicked them for flaunting their love like that. Seeing them so content, he thought it was fine—let them be happy. They were so loving now that they might even give little Sandshrew a sibling someday. Just imagining little Sandshrew realizing it was no longer their favorite child made him chuckle.
The newly born Rhyhorn, perhaps influenced by the small world, was not only incredibly hungry but also grew rapidly. Although only a month old and still in its growth phase, its body was already about the size of an adult Rhyhorn. A typical Rhyhorn stands about one meter tall, but Wen Qi’s would likely break two meters with further development, and its weight would be astonishing. With that height and weight, its speed would probably be very slow. Fortunately, Rhyhorn naturally has low speed, so even slower wouldn’t make much difference. Its massive size paired with the Sandslash’s small frame would create an interesting dynamic when working together.
Once Rhyhorn passed its infancy, Wen Qi brought it to train with little Sandshrew, believing in building synergy from a young age. Although Rhyhorn looked huge and intimidating, it was actually quite gentle, just a bit dull and straightforward in thinking. In battle, it was also rigid, lacking the flexibility of other Pokémon. While following commands in battle was important, a Pokémon’s own grasp of opportunities was crucial too. In that regard, Scizor was the best at seizing opportunities. One advantage, though, was that Rhyhorn was extremely obedient—doing whatever Wen Qi said, whether in battle or not. This both pleased and troubled Wen Qi: pleased because it listened, troubled because relying solely on his commands in battle could be too slow. Despite being a bit dull, the little guy trained very seriously. As long as Wen Qi planned the tasks, Rhyhorn would complete them 100%.
There was an unspoken rule among trainers: Unless someone trained a Rhyhorn for riding, its potential had to be at least green. Because Rhyhorn evolves at a minimum of level 42, a yellow-potential Rhyhorn could never evolve no matter how long it was trained. Without evolution, its combat strength would be extremely weak, worse than raising a Butterfree. Although only a month old, with hard training and good potential, Rhyhorn had already reached level 12.
Pokémon: Rhyhorn Level: 12 Type: Ground Ability: Rock Head (Prevents recoil damage from moves) Potential: Cyan Moves: Tackle (Proficient), Tail Whip (Beginner), Smack Down (Beginner), Stomp (Beginner), Horn Attack (Proficient), Take Down (Proficient), Dig (Beginner), Body Slam (Beginner), Icy Wind (Beginner), Rock Blast (Beginner), Rock Slide (Beginner), Rock Tomb (Beginner), Scorching Sands (Beginner)
Although Rhyhorn was a bit dull and didn’t use other moves well, it excelled at body-impact moves.