NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Hunting Ground
Within the massive hive, a swarm of Beedrill buzzed about, diligently attending to their tasks.
In the shadows, Ron silently observed the Beedrill's every movement.
Compared to the previous swarm Ron had encountered, this group was undoubtedly stronger. He had already spotted two Beedrill at level 20, though the strength of the swarm's leader remained uncertain.
However, this swarm was smaller in number than the last one Ron had faced.
After careful observation, Ron estimated there were only about sixty Beedrill in this group—nearly half the size of the previous swarm.
Given this reduction in numbers, Ron, now far stronger than before, felt confident about taking on this Beedrill swarm.
With the added advantage of Gloom's abilities, his plans became even more intricate and foolproof.
Silently committing every detail of his observations to memory, a strategy began to take shape in Ron's mind.
Before dawn, the Beedrill in the hive were already bustling about, preparing for their first collection of fresh nectar before sunrise—a task that demanded significant effort.
As the Beedrill darted through the familiar thickets, they failed to notice someone lying in wait.
A sweet, alluring fragrance wafted through the air, momentarily distracting the hungry Beedrill. At that precise moment, Meowth's Hypnosis struck, followed by Machop emerging like a gray shadow.
Machop targeted the strongest Beedrill first, taking them out swiftly, while Meowth and Gloom handled the cleanup.
Through their seamless teamwork, the entire Beedrill scouting team was eliminated within seconds.
Ron concealed the defeated Beedrill in nearby shrubs, knowing they were in no real danger while surrounded by their territory.
As the first rays of sunlight broke through the trees, the Beedrill returned to their hive, busying themselves with transforming the collected nectar into honey.
Within their domain, the Beedrill's vigilance dropped to its lowest.
Unbeknownst to them, many were still under the influence of Hypnosis, imagining they had safely returned and were enjoying their meals.
Above the hive, Machop suddenly leaped using Soru (Shave), the force of his movement snapping a branch as he propelled himself forward.
Elsewhere, Gloom unleashed repeated Secret Power attacks, supporting Machop's offensive.
While the main assault occurred, Meowth emerged to finish off those outside Machop's range, using Fake Out with agility and precision.
Caught in a pincer attack, the stunned Beedrill had no chance to react. Within moments, the area fell silent again, leaving no trace of the battle.
Inside the hive, the Beedrill leader directed the workers in processing nectar into honey. Occasionally, it dispatched small teams to investigate the two missing scouting groups.
This lack of cohesion and responsibility marked a stark contrast to the previous swarm leader, who commanded a more unified and disciplined group.
From his hiding place, Ron noted the hive's disorganized response, increasing his confidence in defeating the entire swarm by another 20%.
In the forest, a 15-member Beedrill team began to grow agitated. Hunger gnawed at them as they searched for their missing comrades, resentment bubbling beneath the surface.
When they spotted signs of movement in the underbrush, the Beedrill charged forward recklessly, oblivious to the potential dangers.
Emerging from the thicket, their guard was at its weakest. Machop, lying in wait, immediately launched an attack, sending the lead two Beedrill flying.
Before the rest could counter, Meowth and Gloom struck. Hypnosis combined with the sleep-inducing effect of Secret Power incapacitated many.
Machop quickly turned to attack the immobilized Beedrill, while Meowth, forgoing further control tactics, darted into the fray with Fake Out, weaving between foes like a shadow.
Gloom maintained its role as support, never stepping into the battlefield but continuously using Secret Power to aid its allies. True to its supportive nature, Gloom didn't claim a single knockout.
Some Beedrill attempted to retaliate but to no avail. Neither Machop nor Meowth could be caught by their sluggish counterattacks.
Within a few minutes, only one Beedrill remained standing.
Realizing the futility of resistance, the last Beedrill let out a piercing cry for help before being struck down by Machop's final blow.
Days of relentless combat had paid off. Machop had reached level 26, Meowth level 22, while Gloom remained steady at level 20.
With this level of strength, Ron was confident enough to wait for the swarm leader and its remaining forces to arrive.
Carefully choosing a concealed position, Ron set up an ambush. Gloom and Meowth hid nearby, while Machop stayed out in the open amidst the defeated Beedrill.
Back in the hive, the Beedrill leader sensed the distress signal and mobilized immediately with the remaining 30 Beedrill.
Leaving eight behind to guard the hive, the leader, a level 25 Beedrill, led the rest to the scene of the ambush.
Hidden in the shadows, Gloom spread its Sweet Scent across the area while Meowth stayed upwind to avoid being affected.
In the open, Machop focused on using Focus Energy and Bulk Up, sharpening its senses and boosting its attack power to resist the effects of the scent.
[TL/N: Yoga Pose changed to Bulk Up. Haha, sorry for the wrong translation.]
As the Beedrill rushed through the thicket, they unwittingly entered the range of the Sweet Scent, lowering their guard.
Seizing the moment, Meowth used Hypnosis, targeting the group's strongest members.
Machop immediately lunged at the leader with Soru, leaving the weaker Beedrill disoriented and vulnerable to the combined attacks of Meowth and Gloom.
The battlefield transformed into a carefully orchestrated hunting ground, with Ron's team controlling the flow of combat at every step.
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