NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The Forest’s Respect
The crackling fire illuminated the small clearing where Elliot and Deino sat. The scent of roasting Pidgey meat filled the air, the flames dancing in the quiet night. The remains of yet another Pidgey were set atop a makeshift grill, its meat sizzling as Elliot worked meticulously, shredding a single Dark and Dragon-type Pokéblock over the food as seasoning.
The moment Deino took a bite, his entire demeanor shifted. His tail wagged, his ears perked, and a deep, satisfied coo rumbled from his throat. The small dragon immediately nuzzled against Elliot's leg, showing his deep affection before eagerly devouring the rest of the seasoned meat.
Elliot chuckled, ruffling the rough fur on Deino's head. Guess I'll be doing that from now on, he mused, watching his Pokémon eat with visible joy.
As Deino finished his meal, Elliot leaned back, pulling up his Gacha system interface. The familiar screen flickered before him, displaying his current stockpile:
1 Pokémon Gacha Ticket
4 Ability Gacha Tickets
The system allowed him to **fuse every five tickets** into an upgraded version, increasing the chances of rolling something rare. Right now, he only had four Ability Tickets—one short.
Not yet… I'll wait until I can fuse them.
He let out a sigh, closing the interface for now. Patience was key. The right ability at the right time could change everything.
With his meal done, Elliot carefully **plucked the feathers** from the Pidgey's remains, collecting them for later sale. As a small sign of respect, he tossed a piece of cooked meat into the grass. Even though he hunted, he wasn't wasteful—he understood the balance of the wild.
Just as he was about to stand, a sudden buzzing noise cut through the still air.
BZZZZT!
Elliot's breath hitched as his eyes snapped toward the clearing's edge.
A Beedrill hovered in midair, its large, dagger-like stingers glinting under the moonlight. Its black, beady eyes locked onto Elliot with an unreadable expression.
For a second, fear gripped Elliot's chest. Wild Beedrill were known to be aggressive, especially if their territory was disturbed.
Deino immediately took a defensive stance, baring his teeth, dark energy beginning to swirl in his throat. He was ready to protect his trainer at a moment's notice.
But Elliot lifted a hand. "Wait, Deino."
The small dragon hesitated but obeyed.
A tense silence stretched between Elliot and the Beedrill. Then, to his surprise, the Beedrill gave a small nod before swiftly grabbing the offered Pidgey meat and flying off into the night.
Elliot let out a slow breath as Deino nuzzled against his sweaty palm.
"…Guess even the wild has its rules, huh?" Elliot murmured, watching the Beedrill disappear into the dark forest.
Deino let out a soft coo, agreeing with his trainer's sentiment.
After packing up camp, Elliot stretched, his body feeling restless after the tense encounter. He wasn't the type to sit around overthinking things—he needed action.
"Well, what are we waiting for, huh?" Elliot grinned, looking down at Deino. "Let's go find a trainer to snap us out of this mood."
Deino nodded eagerly, clearly wanting the same thing. His tail wagged in excitement, his dark energy subtly flickering as he anticipated the next battle.
With the forest behind them and the path ahead, Elliot and Deino set off once more, ready to find their next challenge.
________________________________________
BTW, every 20 PowerStones in the 100's and all the way up to 200, gets another chapter, then it's 50 after 200, capiche.