NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Trap
Ethan's breath came in quick, shallow gasps as he sprinted through the dense forest, Scyther hot on his heels, trying to catch up.
His muscles burned with the exertion of the chase, and his heart pounded in his chest. The crafty Bulbasaur, with its swift and elusive movements, had proven to be more than a match for Ethan's determination. But now, after what felt like an eternity, he was finally getting close.
"I've almost got you!" Ethan panted, his voice filled with excitement. His eyes locked onto the small green shape ahead, darting effortlessly through the underbrush.
Scyther buzzed behind him, its wings beating furiously, pushing itself to keep pace with its trainer. Even the agile bug-type was starting to show signs of wear, though it was still full of energy. The chase had been long and intense, but Ethan's focus was unwavering.
With one final burst of speed, Ethan reached the clearing where the Bulbasaur had stopped.
The little Pokémon turned to face him, its body tense as it realized that its attempt to escape was finally coming to an end. Bulbasaur's eyes gleamed with that same mischievous gleam they'd had since the moment they first crossed paths, as if it was enjoying every second of this game.
"Gotcha!" Ethan gasped, his voice laced with both relief and frustration. He had finally caught up. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and he exhaled heavily, trying to calm his racing heart.
But before he could take a step closer, the Bulbasaur did something unexpected. With a knowing smirk, it turned its back to Ethan and began to lead him further into the forest.
"Wait, what?" Ethan blinked, confusion momentarily replacing his exhaustion. He took a step forward, but the Bulbasaur only glanced over its shoulder as if inviting him to follow.
For a moment, Ethan hesitated. This wasn't how he'd expected this to go. The crafty Bulbasaur had led him on a wild chase, and now it was guiding him somewhere? Something didn't sit right with Ethan, but his curiosity won over his skepticism.
He looked down at Sylveon, who was trotting happily beside him, and nodded. "Let's go, Sylveon. I'm sure we'll figure out what's going on."
As they continued through the woods, the Bulbasaur took them deeper into unfamiliar territory. The trees grew denser, and the underbrush thickened.
The air became more humid, and the sounds of the forest shifted. It was as if the world around them was changing, becoming quieter, more deliberate. The Bulbasaur moved without hesitation, weaving through the trees with ease, as though it knew this place intimately.
Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen. "What's going on, Scyther?" he muttered under his breath. "Why is it leading us here?"
Scyther hovered by his side, its sharp eyes scanning their surroundings, its wings still beating with a faint hum. It too seemed on edge, clearly aware that they were venturing into unknown territory.
Finally, they reached a clearing, and Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. The Bulbasaur stopped at the edge of the clearing and looked back at him with that same smirk. Ethan, now realizing he'd been led into a trap, froze.
Before him, scattered across the clearing, were dozens of Bulbasaurs, all quietly observing him. But it wasn't just them. Several Ivysaurs were also present, their larger forms standing tall among the smaller Pokémon. The sight was overwhelming.
Ethan stood still, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he surveyed the large gathering of Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs.
Scyther hovered beside him, its usual confidence replaced with uncertainty. Even the swift and strong Scyther seemed taken aback by the sheer number of Pokémon in front of them.
"Uh-oh," Ethan muttered under his breath, his heart starting to race. "I don't like the look of this."
The Bulbasaur that had led him here seemed to be enjoying the show, its smirk widening as it watched Ethan's reaction. It was as if it knew exactly what was about to happen.
Ethan's mind raced as he realized what this could mean—he had walked right into the heart of a Bulbasaur and Ivysaur nest.
Suddenly, the ground trembled as the Ivysaurs began to stir. The Bulbasaurs, too, shifted, their eyes narrowing in unison as they began to move toward Ethan. It was as if they were all preparing for an attack.
"Crap," Ethan muttered, his instincts kicking in. He had expected a simple Pokémon catch, but this was far from simple. The gathering of Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs wasn't a welcoming party—it was a warning.
One of the Ivysaurs let out a low growl, and the Bulbasaurs immediately followed suit, their vines twitching as if preparing to lash out. Ethan's heart rate quickened as he realized that he had just become the target of an entire group of territorial Pokémon.
"Scyther, get ready!" Ethan shouted, his voice urgent. "Use Quick Attack to get us out of here!"
Scyther buzzed to life, darting forward with blinding speed. The Ivysaurs and Bulbasaurs lunged at the same time, their vines whipping through the air toward Ethan and his Pokémon. The sudden assault came from all directions—left, right, and above—leaving Ethan no choice but to act fast.
"Sylveon, let's go!" Ethan shouted, grabbing Sylveon's ribbon and pulling the Fairy-type Pokémon close. The ribbons shimmered with a faint glow as Sylveon's presence filled the air with an aura of calm, but even that wasn't enough to deter the charging Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs.
Ethan cursed under his breath. The situation was dire, and there were too many of them. The Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs were relentless, moving quickly in a synchronized attack, their vines snapping through the air like whips.
Before Ethan could react, the Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs struck.
"Dodge it, Scyther!" Ethan yelled, but it was too late. Scyther was forced to retreat as multiple vines snapped around it, blocking its path. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he saw Scyther barely avoid being ensnared by the thick vines.
"This is bad," Ethan thought, realizing that Scyther couldn't fight off this many Pokémon. He needed to think fast, or they would be overwhelmed.
In the chaos, Ethan made a snap decision. "Scyther, return!" He recalled his Pokémon into its Pokéball with a quick flick of his wrist. The retreat was the only option.
He had to get out of here—now.
Without wasting another second, Ethan scooped Sylveon into his arms and bolted. The forest seemed to close in around him as the sound of angry Pokémon rang in his ears.
The Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs were fast, and they weren't letting him go easily. Their vines whipped through the air, narrowly missing him as he dashed between trees and around rocks, his legs burning from the effort.
Behind him, he could hear the heavy thud of Ivysaur feet pounding the earth as they chased him. He didn't dare look back, knowing it would only slow him down.
Ethan's breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed his body harder than ever. He cursed the Bulbasaur for leading him into this mess, but he couldn't afford to stop now. Sylveon's ribbons wrapped around him for support as he ran.
The group of Pokémon was closing in. He needed to outrun them, or he wouldn't make it out of this alive. He had no choice but to keep running.
The crafty Bulbasaur had gotten the best of him this time, and Ethan would make sure he wouldn't forget it.