Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Onward Once Again
"Charizard, use Blast Burn!"
After trapping the Venusaur in a cage of flames, Matthew directed Charizard to ascend and unleash a powerful Blast Burn from above.
Faced with the searing flames, the frenzied Venusaur's response was primal—using its Vine Whip to resist head-on.
The result was inevitable. Both Venusaur and its vines were engulfed by the blazing inferno.
Amidst the flames, the adverse effects of the drugs coursing through Venusaur's body surged, rapidly depleting its life force until it finally faded entirely.
With Venusaur defeated, the remaining Pokémon hunters were swiftly subdued by the rangers.
Thanks to the protection offered by their Pokémon, and despite heavy losses among their Pokémon allies, all the rangers except Gaven survived the battle unscathed.
Simultaneously, Machamp and Persian returned, carrying Kai's lifeless body.
Thus, the group of Pokémon hunters met their end atop Mt. Moon.
Contrary to expectations, there was no celebration. Sadness and regret were etched into the faces of everyone present.
They mourned their fallen comrades and Pokémon, regretting their own inadequacies—their failure to train harder, to be stronger.
Matthew, however, understood that without Ron's assistance, their chances of survival would have been slim, and their casualties far greater.
"Now, let's clean up the battlefield and bring our fallen heroes home!"
Matthew's voice carried strength and resolve, inspiring the rangers to action. One by one, they began their solemn task.
As Matthew said, they would ensure the fallen were returned home with honor.
Ron and his Pokémon—Machoke, Persian, and Bellossom—joined in the effort.
Since arriving in the Pokémon world, Ron had witnessed scenes like this countless times, but today struck a chord deeper than ever before.
To give everything for one's ideals, to remain unafraid even in the face of death—words easier spoken than lived.
Yet, today, Ron had witnessed it firsthand.
"Ron, we couldn't have done this without you. I'll transfer all the contribution points to you later," Matthew said earnestly.
"And about Gaven—don't feel guilty. This is the path we chose. From the moment we became rangers, we knew sacrifices were inevitable. Whether it was Gaven or any of us, this is a duty we're ready to accept."
"If you decide not to join the rangers, I won't hold it against you."
As the battlefield cleared, the rangers prepared to leave, while Ron resumed his journey.
Before parting, Matthew spoke to Ron, hoping to alleviate any lingering guilt.
"Don't worry about me," Ron replied with a faint smile, patting Matthew's shoulder. "I'm not so fragile. This has just been... a lot to process. But I've made up my mind—I'll still become a ranger."
"As for the contribution points, send them to Gaven's family instead. Consider it a small token from me."
Without waiting for a reply, Ron turned and continued on his path, his Pokémon following close behind.
Watching Ron's retreating figure, Matthew realized he had discovered a truly exceptional talent.
Though the grief of loss lingered, it didn't halt Ron's journey. He had come to Mt. Moon for a purpose, and with the Pokémon hunter incident resolved, it was time to get back on track.
During the battle, Machoke and Persian had both leveled up significantly, reaching Level 37 and Level 34, respectively.
Bellossom, however, hadn't gained enough experience from her support role to level up.
Ron's next objective was clear: seek out valuable stones or fossils while battling to strengthen his Pokémon and accumulate contribution points.
Venturing deeper into Mt. Moon, the tranquil atmosphere remained undisturbed. Along the way, Ron passed two trainers who had just concluded their exploration.
The peace of the moment reminded him of a saying from his previous life: There is no true peace—only the burden borne by others in silence.
With his resolve strengthened, Ron pressed on.
Reflecting on the earlier battle, Ron recognized his own shortcomings. Despite possessing elite-level beginner strength, it was far from enough.
Fortunately, his mastery of Fighting Aura and the Six Powers from the One Piece world gave him an edge, allowing for faster growth than most.
Thanks to his Fighting Aura's restorative properties, Machoke and the others recovered quickly from their earlier exertion.
Before long, Bellossom encountered her first opponent—a Level 32 Graveler.
Like Machoke, Graveler required a trade to evolve into Golem, though rare instances of spontaneous evolution had been known to occur.
"Go, Bellossom! Use Leaf Blade!"
Against an opponent just one level higher and with a type disadvantage, Ron allowed Bellossom to battle autonomously to hone her solo combat skills.
Still, he kept a close watch, prepared to intervene should Graveler attempt a move like Self-Destruct.
Relying on Soru for superior mobility, Bellossom skillfully evaded Graveler's attacks while striking with precision.
Every Leaf Blade strike elicited pained cries from Graveler, whose resolve only hardened. Preparing for a final desperate move, Graveler began charging Self-Destruct, its body radiating an ominous white glow.
"Finish it, Bellossom! Magical Leaf, followed by a Leaf Blade combo!"
As Graveler committed to its fateful decision, Ron's command rang out.
Magical Leaf enveloped Graveler, and Bellossom darted through the shimmering leaves, delivering rapid Leaf Blade strikes.
Overwhelmed by accumulated injuries, Graveler succumbed before completing its attack.
Its final thought before fainting was one of utter frustration—a helplessness at being stopped at the very last moment.
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