Machamp was lying motionless on the ground, its entire body battered beynition. Its four arms bent at unnatural angles, riddled with deep bite marks.

  The grouh it was soaked red with blood.

  Its body temperature was dropping, and the weakness spreading through its body left it uo move even a finger.

  Machamp: 'They should be far enough by now'

  The male Ursaring, realizing that Shen and the other Pokémon had escaped, gred furiously at the fallen Machamp. If not for it, the two wouldn’t have gotten away.

  'Die!'

  The male Ursaring stood upright, raising its arm to execute Hammer Arm, with a roar toward Machamp’s head. If it ected, Machamp’s head would burst like a watermelon.

  “Growlithe, Fme Wheel!”

  “Grow!~”

  A deep red fireball smmed into the male Ursaring’s abdomen, sending it flying.

  The female Ursaring, seeing another intruder ierritory, tried to help her mate up, but the newer’s voice stopped her.

  "It’s you two again."

  Julian approached Machamp. Seeing its state—barely breathing—his face darkened, and he immediately pulled a Max Revive from his backpack.

  Machamp, still barely scious, reized Julian. It wao signal him to find Shen, but its body was too weak to respond.

  "Don’t worry, I’ll find her."

  Julian reassured it as he carefully poured the Max Potion into its mouth.

  “Slowking, Heal Pulse.”

  Releasing Slowking, Julian turned his gaze to the two Ursaring.

  The pair alsnized him. Just a few days ago, Julian’s Lucario had beaten them down. The male Ursaring’s abdominal wound had yet to heal from that enter.

  Their expressions turned grim.

  “Metagross, Bullet Punch.”

  The Ursaring pair watched Julian warily, but the sed, a silver streak shot forward, nding a heavy pun them both.

  If Julian hadn’t arrived in time, Machamp would’ve died.

  Shen was his friend, and her Pokémon nearly losing its life—bined with the fact that Shen herself was o be seen, dead or alive—only stoked Julian’s fury.

  "Shen must have escaped. Dalton, follow Growlithe to find her," Julian said.

  Growlithe barked twid darted off in a specific dire, with Dalton hurrying to follow.

  Meanwhile, the Ursaring pair y sprawled on the ground after Metagross’s attack. Julian sloroached them. Seeing this, the Ursaring looked at him with pleading eyes, as if begging for mercy.

  But the sight of Machamp’s near-death state and Shen’s uain fate had stirred a killing i within Julian toward these two Ursaring.

  “mum…”

  At that moment, a small Teddiursa, which had been hiding behind a tree, stumbled out. Its anxious and worried cries softehe killing i in Julian’s heart.

  The little Teddiursa ran to its parents. Though the Ursaring pair could barely stand, they still instinctively shielded their child.

  Julian stood in silence for a moment, gazing at the family of three. Finally, he tossed two bottles of healing potion to the ground and turo leave.

  After he left, the male Ursaring picked up one of the potions, hesitated briefly, then swallowed it. Feeling its effects almost immediately, its eyes lit up. It called to the female Ursaring, who then cautiously took the other potion.

  Meanwhile, Juliauro where Machamp was lying. With Slowking’s Heal Pulse and the Max Revive, Machamp’s injuries had already healed by about half.

  “Machamp!”

  Machamp looked like it wao say something, but before it could, a familiar, excited voice rang out.

  Before it could react, Shen ran up and hugged it tightly.

  Feeling her warm tears fall on its body, Machamp—despite the pain from the sudden pressure on its wounds—let its twisted expression softely, it patted Shen’s back.

  “The ime something like this happens, don’t a your own. If we die, we are going to die together!”

  Shen sobbed, hugging it even tighter at the thought of nearly losing Machamp.

  Machamp: “╥﹏╥”

  Julian chuckled. “If you don’t let go soon, it might really die in your arms.”

  He watched helplessly as Machamp’s face turned purple. Despite the obvious pain, it forced a reassuring smile, ohat looked more pitiful than f.

  “Ah! I’m so sorry, Machamp!”

  Shen quickly released her hold, flustered.

  “Where are your shoes?”

  Julian asked, notig she was barefoot and that her feet were covered in blood.

  “I lost them.”

  Shen replied.

  “Shen, you ran way too fast! I told you Machamp was fine, but you didn’t listen.”

  Panting, Dalton trotted over from the dire Shen had fled. Growlithe followed close behind.

  “This is what you call fine?”

  Shen poi Machamp, clearly upset.

  Dalton took a closer look and was shocked. “Whoa! Boss Walker, what kind of potion did you use? This recovery speed is insane!”

  He vividly remembered the state Machamp had been in earlier. Yet, in just ten minutes, its severe wounds were almost pletely healed.

  Julian shrugged. “I found some Revival Herbs in a secret area.”

  Iy, this was just an excuse—the potion came from the system shop.

  Revival Herbs were currently the best-knowment for Pokémon injuries. As long as the Pokémon wasn’t dead, even the gravest wounds could heal rapidly after ing one.

  It ractically the legendary panacea.

  Revival Herbs were exceedingly rare and only appeared in Advanced-level secret realms.

  The price of a single Revival Herb was astronomical, and few people would ever sider selling one. After all, su item represents a life.

  “Julian, thank you so much.”

  Shen said, deeply moved. She was at a loss for words upon learning he had used a Revival Herb to save Machamp.

  “Slowking, Heal Pulse”

  Julian said, gesturing toward Shen’s injured foot.

  A soft green light enveloped her foot, and the injuries healed almost instantly.

  The existence of Pokémon had fually ged humanity, improving every aspect of life. Humans were, without a doubt, the biggest beneficiaries of this new world.

  Seeing how nont Julian was about the whole situation, Shen decided to stay quiet.

  While he might brush it off as nothing, she couldn’t do the same. She resolved to repay him one day, no matter what.

  “Boss Walker, those two Ursaring are ing back,” Dalton suddenly said.

  The two Ursaring approached cautiously, carrying some food in their arms, which they pced in front of Julian.

  It was unclear whether they were showing gratitude for his mercy, fear of his strength, or both.

  Shen shot the Ursaring pair a hostile g didn’t say anything. Machamp was safe, and she had seeeddiursa. It wasn’t hard to guess why Julian had spared them.

  After leaving the food, the pair quickly retreated.

  The male Ursaring was already pting whether to find a erritory. Lately, it seemed cursed—how else could it expin running into this human again? He couldn’t win in a fight, but at least he could try to avoid him.

  The female Ursaring, oher hand, was w if it was time to find a stronger mate. Maybe then, she and her child wouldn’t have to endure so much bullying.

  *****

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