Chapter 272: The Switch Wand and the Sound of the Ukulele!

【Obtained Rewards: Release Orb ×1, Lostlorn Forest Badge ×1, Grass-Wood Sound ×1, Lostlorn Branch ×1.】

【Lostlorn Forest Badge: A badge blessed by Lostlorn Forest.】

【Acquisition Requirement: Defeat the guardian of Lostlorn Forest and gain the forest's recognition.】

【Effect: You can use natural magic to slightly confuse people in front of you, disappear around the corner of a tree, or suddenly pop out from a grass pile. Others will not notice your actions. The Ranger profession can maximize this effect—this is the badge given to you, Pokémon cannot use it.】

Guang Tai: "... Eh?"

Because the one who defeated Heracross was not a Pokémon but himself?!

Hmm... magic, huh! He doesn't know magic, nor is he a Ranger!

【Grass-Wood Sound: You can listen to the sound of grass and trees. Listening +50%, Request +50%. Sometimes, the forest will ask for your help, and you can also get more returns from the forest. The sound of nature is different from the sound of humans and Pokémon. You can perceive the spiritual power of nature.】

【Lostlorn Branch: The most curved branch in Lostlorn Forest, twisted like a small snake, very strange, and very tough. It can be used to make a special item "Wand," which has a bonus when using magic/sorcery/psychic power.】

【Note: Your sunlight ability can also take effect on it, with an amplification efficiency of 20%. It comes with the magic "Small Illusion Magic," which can swap other people's items without being noticed.】

【Note 2: After learning magic, you can make special magic/sorcery items.】

A curved branch appeared in Guang Tai's hand, and the backpacker on the side was stunned again. He didn't notice where the branch came from at all, and Guang Tai smiled:

"This is the forest's gift."

When Guang Tai waved the branch, the backpacker suddenly felt a bit trance, and then his hand was empty, finding that a gem in his pocket was obtained by Guang Tai.

Eh? Stealing items? Isn't this the Dark-type move "Switcheroo"?!

However, what made the backpacker a bit embarrassed was that although he was indeed a Zoroark, Zoroark cannot learn the Dark-type move "Switcheroo"!

A move that Dark Pokémon can't learn was actually learned by a human! This is unreasonable!

"I know, I know! The forest's gift is truly incredible! I've seen it today. Give my gem back!"

Guang Tai of course just wanted to tease the big fox in front of him, so he handed the gem to the other party. It was a Dark Gem, which can enhance the power of Dark-type moves.

"Hera."

Heracross didn't even have the heart to care about the seal stone. It shrank under the tree, frustrated. Guang Tai walked over and patted it:

"Don't look so frustrated! Come and eat something good!"

What? Being defeated by a human is embarrassing enough, and now he has to accept the food given by a human?

What do you take me, Heracross, for? Am I that kind of casual Pokémon?

Looking at the Rare Candy and Energy Powder in his claws, Heracross swallowed them all in one gulp, still somewhat frustrated.

And then! It widened its eyes, and a steady stream of power surged in its body, as if a storm was piercing through every part of its body!

Vitality, full of vitality and action! Although it was still a bit frustrated mentally!

But this thing tastes really good!

Wild Pokémon don't have the chance to eat candy. Just like in the game, if you brush "Honey" on a tree, there is a chance to attract Heracross. In the anime, Ash's Heracross also hugs the garlic on Bulbasaur's back and sucks it madly. I don't know if that thing really produces sweet pulp.

No Bug Pokémon doesn't like sweet things, and good things like candy are even more so. Heracross wanted to eat more, but Guang Tai didn't skimp. There were still many Rare Candies in his backpack, and it didn't matter if he gave a few more.

Heracross's mood recovered immediately. Pokémon, huh, it's normal for emotions to rise and fall. Sadness comes fast and goes fast. As long as there is something to eat, it will immediately return to a happy look.

Guang Tai picked up the piece of wood given by the forest at the beginning, and then took out tools from his backpack to chisel it, making it look like a guitar, and used the Release Orb to pull out tough fine threads.

Backpacker: "What are you doing, musical instrument... Woo-wah! How did it get chiseled suddenly? I didn't see it clearly. What's going on with your hand speed?"

Guang Tai: "Didn't I say it? Coming to this forest was originally to find good wood. After getting the wood, of course, I have to make a useful item."

It was already late at night, but there was still some time before midnight. From the outside of Lostlorn Forest, you could see the towering giant cliff, and Marvelous Bridge stood on that cliff and the seawater in the middle.

The backpacker watched Guang Tai work with great interest, and after Heracross finished the candy, it wanted to continue eating, but was stopped by Torterra and Riolu.

Candy is good, but you can't eat too much!

To distract Heracross, the two Pokémon played games with Heracross and began to talk, trying to get the secrets of another world from it. However, Heracross was very shrewd, saying that if you don't give me food, I won't tell you.

Torterra and Riolu looked at each other.

Torterra shook the small tree on its back, shaking off some strange fruits. Those were small fruits formed by the gathering of Torterra's grass-wood essence when it was a Grotle.

Although humans think the taste is average, Pokémon like it very much. Torterra let Riolu hand these fruits to Heracross, who took a bite, and then its two eyes lit up, and it kept chewing in its mouth.

Hmm, the taste is not bad! It's just right as a snack!

Okay, since you want to know about the gap world so much, then I'll tell you a little bit!

The world we live in and the real world are different places. You live on this side of the world, while we live on the other side. In that world, only Pokémon have colors, and the others are black and white.

Then, nothing else.

"Ah?" Riolu stared.

What do you mean nothing else. That's it!

"Hera." Heracross nodded, looking innocent.

The rest is no different from the real world. They live in the forest, eat berries, and live their lives. It's just that they are occasionally called by the forest to do some things, such as guarding the seal stone this time. What else is there?

You say the whole world? Ha! I haven't been out of the forest. How would I know what it's like outside!

Riolu and Torterra shook their heads repeatedly.

It seems that the shrewd Heracross is just a simple foodie. Such a guy has no scheming worth mentioning, nor does it understand too many secrets about the world. But having said that, aren't most Pokémon like this?

As long as they live well, that's enough. Pokémon that explore the secrets of the world are in the minority. However, the trainer said that in a different world where only Pokémon exist, many Pokémon will form exploration teams to explore the secrets of the world.

Torterra likes that kind of world very much, and so does Riolu.

Curiosity is the driving force of progress and the driving force of travel. Because of doubt, one wants to pursue the answer, and that answer is the best gift and treasure.

"Done."

When the Pokémon were talking to each other, the backpacker also listened to their conversation occasionally and was surprised by some hidden information revealed in their conversation. To be honest, having traveled for so long, the things seen tonight were much more magical than other strange stories seen during the trip!

And Guang Tai's voice pulled the backpacker's thoughts back from the Pokémon.

"Eh? This is done? So fast! No, this production speed is not right!"

"Speaking of which, what is this, a guitar..."

Guang Tai: "It's a musical instrument called a ukulele from the Oblivia region. It looks similar to a guitar... Actually, it's normal. Then can you tell the difference between bass and guitar?"

Backpacker: "... Isn't bass just a bigger guitar?"

Today's bass joke 1/1!

Looking at Guang Tai's happy look, the backpacker was a bit annoyed: "Aiya, I'm not clear about the difference between these musical instruments. After all, I don't play!"

"Then what is the effect of this bass... bah! This guitar... No! This ukulele you made!"

Guang Tai tried to use the ukulele and answered: "The effect in the forest might not be very good. It has a special place to use, but now I want to try to play it."

【Item: Ukulele (Musical Replica)!】

【Description: Can play the legendary music "Ukulele Sound·Thunderbolt Melody"! It makes a sound when electric current passes through. The music played and the thunderbolts released are unaffected by type matchups. The sound of the instrument has the effect of relaxing the bodies and minds of humans and Pokémon, and can convey the player's emotions! Because it is a replica, the above effects will be greatly reduced, and you cannot use thunderbolts.】

【Effect: Attract wild Pokémon to listen to the performance, increase friendliness, call wild Electric-type Pokémon for help in electric locations like Chargestone Cave.】

Bo-long-long~

Accompanied by the wonderful melody, the entire sleeping forest seemed to wake up.

Pokémon were attracted by the melody and poked their heads to look over, and the backpacker also felt like being struck by lightning in his heart. That strange feeling of electric shock made him unconsciously captivated by the playing sound in front of him.

Light, wonderful, melodious, and with a trace of indescribable ancient charm, as if the phantoms of ancient cities, people, and Pokémon appeared and disappeared in front of his eyes...

Bird Pokémon landed on the branches silently, Bug Pokémon poked their heads out from behind the tree trunks, and Grass Pokémon danced lightly with the rhythm.

And this wonderful music also passed with the wind of the forest, making more Pokémon gather in the hidden cave. Along with it, the Zoroark mother and son living in seclusion in the forest also heard this melody. They strangely looked in a certain direction following the guidance of the wind, stopped to listen, and left the original hidden area before they knew it.

It's just that they still maintained vigilance and didn't approach the direction where the music came from. They found that the music came from a common hidden cave, and there was the scent of another companion of theirs nearby.

In the hidden cave, Guang Tai finished playing a piece of music, only to find that he had been completely immersed in the world of music just now, and the Pokémon attracted around him had already increased a lot.

They stared at him curiously. Although they woke up in the night, they were not angry. The wonderful music soothed and relaxed the hearts of the Pokémon, and the fatigue of the day gradually dissipated, which made them sleep better afterwards.

"A wonderful emotion surged in my heart..." The backpacker touched the position of his heart: "It's like an electric current passing through my body. It's the first time I've heard such unique music. Your emotions..."

His words stopped abruptly here, almost exposing his true identity. The backpacker closed his mouth, but Guang Tai faced these Pokémon attracted over and took out Energy Powder to entertain them.

"The test result is very good... I'm leaving now."

Among the Pokémon called over, there were several Emolga. These Electric-type Pokémon were also Pokémon inhabiting this forest. Unlike other Pokémon, Electric-type Pokémon listened particularly attentively and looked at Guang Tai, as if waiting for Guang Tai's instructions.

However, Guang Tai didn't need them to do anything, so these Emolga went back to share the Energy Powder.

When Guang Tai was about to leave, the backpacker stared at Guang Tai and suddenly asked:

"Actually, you already know what I am, right?"

"Although your strange machine didn't seem to see it, you seem to be able to know my true appearance without a machine."

Guang Tai was speechless. He didn't expect this Zoroark to take the initiative to expose his identity. Perhaps the playing just now really conveyed his emotions to the other party's heart, making the other party understand that he really had no malice.

"Yeah... I probably know."

"But I didn't have the idea of exposing you. Isn't it good to talk to each other in the guise of a human? This appearance must be your carefully selected one."

The backpacker was silent and suddenly laughed:

"There are indeed many strange people in the world. Perhaps in previous travels, someone has seen through my true identity."

And then he changed in front of Guang Tai. The illusion retreated, and the backpacker's human appearance became a black Pokémon with red mane, shaped like a fox-man.

The traveler Zoroark revealed his true body, but soon changed back. Seeing that Guang Tai was not surprised, he smiled:

"You with special powers don't have any greed for me... In your eyes, am I not a rare Pokémon?"

"However, there are indeed quite a few Zoroark in Unova. Hmph... there is a guy who follows that ridiculous King of Humans and talks about liberating Pokémon, but in fact, he is still seizing Pokémon, destroying visible beautiful things. And there are also some guys who live quietly away from humans and don't want to be disturbed, but they are still targeted."

"However, how to live is their freedom. I can only persuade. Whether to listen or not is their choice."

"You and I can be considered friends. Since we are friends, I will give you something."

The traveler Zoroark took out a disc from his backpack and handed it to Guang Tai.

【Obtained: TM (Snarl)!】

"What is recorded in here is the move Snarl. Although it is not a rare TM, you can just take it as an ordinary gift. This move can lower the opponent's ability."

"What a beautiful piece of music I heard. I will keep it in mind. Then, I have to embark on a journey."

"Wait a moment." Guang Tai laughed: "Since we are friends, I will give you something too."

"Be careful, there are many people with bad intentions among humans, so I give this to you."

Guang Tai handed Zoroark an orange steel die, which could release a yellow electric barrier when gently activated.

"Electric wave shield, which can block some bad information and electric waves. If you carry it on your body, you don't have to be afraid of those technological items seeing through your identity."

The traveler Zoroark was a bit surprised and then nodded to Guang Tai:

"Such kindness, I will keep it in mind."

"Goodbye, friend."

Guang Tai waved to him and took the first step. The next destination is Marvelous Bridge.

And after Guang Tai left here, the Pokémon also dispersed, and that different-colored Heracross disappeared without a trace like a dream.

The traveler Zoroark looked in a certain direction of the forest, where a pair of Zoroark mother and son were quietly looking at him.

"I have already said that your existence has been exposed. There is an ambitious person who intends to capture you. I have heard this news from certain channels in the human world."

"If you don't leave quickly, I'm afraid you will encounter unexpected trouble. But that person has the ability to predict the future. Perhaps at this time, all the news I told you has already been known by him."

"Having powerful abilities will be targeted by such people. That person's hometown is the neighboring Nimbasa City, and he is coming soon."

"However, there are not only such ambitious humans but also magical and friendly humans like the one just now. Life is complex and changeable. This is the charm of travel."

"Then, my advice ends here. Goodbye, fellow clansmen."

The traveler Zoroark left in the posture of a backpacker, leaving only the Zoroark mother and son hesitating in the forest.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 273 =====