Viridian City is located in the western part of the Kanto region.
Its name symbolizes eternal greenery, as it is surrounded by foothills and forests.
The city's origins trace back to its connection with Viridian Forest, the largest forest in the Pokémon world in terms of area, home to the greatest variety and number of Pokémon.
If Cerulean City attracts visitors with its beautiful scenery and water performances, and Saffron City thrives due to the fame of its Psychic-type Gym Leader and its prosperous commercial atmosphere, then what draws people to Viridian City is the vast sea of greenery and the countless resources hidden within.
Setting aside the risks of illegal Pokémon and Pokémon Egg poaching which can yield enormous profits just gathering the various high-quality medicinal herbs found in Viridian Forest is already lucrative enough to make people envious.
Not to mention the annual rumors of lucky adventurers who stumble upon rare treasures like Miracle Seeds, which permanently enhance the power of Grass-type moves, making them rich overnight.
As a result, every year, countless people venture into Viridian Forest in search of fortune not just Pokémon Trainers, but also bounty hunters.
Don't get the wrong idea these bounty hunters aren't like the infamous Hunter J. Most of them are officially registered with the guild.
Of course, every group has its fair share of scum. However, in a profession like bounty hunting often described as "money first, life second" such individuals seem particularly numerous.
Every year, an untold number of people perish in this beautiful yet perilous forest.
At this moment, in a remote and uninhabited corner of Viridian Forest, a young man with short brown hair, around 1.8 meters tall, was sprinting madly through the woods.
His handsome face displayed a mixture of joy, excitement, and lingering fear—so much so that his expression looked slightly twisted.
As he ran, he couldn't help but glance over his shoulder. Several black-and-yellow-striped figures zipped through the trees at incredible speed, swiftly closing the distance between them.
The wind from their rapidly beating wings sent leaves and branches swaying violently as they passed.
As they drew nearer, their forms became clearer.
They resembled oversized yellow wasps, but they had only four legs instead of six.
Their bodies were segmented into three parts, with a roundish head, a pointed mouth, and two antennae. All four of their legs were attached to the abdomen.
Their tails were striped yellow and black, ending in venomous stingers. They had thin legs and large, sharp white spikes on their arms. Their backs bore two pairs of wings decorated with intricate patterns.
These were none other than Beedrill—the very mention of them was enough to strike fear into anyone venturing through Viridian Forest!
Beedrill are highly aggressive and extremely territorial. Anyone who trespasses into their domain risks being attacked by a swarm.
If not for a reckless rookie Trainer who had just disturbed a Kakuna, causing most of the Beedrill colony to chase after him instead, the young man would have steered clear of their territory, just as he always did.
The handsome young man, Silas Alaric, continued his desperate escape. Hearing the relentless buzzing of Beedrill wings behind him, he let out a bitter chuckle.
However, a determined glint soon flashed in his eyes. Though this decision was made on the spot, he was extremely familiar with this area.
Moreover, during his long chase, he had gradually managed to shake off most of the Beedrill, leaving only three still pursuing him.
And when he thought about the profits waiting for him if he succeeded, Silas's expression quickly returned to one of calm confidence.
Looking up at the bird Pokémon flying swiftly alongside him at a low altitude, he calculated the timing and distance before shouting toward the sky:
"Pidgeotto, use Whirlwind on Beedrill again!"
Hearing Silas's command, the bird Pokémon swiftly curved in mid-air, adjusting its flight path. It flapped its wings rapidly, generating a strong gust of wind that blew toward the pursuing Beedrill.
The Beedrill were buffeted by the airflow, their bodies swaying uncontrollably as their speed dropped sharply. At this rate,Silas would soon be able to widen the gap and escape.
However, instead of taking this opportunity to flee,Silas suddenly turned around and continued giving orders to Pidgeotto.
"Use Gust immediately after Whirlwind to increase the intensity!"
Having a deep understanding of Silas's battle style, Pidgeotto knew exactly what he intended the moment he spoke. Without hesitation, it switched moves, flapping its wings even harder.
What had initially been a mere air current instantly transformed into a raging gale, sweeping toward the Beedrill.
The Beedrill lost complete control over their flight. While insect wings enable them to fly at high speeds, they lack the power to withstand the fierce winds generated by Flying-type Pokémon.
All three Beedrill were sent spiraling out of control. After losing their balance, they were hurled backward and slammed into the trees.
One of the Beedrill, already covered in injuries, immediately lost the ability to fight. The other two struggled to rise again.
"Finish them off with Quick Attack," Silas ordered calmly.
Pidgeotto swiftly closed the distance in mid-air, a faint white light flashing across its body as its speed surged. It struck the two Beedrill in quick succession.
The Beedrill, just barely getting back up, were once again sent flying and crashed into the trees, losing their ability to fight.
"Nicely done!" Tetsuya called out in praise.
"Pii~!" Pidgeotto chirped in response, acknowledging the compliment. Then, panting slightly, it landed beside its spoils of battle, tidying up its ruffled feathers after the prolonged fight.
Silas quickly approached the three unconscious Beedrill. He opened his backpack, took out a pair of thick gloves, and carefully harvested their stingers.
Although Beedrill have three poisonous stingers, the venom in their tail stinger is the most potent. As a result, the market typically only purchases the tail stinger.
The price wasn't particularly high, but even the smallest gains added up over time.
Silas carefully stored the stingers and placed them in his backpack.
"You did great, Pidgeotto," he said with a smile, calling out to the alert bird Pokémon. He then pulled out a bottle of medicinal spray from his bag.
Recognizing what was coming, Pidgeotto flapped its wings and landed beside Silas.
With a gentle touch, Tetsuya applied the medicine to Pidgeotto's wounds. He also fed it an Oran Berry to help restore its stamina.
"Alright, we're ready to head back," he sighed in relief after finishing the treatment.
However, this was only a temporary fix. To ensure there were no lingering injuries, he would still need to visit Nurse Joy at the Viridian City Pokémon Center for proper medical care.
Recalling Pidgeotto into its Poké Ball, Silas surveyed the surroundings before swiftly making his way toward his next destination.
Behind him, the three Beedrill, now stripped of their tail stingers, remained unconscious.
What would become of them?
Perhaps they would wake up in time and fly away, gradually regrowing their stingers over the next few months. Or perhaps they would fall prey to other Pokémon drawn by the commotion.
But whatever happened, it was no longer Silas's concern.