Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Chapter 176

Some time later, Nidoking suddenly stopped and looked ahead.

"Nido?"

Mike walked up and patted his shoulder.

"What’s wrong?"

Nidoking raised one arm and pointed.

Mike followed the direction of his finger.

Ahead of them, an Ursaring was leading several Teddiursa, Beautifly, and Mothim in an all-out attack against a large group of Combee.

Behind the Combee hovered a Vespiquen noticeably larger than the others, directing the colony’s counterattack.

Numerous Combee, Beautifly, and Mothim had already fallen to the ground.

Mike stared at the battlefield.

"What happened here?"

Nidoking shook his head.

He didn’t know either.

A breeze moved through the trees and carried an unmistakably sweet scent toward them.

Mike lifted his head and noticed the weather changing.

The wind had picked up, clouds were gathering, and it looked as though rain would arrive before long.

"The wind probably carried the smell of the Honey through the forest," Mike guessed. "Then all these Pokémon that love Honey caught the scent and decided to team up and raid the hive."

The idea made sense.

Teddiursa were famously fond of Honey, especially the Honey produced by Combee.

Beautifly preferred flower nectar and were known to drive Combee away from good feeding areas, while Mothim were just as willing to steal the sweet Honey made by Combee colonies.

Now all three groups appeared to have joined forces in an attempt to rob the hive.

Gengar floated up beside Mike with Hatenna still sitting on his head and whispered,

"Gar?"

[What do we do? Should we sneak inside while everyone’s fighting?]

Mike looked at the chaotic battlefield and hesitated.

Before he could decide, Vespiquen noticed him from behind the defensive line of Combee.

She seemed to remember the humans she had encountered before, and when her crimson eyes met Mike’s, there was a clear plea for help in them.

Mike sighed, secured his camera, and looked toward Nidoking.

"Well, Vespiquen herself is asking for help. We can’t exactly ignore that."

Then he pointed toward Ursaring.

"Nidoking, go knock that Ursaring away. Look at the size of him, and he’s still coming here to steal our Honey."

Hatenna tilted her head.

’Our Honey?’

When exactly had it become theirs?

Nidoking rolled his shoulders, let out a roar, and charged into the battlefield.

Ursaring had just swatted aside an attack from a Combee.

Seeing Nidoking running toward him, he apparently assumed another powerful Pokémon had arrived to help the raiders and even raised one paw in greeting.

Nidoking did not slow down.

He slammed headfirst into Ursaring and sent the massive bear flying straight into a rock wall.

Mike watched the impact in silence.

After a moment, he looked at Gengar.

"What was all that arm swinging before he charged supposed to accomplish?"

Gengar shook his head.

"Gar—"

[No idea.]

Mike gestured toward the others.

"You guys go too."

Gengar immediately grabbed Hatenna off his head and hurled her toward one of the Teddiursa.

Hatenna: "???"

Mike: "?!"

Gengar froze.

Σ(°∀°)ﾉﾉ

"GAR!"

[I thought she was Kakuna!]

Beedrill, who had just entered the battlefield, turned his head and stared at Gengar.

He remembered very clearly how Gengar used to throw him around as a weapon when he was still a Kakuna!

Hatenna flew through the air toward an increasingly large Teddiursa.

Instinctively, her psychic power exploded outward and blasted the Teddiursa away before impact.

She immediately used Confusion to hold herself in midair and turned around to glare at Gengar.

"HATEN!"

Gengar gave her an innocent grin.

Before another Beautifly could attack, Snivy’s Vine Whip wrapped around Hatenna and pulled her safely back.

Snivy followed with Leaf Storm, sweeping several Teddiursa away at once.

Beedrill entered the center of the battlefield, and every thrust of his spear-like stingers sent either a Beautifly or Mothim tumbling out of the air.

Mike remained safely behind the fighting.

Naturally, he took out his phone.

He snapped a photograph of the enormous chaotic battle and posted it in the fan group.

[Mike: The Age of the Great Melee.]

[America_Yea: ???]

[Juice Bro: ???]

[jasss22: Have you even looked at your comment section? You’re seriously here chatting in the group instead?]

’Comment section?’

’What comment section?’

’I’m busy!’

Mike locked his phone and put it away.

By the time he looked up again, the battle was already nearing its end.

With Gengar and the others joining the fight, Vespiquen’s colony quickly gained the advantage and drove the raiders back.

Vespiquen ordered the Combee to begin cleaning up the battlefield, then flew directly toward Mike.

Her crimson eyes remained fixed on him.

For reasons she couldn’t entirely understand, this human gave her an unusually powerful sense of safety, and beneath that was a deep instinctive fondness that seemed to grow stronger the longer she stayed near him.

Between Mike’s Bug-type affinity and the fact that he had just helped protect her colony, Vespiquen’s affinity toward him had risen dramatically.

"Vesp."

[Thank you for helping us.]

Her voice carried the dignity and authority of a queen, though Mike could also hear a subtle softness beneath it.

He placed his right hand lightly against the left side of his chest and bowed.

"It was my honor, Your Majesty."

"Vesp—"

[If you are willing, I would like to invite you and your companions into our hive as guests.]

Mike straightened.

"Of course. Thank you for having us."

For once, he carried himself with all the poise of an elegant nobleman.

Beedrill hovered above and slightly behind him.

Vespiquen glanced toward the powerful Beedrill and couldn’t help thinking that he truly did resemble a loyal knight guarding his master.

Hatenna watched Mike from nearby, her hidden eyes bright with fascination.

Mike and the others followed Vespiquen across the battlefield and into the hive.

Calling what the Combee were doing "cleaning up" was somewhat generous.

They were essentially picking up the unconscious Teddiursa, Beautifly, and Mothim and dumping them into the nearby bushes.

Once those Pokémon regained consciousness, they could leave on their own.

The moment Mike stepped inside, however, he forgot all about the battlefield.

The interior was completely golden.

Everywhere he looked, walls had been built up from layers of rich Honey, glowing like solid gold under the dim light of the hive.

No, calling them golden walls wasn’t quite right.

They were truly walls of Honey.

Golden droplets occasionally seeped through the cracks and slowly rolled down the surface.

Mike stared at the sight while the rich fragrance of Honey filled every breath he took.

So this was the legendary Wall of Honey.

He had only one problem.

The longer he looked at it, the more badly he wanted some!

...

Gengar stared at the golden Honey slowly seeping from one of the cracks in the wall.

After checking that nobody was stopping him, he reached out, wiped a little onto one finger, and slipped it into his mouth.

His entire body shuddered in midair.

"Gar—"

[So... so sweet~]

When Mike saw Gengar reaching out for another taste, he immediately smacked him on the backside.

"What are you doing?" Mike whispered.

"Gar—"

[It’s really sweet...]

"I know it’s sweet, but you still can’t just lick someone else’s walls. This is their home and we’re guests. Have some manners."

Mike grabbed Gengar by the tail and pulled him away.

Vespiquen had heard everything.

She gave a soft laugh.

"Vesp."

[It is no problem. If you like it, I can have some brought over for you.]

Mike immediately felt awkward.

"That really isn’t necessary—"

"Gar~"

[Yes, please! Thank you~]

Mike and Gengar turned toward each other at exactly the same time.

Both narrowed their eyes.

Gengar’s expression clearly demanded to know why Mike had tried to reject free Honey, while Mike’s expression demanded to know how Gengar could accept before he had even finished being polite.

Snivy saw that the two of them were about to start arguing and calmly extended her Vine Whips to separate them.

Vespiquen merely smiled at their antics and continued flying deeper into the hive.

Mike followed with the others.

Gengar continued sneaking little tastes from the Honey walls whenever Mike wasn’t looking.

To make sure Mike wouldn’t single him out for punishment afterward, he dragged Nidoking into it too.

Before long, both Pokémon were happily licking Honey from the walls as they walked.

Eventually, Vespiquen reached her throne and settled onto it.

Several Combee flew over carrying small stones, which they carefully placed behind Mike and the others as seats.

Mike looked at the stone he had been invited to sit on.

Then he reached down and touched the sharp point protruding from the surface.

His eyelid twitched.

Sitting on that would probably leave a lasting memory in places he preferred not to injure.

"Gengar."

Mike called out.

There was no response.

He turned around and found Gengar secretly eating Honey again.

Mike walked over, grabbed him by the ear, dragged him back through the air, and on the way gave Nidoking two slaps for participating in the same crime.

"Take out the table and chairs."

Gengar lowered his head and obediently began setting up the portable furniture.

"Beedrill, could you—"

Mike turned toward Beedrill, intending to ask him to catch a few fish so they would have something to offer their host in return.

Then he noticed Beedrill was chewing.

A faint trace of golden Honey remained at the corner of his mouth, and the tips of his spear-like stingers were coated in it.

Mike stared at him.

"You ate some too?"

Beedrill’s normally cool expression stiffened, and a faint flush appeared across his face.

"Bee..."

[Gengar insisted that I try it...]

Gengar stopped arranging the chairs and turned around in disbelief.

’When did I force you to eat anything?!’

’Why is everything my fault?!’

He huffed, turned his back on them, and continued setting up the furniture as though he wanted nothing more to do with any of them.

Once the table and chairs were ready, Mike sat down and looked toward Vespiquen on her throne.

The throne itself seemed to have been formed from hardened Honey, which only made Vespiquen appear more majestic.

The chamber surrounding her was even more extravagant.

Unlike the Wall of Honey closer to the entrance, this part of the hive looked almost like a palace carved entirely from amber.

Everything glowed with warm golden light, and the sweet fragrance of Honey filled the air so completely that Mike felt as though he had stepped inside a giant jar.

Honey occasionally flowed down the layered stone like water from a hot spring, gathering in pools before spilling gently into the levels below.

Mike was speechless.

A hot spring made of Honey.

This was absurdly luxurious!

No wonder the place had earned the name Amber City.

How long would an entire Combee colony have to work to produce this much Honey?

Beside him, Gengar looked toward a pool filled entirely with golden Honey, and a line of drool slowly escaped the corner of his mouth.

Mike turned his attention back toward Vespiquen.

The battle had consumed a great deal of her energy. She was leaning lazily against her throne with her eyes closed, apparently taking the opportunity to rest.

Mike quietly raised his camera and snapped a photograph.

Click.

Vespiquen opened her crimson eyes and looked at him with obvious confusion.

Mike immediately lowered the camera.

"Sorry, Vespiquen. You looked so beautiful sitting there that I couldn’t resist taking a picture. Would you mind if I took a few more?"

His Bug-type affinity already made Bug Pokémon naturally comfortable around him, and after he had helped protect the Amber City, Vespiquen’s fondness toward him was even stronger.

She smiled and nodded.

"Vesp?"

[Would you like me to cooperate with your photographs?]

Her voice was still slightly hoarse after the battle, but even while tired, it retained the rich authority of a queen.

"If you don’t mind, could you follow a few directions?"

Vespiquen agreed.

Mike took several photographs while having her adjust her posture and angle slightly, but he stopped after only a short session.

He could tell that she was exhausted, and he had no intention of making her work just for the sake of more pictures.

"Vespiquen, if it isn’t too much trouble, could I look around the Amber City? I’d really like to see how the Combee usually make their Honey."

Vespiquen looked at him, then nodded tiredly.

She summoned several Combee guards and quietly gave them instructions.

"Vesp."

[If they wish to eat Honey while they are here, allow them to do so. I would like to rest for a while.]

The guards nodded.

Mike politely said goodbye to Vespiquen for the moment, then grabbed Gengar before he could remain behind staring at the pool of Honey.

Gengar was dragged through the air as he stretched both hands helplessly toward the golden pool, trembling as though he were being separated from the love of his life.

"Gar—"

[Goodbye, my Honey...]

One of the Combee guards flew close to his ear and whispered something.

Gengar immediately stopped struggling, sat upright in midair, patted his stomach, and floated happily back beside Mike.

Mike looked at him suspiciously.

"What did Combee tell you? Why are you suddenly so happy?"

"Gar?"

[Guess.]

"Guess my ass!"

Mike grabbed Gengar’s cheeks and stretched them.

The guards first brought them to the area where Honey was processed.

Mike watched the Combee working for a while and was just about to lift his camera when he suddenly realized something.

He spoke briefly with one of the guards, and after hearing what he wanted, the Combee nodded and led him back outside.

Beedrill and the others followed.

Nidoking kept turning his head toward the hive every few steps, clearly reluctant to leave all that Honey behind.

Gengar floated over and whispered something into Nidoking’s ear.

Nidoking’s expression immediately brightened, and he hurried after Mike without another complaint.

Before leaving the production area, Gengar accepted a large chunk of hardened Honey from one of the Combee and tossed the entire thing into his mouth.

The worker Combee stared at him in confusion.

It looked toward the guard.

The guard quietly shook its head, indicating that Vespiquen had already given permission.

The worker Combee then returned to its work.