Pokemon: I'm a Farmer

After a restful night at Professor Kukui's wooden house and a hearty breakfast, Rex set off toward Verdant Cavern.

"Rex, I've got class at the Trainer School today, so I won't be accompanying you to the cavern. Stay safe out there," said Kukui.

Truth be told, Kukui wasn't overly worried—after all, with a powerhouse like Swellow, even the Totem Gumshoos wouldn't pose much of a threat.

"Then I'll be off, Professor. I'll come back once I've discovered something new."

After bidding Kukui farewell, Rex mounted Swellow and took off toward Verdant Cavern, officially beginning his first adventure in the Alola region.

Most of Melemele Island's population was concentrated in Hau'oli City and Iki Town—relatively flat regions. The further northwest Swellow flew, the more mountainous and forested the landscape became.

Eventually, dense jungle stretched beneath them, and Rex could see a towering mountain in the distance—Verdant Cavern lay near its base.

It didn't take long for Rex to find the cave entrance. Unlike caves he'd explored before, this one wasn't dark—in fact, it felt alive, with lush greenery growing along the walls.

Upon entering, Rex quickly understood why. Large openings in the cave ceiling let sunlight pour in at regular intervals, bathing the interior in natural light and warmth.

It was this thriving, green ecosystem that had earned the place its name—Verdant Cavern.

As Rex ventured deeper, a group of Yungoos blocked his path. Though they didn't attack outright, their aggressive body language was clear—they wanted him gone.

"I'd like to meet your leader. Could you let me through?" Rex said as he laid down several basic Poké Puffs before them.

One Yungoos gave the treats a sniff, then happily dug in. The others quickly followed suit, polishing off the snacks in no time and licking their lips with satisfaction.

But despite the tasty peace offering, they didn't budge.

"So it's come to this after all," Rex muttered with a sigh.

He released Chimchar and Bagon. The moment they hit the ground, the two bolted forward—clearly pent up from too much time in their Poké Balls.

The wild Yungoos didn't back down, and chaos erupted as both sides clashed.

Chimchar and Bagon held the physical advantage, but the Yungoos had excellent coordination from hunting in packs. At first, the skirmish was evenly matched.

But as time wore on, Rex's Pokémon pulled ahead. One Yungoos went down, then another, and momentum shifted.

Once the fight was over, Rex didn't just leave the Yungoos lying there. He sent out Jumpluff, who cast Grassy Terrain to tend their injuries.

After recovering, the Yungoos didn't attack again. Instead, they retreated deeper into the cavern—likely to call for backup.

Sure enough, as Rex pressed on and arrived at a sunlit clearing, he found a large gathering of Yungoos and Gumshoos waiting.

And from one of the deeper tunnels emerged a massive Gumshoos, easily several times larger than the others—this was the Totem Pokémon of Verdant Cavern.

Totem Gumshoos looked similar to its pre-evolution, with dark brown fur covering most of its body, yellow patches on its head and underside, and a bipedal stance.

Originally absent from Alola, Gumshoos had been introduced to combat the surge of Rattata and Raticate in the region.

Interestingly, it hunted those species, but being diurnal, rarely crossed paths with the nocturnal Rattata.

Unlike the patrolling Yungoos, Gumshoos preferred to stake out its prey with unyielding patience, staying absolutely still for hours, even days, waiting for the right moment.

It could endure hunger for long stretches, unmoving in its vigil. Often, it would fall asleep at sunset from sheer exhaustion, but it took pride in its stoicism and endurance.

Seeing the mighty Gumshoos flanked by its entourage, Rex released Swellow.

Of all his current Pokémon, Swellow was the only one who could truly challenge a Totem Pokémon like this.

Interestingly, despite its underlings having been defeated, Totem Gumshoos didn't appear especially hostile. Perhaps it appreciated that Rex had healed its troops afterward.

Still, an intruder was an intruder. Totem Gumshoos had a reputation to uphold and would need to drive Rex out, just as it had done to many other challengers over the years.

Usually, it would fight until the opponent was defeated, then force them to retreat. And if it lost? Its underlings would cover its escape. It would return only after the challenger had left.

Understanding the "standard protocol," the Totem Gumshoos sent out a subordinate first. If Rex couldn't even get past this one, there'd be no need to fight it directly.

After all, it was the boss of this place—it wouldn't stoop to fighting just anyone.

Rex immediately understood the gesture and responded in kind by sending out Combusken to clear the way for Swellow.

(End of Chapter)