Chapter 25: The Search for Koffing
As I approached the port, the lively energy of Lilycove City surrounded me, but I kept my focus sharp. My mission was clear: find the Koffing causing trouble for the local fishermen.
I spotted a group of fishermen gathered by their boats. “Excuse me,” I said politely, “could you tell me anything about the Koffing that’s been causing problems?”
One older fisherman looked up, his brow furrowed. “Ah, that Koffing? It just appeared one day, floating around the docks. We have no idea where it came from, but it’s been a real nuisance.”
“A nuisance how?” I asked, wanting to understand the situation better.
“It’s been scaring off the Pokémon we rely on for fishing. And its gas can be really overpowering,” he replied, shaking his head. “We’ve had trainers try to chase it away, but it always comes back.”
“Thank you for the information,” I said, feeling a sense of urgency. I turned to a nearby group of trainers. “Has anyone had a direct encounter with it?”
One trainer nodded. “Yeah, I saw it near the old warehouse. It’s elusive and tends to float away when approached. We tried to battle it, but it just used gas attacks and disappeared into the shadows.”
“Do you think it’s just hanging around the warehouse?” I asked.
“Most likely,” another trainer replied. “It seems to like the clutter. Just be careful if you go there; it can be unpredictable.”
With this information in mind, I made my way toward the old warehouse. The air grew thick with the faint smell of something unpleasant as I approached. “Alright, Staryu,” I said softly, glancing down at my Pokémon. “Let’s be cautious. We need to find this Koffing without startling it too much.”
Inside the dimly lit warehouse, the atmosphere was heavy with dust and decay. I listened intently for any sounds. “Stay alert, Staryu,” I whispered, moving cautiously through the shadows.
As I ventured deeper, I suddenly spotted the Koffing floating near a stack of rusted barrels. It looked curious, hovering slowly as if searching for something. “There it is,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady. “But how do we approach it?”
I remembered the fishermen’s warnings about its gas attacks and knew I needed a careful plan. “Let’s create a distraction to get its attention,” I suggested, scanning the area for something to use.
Spotting some metal pipes, I picked one up and gently tapped it against a nearby wall, creating a soft clang. The Koffing turned slightly, intrigued but still hesitant.
“Now, Staryu, let’s see if we can lead it out,” I whispered, feeling a mix of excitement and caution. I took a step back, hoping the noise would draw it closer.
But just then, the Koffing released a cloud of gas, filling the air around us. I felt my stomach drop. “Not like this!” I exclaimed, realizing the Koffing had caught onto my plan.
“Let’s retreat!” I shouted, backing away slowly. As I turned to exit, the Koffing floated closer, its gas swirling ominously.
We rushed outside, gasping for the fresh air of the port. Once I was outside, I paused to collect my thoughts. “Okay, that didn’t go as planned,” I admitted, looking down at Staryu. “We need to rethink our strategy.”
Feeling a mix of determination and respect for the Koffing’s cleverness, I knew I had to be more strategic. “Let’s figure out a way to get it to leave without scaring it too much,” I said, my mind racing with new ideas. “We can do this, Staryu. Together.”