Cain once again removed the remote control of Murkrow's additional weight. Facing a level 20 Slowpoke with the same green quality, Murkrow couldn't afford to be restricted in the slightest.
Freed again, Murkrow wasn't as excited as at the beginning. Against this Slowpoke, it felt the pressure.
However, despite Slowpoke's strength, its specialty was Psychic-type moves. But for a Dark-type Pokémon like Murkrow, what were Psychic moves? They had no effect. Therefore, Slowpoke was at a disadvantage from the start.
Even so, Slowpoke showed no intention of giving up. On the contrary, it became braver and more excited as the battle progressed. Even with the simple Water Gun move, it executed it masterfully. Thanks to its level advantage and excellent physical condition, it held its ground firmly in the battle against Murkrow.
After another confrontation, Murkrow was panting, and Slowpoke lay on the ground, not as active as before. However, its eyes shone brightly, reflecting emotions of excitement, satisfaction, and happiness.
During the battle, although Cain constantly directed Murkrow, he also paid attention to the changes in Slowpoke. He gradually learned about this Slowpoke. The reason this Slowpoke was alone here was likely not just because of its color but also due to its personality.
If it weren't for its Slowpoke appearance, Cain might have mistaken it for another Water-type Pokémon full of fighting spirit.
"Murkrow, use Dark Pulse one more time. Let's give this future companion a little rest," Cain said, observing Slowpoke's exhausted state. A Dark Pulse with double damage would be enough to knock it out.
Although Murkrow was very tired, it still had the strength to launch a few more moves. With one breath, the Dark Pulse formed and launched the final attack on Slowpoke.
Slowpoke, already exhausted, had lost the ability to resist. Although it had a higher level than Murkrow, being a Pokémon specializing in Psychic moves it couldn't use, its disadvantage was evident from the beginning. Defeat was only a matter of time.
"It would be great to keep fighting like this." Slowpoke didn't feel much about its defeat, but its obsession with battle made it remember this thought as it lost consciousness.
At the moment it fell, a Super Ball hit it, capturing it inside.
The Super Ball shook on the ground, its red light flashing, indicating Slowpoke's internal struggle.
Cain approached the Super Ball and, watching it shake, couldn't help but say, "Slowpoke, if you join me, there will be endless battles."
As if it had heard Cain's words, the Super Ball stopped shaking after a few seconds, the red light stopped flashing, and it finally stayed still.
Seeing that he had finally captured Slowpoke, Cain quickly picked up the Super Ball from the ground and, under Murkrow's eager gaze, released it. When the Poké Ball opened, a red flash appeared, and a small pale pink Pokémon appeared on the ground.
The Slowpoke, previously unconscious, had now regained consciousness. Although its body was still injured and it couldn't move, its eyes were open.
Cain gently lifted Slowpoke and sat on the damp ground, placing it on his lap.
Seeing Slowpoke's hesitant and frightened gaze, Cain softly said, "Don't be afraid, Slowpoke, from now on, we are companions. This is Murkrow, and although you fought earlier, you must get along from now on."
"Caw! Caw!" Murkrow nodded quickly; it didn't want a newly joined companion to hold a grudge against it.
Surprisingly, Slowpoke didn't hold any resentment towards Murkrow. In fact, it somewhat liked it for having provided such an enjoyable fight, as could be read in its big eyes.
"Yadon~," it said weakly, indicating that it didn't mind.
Hearing Slowpoke's sound, Murkrow visibly sighed in relief and began flying around Slowpoke, curiously observing it, trying to understand this new and powerful companion better.
Cain also understood their interaction and, smiling, took out a healing spray from his belt. Under Slowpoke's faint groans, he sprayed it over all its wounds. The scars caused by the Dark energy faded a little.
"Yadon~," Slowpoke murmured after all the spray had been used, looking at Cain with a mix of curiosity and longing in its eyes, which, along with its shy expression, contrasted with the stubbornness and madness it showed during the battle.
"Slowpoke, we are companions now. I'm counting on you in the future," Cain said with a smile, taking a light yellow pokéblock from his belt, the same one Murkrow had used before to recover some of its depleted potential.
"Yadon!" Slowpoke immediately swallowed the pokéblock Cain gave it, its wide eyes growing even larger, showing an expression of great satisfaction as it made a delighted sound.
After a few seconds, Slowpoke came to its senses, but it noticed a different feeling in its body. Since it left its group, it had been trying to imitate a normal Slowpoke, but it always felt that something wasn't right, as if it could only use 80% of its strength.
But after eating this pokéblock, it felt that now it could use 90% of its strength. Although it wasn't at its best yet, it was surprised by the improvement.
"I see you like pokéblocks, Slowpoke. You don't have to imitate other Slowpoke; just be yourself." Cain had guessed that Slowpoke's loss of potential was due to it no longer being itself, trying to mimic others.
"Yadon~ Yadon~" Slowpoke looked at Cain, noticing there was no disdain or rejection in his eyes.
Although Slowpoke wasn't good at expressing itself, it could feel the kindness emanating from Cain and his lack of concern for the differences between it and other Slowpoke. Finally, Slowpoke began to lower its guard and show its true self.
Although it still looked like a Slowpoke, its gaze became sharper, and its large eyes were no longer as vacant. Like windows to the soul, they reflected its desire to fight, a desire it no longer repressed.
Cain smiled. Only when Slowpoke freed itself to truly be itself could it be the real Slowpoke. What did it matter if it was different from the others? Time would prove what was right.
Indeed, using pokéblocks and rediscovering its true self had reversed Slowpoke's loss of potential.
During the next period, Slowpoke would need to continue using pokéblocks. The supplies Murkrow had left weren't enough for it, so Cain would have to make more.
Additionally, Slowpoke's wounds needed more treatment. Although the healing spray helped, it wouldn't recover immediately.
For Slowpoke's future growth, Cain would also have to create some specific pokéblocks for it. Although there were few recipes for pokéblocks combining Water and Psychic types in the system's database, some did exist.
"Slowpoke, can you walk? Let's find a place to rest." This place was too damp to camp, but it was a good point to refill their water supply.
Slowpoke, which was 1.2 meters tall and weighed almost 40 kilograms, wasn't something Cain could easily lift.
"Yadon~" Slowpoke nodded but didn't move. Instead, its eyes emitted a soft blue glow, enveloping itself in psychic energy.
Cain felt the weight on his body begin to lessen until there was none at all; Slowpoke had lifted itself about 10 centimeters off the ground.
Seeing Slowpoke's psychic ability, Cain's eyes lit up. With such strong psychic power and fine control, it seemed he had found a real treasure.
Unless it faced a Dark-type Pokémon, with Slowpoke's psychic power at that moment, it would probably be unstoppable against any opponent of a similar level.
With Slowpoke floating and Murkrow flying in the air, Cain left the mist-filled valley and searched for a relatively dry and flat spot. After a long time searching for dry wood, he finally lit a fire. Just in time for lunch, Cain began preparing food.
Since Slowpoke was injured and needed to recover its potential with pokéblocks, Cain ordered Murkrow to go find food by itself. Murkrow had great survival skills and could find food on its own. Cain didn't need to worry about it.
Then he turned toward Slowpoke, who was lying on a dry rock. With the help of Murkrow and Cain, Slowpoke's external wounds had healed, but the fatigue from the battle still left it a bit exhausted.
"Just rest, Slowpoke," Cain said, gently stroking Slowpoke's head, remembering that it was also a Water-type Pokémon and probably wasn't used to being on land.
"Yadon~" Slowpoke seemed to enjoy Cain's care, and with half-closed eyes, it soon fell asleep.
"What a sincere Pokémon." Cain laughed and, to not disturb its rest, lowered his voice and began preparing pokéblocks for Slowpoke.
(End of chapter)