When Soros heard Skye's response, his eyes filled with rage, and he shot a look of hatred at him. Now, his resentment towards Skye surpassed even that he felt for Cain.
However, Soros was quick to react. In that moment, he turned and began to run.
Before, when he and Skye joined forces, they might still not have been a match for Cain. Now that he was alone, staying meant suicide. If he didn't flee now, what else could he do? Wait for his death?
Cain watched Soros's movements and laughed disdainfully. If Soros had chosen to attack, Cain might have found him more worthy of respect.
"Slowpoke, Confusion," Cain ordered.
In such an uneven situation of power, Soros was nothing more than a sheep waiting to be sacrificed.
Slowpoke's eyes shone with a red glow, and a wave of psychic energy spread from its body, directed at the fleeing Soros.
"Koffing, stop him!" Soros cried, his eyes wide and his face twisted in despair, prepared to abandon Koffing if necessary.
"Koff..." Koffing hesitated briefly, but it obeyed its trainer's command and positioned itself to intercept Slowpoke's Confusion move.
The psychic type has a double advantage over the poison type. Moreover, Koffing's low special defense meant that, with a single hit, it fell to the ground, unable to continue the battle.
Skye narrowed his eyes, maintaining a calm appearance, though inside his mind was in turmoil.
When Cain had recruited him, Skye had simply thought of accepting to buy time and see how things unfolded. However, seeing how Soros's powerful Koffing was defeated in a single strike by Cain's Slowpoke, he began to think that following Cain might not be a bad option after all.
Cain, keeping an eye on Skye, noticed that while his expression hadn't changed, his eyes revealed his inner agitation.
The defeat of Koffing was not only meant to showcase Slowpoke's strength but also to send a clear message to Skye.
Cain knew Skye wouldn't submit so easily, and that his initial acceptance was more out of fear than genuine loyalty.
But Cain was confident in his ability to keep Skye under control, ensuring he wouldn't dare think of rebelling.
Realizing his Koffing had been defeated, Soros ran even more desperately. But as a human, he couldn't hope to escape a Pokémon.
"Murkrow, finish him off," Cain ordered, uninterested in Soros's desperate escape.
Murkrow nodded and, with a flap of its wings, quickly caught up with Soros. With a slash of its claws, it added another body to the ground.
Soros, who had once had his moment of glory at the base, would never have imagined this would be his final fate.
As for the last survivor of the group, Cain decided not to kill him. If he planned to form a team, a single follower like Skye wouldn't be enough. He would need more members for his group.
Cain approached Soros's body, observing his open eyes filled with horror and regret. Skillfully, he removed his Rocket belt, and after a moment's thought, he also took the Poké Ball at his waist.
He pressed the button on the Poké Ball to recall Koffing, then locked it.
Under Skye's surprised gaze, Cain tossed him the Poké Ball containing Koffing and said disdainfully:
"This Pokémon is yours now. I hope you won't disappoint me."
Soros's Koffing had a dark yellow quality, much better than the orange quality of his Ekans.
"This is for me?" Skye asked incredulously, wanting confirmation.
Ignoring the other man's envy and jealousy, Skye gripped the Poké Ball in his hand like a lifeline, clutching it so tightly his fingers turned white.
This was the Pokémon that had ranked fifth in the previous trial. For anyone who could control it, it was like leaping directly to that position, something that would be tempting to anyone.
"What's wrong? Can't you handle it?" Cain frowned.
For a Pokémon with a previous trainer, adapting to a new one wasn't easy. It often wasn't simple to gain its loyalty.
But Cain believed Skye had the necessary skills to achieve it.
"No, no, thank you..." Skye shook his head repeatedly, bowing slightly, showing respect, though unsure how to address Cain.
"Call me Cain," Cain said, unconcerned about formal titles.
"Yes, thank you, sir Cain," Skye said, bowing further, quickly adapting to his new role.
Cain nodded, approving of Skye's response.
Skye was older than Cain, who was only 15 and still growing. Skye, at 18, was already taller than Cain. However, to show respect, he bowed so deeply it was almost like a reverence.
First the punishment, then the reward. This was a tactic Cain often used in his past life, one of the most effective.
Cain looked at the man who had been silent the entire time. Aside from a glance filled with envy when Cain handed Koffing to Skye, the man seemed to be in a state of shock.
For him, that day had been a nightmare. His four companions were dead, and the man he had so admired, Soros, hadn't escaped that fate.
Skye, whom he considered his second-in-command, had betrayed him. Now, he didn't even know what his next step would be, let alone if he'd survive.
Seeing his dazed state, Skye frowned and kicked him to snap him out of it.
The man reacted immediately, his face pale as he looked at Cain and Skye, stammering:
"Uh... uh... Boss, my name is Fox, I mean, my nickname is Fox. My Pokémon is a Koffing. I—I'm willing to swear loyalty. Please don't kill me!"
Cain had already scanned his Pokémon—a level 16 Koffing with orange quality, quite common. However, if he survived, he could be a useful asset.
"From now on, follow Skye," Cain said indifferently.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Fox responded, bowing deeply.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least, for now, his life was safe.
Moreover, working for Cain seemed far safer than following Soros. Cain was the first in the rankings, and Soros hadn't been able to withstand even a single attack from him.
(End of Chapter)