Xander saw Cain's smile and was astonished; in a situation like this, how could he still be smiling?
The others present also noticed Cain's smile and immediately felt somewhat uneasy. They hadn't expected Cain, who was at a disadvantage, to be smiling at that moment.
Was this a show of disdain toward Xander?
However, they only saw Cain reach for his Team Rocket belt, producing a small remote control and a pale yellow pill in his hand.
Everyone's gaze overlooked the remote and focused on the pill in his hand.
It was just a common detox medicine, something that could be directly exchanged from the Team Rocket rewards list for barely 10 points.
Although its effect was decent, it clearly couldn't eliminate the lethal poison affecting Murkrow at that moment.
"Hahaha! Cain, are you joking? Do you think that trash detox medicine can neutralize Ekans' poison?" Xander laughed heartily. He thought Cain had some strategy, but he hadn't expected it to be just a common detox medicine.
This type of medicine, though effective, could only slightly alleviate the poison in Murkrow's body.
Cain's smile widened even more.
"Excited, Murkrow?" Cain ignored Xander's words and asked with a smile.
"Caw!"
Noticing the remote in Cain's hand, Murkrow cried out excitedly.
Since the last battle, Cain hadn't released Murkrow from its burden, and now that he had, Murkrow felt even more confident about the upcoming fight.
Skye also frowned, concerned about Cain's unfavorable situation.
If Cain lost, he probably wouldn't have a bright future either, and he clearly didn't quite understand what Cain was doing.
"Look at the remote in his hand! That's the important part! It seems to be a custom remote for Team Rocket's load."
With a shout of surprise, the other object in Cain's hand was finally revealed. Apparently, this person hadn't spent a short time exploring the Team Rocket rewards list.
Suddenly, all eyes focused on the remote in Cain's other hand, showing expressions of astonishment.
That Murkrow, which was already so fast, was carrying a load?
That Murkrow, which already had such powerful attacks, was carrying a load?
And in a life-or-death duel like this, Cain had been holding back his strength?
Questions and exclamations arose in everyone's minds.
Cain, paying no attention to the surprised looks of the others, lightly pressed the remote with his long fingers and tossed the detox medicine toward Murkrow with his other hand.
"Caw!"
Murkrow, immediately feeling its body lighten, cried out in excitement.
In the instant before the detox medicine fell to the ground, Murkrow swooped down and swallowed it in one gulp.
Although the poison in its body hadn't been eliminated, the medicine helped suppress it a little.
"Do you think that will be enough to defeat me? Keep dreaming! Ekans, use Poison Sting again and show him your toxicity!"
Xander reacted quickly, ordering Ekans to attack again.
"Murkrow, dodge! Get close and use Wing Attack!"
Murkrow flew sideways, dodging the poisonous stingers flying toward it, and accelerated again, heading toward Ekans.
With Murkrow's clearly increased speed, long-range attacks like Poison Sting had no chance of reaching it.
"You're asking for death! Ekans, use Scary Face and Poison Fang!"
Although Murkrow had dodged the Poison Sting, Xander was unfazed and issued another order. Based on what had happened before, Ekans and Murkrow would clash again, and at that point, the poisoned Murkrow would gradually lose its ability to resist.
Cain smiled faintly. Did they really think the load training was in vain?
Murkrow, under the effects of the Scary Face move, struck Ekans with force.
Ekans, whose venomous energy was enhanced by a purple pill, had a significantly reduced sense of pain. Although Murkrow's hit was strong, it didn't hurt as much as the first time. Ekans was about to use Poison Fang on Murkrow again.
"Bang!"
However, this time it was destined to fail. Just as Ekans' fangs were about to bite Murkrow, the latter accelerated and dodged Ekans' attack in time.
"Murkrow, don't stop! Continuous Wing Attack!"
Take advantage of the weakness!
"Ekans, hang on a bit longer, use Scary Face and Poison Fang!" Xander shouted, gritting his teeth.
Murkrow's speed increase had left him with no options, and he could only hope Scary Face would slow Murkrow down again.
Fortunately, this time the Scary Face effect took hold, and Murkrow's speed was reduced once more.
"Murkrow, use Protect!"
But just as Xander was feeling triumphant, and Ekans' poisonous fangs were about to bite Murkrow, Cain's cold voice echoed like a sword piercing his heart.
A green shield surrounded Murkrow, blocking Ekans' poisonous fangs.
Protect! The survival move Cain had made Murkrow learn first!
At the most critical moment, it was used successfully!
Murkrow's wings moved again, as if they were sharp blades, and struck Ekans with force, who watched in horror.
"Bang!"
This time, Murkrow hit Ekans with all its might, sending it flying toward a corner of the field, where it was completely incapacitated from further fighting.
The sound-based defense-lowering attack, along with the consecutive Wing Attack moves, had finally knocked Ekans out. It couldn't be denied that Xander's Ekans was truly strong.
Of course, that purple pill also played an important role.
Xander was paralyzed in shock, and so was everyone else. They hadn't expected the outcome to turn out like this, with the situation taking an unexpected turn.
"Murkrow, kill him!"
But Cain's cold, emotionless voice sounded again, making everyone shudder as they watched Cain give a death order.
Didn't they know Xander's brother was a Team Rocket Officer? Was Cain really going to be so ruthless?
For Cain, the moment Xander gave the kill order, their enmity could no longer be resolved. If someone wants to kill me, they have to be prepared to be killed.
Hearing Cain's order, Xander's eyes narrowed, and upon seeing Murkrow flying toward Ekans, Xander quickly ran, shouting, "Stop!"
The Team Rocket examiner also quickly shouted, "Stop immediately!"
He really didn't want to intervene at that moment, but due to Xander's special situation, he had no choice but to speak.
But Cain acted as if he heard nothing and showed no intention of stopping Murkrow.
"Stop, kid! He can't die yet..."
To everyone's surprise, the person who spoke this time was Instructor Viper, the highest authority figure on the Trial Island. However, he couldn't hide the tone of resignation in his voice.
Instructor Viper had ordered Cain to stop the attack!
"Stop, Murkrow!"
Cain, frowning, ordered Murkrow to stop with resignation. He could ignore everyone else present, but he couldn't ignore Instructor Viper's words.
Because otherwise, he might die!
Since Instructor Viper didn't want Xander to die, Cain spared his life. However, although he wouldn't die, he wouldn't escape punishment!
(End of chapter)