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The gradually setting sun hung in the sky, and its faint rays scattered across the surface of the lake. A light breeze blew, creating shimmering ripples on the water.
Cain, accompanied by Murkrow, slowly walked toward the edge of the cave. Unconsciously, the air began to smell foul.
Cain frowned, and even Murkrow instinctively used its wings to cover its mouth, as if the stench in the air was unpleasant.
The closer they got to the cave, the lighter Cain's steps became. Upon reaching the entrance, despite the intense odor, both he and Murkrow began to get used to it.
Frowning as he stared into the completely dark cave, it was clear that this wasn't a natural formation. Even the nearby rocks bore numerous claw marks.
"Judging by the marks, it looks like this cave has been dug out for a long time. I just hope there aren't any overly powerful Pokémon inside," Cain muttered.
The Murkrow on his shoulder also gradually focused, its muscles tensing, and the air currents around it signaling it was ready.
Seeing Murkrow's tension, Cain smiled faintly and reassured it, "Don't worry, Murkrow. Let's first see what's inside." Murkrow relaxed slightly but remained alert.
Cain picked up a stone from the ground, tested its weight, nodded, and then threw it forcefully into the cave.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!" After a few noises, everything went silent.
A few moments later, a hissing sound came from within the cave, followed by a flurry of wings.
Hearing this, Cain relaxed a little. As long as it wasn't an Ursaring, he was confident Murkrow could handle it.
A group of Zubat flew out of the cave, clearly furious about their sleep being disturbed.
Like regular bats, wild Zubat sleep during the day and hunt at night. Being interrupted now was like waking someone from a deep sleep.
Among the group of Zubat, one was noticeably larger than the rest, clearly the leader.
The Zubat leader, upon seeing that the intruder was just a human with a small Pokémon, growled at a few nearby Zubat and then led the rest back into the cave to continue sleeping.
Observing the Zubat's reaction, Cain was slightly surprised. Despite facing over ten Zubat, which would normally force him to retreat, the leader's disdain significantly reduced the pressure.
Four Zubat opened their mouths, baring their fangs, and after a few flaps, lunged toward Cain and Murkrow.
"Just four Zubat with red quality, the strongest barely level 10," Cain muttered with a smile. He had already scanned their data with the system as soon as they appeared.
Murkrow instinctively took flight. After two days of training and unlocking its potential, it was beginning to enjoy battles, turning into a whirlwind that flew between its enemies, toying with them.
"Murkrow, use Tailwind and then Astonish."
Air currents quickly surrounded Murkrow, transforming it into a black shadow clearly visible in the setting sun. It opened its mouth and let out an ear-splitting shriek that created shockwaves in the air.
Two of the Zubat, caught by the sound, froze in terror. Though not paralyzed, their speed slowed. The other two merely shook their heads, somewhat annoyed by the noise.
Zubat usually have the ability Inner Focus, which prevents them from being flinched, but with their sensitive ears, the screech caused them significant discomfort. Additionally, since they use echolocation to navigate, the noise affected their movement.
The two Zubat glanced at each other and then opened their mouths, releasing inaudible sound waves—the move Supersonic.
"Murkrow, maintain speed and finish them off," Cain ordered, enduring the interference from the Supersonic attack.
The air currents around Murkrow intensified, and in an instant, it reached the two Zubat.
"Use Peck!"
Before they could react, two strong pecks in quick succession knocked both Zubat down. Murkrow, in its high-speed state, used the same trick from earlier in the day, combining momentum with its move to take them out instantly.
At that moment, the two Zubat most affected by Astonish also recovered. Noticing their fallen companions, they displayed fear, flapping uncertainly as they debated whether to attack or retreat.
With narrowed eyes and a slight smile, Cain didn't hesitate.
"Murkrow, use Punishment and finish them off at once."
Punishment, a Dark-type move, had high priority thanks to Murkrow's Prankster ability. Additionally, with the boost from Tailwind, a black shadow streaked through the Zubat, leaving them unconscious on the ground.
Cain nodded, satisfied with Murkrow's performance. Though not yet at its peak, Murkrow's Prankster ability made it exceptional. With status moves, its speed was impressive, and combined with Tailwind, it became even more powerful.
Murkrow, with its green quality, outclassed the Zubat in talent, and with its move combinations, it was no surprise it defeated them quickly.
Using the same tactic, Cain exploited the Zubat leader's arrogance to eliminate the rest, leaving only the furious leader.
Pokémon: Zubat (Yellow)
Gender: Male
Level: 12
Type: Poison, Flying
Ability: Keen Eye
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Quick Attack
Basic Moves: Absorb, Supersonic, Astonish, Bite
Learned Moves: Wing Attack
TM Moves: None
This wild Pokémon with yellow quality was the first Cain had seen. If he had spare Poké Balls, he'd capture it without hesitation, either to use or trade for resources.
Murkrow, exhausted from battle, flapped its wings slower, and the Tailwind currents weakened.
Noticing Murkrow's condition, Cain frowned.
It was too much to ask of it.
But seeing the Zubat on the verge of fury, there was no other choice.
Cain considered giving Murkrow a break, but seeing the sun about to set, he dismissed the idea.
Zubat are more active at night, and although the darkness wouldn't affect Murkrow, it would hinder Cain's ability to give commands.
So, the best course of action was to take down this yellow-quality Zubat before nightfall and claim the cave. In the forest, nightfall is dangerous, and the deeper one goes, the more dangers lurk around every corner.
(End of chapter)