"Caw!" The sharp cry erupted from Murkrow's beak, echoing through the forest. The piercing sound was enough to make anyone want to cover their ears. The four Pinsir facing Murkrow visibly trembled, their thick exoskeletons seeming to loosen as the sound burrowed into their minds.
"Murkrow, let's see the results of your training," Aoki said with a sly grin, pulling out a remote control from his belt. With a press of the button, the weights Murkrow had been wearing instantly deactivated.
Freed from the burden, Murkrow immediately felt lighter, its body surging with newfound speed. Riding the currents of Tailwind, it closed the gap between itself and the Pinsir in an instant.
"Caw! Caw!" Murkrow cried in exhilaration, basking in its agility. Days of training with weights had paid off far better than expected. Murkrow felt like it was soaring on the wind itself, its speed on an entirely new level.
Aoki's smirk widened as he watched Murkrow revel in its power. "Good. Use Tailwind to hold off the first two Pinsir, then take out the others with Wing Attack!"
Murkrow flapped its wings fiercely, generating a strong gust of wind that swirled into two white whirlwinds, blocking the approach of the first pair of Pinsir. With the other two still exposed, Murkrow turned sharply and dove toward them.
Its wings glowed with energy as it targeted the Pinsir on the left, slamming into it with a devastating Wing Attack. The impact sent the Pinsir crashing into a tree, where it collapsed, motionless.
Seeing its companion defeated so quickly, the remaining Pinsir let out an enraged roar and charged at Murkrow with its horns lowered for Horn Attack.
"Murkrow, use Protect!"
A shimmering green shield of energy formed around Murkrow, absorbing the impact of Pinsir's attack before shattering. The moment the shield faded, Aoki issued his next command.
"Now counter with Wing Attack!"
Murkrow's glowing wings lashed out, striking Pinsir with incredible force. The bug Pokémon let out a cry as it was thrown backward, collapsing to the ground beside its fallen comrade.
Meanwhile, the first two Pinsir managed to break free from the whirlwinds, their armor battered and scratched. They roared in defiance, rushing toward Murkrow in a last-ditch effort.
"Murkrow, finish it. Tailwind again, then Wing Attack!"
Without hesitation, Murkrow whipped up another Tailwind, sending gusts of air howling through the forest. It darted into the fray, its wings shining brightly. With two decisive strikes, the final Pinsir were knocked into the dirt, defeated.
"Caw!" Murkrow cried triumphantly, puffing out its chest with pride.
Aoki chuckled, reaching out to pat Murkrow's head. "Don't get too cocky. This is just the start—you've got a long way to go."
Murkrow cooed in response, clearly pleased but eager to prove itself further.
"Alright, let's keep moving." Aoki glanced at the map in his hand. The battle had been just another step in their journey, but it had shown him the strides Murkrow had made.
The forest around them grew denser as they advanced, the trees towering higher and the sunlight struggling to break through the canopy. The air grew cooler, and the presence of stronger Pokémon became more apparent. Signs of weaker Pokémon like Caterpie and Weedle were long gone, replaced by more powerful and aggressive species.
At one point, while Aoki was harvesting berries from a tree, a Raticate emerged from the ground, launching a surprise attack. The Pokémon's sharp claws grazed Aoki's arm before he could react.
Startled but unshaken, Aoki quickly commanded Murkrow to retaliate. Fueled by anger over its trainer's injury, Murkrow unleashed a flurry of attacks, overwhelming Raticate with a storm of wind and strikes. The wild Pokémon collapsed under the onslaught.
Though victorious, Murkrow showed no joy—it was too focused on Aoki's well-being. Thankfully, Aoki had packed medical supplies. He cleaned the wound, applied disinfectant, and bandaged it expertly, all without a word of complaint. Years of experience had made him adept at handling such injuries.
Afterward, however, the commotion attracted more Raticate from their burrows. Enraged by the defeat of their pack member, they swarmed toward Aoki and Murkrow.
"Murkrow, stay sharp! This isn't over yet!" Aoki shouted, steeling himself for the next wave of attacks.