"Murkrow, use Protect!"
With the launch of Slowpoke's Fire-type Hidden Power, Cain ordered Murkrow to prepare in midair.
"Caw!" Murkrow, entangled in combat with Sneasel, felt the intense heat as the energy sphere approached. He cried out and activated his Protect move.
Murkrow could feel the rising temperature, and Sneasel, as an Ice-type Pokémon, felt it even more intensely.
However, while Murkrow had Protect to shield himself from the energy sphere's damage, Sneasel wasn't as fortunate.
Almost instantly, the Fire-type energy sphere created by Slowpoke's Hidden Power exploded in the center of the battle between Sneasel and Murkrow.
With a deafening roar, the fire energy dispersed.
The Fire-type energy, being incredibly intense, raised the temperature throughout the cave after the explosion. All the ice blocks around the blast area melted instantly, and the resulting water at the center evaporated into steam.
As the noise echoed, a mist of vapor appeared in the cave.
Murkrow emerged unharmed from the explosion's center, flapping his wings to clear away the smoke and steam.
Sneasel, however, lay at the center of the blast, his fur singed and unable to move.
Cain observed Sneasel lying on the ground and smiled. "Don't pretend to be defeated. I know you're not at your limit yet. Get up."
Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might think that Sneasel had already lost his fighting ability and approach carelessly, only to be ambushed and suffer serious or even fatal injuries.
This kind of last desperate attack is extremely dangerous.
But Cain, monitoring Sneasel through the system, knew that while Sneasel was close to his limit, he still had the strength for one last attack.
Realizing Cain had caught on, Sneasel stopped pretending, bracing himself on the ground with trembling hands, and staggered to his feet.
Cain, watching Sneasel struggle to stand, smiled widely.
He was very pleased and happy to capture a Pokémon with such a strong will.
Sneasel's strength was not negligible, but what pleased Cain most wasn't just his power but his intelligence and ability to think strategically in battle.
As a Pokémon who had grown up in the wild, Sneasel had learned to use his wits to survive—skills he had clearly mastered in this forest.
"Rest a little, Sneasel. Slowpoke, use Yawn."
Cain didn't want Sneasel to keep fighting until he was totally exhausted. Although he could help him recover later, pushing the body to the extreme would always impact future growth.
An oval bubble emerged from Slowpoke's nose, floating slowly until it stopped in front of the staggering Sneasel.
With a soft bubble sound, Sneasel, whose body was already at its limit, felt a sudden wave of fatigue, especially in his eyes, which felt as if they bore the weight of a mountain.
Sleep crept over him like a tide, and Sneasel's body began to lean downward.
As he fell, his barely open eyes turned toward the half-drunk bottle of milk in the cave's corner.
With a hint of disappointment and sadness, he murmured, "My milk..."
Finally, Sneasel collapsed on the ground, completely losing the ability to fight. Slowpoke's Yawn move had been the final blow for the resilient Pokémon.
Cain threw a Super Ball at the right moment. For a Pokémon who had fought so valiantly, it was fitting to give him special treatment.
After being absorbed by the Super Ball, Sneasel struggled a bit inside, but the red button in the center briefly lit up before going completely still.
Instead of asking another Pokémon to retrieve the Poké Ball, Cain personally approached the blast area, where the ground was somewhat dry, and picked up the Super Ball containing Sneasel.
This battle had been the result of perfect coordination between Murkrow and Slowpoke, under Cain's precise direction.
Without Cain's guidance, even if Murkrow and Slowpoke were stronger, facing an opponent like Sneasel, who countered them in type, would not have guaranteed victory.
Even so, both Murkrow and Slowpoke had suffered considerable injuries.
Miltank, with perfect timing, gave them fresh milk to replenish their strength. Compared to Sneasel, they were in much better shape.
Cain also took out various healing potions and applied them to his Pokémon, easing their pain and healing some of the external wounds.
He also gave them a few Pokéblocks to restore energy.
Miltank's milk restored their vitality, the potions healed their wounds, and the Pokéblocks replenished their energy. With this combination of care, Murkrow and Slowpoke would soon be in top shape again.
After tending to Murkrow and Slowpoke, Cain finally released Sneasel from the Super Ball.
Back in the cave, Sneasel was already awake, though his wounds kept him from moving much. Seeing Cain and his Pokémon surrounding him, Sneasel's eyes showed a flash of fear and hostility.
Cain knelt down without saying anything and, using the best healing spray he had, began to treat the various burns, paralysis, and bruises on Sneasel's body.
Seeing Cain take something out, Sneasel instinctively thought it was dangerous and tried to sit up to resist, but the movement triggered intense pain throughout his body, causing him to fall back down.
"Don't move! Stay still!" Cain said firmly, beginning the treatment.
Sneasel's injuries were severe, and due to his underdeveloped physique, his body was weakened. The only reason he'd been able to keep fighting earlier was his iron will.
However, after being captured, that will had faded, and moving again wouldn't be so easy.
Cain applied the potion skillfully, helping Sneasel recover faster.
Sneasel, who initially feared something bad would happen, soon felt a refreshing coolness on his wounds, as his previously numbed muscles regained sensitivity to pain.
The combination of the potion's soothing relief and the returning pain made Sneasel understand what "pain and pleasure" truly meant.
At that moment, Miltank approached Sneasel with a bottle of milk, inserting a straw into it and offering it to Sneasel.
Smelling the familiar aroma, Sneasel's eyes widened as he looked at Miltank, who smiled shyly. His thoughts seemed conflicted.
After hesitating for a moment, Sneasel couldn't resist the milk's temptation and bit down on the straw, drinking quickly.
At that instant, in Sneasel's eyes, Miltank seemed to be surrounded by a sacred aura.