Unconsciously, the smell in the air became unpleasant. Aoki frowned, and even Murkrow instinctively covered its beak with its wings, as if the odour made it uncomfortable.
As Aoki approached the cave, his footsteps grew lighter until he reached the entrance. Although the smell was overwhelming at first, both Aoki and Murkrow gradually adapted to it.
Frowning at the dark cave, Aoki observed the scene carefully. It was clearly not a naturally formed cave; the surrounding rocks bore numerous scratches.
"Judging by these scratches, this cave has been here for a long time. I just hope there isn't a particularly powerful Pokémon inside," Aoki murmured.
Murkrow, perched on Aoki's shoulder, tensed up, its muscles tightening and the air around it shifting, ready for action.
Noticing Murkrow's tension, Aoki smiled and reassured it, "Relax, Murkrow. Let's see what's in there first." Murkrow began to ease up slightly.
Aoki picked up a stone near his feet, tested its weight, nodded, and threw it into the cave.
"Thud... thud... thud." After a few dull echoes, there was silence.
Soon, a rustling sound emerged from the cave, followed by the fluttering of wings.
Prepared for what might come, Aoki's tension eased when he recognized the sound. As long as it wasn't something as powerful as an Ursaring, he was confident Murkrow could handle it.
A group of Zubat flew out of the cave, disturbed from their slumber, their red eyes glinting fiercely. Like regular bats, wild Zubat are nocturnal, hunting at night and sleeping during the day. Being woken during the day had clearly angered them.
Among the Zubat, one stood out, larger than the rest—it was clearly the leader. It glared at Aoki and Murkrow, realizing it was only a human and a seemingly weak Pokémon that had disturbed their rest. It barked a few commands at the surrounding Zubat and returned to the cave, taking most of the group with it.
Aoki was momentarily surprised by the Zubat leader's behavior. He had anticipated facing over a dozen Zubat, which would have forced him to retreat despite his confidence. However, the leader's obvious disdain significantly reduced the immediate threat.
Four Zubat remained, baring their fangs and flapping their wings as they charged toward Aoki and Murkrow.
"It's just four red-qualified Zubat, and the highest level is only 10." With a chuckle, Aoki quickly scanned their data using his system.
Murkrow took to the air eagerly. After two days of training and resting, it had developed a passion for battling, enjoying the freedom of flight and the thrill of toying with its enemies.
"Murkrow, use Tailwind, then Astonish!" Aoki commanded.
A current of air gathered around Murkrow, making it a noticeable black blur in the setting sun. It opened its beak wide, emitting a sharp, jarring cry that rippled through the air.
Two of the Zubat recoiled, visibly shaken by the harsh sound. Though not fully incapacitated, their movements slowed considerably. The other two, seemingly unaffected, shook their heads, feeling the discomfort but regaining composure quickly.
Zubat typically use their heightened senses and echolocation to navigate, making the harsh sound particularly disruptive. Two Zubat glanced at each other before emitting soundwaves—the move Supersonic.
"Murkrow, maintain speed and finish them quickly," Aoki instructed calmly, enduring the unsettling noise.
Murkrow's speed increased, and it closed in on the Zubat in moments.
Before the Zubat could react, Murkrow struck twice, sending the two Zubat crashing to the ground. In a high-speed attack, Murkrow's combination of inertia and skill proved lethal.
The remaining Zubat, recovering from their initial fright, saw their fallen companions and hesitated. Fear flickered in their eyes, their wings trembling as they wavered between attacking or retreating.
Noticing their hesitation, Aoki seized the moment. "Murkrow, use Punishment and end this."
Thanks to Murkrow's Prankster ability, Murkrow unleashed a dark energy blast between the two Zubat before they could react, incapacitating them instantly.
Aoki nodded in satisfaction. Murkrow had performed excellently, especially given it hadn't fully recovered yet. With its Prankster ability enhancing the effectiveness of its status moves and its growing mastery of Tailwind, Murkrow was proving to be a formidable partner. Its green qualifications and the perfect execution of skills made quick work of the Zubat.
Using the arrogance and laziness of the Zubat leader to their advantage, Aoki and Murkrow swiftly eliminated the rest of the Zubat, leaving only the furious leader.
Pokémon: Zubat (Yellow)
Level: 12 Google seaʀᴄh novel⸺fire.net
Egg Move: Quick Attack
Basic Moves: Absorb, Supersonic, Astonish, Bite
Learned Moves: Wing Attack
This was the first time Aoki had encountered a yellow-qualified wild Pokémon. If he had a spare Poké Ball, he wouldn't hesitate to catch it, whether for his team or to exchange for resources later.
Murkrow, still energized but visibly slower, flapped its wings as the effects of Tailwind began to wane.
Aoki frowned, concerned about Murkrow's stamina. "Perhaps I pushed too hard," he thought.
But with the Zubat leader on the verge of fury, Aoki had no choice but to continue the fight.
Originally, Aoki had considered giving Murkrow a break. However, noticing the sun dipping below the horizon, he abandoned the idea. Battling at night would only enhance the Zubat's abilities, while diminishing visibility would hinder both him and Murkrow.
"We need to finish this before nightfall and claim this cave," Aoki resolved. He knew the forest at night was far more dangerous, with threats lurking in every shadow.