Pokemon Chronicles of Darkness

Chapter 11

As the morning sun rose over the cave, Murkrow flapped his wings with determination, pushing himself to new heights as he honed his flying-type moves and increased the strength of his wings. Under the watchful eye of his trainer, Cain, he meticulously followed his training plan, pausing only when the burn in his muscles became too much to bear.

Meanwhile, Cain was occupied with his own task - the creation of Black Bolt pokeblocks. These tiny treats were a far cry from the simple Sitrus Berry ones he had made in the past. As he sat cross-legged on the floor, his hands deftly moving over the ingredients, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of contentment. The piles of pokeblocks in the containers before him were a testament to his hard work.

As the morning passed and the sun began to reach its zenith, Cain stood up from the floor, rubbing at his numb legs. "Murkrow, it's almost time to take a break. Let's go prepare lunch for the day," he called out. With a joyful caw, Murkrow flew over to perch on Cain's shoulder, causing the trainer to almost stumble as his legs were still numb. Laughing it off, Cain reached up to stroke the smooth feathers of his companion. "Now that you're getting bigger, I'm afraid I won't be able to carry you," he said, half-jokingly.

Cain couldn't help but think of the other humans in the Pokemon world, those who had pushed their bodies to the limit in order to fight alongside their pokemon companions. He remembered the King of Fighting-type Pokemon, Bruno, one of the Elite Four of the Kanto region, whose strength was comparable to that of a Machoke. And then there were those like Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City, whose psychic abilities surpassed even those of the strongest psychic-type pokemon. It was truly a world unlike any other.

Determined not to be a burden to his pokemon, Cain also pushed himself to exercise and strengthen his body alongside Murkrow.

The advantage of their lakeside home was clear, as the waters teemed with fish for the taking. After a few failed attempts, Murkrow finally mastered the art of fishing, diving into the lake with wild abandon until he had caught enough to feed them both. And with the spices and seasonings Cain had procured on his trip to the Team Rocket base, the two enjoyed a delicious lunch together.

But as the lunch break came to a close, it was time to get back to business. "Well, the lunch break is almost over, so it's time to battle, Murkrow," Cain said.

With a flutter of his wings and an excited caw, Murkrow was ready for action. Fighting was what he enjoyed most.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, they were constantly on the lookout for wild pokemon. With his AI system, Cain was able to scan the data of his opponents at all times, and if they encountered one they couldn't defeat, they would make a quick retreat. So long as they avoided the territories of the more powerful pokemon, neither Cain nor Murkrow were in any danger.

As the sun began to set, the two returned to their cave, exhausted from the day's training. While Murkrow battled, Cain worked on his body in silence. Recently, his weak frame had begun to fill out, thanks to proper nutrition and dedicated training. The outline of muscles was starting to show on his once-thin body.

As Cain gazed upon the pokeblocks in the container, he carefully selected one and held it in the palm of his hand. The Black Bolt Pokeblock was a masterpiece, its jelly-like texture perfectly congealed and free of impurities. Using a knife, he cut off a small piece and placed it in his mouth.

The bitter and dry flavor burst on his tongue, making him wince even though he had been prepared for it. The complex mixture of medicinal berries was impossible for anyone who was not a skilled breeder to discern. Although the taste was not pleasant, it was exactly what pokemon craved. As he chewed, Cain felt his strained muscles slowly relax. This was only the effect for humans, pokeblocks were even more potent for pokemon.

He fed the remaining pokeblock to Murkrow, who looked at him expectantly. With a smile, Cain carefully placed the remaining Black Bolt Pokeblocks into his Team Rocket belt. Gazing at Murkrow, Cain couldn't help but recall the taste of the half-eaten pokeblock. Laughing, he scolded, "Glutton, what's the hurry? They're all yours. But before that, you have to eat two more portions of the Sitrus Berry Pokeblocks.

Five days had passed since Murkrow had begun consuming the Sitrus Berry Pokeblocks, and their effects were gradually diminishing. But with only two days left, Cain knew it was best to squeeze out as much of their benefits as possible. Consuming both pokeblocks together wouldn't result in their intended effects.

The bird cawed in understanding and nodded in agreement, as if trying to hide the desire he felt for the newly made pokeblocks.

Cain sat down and began to massage Murkrow using the techniques he had learned in his previous life. After a day of training and fighting, a proper massage in the evening would allow the pokemon to recover faster. Murkrow made a sound of comfort as his stiff muscles were relieved, and he closed his eyes to fully enjoy the experience.

After about half an hour of massage, Murkrow was completely relaxed and his muscles were loosened up. With that, preparations for dinner began. Tonight's meal was a large pot of delicious fish soup, creamy white and fatty, all going into their bellies. The ground was then hastily tidied up before they leaned against a rock and fell asleep.

The forest was noisy at night, but the Zubat cave was a sanctuary of peace. Eventually, the only sound left in the cave was the steady breathing of the two companions.