Pokemon Chronicles of Darkness

Chapter 14

Murkrow repeated his pattern of attack with precision and agility, deftly evading the attacks of the Koffing and focusing his assault on the Zubat. It was not long before the Zubat too fell in battle, leaving the slower Koffing as nothing more than an afterthought.

Cain, his cold smile playing at his lips, looked on with satisfaction as the Zubat was vanquished. Jack, the rotund trainer, grit his teeth in determination to fight Murkrow, but to no avail, as not a single feather was touched.

John, gazing upon his fallen Zubat, grimaced in despair, unsure of what to do next.

"Idiots!" Jack bellowed, his thick neck reddening with anger. "Can you two stop gawking over there? He's all alone, go and get him! Are you waiting to be killed?" The consequences for the three of them would be dire if the Koffing were to fall as well, and Jack's forehead was slick with sweat at the thought.

His words spurred John into action, who pulled a dagger from his storage belt and held it tightly in his hand. Even Tim, who had been sitting dazed on the ground, stood up tremblingly, his eyes red with determination.

Together, the two of them charged towards Cain.

But Cain's expression remained unchanged, his past as a member of Team Rocket having hardened him to the violence before him. Despite his current physical weakness, his training in combat techniques made quick work of the two teens before him.

"Murkrow," he commanded his companion, "let's take care of that chubby trainer first."

With a fierce caw, Murkrow raised his wings and swooped down upon Jack, his sharp claws slicing through the trainer's throat without hesitation. Jack desperately grasped at his neck, attempting to speak, but no words came out as his body went limp and crumpled to the ground.

Soon after, Koffing also succumbed to Murkrow's relentless onslaught, resulting in all three of the opposing Pokemon being defeated.

Cain was indifferent to the pleading gazes of the three before him, for he had long ago learned that the world was not a kind one. Survival was a battle, and to show mercy to one's enemies was to ensure one's own demise. In this test of strength, only the strongest would emerge victorious.

With practiced ease, Cain deftly unbuckled the storage belts of the trio and led Murkrow away from the scene. The stench of blood would soon attract the wild Pokemon of the forest, and the fallen bodies would serve as sustenance for their hunger.

After wandering for an indeterminate amount of time, Cain and Murkrow sat beneath a tree. Cain offered his companion a few Black Bolt Pokeblocks to restore his strength before emptying the contents of the three belts onto the ground. There was little of value among the items, but Cain pocketed a dagger, some food, and other necessities for surviving in the wilderness.

What caught Cain's attention, however, was a bottle of healing spray in the possession of the youth dressed in green. He could only assume it was obtained through looting, but it was a useful find nonetheless.

As he examined a tattered treasure map in his hand, Cain couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. The map, left behind by Team Rocket as a reward for newcomers, was poorly drawn and the written instructions were barely legible.

But the trio had mentioned that the treasure was located due south of the cave, and according to the map, it lay within the Caterpie territory, beyond the Rattata and Weedle territories. The chubby teenager had claimed they had already passed through the Rattata territory, leaving only one more hurdle to overcome before reaching the treasure.

As Cain and Murkrow ventured deeper into the forest, they soon found themselves approaching the Weedle territory. Compared to the Caterpie territory where the treasure was said to be buried, the Weedle territory was far more treacherous.

"Bug-type Pokemon grow at an alarming rate," Cain muttered, "so we must be careful. There are sure to be Beedrills here, and they're a force to be reckoned with." For it was not their strength alone that made the Beedrill so feared, but their collective consciousness, which meant that if one were to cross them, the entire hive would turn against the offender. And their intolerance for outsiders was legendary, leading to swift and merciless attacks.

"Let's hope there are fewer Beedrill here, or else we'll have to take a detour," Cain said with a bitter smile, imagining the prospect of facing a swarm of vicious insects. The rough map in his possession offered little guidance, and taking a detour could lead to unknown dangers - rivers to be crossed, powerful Pokemon to be encountered. Known dangers were preferable to the unknown.

With a dagger in hand, Cain ventured deeper into the forest, cutting away thorns and branches as Murkrow silently flew overhead.

They had traveled for several kilometers since their battle with the trio.

As they entered the Weedle territory, both Cain and Murkrow kept their movements and noise to a minimum, hoping to avoid alerting the Beedrill that were known to reside there.

As they progressed, Cain was relieved to find that they had not yet encountered any Weedles, Kakunas, or Beedrills. But that relief was short-lived as they came upon a dense forest ahead of them, the trees thick with golden cocoons hanging from them.

The greenery was dotted with these golden clusters, and a deep sense of unease washed over Cain.

Pausing to take in the sight, Cain observed the area carefully. It was a relief that there was no Beedrill in sight, but the Kakunas couldn't be underestimated. They could evolve into Beedrills at the slightest provocation, and the sheer number of them made Murkrow uneasy.

Moving with even greater caution, it took two hours for them to pass through the Weedle territory. But Cain knew that it wouldn't be long before this area was overrun by Beedrills, and according to their characteristics, it would soon become one of the most powerful groups in the forest.