Pokemon Chronicles of Darkness

Chapter 19

Cain and Murkrow embarked on a daring mission deep within the forest. For hours on end, they prowled the underbrush, striking swiftly at Kakuna clusters and then slipping away into the shadows before the enemy could mount a counterattack. Their guerrilla tactics proved to be highly effective, and by the end of the afternoon, they had decimated no less than four Kakuna clusters. Though the experience gained from each Kakuna was pitifully small, the accumulation of these small victories allowed Murkrow to level up to level 14.

But their success did not come without its challenges. For as they destroyed the Kakunas in certain sections of the forest, a few of them would evolve into fierce Beedrills in their rage. But Murkrow, battle-hardened and wise, had learned to anticipate such an evolution, and could now defeat Beedrills with ease.

Cain also gathered data showing that the majority of Beedrills had a red aptitude, with only a small number displaying an orange aptitude. This served as a stark reminder of just how rare and valuable highly talented Pokemon are. The difference between a red aptitude and an orange-aptitude Beedrill was clear - the latter possessed an additional egg move and demonstrated superior overall growth. In battle, an orange-aptitude Beedrill could withstand two Gust moves from Murkrow before succumbing, while a red-aptitude Beedrill would fall after just one.

As the sun began to dip below the treetops, Cain and Murkrow retreated to the safety of the Metapod territory for a well-earned rest. But their mission was far from over, and as the day drew to a close, Cain turned to his companion and asked, "Are you still able to hang on?"

Murkrow, silent but determined, nodded his assent. "Then we'll make a sweep before it gets dark," declared Cain, and with that, the two warriors set out once more into the heart of the Beedrill territory.

As Cain and Murkrow ventured further, they encountered increasing resistance. The Kakuna clusters that had once been plentiful on the outskirts of the territory were now scarce, and the only way to find them was to delve deeper into the forest. But with each step they took, the Beedrills grew more numerous and more deadly.

It took Cain nearly 20 minutes to stumble upon a Kakuna cluster teeming with life. As he surveyed the Kakunas hanging from the trees, he couldn't help but marvel at the Beedrills' reproductive prowess. If left unchecked, their ability to reproduce and grow at such a rapid pace could see them rule the entire trial island.

But nature, as always, had a way of balancing the scales. There were some Pokemon that could not be defeated by sheer numbers alone. And so, as Murkrow prepared to unleash another Gust attack upon the Kakunas, several Beedrills emerged from the surrounding area, their wings humming with fury.

Cain frowned as he realized the implications of the Beedrills' sudden appearance. They had not come by chance but had been lying in wait, guarding the Kakuna cluster. This was not a few stragglers, but a concerted effort by the entire Beedrill swarm to defend their young. The sight of nearly 100 Beedrills and countless Kakuna offspring slaughtered in a single day had incensed them to the point of near-genocide, and their anger now boiled over as they flew towards Cain and Murkrow, buzzing like a hornet's nest.

As the Beedrills swarmed around him, Cain's face grew grave. It was clear that a formidable leader had emerged within the Beedrill swarm, one who knew how to use ambushes to deadly effect. It was as if he were facing a pack of wolves - a single wolf or even a pack of wolves would not be so terrifying, but it was the presence of a leader who could command and unite the pack that made them truly formidable.

The Beedrills before him were no different, and their numbers continued to grow, slowly encircling him and Murkrow in a siege. "We can't go on like this," Cain thought to himself, his mind racing as he sought a way out. But the more dangerous the situation became, the calmer he became, and his habitual coolness of mind led him to devise a plan of escape. His AI system was always on, analyzing the situation around him.

Murkrow, too, sensed the danger, and with a loud "Caw! Caw!" he warned the Beedrills not to come any closer. As Cain slowly retreated with Murkrow, a vigorous buzzing could be heard from behind the Beedrill swarm. Suddenly, as if receiving some kind of command, all the Beedrills seemed to go berserk, their anger intensifying and their wings flapping like a raging wave.

"Murkrow, use Gust at the front to block them as much as possible. Then, while we retreat, use Peck to take care of the few Beedrills behind you," Cain ordered coolly. Fortunately, the encirclement was not yet complete, and there were only a few Beedrills behind them. As long as they could quickly dispatch the Beedrills blocking their escape before the front line broke through the wind wall of Gust, they could still make it out safely.

A split second later, two massive white whirlwinds appeared in front of the Beedrills, blocking their path forward. Even if one or two Beedrills tried to break through the whirlwinds, they were caught up in them in an instant and became incapacitated. Without looking back, Cain wiped his hand on the storage belt around his waist, and a piece of brownish-yellow cloth appeared. He casually tied it around his head, revealing only his two eyes, and then dashed straight into the dense forest.

Cain ignored the two Beedrills that charged at him. He was confident that Murkrow would be able to get rid of the two remaining blockers in time after using Gust. With a flash of black light, Murkrow's Peck attack knocked the two low-level Beedrills away, leaving them motionless on the ground. Peck is also a flying-type move, so it dealt a lot of damage to the Beedrills. After easily dispatching them, Murkrow appeared above Cain, ready to escort him away.

Suddenly, amid the whirlwind that blocked the path of all the Beedrills, a huge figure appeared, steady amid Gust's attack. With a roar, a long sharp needle pierced through the whirlwind, causing it to directly dissipate. It was only then that the figure was revealed to be a Beedrill that was twice the size of the average Beedrill. When Cain heard the activity, he looked back from the corner of his eye, and his pupils contracted. It was the Beedrill swarm's leader. The system couldn't scan the data because Cain was too far away, but judging by the aura alone, it was no weaker than the Pinsir that had been defeated before. It might have felt even stronger.

But now was not the time to fight; even if it is special, Cain's footsteps would not stop. Instead, he accelerated, leading Murkrow in a hasty retreat, using Gust to block the way a few more times before gradually shaking off the swarm of Beedrills.

After a grueling half-hour battle. Cain, breathing heavily, was able to rest at last under a tree deep in Metapod territory. It was only because of proper nutrition, combined with the breathing techniques he had learned in his previous life while training his body, that he was able to hold on after such an intense pursuit.

As his breathing gradually calmed down, Cain couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He thought about the sheer number of Beedrills he had seen while escaping. He had originally thought that even if there were more of them, they would all be newly evolved and easily restrained by flying-type moves. He had believed that as long as he controlled his pace, he could devour the entire territory step by step, making it the perfect training ground for Murkrow.

But he never could have predicted that an intelligent leader, capable of coordinating the entire situation, would have quickly emerged within the swarm, causing a significant problem for Cain. Whether or not a group has a leader makes a significant difference in the group's fighting power and cohesiveness. A group with a qualified leader can unite a dispersed group of people, much like a clenched fist that delivers a powerful punch to the enemy.

The appearance of the Beedrill leader put Cain in a difficult spot. But it would be a shame to give up so easily. It was too late for Cain to scan the leader's stats as he fled, but to become the leader of a group so early on and without controversy, the leader couldn't have had low talent or strength.