Chapter 118: Chapter 118:
Cain asked Miltank to tend to the exhausted Murkrow and Slowpoke, helping them regain their strength. As he was catching his breath, he sensed an odd feeling of being watched. He had felt it before while battling the two Team Rocket grunts, but he had assumed it was one of them. Now, with both of them dead, the sensation persisted.
Cain scanned the area, searching for the source of the eerie feeling. Yet, no movement or sign of life could be detected. The silence was uncanny, especially after the tumultuous battle.
Suddenly, Cain noticed a black shadow glinting on a nearby tree, fifty or sixty meters away. If not for the persistent feeling of being watched, he might have disregarded it as a figment of his imagination. But as the shadow darted away, the sensation of being observed dissipated.
Cain furrowed his brow, contemplating what he had just witnessed. The shadow had been too quick and small to belong to a human. It was undoubtedly a Pokémon. And one that could nimbly climb a tree with ease, ruling out the possibility of it being a giant quadrupedal Pokémon.
Oddly enough, even Slowpoke, the most perceptive of his Pokemon, had failed to notice the distant gaze. Cain shook his head, perplexed by this mysterious incident. He decided to set it aside for the moment, reasoning that since the Pokémon had not attacked, it likely meant that it harbored no ill intent. Perhaps it was merely curious about him and his team.
After gathering the spoils of their battle, Cain knew they had to leave the area quickly. The scent of blood would surely attract wild Pokémon, so he urged his team to move swiftly. Little did he know that after his departure, a shadowy figure appeared on the battlefield. If Cain saw it, he might have recognized the shadow as the one that had been watching them before.
The shadow stood motionless beside a Koffing's corpse, seemingly contemplating something. After a while, it vanished in a glimmering light.
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As they journeyed deeper into the forest, Cain noticed the diminishing sunlight spots on the ground. The forest grew denser, with leaves and branches extending wider. The temperature began to drop as they approached the ice mountain.
Since they were in a secluded area, Cain allowed his Pokémon to roam and play outside. The leveling of his team had slowed down after they left the trial island. Even after fighting in the woods between Goldenrod City and Ecruteak City for a few days, their levels did not meet Cain's expectations.
Fortunately, passing through this forest on their way to the ice mountain provided an excellent opportunity for his Pokémon to train. However, the wild Pokémon in this area were significantly stronger than those in the woods between Goldenrod City and Ecruteak City. Cain guessed that the environment here was harsher and less frequented by humans, allowing the wild Pokémon to thrive.
As they progressed through the forest, they stumbled upon a ferocious level 30 Persian, making for a formidable adversary.
Pokémon: Persian (Yellow)
Gender: Female
Level: 30
Type: Normal
Ability: Technician
Held items: None
Egg moves: Tail Whip, Foul Play
Basic moves: Swift, Play Rough, Switcheroo, Scratch, Growl, Bite, Fake Out, Fury Swipes, Screech, Feint Attack, Taunt
Taught moves: Iron Tail, Water Pulse, Snatch
Technical Machines (TMs): None
Although its aptitude was only yellow, it proved to be a formidable opponent for Murkrow and Slowpoke. Its high level, coupled with the Technician ability, and moves like Fake Out, Feint Attack, and Fury Swipes, made it difficult for Cain's team to counter.
Luckily, Miltank's support proved vital in turning the tide of the battle. Gastly, on the other hand, could not contribute much and stayed by Cain's side to ward off any unexpected attacks, as Persian's immunity to Gastly's ghost-type moves rendered its limited move set ineffective.
The situation was even more challenging as none of Cain's Pokémon knew any fighting-type moves. The Persian was lightning fast, darting through the battlefield with grace and ease. Despite being attacked several times, it evaded most of them with a nimbleness that left Cain in awe. It was only after pushing itself to the brink of exhaustion that it finally succumbed and collapsed, unable to fight any longer. Cain promptly seized the moment and captured it with a Pokéball.
At level 30, Persian's worth was not lost on Cain. Its Technician ability made it even more valuable. Selling it to the Hunter's Guild would undoubtedly net Cain a considerable fortune.
Oddly enough, Cain had developed a habit of seeing wild Pokémon as colorful Pokédollars. He couldn't help but wonder if this was normal.
Gastly eagerly presented the Pokéball containing the newly captured Persian to Cain, who deftly shrank, locked, and stored it in his pocket.
"Miltank," Cain called out, "help restore everyone's strength."
Suddenly, Cain sensed the unnerving feeling of being watched once again. He scanned the area, but nothing seemed out of place.
Thinking quickly, Cain turned to Slowpoke and whispered, "Use your psychic energy to sense if there are any Pokemon hiding and watching us."
Slowpoke closed its eyes and concentrated, a faint blue wave emanated from its forehead, scanning the trees and bushes for any presence. After a few moments, it opened its eyes and shook its head.
Cain's frown deepened, unsure of what to do next. Just as he was contemplating asking Murkrow to investigate, the feeling of being watched abruptly vanished, leaving Cain puzzled and uncertain. He couldn't ignore the fact that this was the second time he had felt someone watching him. Although he had dismissed it the first time, it was now becoming suspicious.
"Let's go, we need to find a place to set up camp for the night," Cain declared, realizing that there was nothing he could do about it for the moment. The sun was setting, and they needed to prepare for dinner before darkness enveloped the forest.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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