Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom

By this point, all of Xander's Pokémon, except for Nidoking, had completely lost the ability to fight.

"Xander, if you've got any other tricks, show them now! I want to see what other cards your brother left you!" Cain said, as Ursaring and Arbok, lying at his feet, began to slowly wake under Miltank's care, though they were still unable to battle for the moment.

Meanwhile, Murkrow and the others were still in relatively good condition, though all of them bore some injuries.

Now, their only opponent was a Nidoking. For Cain and his team, it no longer posed a major threat, even with its considerable strength.

"Damn you, Cain! Nidoking, use Earthquake and Thunderbolt with everything you've got!" Xander yelled, his face devoid of fear.

Even though he couldn't win, he wanted to rip a piece of flesh from Cain.

The enraged Nidoking felt no pain in its body at the moment. Unless its arms or legs were broken, even direct hits wouldn't bother it.

If they chose to go into close combat, they needed to be prepared to be grabbed by Nidoking.

"Murkrow, Protect and then Dark Pulse!"

"Slowpoke, levitate using your psychic powers and use Psyshock!"

"Sneasel, watch out for the Earthquake, jump, and use Icicle Crash!"

"Haunter, Shadow Ball continuously!"

"Miltank, use Helping Hand on Slowpoke!"

Nidoking's Earthquake was even more powerful than before. Earlier, when Arbok was on the field, the attack had been focused mainly in its vicinity. But now, with nothing to hold back, it unleashed the full force of the move.

Its feet, swollen to double their size, slammed into the ground, sending seismic shockwaves outward in circular waves, kicking up dust everywhere.

After using Earthquake, it didn't stop. Electricity crackled across its body, gathering at the horn on its head. Its use of Thunderbolt was noticeably slower than its Earthquake, indicating it wasn't as proficient with that move.

Indeed, Nidoking is a highly versatile Pokémon. Though its types are Poison and Ground, it can learn moves of other types, like the Electric-type Thunderbolt or the Ice-type Ice Beam.

Moreover, Nidoking and Nidoqueen are no slouches stat-wise, and their growth is excellent. If the opportunity arose, Cain wouldn't hesitate to capture one.

However, Nidoking's best trait is its Sheer Force ability. Combined with a Life Orb, its damage becomes devastating.

Although Xander's Nidoking wasn't weak and had the boost of a Purple Pill, it was still lacking overall.

After dodging Nidoking's initial onslaught, Cain's Pokémon launched a direct counterattack, bombarding the enemy Pokémon with their moves.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Cain knew that, in Nidoking's current state, engaging it in melee combat was out of the question.

Despite the continuous explosions, Nidoking seemed brimming with energy, though its body began to show severe injuries. However, with no sense of pain, it didn't notice.

"Nidoking! Hold on! Go straight for that human—use Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, and Ice Punch!" Xander yelled, teeth clenched, seeing Nidoking's injuries.

Cain's strategy was clear: wear it down. But Xander changed tactics—go straight for Cain, forcing his Pokémon to intercept.

"Humph! Xander, you're truly desperate," Cain said with a cold smile. "If you had other Pokémon, this wouldn't mean anything, but now, who's left to protect you? Murkrow, finish him!"

Xander, blinded by rage, hadn't realized that Cain had eliminated all his other Pokémon precisely to prevent Nidoking from going berserk.

Now all he had was Nidoking. Protect himself or attack Cain—that was the decision he had to make.

If he chose to protect himself, Nidoking would have to endure the continuous attacks from Cain's Pokémon and would eventually fall.

But if he risked everything, Murkrow would take Xander down directly.

"Nidoking, don't worry about me! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" Xander screamed, frantic.

Even so, he retained a sliver of reason and shouted, "Cain! You can't kill me! You don't dare kill me! I already told my brother that if I don't come back alive, it's because you killed me! He'll come after you! A near-Elite-level expert! You can't handle him! You can't handle him! Hahaha! You don't dare kill me!"

He screamed and laughed, appearing utterly insane to anyone watching.

But Cain, with a smile on his face, was unfazed.

Who was the real fool? Even if he spared Xander's life, his brother would come after him regardless, and then both brothers would be together. So why not solve the problem here and now?

Cain had to admit that, though Xander was arrogant and presumptuous, he had remarkable talent as a trainer. He still remembered how, in his previous life, after leaving the Trial Island, Xander rose quickly within Team Rocket, as if riding a rocket himself.

Could someone rise so fast in Team Rocket without strength?

"Protect!" Cain didn't order Murkrow to stop its attack but instead directed his Pokémon to block Nidoking's offensive.

Murkrow, without hesitation, dove toward Xander.

Nidoking, like an enraged purple rhinoceros, launched a Thunder Punch, only for it to be blocked by Haunter's Protect; its Fire Punch was stopped by Sneasel's Protect, and finally, its Ice Punch was intercepted by Slowpoke's Protect.

After these three powerful punches, Nidoking's explosive energy was spent.

"Finish it!"

"Slowpoke, use Water Pulse with psychic assistance!"

"Haunter, Psychic!"

"Sneasel, Icicle Crash at maximum power!"

"Miltank, Helping Hand for Slowpoke!"

Following Cain's commands, his Pokémon acted immediately. Miltank used Helping Hand to amplify Slowpoke's combined Water and Psychic attack.

Being Poison- and Ground-type, Nidoking was highly vulnerable to Water- and Psychic-type moves, making Slowpoke's attack devastatingly effective.

Then Haunter, though a bit inexperienced, launched a direct Psychic attack on Nidoking's head.

Sneasel focused all its Ice energy, conjuring four massive ice spears in the air, which struck Nidoking one after another.

Each attack slowed its movements until it finally collapsed just two meters from Cain.

But that two-meter distance was like an insurmountable chasm.

Meanwhile, Murkrow, dispatched by Cain to target Xander, had also reached its mark.

Xander paid no attention to Murkrow's approach. His eyes were fixed on Nidoking's movements, and when he saw it fall, a look of despair and emptiness appeared in his eyes.

Even the madness on his face disappeared, leaving only complete defeat.

Trial Island, first place, Xander!

Dead!

(End of chapter)