Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

For almost the entire afternoon, Aoki and Murkrow engaged in relentless guerrilla tactics, swiftly moving from one area to another, resting briefly before attacking again. By employing this strategy, they successfully decimated four separate forests inhabited by Kakuna colonies. Despite the low individual experience gained from each Kakuna, the cumulative effect was significant, allowing Murkrow to reach level 14.

However, the intensity of the battles increased as, with each attack, several Kakunas would evolve prematurely into Beedrill, driven by extreme rage. Yet, Murkrow, now experienced and adept at dealing with Beedrill, efficiently managed to defeat these newly evolved foes without expending unnecessary energy.

Throughout the engagements, Aoki's system consistently scanned and recorded data on the Beedrill, revealing that most were of red-tier qualification, with only a few boasting orange-tier. This stark contrast underscored the rarity of high-quality Pokémon, highlighting Murkrow's impressive green-tier status as nearly unparalleled talent.

The disparity between the red and orange Beedrill was evident. The orange Beedrill possessed an additional genetic move and exhibited significantly higher growth across various attributes. While a red Beedrill would succumb to a single Gust from Murkrow, an orange Beedrill required at least two to be defeated.

This clear difference in capabilities emphasized the value of high-tier Pokémon, demonstrating the considerable investment Team Rocket had made in this trial. Among the 300 participants, even the lowest-tier Pokémon were orange, underscoring the trial's competitive nature.

Frequent battles took their toll on Murkrow. Despite the continuous supply of mid-level Pokéblocks, the mental exhaustion began to outweigh physical fatigue. Recognizing this, Aoki carefully massaged Murkrow, helping it recover more swiftly.

"Can you keep going?" Aoki asked gently, aware of the strain on Murkrow.

Murkrow nodded, determined but visibly weary.

"We'll call it a day before sunset," Aoki reassured, planning to wrap up the day's mission after one final push.

After a brief respite, they ventured deeper into Beedrill territory. Each successive battle pushed them further in, increasing the frequency and intensity of Beedrill appearances, elevating the danger with every step.

After nearly twenty minutes of cautious advancement, Aoki and Murkrow discovered another forest teeming with Kakuna. The sight of so many in one place was staggering, a testament to Beedrill's formidable reproductive capacity. Without natural predators or significant opposition, their rapid growth and spread could easily dominate the trial island.

As Murkrow prepared to unleash another Gust, several Beedrill emerged from the forest, interrupting their plan. Aoki's frown deepened as he realized the Beedrill were preemptively guarding the area, indicating that the colony had become highly vigilant, likely in response to the day's earlier attacks.

More Beedrill emerged, their buzzing intensifying, a cacophony of anger directed at the intruders who had decimated their numbers. The sheer volume of Beedrill and their aggressive stance hinted at the presence of a capable leader orchestrating the defense, akin to a pack of wolves led by an alpha.

Aoki's expression grew serious. The strategic positioning and increasing number of Beedrill suggested a coordinated effort to encircle them. The urgency to escape became clear—before the encirclement was complete, they had to break free.

"Murkrow, create a wind barrier and then clear the path behind us with Peck. We need to retreat," Aoki instructed, maintaining his composure under pressure. Murkrow responded swiftly, erecting a formidable barrier of wind to stall the advancing Beedrill, buying precious moments for Aoki to plan their escape.

The tactic worked temporarily, but the arrival of a significantly larger Beedrill, likely the colony's leader, quickly shifted the dynamics. This Beedrill, exuding a powerful presence, effortlessly broke through the wind barrier, signaling a level of strength and intelligence that set it apart from the others.

Recognizing the leader's potential threat, Aoki and Murkrow intensified their retreat, navigating the dense forest to evade pursuit. After a tense half-hour, they finally eluded the swarm, seeking refuge in a secluded part of Metapod territory.

Breathing heavily, Aoki reflected on the encounter. The emergence of a leader within the Beedrill colony complicated their strategy. A unified swarm, led by a strong and strategic figure, posed a far greater threat than a disorganized group.

Despite the setback, Aoki was determined not to abandon their objective. The potential for growth and experience in Beedrill territory was too valuable to overlook. As he calmed his breath, he strategized, aware that understanding the leader's capabilities would be crucial for future encounters.