After a short while, Murkrow continued to dodge Koffing's attacks, then targeted Zubat. Even after a powerful blow, Zubat fell to the ground, unable to continue the battle.
A smirk played on Aoki's lips. With Zubat out of the way, the slow-moving Koffing posed little threat.
The tall boy gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated, but no matter how desperately he tried to land a hit on Murkrow, he couldn't even graze a feather.
The boy in green, seeing his fallen Zubat, turned pale, unsure of what to do next.
"Idiot! Don't just stand there. He's only one person! Get him directly before it's too late!" the tall boy barked, his face flushed with rage. The thought of losing Koffing terrified him; without it, their fate was sealed. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he realized the gravity of their situation.
Hearing the command, the boy in green steeled himself, pulling a dagger from his storage belt and gripping it tightly. He knew the consequences if Koffing fell. Even the previously stunned small boy seed to snap out of his daze, rising shakily, his eyes glinting with desperation.
Without further hesitation, the two rushed at Aoki.
Aoki remained calm. As a forr Team Rocket mber, he had faced worse threats. These two were just inexperienced boys. Despite his current physical condition, Aoki's martial training gave him confidence.
However, the confrontation had reached its peak, and the trio no longer posed a significant threat.
"Murkrow, let's finish off the tall one first," Aoki instructed, glancing at the struggling boys with cold detachnt.
"Caw!" Murkrow responded fiercely.
With a terrifying precision, Murkrow's sharp claws slashed the tall boy's throat. He clutched at his neck, trying to speak but only managing a gurgle before collapsing to the ground.
Without its trainer, Koffing beca an easy target and fell quickly under Murkrow's relentless attacks.
The battle ended with all three trainers and their Pokémon defeated.
Aoki barely glanced at their desperate, lifeless eyes. He had long since grown used to the harsh realities of life and death. This world was ruthless, where kindness to an enemy was cruelty to oneself. In this survival trial, the only rule was to live.
Quickly, Aoki stripped the storage belts from the trio and left the scene with Murkrow. The scent of blood would soon attract wild Pokémon, ensuring the forest would claim the bodies.
After so ti, Aoki and Murkrow sat beneath a tree. Aoki handed Murkrow a few Black Velocity Pokéblocks to replenish its strength, then examined the contents of the stolen belts. Most of the items were trivial, but Aoki pocketed a dagger, so food, and essentials.
To his surprise, the boy in green had a bottle of healing spray, likely looted from soone else. Aoki also found a crude treasure map among the items, its amateurish design reflecting its low value.
From their earlier conversation, Aoki deduced the treasure map pointed south of the cave. According to the map, the treasure was hidden within the territory of a Caterpie group, but getting there required passing through the domains of Rattata and Weedle.
Rattata were relatively harmless, but the Weedle's territory presented a real danger, as it likely harbored Beedrill. These Pokémon were infamous for their aggressive nature and relentless group attacks, making any encounter with them hazardous.
"I hope there aren't many Beedrill around, or we might need to find another way," Aoki muttered, imagining the challenges ahead. Known dangers were often preferable to unknown threats, so he decided to stick to the map's path.
Stowing the map in his storage space, Aoki stood, dusting himself off. Murkrow dug a small pit to bury the belts and debris, covering them with dirt before they moved on.
Aoki and Murkrow carefully made their way through the dense forest, cutting through thorny undergrowth. They entered the Weedle territory marked on the map.
After several kiloters, they hadn't encountered any Weedle, Kakuna, or Beedrill. Aoki relaxed slightly but remained vigilant.
Eventually, they stumbled upon a large tree covered with golden cocoons—Kakuna hanging in clusters from its branches. The sight made Aoki catch his breath. If disturbed, the Kakuna could evolve into Beedrill, leading to a swarm attack.
Carefully observing the area, Aoki noted the absence of Beedrill, but he remained cautious. An evolved Beedrill could be dangerous, but an entire swarm would be overwhelming.
Moving slowly and quietly, Aoki and Murkrow managed to pass through the territory without incident after a couple of tense hours.
Once clear, Aoki sighed with relief. "This area will soon belong to the Beedrill. If we're lucky, we'll have passed through before they erge in full force," he murmured, preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead.
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