After quickly dealing with four waves of Houndoom coming from various directions, Cain and Slowking finally faced the Houndoom that had grouped together.
At this point, their numbers were no longer overwhelming, totaling fewer than twenty.
Cain and Slowking had already defeated fourteen Houndoom previously, including the first one they encountered, making it fifteen in total.
They had nearly halved the pack.
The leader of the Houndoom was furious. As one of the dominant predators in the dangerous hunting area, its pack had never been treated like this before.
This could not be tolerated!
Gather the brothers and take them down!
Facing nearly twenty Houndoom at once would not be easy.
Cain glanced at Slowking, who was recovering his strength in the clearing, and asked through telepathy, "How about it? Can you continue, or do you need the others to help you?"
"Yadon!" Slowking cried.
At the same time, Slowking made it clear to Cain that he wanted to try handling it alone, and if he couldn't, he would ask for help.
Understanding Slowking's intent, Cain let him proceed. At that moment, Slowking was in a state of inexplicable euphoria, likely fueled by the intense battles against the Dark-type Pokémon.
If there's a fight to be had, better strike first!
"Slowking, use Trick Room to gain a speed advantage, levitate, and cover yourself with Water Pulse. Attack nonstop, don't worry about me," Cain instructed.
With Floette and Gengar lurking in the shadows, Cain wasn't concerned about his safety.
"Yadon!" Slowking cried again, cheering himself on.
He then created an even larger field than before using Trick Room, enveloping all the Houndoom and himself within its effect.
With his psychic ability, Slowking began levitating slowly, floating above the Trick Room's area of influence.
The Houndoom didn't know what Slowking was planning, but they could feel the space around them becoming dense, neutralizing their speed advantage.
"Grrr!"
The Houndoom leader gave the signal, and the pack launched a barrage of Fire-type moves toward the levitating Slowking.
Slowking quickly covered himself with Water Pulse, but the sheer volume of fire attacks was too much for a single layer to counteract.
Next, in his heightened psychic state, Slowking used Teleport to evade the attacks. Even so, a few hit their mark, though the Water Pulse absorbed most of the damage, leaving only minor injuries.
Then came Slowking's counterattack. Brimming with psychic energy, he unleashed a series of Psychic moves, striking each of the Houndoom.
Although the Houndoom had an average level of forty-two, Slowking's attack enraged them even further.
In addition to their Fire-type moves, they began using Dark-type moves against Slowking.
Within a minute, Slowking was covered in wounds, yet his energy and determination grew with each passing second, in stark contrast to his physical injuries.
He was completely immersed in the battle!
Slowking no longer felt pain, and his psychic energy surged so intensely that it seemed inexhaustible. He ignored the damage entirely.
Cain frowned as he watched Slowking floating in the air, battling the Houndoom.
Even so, Slowking wasn't being overwhelmed.
"Slowking, use Heal Pulse!"
"Floette, use Lucky Chant and Aromatherapy on Slowking!"
Although Cain hadn't summoned other Pokémon to join the fight, that didn't stop him from giving support orders for Slowking.
Slowking knew how to use Heal Pulse, though he didn't use it often, making its effectiveness limited.
However, in his current state, his psychic power was at its peak, enhancing the effects of Heal Pulse.
Indeed, after hearing Cain's command and using Heal Pulse, Slowking's wounds began to heal.
Since Slowking was levitating and constantly moving with Teleport, Floette couldn't use Grassy Terrain to assist him.
But Lucky Chant and Aromatherapy were useful support moves Floette could provide.
The Lucky Chant move reduced the likelihood of Slowking being hit in a critical spot, which was crucial given the sheer volume of attacks he faced. This prevented Slowking from being instantly defeated by multiple Dark-type moves.
Aromatherapy, on the other hand, helped Slowking resist the negative effects of attacks and stay in optimal condition.
Cain, using his own psychic abilities, could sense the changes in Slowking's energy. The Pokémon was visibly exhilarated.
Meanwhile, the red jewel on Slowking's crown began to emit a faint glow.
Amidst the blue psychic energy, streaks of pink began to emerge.
"Is this... Mew's blood stimulating Slowking's psychic power? Is he about to advance to Semi-Elite level, or is he breaking through his potential barrier?" Cain wondered, unable to determine for sure.
Earlier, he had thought Slowking's state indicated readiness to advance to Semi-Elite level, but now he wasn't so sure.
Perhaps Slowking was crossing the barrier toward a higher potential, or perhaps both were happening simultaneously.
It was unclear whether the Houndoom had triggered Mew's blood or if Mew's blood had already been on the verge of activating, with the Houndoom simply appearing at the wrong time.
In any case, Slowking was already immersed in the process. Either he would reach the next level, or it would all be for naught, and it was uncertain if this would affect his future.
As his trainer, Cain prepared to help Slowking overcome this critical moment.
He connected his mind to Slowking's, sensing how his mental energy was hyperactive, thoughts and sensations firing off in all directions. Even so, Slowking was still fighting.
"Now, Slowking, I'll guide you. Follow my instructions!" Cain's voice echoed in Slowking's mind.
Suddenly, Slowking found his center, focusing his thoughts on Cain.
"Teleport!"
"Water Pulse!"
"Continuous Psychic!"
"After Heal Pulse, use Psyshock. Focus on attacking the most injured first!"
Gradually, under Cain's guidance, Slowking's attacks became more rhythmic, turning the tide of the battle in their favor.
Fighting one against twenty!
Come and fight as a pack!
I'll fight you all alone!
(End of Chapter)