The special effect of the Friend Ball was also the most suitable for Cain.
It directly established a certain level of rapport with Kommo-o.
Although strictly speaking, the relationship between Kommo-o and Cain was more of a cooperation, that didn't stop Cain from using some little tricks.
He opened the Friend Ball and released him.
Kommo-o appeared from the Pokéball, and when he looked at Cain, there was a strange feeling in his eyes.
He didn't know why, but suddenly that person seemed more pleasant to look at.
That feeling of having been manipulated completely vanished in an instant.
Five battles? Kommo-o had never been afraid of fighting. If he really could find a worthy opponent, he wouldn't even need Cain to say anything—he'd go out seeking battle on his own.
But if it was about bullying the weak, then he had no interest at all.
Kommo-o was a Pokémon that only enjoyed fighting with others of similar or greater strength.
Putting the Friend Ball away in his chest, Cain didn't force him to stay inside the Pokéball either.
As the boss he was, he could stay wherever he wanted.
After organizing everything at the camp, Cain prepared to leave.
He only left three battle Pokémon out: Tyranitar, Aggron, and Blaziken. All the others were stored away.
That was enough.
Tyranitar had reached the Elite level, Aggron and Blaziken were both at the peak of the Quasi-Elite level, and could Mega Evolve. There was no problem in terms of combat or protection.
Cain's psychic power was also far beyond the reach of most Pokémon.
Sitting in a sand chair, Cain had a blue and black Pokémon on his lap, looking like a small dog.
It was Riolu. On the backrest of the chair sat a green-haired girl, feet dangling in the air, swinging calmly.
Both Riolu and Kirlia were small Pokémon that liked to stay close to Cain.
Tyranitar led the way, Aggron and Blaziken walked on either side of Cain's sand chair.
As for Kommo-o, he didn't follow. Instead, he lay down on the ground and went to sleep.
According to him, traveling so slowly was boring. He preferred to sleep a little longer.
In any case, Cain was heading to the central volcano, and would arrive in a week. They'd meet there.
Cain didn't insist. In the end, Kommo-o could only leave that place with his help, and Cain was sure he'd show up.
Within a twenty-kilometer radius, all the Pokémon who saw Cain and his group leaving secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
That scourge was finally leaving.
If he didn't leave soon, the Pokémon living there would probably have decided to relocate.
Over a month in that area... who knew what the forest Pokémon had gone through.
It might have been one of the most "unforgettable" memories of their lives.
After leaving, his first destination was the Slaking Forest.
During that month, Cain, with Tyranitar's help, had multiple encounters with that Vigoroth.
He had told him many things about the outside world, and also some theories about Pokémon like him.
At first, no matter what Cain said, Vigoroth refused to follow him.
Much harder to convince than Kommo-o. After all, he had a large community under his care.
He had suppressed his evolution for so long with the sole goal of becoming stronger, but staying there no longer helped that goal.
That's why the first conversations always ended in Vigoroth's refusal.
But little by little, his attitude began to change slightly.
And the reason for that change?
Tyranitar!
Exactly, Tyranitar.
During that month, Tyranitar fought with Vigoroth no less than a hundred times.
At first, he could only beat Vigoroth with Cain's instructions. Then, he began defeating him quickly under his command, and eventually, even without Cain's intervention, Tyranitar managed to win with his own strength.
Because Tyranitar had broken through his limit and reached the Elite level. Without the level difference, even if Vigoroth had far better control over power, Tyranitar's brute strength made up for the gap.
Witnessing Tyranitar's growth process with his own eyes... it was impossible for Vigoroth not to be affected.
He had worked hard for so long to reach his current state, and yet the other had surpassed him in just a month.
Was that what he had been looking for as "becoming strong"?
Vigoroth began to waver internally.
The scales in his heart started to tip.
Finally, when Cain helped the second strongest Pokémon in the clan—a Slaking already at the peak of Quasi-Elite level—reach Elite level, Vigoroth made his decision.
His clan now had another Elite-level figure.
Although it wasn't another Vigoroth, but a Slaking, at least the group's safety was assured.
Cain had resolved his final concern.
So today, as he prepared to leave, Cain was going to capture Vigoroth, fulfilling the promise between them.
Vigoroth would accompany him out of there and, with Cain's help, try to evolve into a Slaking with a certain level of activity.
Maybe he wouldn't be able to maintain as much energy as when he was a Vigoroth, but at least he wouldn't become like other Slaking—so lazy they didn't move all day.
About that, Cain couldn't promise anything with full certainty.
He could only say: he would do his best.
At the very least, he wouldn't be weaker than he was now.
But that couldn't be achieved in that space. He would probably need to leave, gather some data, and even visit Norman in Petalburg City to get a clearer and more reliable idea.
When he arrived at Slaking Forest, the Vigoroth and Slaking there were already very familiar with Cain and his group.
There was no resistance, and Cain went straight to the deepest part of the forest, where he found Vigoroth still giving instructions to that Slaking he had personally trained.
Noticing Cain's arrival, Vigoroth showed a somewhat complex expression.
The rest of the Vigoroth and Slaking looked the same.
Their leader was leaving in search of greater power. But what he had done for their group was already more than enough.
All his companions supported his decision.
That Slaking he was instructing was, in fact, his disciple, trained personally by him.
He just hadn't resisted the temptation to evolve and had finally become a Slaking.
He would be the one to assume the leadership role in the future, which gave Vigoroth a bit more peace of mind.
To capture Vigoroth, Cain used another Friend Ball.
These Pokéballs are very effective for wild Pokémon that are already quite strong.
As for what to do with Vigoroth, Cain still wasn't sure. Maybe after leaving that space, once he had gathered enough information, he'd start intervening in his growth.
In the meantime, his task would be to teach Cain's Pokémon—whether it be Blaziken, always eager to learn, or the mighty Tyranitar and Aggron.
Vigoroth's techniques were of immense value to them.
That was something that couldn't be reflected by a mere level.
(End of Chapter)