Chapter 129:

The Prankster ability of Murkrow enabled status-type moves to take precedence. This was a game setting, but it manifested similarly in reality. Tailwind, a team-boosting move, hastened speed, so after Murkrow executed it, the entire squad felt incredibly light on their feet.

Slowpoke unleashed its Water Gun with precision. Though Sneasel was a bit sluggish, it grasped Cain's strategy. Its Icy Wind didn't directly target Donphan; instead, it merged with Slowpoke's Water Gun.

Neither fully freezing the Water Gun nor letting Icy Wind lose potency, the ingenious combination spawned small ice shards within the jet of water, fusing icy and water energies.

While the fusion wasn't flawless, it was their first attempt, and the results already exceeded Cain's expectations.

Water Gun, now imbued with tiny ice shards, pelted Donphan's body.

The Ground-type Donphan, doubly vulnerable to Water and Ice moves, suffered even greater damage from the merged attributes. Crying out in agony, its eyes flashed crimson.

Donphan had been slumbering soundly in the cave, only to be roused by a blast of water. Initially believing a rival Pokemon had invaded its lair, it searched in vain for the intruder. Already irate from its rude awakening, it stormed out of the cave to vent its frustration. Yet just as it halted its Rollout, an even colder, ice-laden water jet struck its face.

Instantly, Donphan's fury reached a boiling point.

Exhaling two labored breaths through its lengthy snout, its front hooves stomped the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Without uttering a sound, it curled into a wheel. Its thick armor resembled tire treads, gathering small stones as it rolled. The formidable tusks protruding from either side were akin to lengthy spears, daring anyone to approach.

Rollout commenced!

At first, the power of Rollout wasn't overwhelming. But as it continued, its strength multiplied, eventually reaching a staggering 480 points. If any of Cain's Pokemon took a direct hit, they would be instantly incapacitated.

Moreover, if Rollout was activated after using Defense Curl, the attack's power doubled, maxing out at an alarming 960 points.

Cain was familiar with Whitney from Goldenrod City, whose family's livelihood relied not only on their Miltanks but also on their in-depth knowledge of Rollout. Typically, Rollout couldn't be initiated or halted at will, but they had mastered techniques to control it.

As Donphan commenced its Rollout rampage, Cain disapproved of its reckless approach, relying on brute force rather than strategy.

Cain wasn't alone in his disdain; his Pokemon shared his sentiment. Combatting such a Pokemon felt like picking on a lumbering, dim-witted creature—hardly a gratifying experience.

"Slowpoke, use Confusion to envelop your Water Gun and drench him. Sneasel, keep using Icy Wind to impede his progress. Murkrow, unleash Dark Pulse to disrupt him!" Cain directed coolly.

Donphan's Rollout had only just begun, so its power remained relatively low. As its speed increased, controlling its direction would become increasingly challenging.

Sneasel exhaled another Icy Wind. Before, in order to synergize with Slowpoke's Water Gun, it hadn't maximized Icy Wind's potency. Now, to hinder Donphan, Sneasel unleashed the full extent of its ice energy.

Already slow-moving, Donphan's pace diminished further under Sneasel's relentless attack. A thin layer of frost enveloped its body, significantly hampering its speed.

Murkrow's Dark Pulse wasn't aimed primarily at Donphan but rather its surroundings, creating an uneven terrain that curbed the rampaging Pokemon's momentum.

Slowpoke took on the role of the primary attacker. Following its Water Gun, it harnessed Confusion to manipulate the water flow. Instead of striking Donphan directly, it waited for its teammates to slow the Rollout. Then, deftly wielding Confusion, Slowpoke encased Donphan within a watery orb.

In a flash, Donphan's Rollout halted, leaving it trapped and gasping within the watery sphere. Its usually small eyes widened in distress, its face flushed and contorted in pain from the inability to breathe.

"Sneasel, use Icy Wind again. Let's turn him into an ice cube," Cain chuckled, amused by Donphan's predicament.

"Sneasel!"

Nodding, Sneasel unleashed its ice energy once more. Alongside Slowpoke, they transformed the water ball encasing Donphan into a massive ice ball.

Immobile and frozen within, Donphan could only shift its tiny, panicked eyes. Cain marveled at the creature's resilience. Despite its vulnerability to Water and Ice moves, Donphan's physical fortitude was impressive, as it still managed some movement in such a suffocating state.

After a while, Cain instructed his Pokemon to shatter the ice. Donphan lay immobilized on the ground, barely breathing. If not for its faint respiration, Cain might have assumed it dead.

He subdued Donphan with a Pokeball, allowing it to bask in the sun and recover its mobility. Once revived, he stowed it away and secured the Pokeball.

With Donphan captured, a satisfied Cain resumed his search for Onix. His priorities had shifted, though. A rare, green aptitude Donphan held far greater value than the average Onix. He could accept not finding the elusive Onix now.

Indeed, after two more hours of fruitless searching, Cain abandoned the quest and decided to try his luck elsewhere.

As he and his Pokemon descended the mountain, Cain came to a realization: climbing up had been the easy part.

Navigating the gravel-strewn slopes required cautious, deliberate steps while ascending. But descending proved even more treacherous. Frustrated by the slow pace, Cain eventually had Slowpoke use Confusion to create a flat path, allowing them to pick up speed.

Cain had initially refrained from using it for assistance, intending to train alongside his Pokemon. Their rapid growth had outpaced his own physical fitness, and he needed to improve lest he become a liability in the wild.

Midway down the mountain, Cain suddenly detected the sounds of a skirmish nearby. He could discern not only the noise of Pokemon but also the faint voice of a human issuing commands.

"Are there still trainers in this area? It sounds like...a girl?" Cain mused.