Hurry

After ten minutes, Aoki set out again to complete the mission, accompanied by Murkrow and Slowpoke.

Walking through the woods with a dagger in hand, Aoki compared the surrounding environment with the markers on his map. His first goal was to find the path shown on the map to continue collecting quest items.

Murkrow hovered above his head, keeping watch over the surroundings. In this dangerous forest, Aoki's detection system, with its limited range, wasn't enough to handle unexpected situations in time.

Slowpoke followed closely behind, its eyes glowing with a faint blue light. Using its psychic powers, it was able to keep pace with Aoki, overcoming its naturally slow movement.

Aoki had learned his lesson from the encounter with the Golduck. Murkrow, serving as the first line of defense, kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings, ready to strike at any sign of an enemy.

If a foe was strong enough to get past Murkrow's defense, Slowpoke would step in as the second line. Using its psychic abilities, Slowpoke could immobilize the enemy, buying time for Murkrow to recover and counterattack.

Even if they encountered an overwhelming opponent, Slowpoke's mastery of Teleport provided a reliable escape route to ensure everyone's safety.

Perhaps the aftermath of yesterday's fierce battle between Gyarados and Milotic still lingered. The forest near the lake felt unusually quiet today, and Aoki didn't encounter any powerful wild Pokémon during the first hour of their journey.

As they moved farther from the waterfall, the air grew less humid, and more wild Pokémon began appearing in the forest.

According to the map, Aoki estimated they would reach the marked path in about an hour at their current pace.

Cutting through a thick vine with his dagger, Aoki revealed a narrow trail often used by wild Pokémon. Though the trail increased the likelihood of encountering wild Pokémon, it provided a much clearer path than the dense undergrowth.

Confident in the double protection of Murkrow and Slowpoke, Aoki didn't hesitate to follow the trail. Even if they couldn't win a fight, escape was still an option.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before a battle broke out.

Whether due to a streak of bad luck or the inherent risk of using a Pokémon trail, Aoki found himself under constant attack from wild Pokémon. Though most weren't particularly strong, Murkrow and Slowpoke ensured none could even get close to Aoki.

In this forest, Murkrow was like a dragon in the sea. Its growing strength and speed made it a formidable force, especially with its ongoing weight training. It moved through the trees effortlessly, turning battles into one-sided affairs.

For example, a Mankey that had tried to ambush them from the trees was discovered by Murkrow the moment it made a move. Exploiting its Flying-type advantage over the Fighting-type, Murkrow dispatched the Mankey with a swift Wing Attack.

This was just one of many attempts by wild Pokémon to challenge them, but the outcome was always the same. Under Murkrow's and Slowpoke's protection, Aoki remained unharmed.

Aoki's approach was decisive: all attacking Pokémon were swiftly defeated. In the wild, showing mercy often led to more trouble, as unrelenting attacks from other Pokémon could overwhelm even the strongest defenses. By defeating aggressors without hesitation, Aoki sent a clear message to other wild Pokémon, discouraging further attacks.

After nearly two hours—double the expected time—Aoki finally reached the path marked on the map. Despite the frequent battles, the results were promising.

Murkrow's level had increased to 18, while Slowpoke had grown more skilled at utilizing its abilities. Its psychic powers had become sharper, and it was learning to fight more effectively under Aoki's command.

If Slowpoke were to face Murkrow as it had during its capture, the battle would be far more challenging for Murkrow, despite its type advantage. Slowpoke's understanding of both psychic and Water-type moves had advanced significantly in just two hours.

Finally back on the original path, Aoki recalled the circumstances that had led him away from it. He had been fleeing from a group of Rattata when he stumbled upon the waterfall and later encountered Slowpoke.

Reflecting on these events, Aoki smiled faintly. "We've come full circle," he said. "Let's rest a bit, eat lunch, and then continue."

Finding a flat area under a tree, Aoki gathered dry branches and leaves to start a fire. From his Team Rocket storage belt, he retrieved two wild rabbits he had caught earlier, along with salt, pepper, and other seasonings.

Using his dagger, Aoki expertly skinned and cleaned the rabbits, with Slowpoke using its psychic powers to help wash the meat. Soon, the fluffy rabbits were transformed into golden, crispy roasted meat.

The enticing aroma filled the air as Aoki cooked. Murkrow and Slowpoke, exhausted from the morning's battles, eagerly waited for their meal, unable to hide their anticipation.

Aoki cut one of the roasted rabbit in half. He ate one half himself and placed the other half in Murkrow's bowl. The remaining two halves went to Slowpoke, who needed the extra energy.

Although Murkrow enjoyed its Pokéblocks, it could never resist Aoki's cooking. After finishing its portion, it returned to nibbling on the Pokéblocks Aoki had prepared.

Slowpoke, on the other hand, savored its meal. Though it had considered sharing some of its portion with Murkrow, the Flying-type Pokémon politely declined.

The meal passed peacefully, with only a few wild Pokémon drawn by the smell. However, the lingering scent of battle on Murkrow and Slowpoke discouraged them from approaching.

After the meal, Aoki studied the map. Though the remaining distance could theoretically be covered in one day, he anticipated stronger wild Pokémon as they ventured deeper into the forest. Adjusting for these challenges, he estimated it would take two more days to complete the mission.

Once lunch was over and everyone was rested, Aoki set out again with Murkrow and Slowpoke. They resumed their journey into the forest, unaware that others were tracking their movements.

Not long after they left, several figures appeared at the site where Aoki had been cooking.

The leader of the group, a tall and pale man, crouched near the ashes of Aoki's fire. Ignoring the risk of getting his hands dirty, he touched the warm embers and brought his fingers to his nose, inhaling deeply.

His voice was quiet but filled with malice as he murmured, "Aoki... what a coincidence."

One of his companions stepped forward, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "What is it, Soros? Did you find something?"