Battle With the Zubat Leader

"Murkrow, hold on a little longer. Keep up the Tailwind!" Larry watched his weary Murkrow and offered words of encouragement.

"Murkrow!" Murkrow in the sky let out a determined cry. Today's battle had brought it great joy. Despite feeling tired, it was exhilarated by facing the Zubat leader, which was clearly stronger than any Zubat they had encountered before.

Sensing Murkrow's enthusiasm, a faint smile appeared on Larry's lips. He was pleased with Murkrow's combative nature.

"Zubat!" The Zubat leader screamed in anger. To him, this human and his frail-looking Murkrow had turned him into a commander without an army.

The Zubat leader, with its relatively high intelligence, could clearly sense that the human before him was fragile.

As the sun dipped lower, the Zubat leader felt increasingly invigorated, and his strength surged.

With a sudden flap of its wings, the Zubat leader's mouth, exuding a bloody scent, revealed two gleaming fangs.

A Dark-type move, Bite!

Seeing that the Zubat leader targeted Larry, Murkrow quickly sprang into action, taking advantage of the last moments of Tailwind's acceleration and blocking the Zubat leader's path.

The more dangerous the situation, the calmer Larry became. Having faced death once, he could maintain absolute composure in any situation.

"Murkrow, use a Feint Attack!"

Murkrow transformed into a bullet-like projectile, colliding fiercely with the Zubat leader.

"Boom!"

After the collision, two figures were sent flying, evenly matched.

After a brief pause, they clashed once again. Without the Tailwind's speed boost, Murkrow couldn't fully utilize its speed, but it still had a slight edge over the Zubat leader. Although the Zubat leader attempted to bypass Murkrow to attack Larry, it found itself tightly entangled by Murkrow.

However, as night fell, the Zubat leader became more alert and energetic, while Murkrow, enduring the prolonged battle, gradually lost its stamina.

Finally, after another collision, Murkrow couldn't get back up. The Zubat leader's wings trembled slightly, and invisible sound waves constantly monitored the surroundings.

It was as if the Zubat leader had seen something delicious. The battle, which had drained its energy the most, now left it in need of a blood replenishment.

Charging toward Larry once again, the Zubat leader's fangs emanated a faint blood-red glow as it prepared to use the Leech Life move.

"Murkrow!" Hearing Larry's request, Murkrow gritted its teeth. A burst of strength appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and its trembling wings suddenly flapped with force.

The bloody fangs of the Zubat leader clamped onto Murkrow's body, and the Zubat leader paused, relaxing, as if any blood source would do now that it was in need.

Just when the Zubat leader was savoring its victory, the familiar taste of blood didn't flow into its mouth as expected. It felt no rejuvenation. It was akin to craving ice cream on a hot summer day, having it right in front of you, imagining its taste and texture, but when you take a bite, you get nothing but air.

Confused by the absence of the delicious blood, the Zubat leader found that not only was its stamina not restored, but it also felt like its strength was slowly ebbing away. On the other hand, Murkrow sensed a warm flow emerging from the bitten area, coursing through its entire body. The tired body absorbed this energy as if it were a parched desert absorbing water.

When the Zubat leader finally realized what was happening and attempted to rise after its Leech Life attack, its wings stumbled, and it suddenly felt drained of energy.

Snatch is a Dark-type move, allowed Murkrow, with its Prankster ability, to outpace the Zubat leader's Leech Life effect and steal its recovery.

"Murkrow, use Roost," seizing the opportunity while the Zubat leader was fatigued, Larry quickly commanded Murkrow to use Roost. Roost was a Flying-type move that allowed Flying-type Pokémon to recover half of their health when grounded.

Murkrow swiftly landed before Larry, and the surging earth energy gathered beneath it. A warm sensation spread from its feet, coursing through its body. Gradually, Murkrow felt its stamina returning.

Seeing Murkrow take flight again, Larry instructed, "Use Tailwind again and then consecutive Pecks! Finish it quickly!"

When the Zubat leader regained its composure, all it saw was a pitch-black Pokémon appearing before it. Murkrow's beak, reflecting the moonlight, mercilessly pecked at its body. Wounds accumulated rapidly, and the Zubat leader felt its energy rapidly depleting, helpless in the face of the relentless assault.

Under the continuous barrage of Pecks, Murkrow decisively defeated the Zubat leader.

"Murkrow!" Letting out a triumphant cry, Murkrow felt its wings grow stronger, its talons sharper, and its beak shinier. It could clearly see the moon rising over the smooth surface of its beak.

In Larry's eyes, after the prolonged battle, Murkrow had leveled up from 10 to 11. Although it was just a one-level increase, Larry could feel Murkrow's growth.

In reality, each level-up of a Pokémon represented significant progress.

After the spirited cry, Murkrow's body swayed and fell from the sky, but Larry, quick to react, caught it.

This was the aftermath of using Roost. Larry avoided using this move whenever possible because it provided a short-term stamina boost by borrowing energy from the future. Excessive use of Roost could lead to prolonged fatigue and even level regression and diminished abilities. Thus, it was often kept as a last resort.

Holding the now fatigued Murkrow and bathed in the bright moonlight, Larry ventured deeper into the Zubat's cave.

Amid the familiar stench and stepping on the bat guano-covered ground, he endured the discomfort and reached the innermost part of the cave. Through the faint moonlight, faint scratch marks on the cave walls were visible, matching those outside. It was evident that the Zubat colony had simply taken over this cave, presumably after the original inhabitants had either died or left. However, the original residents' departure seemed to have occurred a long time ago, given the thick layers of Zubat guano accumulated on the ground.

Indeed, the cave extended to about 10 meters deep. Upon reaching the deepest point, the ground gradually became dry, and cracks in the cave's ceiling allowed moonlight to filter through, making this part less pitch black compared to the middle section.

Finding a dry rock, Larry sat down, holding Murkrow. Tonight, this would have to do.

As Murkrow gradually regained its strength, it jumped out of Larry's arms and lightly pecked his hand. Feeling the warmth in Larry's touch, Murkrow felt reassured.

Sometimes, Pokémon were just that simple. Being with their favorite Trainer, come rain or shine, they were the most loyal companions and dearest friends.