Alarm bells rang in Eric's mind when he saw the purple light.
His gut was telling him this had something to do with the cloaked figure in Misako's story. Why was his luck so bad?
He gritted his teeth.
Only a hundred meters. Only a hundred meters till he reaches the cave.
He can't back down now and betray Gastly's resolve.
He pressed forward at full speed. Flying on Fearow wasn't an option, as they would be an open target for the wild Pokémon here.
"Fearow, Aerial Ace! Poliwag assist him. Clear the path ahead!"
There was still a small group of pokemon between Eric and the cave.
Fearow shot through them, taking many of them down in one motion. Poliwag fired Bubble Beams from behind and even Gastly assisted a little.
Eric sprinted through the gap they'd opened.
Huff… huff… almost there.
Five meters from the entrance.
A blast of wind slammed into Eric from the side, throwing him off his feet. He rolled and came up in a crouch, heart pounding.
"Oho? Now, who do we have here?"
The cloaked figure hovered above on a Flygon, his cloak flowing in the air.
'Shit.'
Pokémon: Flygon
Gender: Male
Level: 45
Type: Ground/Dragon
Ability: Levitate
Held Item: None
Potential: Blue
Eric went pale looking at these stats.
There was no way he could match that.
Fearow, Poliwag, and Gastly rushed in front of him, forming a protective line. They stared up at the Flygon, bodies tense, wings flared.
"To think I'd find another toy after losing that bitch," the figure said, voice dripping with giddy malice. "Now, what are you doing in this place, kid? This can't be a coincidence."
Eric's eyes narrowed. "I don't have to tell you anything."
The cloaked figure laughed, a manic, screeching sound, as he got off from Flygon's back.
"Haha… hahahaha… ahh. I love brave idiots like you. Even after seeing the difference in our strength, you still act tough."
He then abruptly stopped laughing and began slamming his foot on the ground in frustration.
"Damn it, what should I do. I want to play with you now, but I can't delay either. I want to get it before the others come and take all the credit... Baah. They can't make it here quickly anyway. Guess I'll play with you just a little..."
His eyes glinted in madness.
"Tell me, how many seconds will you survive against this Flygon? Kahaha, Flygon Dragon Pulse!"
"Shit. All 3 of you, use protect!"
Gastly, Fearow and Poliwag used protect simultaneously as the Dragon Pulse reached them.
But it was no use.
Flygon ignored all the attacks and fired another Dragon Pulse.
'Damnit'
Just when Eric thought all was over, A Scizor appeared in front of him and blocked the Dragon Pulse!
"What?"
Eric looked up in confusion to see a Pidgeot carrying a woman on her back descend from the skies.
They then landed between the Flygon and Eric as the woman jumped off from the PIdgeot.
She was dressed in a Red and Grey uniform and had Jet Black hair. Eric immediately understood this was Misako's sister and sighed in relief.
"You must be Eric. Misako told me about you."
She turned to Eric and said. Then she quickly turned around and faced the Cloaked figure.
"We'll talk later. For now, escape this place. That guy is dangerous."
Haruko said as she released all 6 of her Pokémon.
Arcanine Lvl 48, Blastoise Lvl 47, Pidgeot Lvl 45, Scizor Lvl 44, Jolteon Lvl 49, Rhyhorn Lvl 43
"You actually came back for more? I'm so happy I could cry. It is the existence of you idiots that brings so much joy in my life. Forget the mission for now, I'll first play with you both till my heart is content."
This time, they didn't send out an army of Pokémon like before, and sent out only 6, including the Flygon.
Flygon Lvl 45, Aggron Lvl 46, Camerupt Lvl 44, Alakazam Lvl 46, Gyarados Lvl 47, Mismagious Lvl 48
Eric's expression turned serious as he saw this lineup. Both of them were equally matched. But that masked guy must have more Pokemon as well...
As he was thinking this, the figure looked towards him.
"How can I forget about you? Let's see. For you these should do it."
Eric didn't wait for him to throw the Balls as he rushed into the cave.
"Chase after him you 2"
Two Arbok were released and they started chasing Eric into the cave.
Arbok Lvl 34, Arbok Lvl 32
Haruko tried to stop them from chasing Eric, but this time she had her hands full. The opposing 6 Pokemon were roughly an equal match for her, and prevented her from assisting Eric.
'Shit. I'm sorry but you're on your own kid.'
Haruko apologised in her mind as she then looked coldly towards the Cloaked figure. That kid had helped Misako and it frustrated her that she couldn't protect him completely.
"Don't stare at me like that. You'll get me more worked up, and you don't want that"
The voice was even more giddy as they spoke. Haruko felt the pressure on her increase by a fold as she felt the figure staring at her.
Without further delay, she engaged the figure in an all out battle.
The overwhelming pressure radiating from the twelve Pokémon forced every wild Pokémon within a kilometer to flee.
---
Misako made her way towards the light. She was slowed down because the number of wild Pokemon she had to face along the way.
Suddenly, the Pokemon she was currently facing jumped up, and then started to flee. Misako was confused but then Eevee and Misdreavus gestured to her that there was a powerful presence up ahead.
'That must be sister and that guy.'
"Let's hurry you 2."
Steeling her resolve, she quickly made her way towards the cave. All wild Pokemon in the area had retreated, so she did not encounter anymore of them.
---
The cave Eric entered was huge and had multiple pathways. According to Alka's map, the pearls were in the right most path.
Chasing after Eric were 2 Arbok.
This was different from the injured pokemon he fought before. They were true intermediate level Pokemon with all their power.
They were too strong for him to face head on.
"Fearow, use Aerial ace on the rocks on the roof. Block their path with them. Gastly, keep firing Ghost Balls at them, Poliwag, you assist Gastly with ranged attack as well."
It was a desperate struggle. Eric was fighting to buy even a second more, but the situation was grim.
Even if he bought time, eventually they'll catch up. He had to find out a way to defeat them here… and hope that Haruko defeats that Cloaked figure. If not it's be meaningless…
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