Rise of Dark Pokemons

Soon, Aoki had looked up the recipe.

These were intermediate energy cubes, known as Huangguo energy cubes. Their function was simple but crucial: they were designed to replenish missing elements in a Pokémon's body, quickly recalibrate their physical state, and restore their original potential as much as possible.

Aoki carefully examined the list of materials required for the cubes. The ingredients—tree fruits and herbs—weren't rare by any means. In fact, they were abundant on this lush island. The production process itself was uncomplicated, requiring no specialized equipment or tools, making it perfect for Aoki and the Dark Crow.

"The next step is finding these materials. As for training, it'll have to wait," Aoki thought, his mind made up. The Dark Crow's recovery was the top priority. While training and fighting could come later, Aoki couldn't afford to waste the Dark Crow's talent. He believed that, even without training for a few days, they could make up for the lost time.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Aoki and the Dark Crow searched the dense forest for the necessary fruits and herbs. Though Aoki's plan had taken a bit longer than expected, it wasn't a major setback.

Holding the freshly made Huangguo energy cube in his hand, Aoki felt its coolness against his skin. Under the sun, the pale yellow cube shimmered, revealing a pulp-like texture inside. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted from it, promising something potent.

Making the energy cubes had been effortless for Aoki. The process went off without a hitch. Now, holding the finished product, he couldn't help but admire it. This recipe had come to him in a past life, and he'd never had the chance to use it until now. Hopefully, the effects would be as impressive as he had hoped.

With a flick of his finger, Aoki tossed the energy cube into the air. As it ascended, lightning crackled from his shoulder and snatched it mid-flight, delivering it straight to the Dark Crow. The Dark Crow, having observed the entire process, had been waiting impatiently, its mouth watering at the delicious scent.

With Aoki's silent approval, the Dark Crow wasted no time, devouring the energy cube in one swift gulp.

"Ga!!!" The Dark Crow cried out in sheer delight, its eyes closing in bliss as it savored the unfamiliar taste. Its entire body seemed to relax in satisfaction.

"It looks delicious," Aoki remarked with a small smile. "But remember, you can only eat ten of these a day. After that, the effect will wear off. The recipe says that seven days of consumption should be enough to restore a Pokémon's strength. Looking at the nearly one hundred cubes in his arms, Aoki decided to keep nine for later, carefully wrapping the rest in cloth and tucking them into his waist pouch.

The Dark Crow eagerly swallowed each cube one by one, lightning-fast, until there were no more. While the effects wouldn't be visible immediately, Aoki could already notice subtle changes in the Dark Crow. Its feathers had darkened slightly, and it radiated a sense of renewed energy.

"Now, let's put that energy to good use," Aoki said, his voice filled with determination. "Are you ready to become even stronger?"

"Ga!!!" The Dark Crow responded eagerly, its cry full of excitement.

Aoki knew the Dark Crow well. Speed was its greatest strength, and if that potential wasn't harnessed properly, it would go to waste. The Dark Crow's mischievous nature, with its ability to use trick moves, only added to its potential.

"Dark Crow, Tailwind." A gentle breeze swirled around the Dark Crow as it unleashed the Tailwind move, which would boost the speed of everyone in its vicinity.

The Dark Crow felt the power surge within, the energy from the cubes turning into a burning heat that flowed through its limbs, filling it with an unstoppable momentum.

Before long, the breeze started to fade, and the Tailwind effect disappeared.

"Keep that wind going," Aoki instructed, his voice sharp. "If you can maintain it longer, it'll boost your speed even more without wasting energy. The longer you hold it, the faster you'll be."

The Dark Crow, despite not fully understanding Aoki's logic, began gathering the wind again, trying to extend the effect for as long as possible.

"Ga..." The Dark Crow let out a tired cry after a minute, the wind finally dissipating, leaving it breathless.

"Remember that feeling," Aoki urged. "Our goal is to keep the wind going at all times. Let's try again."

"Tailwind... again," Aoki's voice was firm as he gave the command.

And so, the training began. Aoki became a relentless taskmaster. With the help of the chip, he could monitor the Dark Crow's progress closely, ensuring that it wasn't pushed too far while making sure the training was effective. The training was grueling, but it was working.

Three days later, the Dark Crow could now maintain the Tailwind effect for ten minutes at a time. Its body had become more attuned to the energy flowing through it, and the results were evident. The Dark Crow had grown stronger, faster, and more capable.

Normally, Aoki would have continued training in the forest until the final trial began. But the Rockets required weekly reports to the base, and if Aoki didn't comply, his points would be deducted, affecting his performance in the trial.

On the fourth day, they arrived at the square, where three hundred people had gathered. Each one stood with a mixture of vigilance and hostility in their eyes. Everyone who had made it this far had done so through hard-fought battles. In this place, everyone was an enemy.

Aoki glanced around at the groups of competitors. A few small cliques had formed, but Aoki only sneered inwardly. Grouping together was a short-term survival tactic, but in the end, it would be strength that mattered. The final trial would see the strongest rise to the top.

Aoki's eyes briefly swept over the crowd. Unlike the others, who mostly had supersonic bats or a few dangerous creatures like the Abo snake or gas bomb, Aoki's partner was different—his Dark Crow stood out among the crowd. Only three other Dark Crows were present, which made Aoki's partner unique.

In this jungle, polarization was evident. The stronger ones were getting stronger, while the weaker ones struggled to keep up.

After three days of grueling training, Aoki looked no different from the others at first glance. But his quiet demeanor and subtle changes—his once pale and thin appearance now showing traces of vitality—marked his progress.

Aoki quietly moved to the corner of the square, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against a stone pillar, observing the others. His eyes, sharp and calculating, never left the crowd.

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