Pokémon: When the World Changed

Chapter 596 591: Cacturne's Strength

"Then, let's choose one."

"The Nidoking group... I wonder if there's one with outstanding talent."

Very soon, Ethan made a decision and directed his gaze toward the direction of the Nidoking group.

He had long thought about capturing a Nidoking with the ability Sheer Force.

Now he had the perfect opportunity to go check that group of Nidoking and see if there was a possibility of capturing one.

A Nidoking raised in a poison-type Secret Kingdom like this surely wouldn't be weak in terms of poison-type talent, and that could somewhat compensate for the lack of poison-type Pokémon in his team.

After deciding the direction of advance, Vibrava carried Ethan flying directly toward the location of the Nidoking group.

Upon entering the Nidoking territory, Ethan immediately saw a Nidoking resting calmly, lying on the ground.

Around it, several Nidoqueen surrounded him, and a little farther away there were also Nidolan, Nidorino, and Nidoran scattered about, members of the same clan.

"Get ready, let's do this. Go, Cacturne!"

Upon seeing the Nidoking in front of him, Ethan directly threw a Poké Ball.

In the next instant, Cacturne appeared on the field, its green body covered in spikes.

"Cacturne, use Ingrain!"

Upon hearing Ethan's command, Cacturne cried out.

Immediately, roots began to sprout beneath its feet and burrowed deep into the ground.

After that, an extremely thick root suddenly appeared in front of Cacturne, silently floating in the air.

"Niddokk!"

At that moment, the Nidoking in the distance realized that someone had invaded its territory.

With a low roar, all the Pokémon of the Nidoking clan came out in a swarm, watching Cacturne in the distance with hostility.

After a series of roars, the Nidoking noticed that Cacturne wasn't reacting at all.

It instantly became furious and, together with its clan, charged directly toward Cacturne.

Seeing Nidoking running toward him, Cacturne revealed a disdainful smile and extended its hand to grab the root in front of it.

In the next second, Fighting-type energy enveloped Cacturne's hand and quickly spread along the root it was holding.

Just as Nidoking was about to reach Cacturne, the root wrapped in Fighting-type energy suddenly swung, like a whip.

PAH!

Accompanied by a sharp cracking sound, the root violently lashed against Nidoking's body.

In an instant, all the Fighting-type energy concentrated at the tip of the whip and exploded at once.

The impact was so brutal that Nidoking's body was sent flying into the air!

Then, under the astonished gazes of the Nidoqueen, their leader Nidoking rolled its eyes back and fell unconscious.

Under a single lash from Cacturne, the leader Nidoking had not been able to withstand even a single attack!

Seeing this scene, the Nidoqueen and the rest of the clan stopped abruptly and, under the direction of one of the Nidoqueen, lifted the fallen Nidoking and quickly fled.

After seeing that the entire Nidoking clan had escaped, Ethan lightly shook his head and didn't pay them any more attention.

Although he wanted to capture a Pokémon from the Nidoking clan, their strength clearly wasn't sufficient, and besides, their cowardly attitude didn't spark any interest in him.

"Cacturne, that whip control was very good."

Then, Ethan looked at Cacturne and smiled.

"Cac!"

Cacturne scratched its head somewhat shyly.

This whip technique had been a combat method Ethan designed for Cacturne by combining the use of roots with Fighting-type energy.

Apparently, the effect was quite good. Although Nidoking's strength wasn't extraordinary, it was still a Pokémon close to the advanced level, and yet it had been defeated in a single blow.

After defeating the Nidoking, Ethan recalled Cacturne and continued advancing toward the direction of the Secret Kingdom's exit together with his other Pokémon.

Half a day passed like that. After finding a safe place, Ethan released Litwick, allowing the flame on its head to disperse the darkness.

"Littwwiikk!"

Litwick was very happy to come out.

Immediately afterward, it used the move Substitute, creating numerous copies of itself floating in the air, completely illuminating the surrounding area.

Seeing Litwick playing happily, Ethan smiled slightly and took out an emerald-green pokéblock from his backpack.

Upon seeing the pokéblock in Ethan's hand, Litwick's yellow eyes squinted with joy, and it flew toward him to rub against him affectionately.

"Here, eat it."

Ethan smiled and handed him the pokéblock.

This green pokéblock was something Ethan had created from the formula of the Water of Life, produced by Shuckle.

After completely squeezing the energy of the Berrys through Shuckle's Gluttony ability, purifying it with the Grass-type Hidden Power move, and finally turning it into a pokéblock, the formula of the Water of Life, which was originally of beginner quality, had been transformed into a pokéblock of intermediate quality.

Even so, purifying the formula of the Water of Life was quite difficult. Shuckle's ability, which normally could increase the quality of other nutritious juice formulas by two levels, had only managed to improve it by one level.

Even so, this pokéblock was extremely valuable. After all, the Thorne family had researched the formula of the Water of Life for many years without managing to produce an intermediate-quality formula.

After Litwick ate part of the pokéblock to replenish its strength, it silently floated toward a distant spot and, together with its clones, took on the task of keeping watch.

Taking advantage of that time, Ethan released his other Pokémon one by one, gave them their respective food, and let them rest.

"And lastly, you. Come out, Absol."

With a flash of white light, Absol's figure appeared on the field.

"Abbssss!"

Absol seemed very excited after coming out.

"It's been a long time since the last time we went out on an adventure together like this."

Ethan smiled and stroked Absol's pure white fur.

"Abbssss!"

Absol also nodded with a nostalgic expression.

Ever since they became involved in the investigation of the Dark Force, they really hadn't gone out on an adventure together again.

At the same time, perhaps this might also be the last time they would experience an adventure like this.

After this, Absol would join the League's operations against the Dark League, and who knew when they would meet again next time.