Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

Slowking and Honchkrow are still the strongest battlers in Aoki's team.

However, the other Pokémon have been catching up in strength, as they have been Aoki's main training focus during this period.

Sneasel, who has been one of Aoki's primary training targets, has reached level 37. His progress has been swift, largely due to the abundance of Grass-type Pokémon in the forest. With many victories under his belt, he has become a formidable force.

Additionally, the combination of Metal Claw and Ice Punch has significantly enhanced his offensive capabilities. The tearing force of his claws, combined with the chilling effect of ice energy, makes his Ice-type moves even more devastating.

Now that Sneasel has reached level 37, he meets Aoki's requirements for evolution. As soon as Aoki obtains a Razor Claw, Sneasel can evolve into Weavile, unleashing his full combat potential.

Haunter, Aoki's former guardian, is now at level 35.

The method of evolving Haunter into Gengar is a dilemma that Aoki has been contemplating. Back on Trial Island, if Haunter had stayed in the cave brimming with Ghost Energy, he might have evolved due to the sheer saturation of ghost energy. However, back then, Haunter did not meet Aoki's expectations. Even now, at level 35, there is still some work to be done. Aoki plans to ask Shadow for advice, as he also has a Gengar and might know how to trigger the evolution.

After all, in his previous life, Aoki never owned a Gengar.

But there's no rush—Haunter can still improve further.

The Pokémon with the most noticeable growth has been Skorupi. As Aoki's primary training focus, he has experienced the greatest level increase and the most significant surge in battle power.

Skorupi's raw strength allows him to charge headfirst into battles against formidable opponents. Over time, he has become the most dominant force in Aoki's current team, steadily mastering his use of pincers and refining his combat abilities.

Now at level 32, Skorupi is catching up to Haunter and the others.

At least, he's no longer lagging behind.

Skorupi's rapid level gain is due to more than just relentless battles. Another key factor is the Toxic Orb he carries around his neck. Though cracked and partially depleted, the orb still holds considerable residual energy. Over the past few days, Skorupi has been continuously absorbing its power, leading to significant improvements in his level.

Additionally, Skorupi has successfully condensed his internal poison sac. While its composition is still somewhat limited, Aoki is confident that with exposure to a variety of toxins, Skorupi's venom capabilities will soon reach their full potential.

Among Aoki's six main battlers, five have reached similar levels, while Miltank remains in the second tier.

She no longer participates in battles and primarily serves as a support Pokémon.

This isn't unexpected—Miltank has never been inclined toward combat. Furthermore, her potential doesn't quite match the pace of Aoki's rapid growth. Now, she plays an essential role as Aoki's logistical support, overseeing the second-tier Pokémon.

Fortunately, Aoki's custom-made Pokéblocks ensure that her level continues to rise gradually, albeit at a slower pace. While Miltank may no longer appear in Aoki's battles, she is content with her current responsibilities.

Overall, Aoki's team has made tremendous progress. This is largely due to the high-level Pokémon inhabiting the forest. If they had been weaker, Aoki's training strategy wouldn't have been nearly as effective.

Yet, despite his strength, Aoki must remain cautious. Many wild Pokémon in this forest remain beyond his current ability to defeat.

For instance, just yesterday, Aoki accidentally wandered into the territory of an incredibly strong wild Pokémon and was forced to flee. If not for Slowking's Teleport, the situation could have turned disastrous.

The opponent in question was a level 50 Shiftry.

A level 50 Pokémon is already at the cusp of an Elite Trainer's level. Against such a foe, Aoki stood no chance. Fortunately, he escaped unscathed.

Thus, even with his current strength, Aoki must remain vigilant wherever he goes in this forest.

Facing opponents around level 40, however, is not as problematic.

If one Pokémon struggles, they can team up, ensuring eventual victory.

Against these foes, Aoki cannot afford to hold back. Wild Pokémon often conceal hidden techniques, and underestimating them could lead to serious injuries or worse.

For this reason, when battling Pokémon around level 40, Aoki has had to take them down with overwhelming force. Many of them have fallen before they even had the chance to retaliate.

By now, Aoki has covered more than half of his intended route, yet he has yet to find any sign of Scolipede. This has come as a bit of a surprise.

During a call with Kaitou, Aoki learned that the hunting group had completed several team missions over the past few days. They had successfully upgraded to a two-star ranking, earning a significant profit. Many of the group's members had upgraded their equipment, resulting in a noticeable increase in overall strength.

However, with such gains come risks—two members of the hunting group lost their lives. One was a new recruit, and the other was a veteran from the old Black Snake Gang.

Nevertheless, in the face of enormous profits, these losses were deemed acceptable.

Due to the presence of numerous League construction teams and inspectors in Pewter Town, Alec and the others have still been unable to return.

It is rumored that Miyamoto and a few others secretly went back to check on their progress.

The gym is already taking shape. Given a little more time, it will be completed, and Aoki will officially become Verdanturf Town's Gym Leader, securing his position as a direct member of the League.

This will solidify Aoki's foothold in the Hoenn region.

Once this training expedition is complete, Aoki will take some time to consolidate his gains. His Pokémon, having gained significant levels, will need time to stabilize their strength, refine their techniques, and adapt to their physical developments. Meanwhile, Aoki's second-tier Pokémon will begin their own intensive training.

Aoki has already outlined a rough plan for the coming period.

Now, all that remains is to reach the Elite level—then return alongside Swampert!