As usual, after finishing the morning training, Cain took Larvitar and the others to the back mountains.
To avoid affecting the training of the other Pokémon, Cain didn't allow any of them to accompany him, except for Slowking. Although the back mountains and the surrounding mountain ranges didn't harbor high-level Pokémon, taking Slowking was a safety measure, as he could use the move Teleport to return to the backyard if necessary.
The main combat team consisted of Aron, Larvitar, Combusken, Horsea, and Bagon, who had recently entered its growth phase.
Bagon, although the lowest-level member, had shown the most progress thanks to training and battles during this time. Its confrontations, often against much stronger opponents, helped it improve considerably, even if its role was limited to distracting the enemy.
Currently, Aron had reached level 26, Larvitar level 21, Combusken 24, Bagon 15, and Horsea 18. This progress was the result of constant battles and training.
With these levels, Cain decided to take them deeper into the mountains, selecting areas with wild Pokémon between levels 20 and 30. These were ideal opponents for training his team.
This lifestyle, although predictable, had been consistent for a long time. Even though it didn't provide the excitement of fast advancement, the steady and solid improvement of the Pokémon's abilities was motivation enough to continue.
On their way deeper into the mountains, they arrived at the mysterious lake where Cain had found Absol.
This place was perfect for training, as the wild Pokémon there were at appropriate levels for Cain's team. During battles, if only one wild Pokémon appeared, Cain would send one of his own to fight solo. If there were several, he allowed the group to fight together.
However, it didn't take long before Cain noticed something strange.
The number of wild Pokémon in the area was abnormally low, as if someone had passed through clearing them out.
Someone else had been there.
This was Cain's first conclusion.
It wasn't unusual for other trainers to visit the back mountains. There were always those, like Cain, who preferred to train in natural and dangerous environments.
These trainers, who grew stronger by facing danger, were often more skilled than those of similar level who followed safer methods.
Even so, Cain decided not to worry too much. The back mountains weren't his exclusive territory, and it was normal to encounter others. He simply chose to look for another spot, as the area had become inadequate for his training.
However, just as he was about to leave, he discovered something else.
In a thick bush, there were fragments of clothing caught between the branches, and the ground was covered with chaotic footprints, signs of an intense battle. Judging by the size of the footprints, Cain deduced that more than one person had been involved.
Had a group entered the back mountains?
Intrigued, Cain began to follow the tracks. The fabric fragments found in the bush looked vaguely familiar to him.
It wasn't long before he found a camp.
From the branches of a tree, Cain observed the camp from above, hidden among the leaves.
The camp consisted of five tents, each apparently occupied by one person. However, what caught Cain's attention was the emblem on one of the larger tents.
It was the symbol of Team Void.
Team Void, an organization from Mauville City, had been the first to confront Cain. Although he had obtained quite a few benefits from them in the past, their presence in this area was not a good sign.
Using his psychic abilities, Cain detected that all the people in the camp were gathered in the central tent. From his elevated position, he could clearly hear their conversation.
"We can't act rashly," said one voice.
"Our mission objective is to stabilize the situation, not take unnecessary risks."
"But this is a great opportunity. The enemy hasn't even noticed we're here. If we move carefully, we can catch them completely off guard," replied another, deeper voice.
"Are you an idiot? Have you seen how many there are? And how many of us? Even if they're not very strong, we're only five people. It would be like handing ourselves over on a silver platter," a female voice intervened.
"That's enough!" interrupted another, more authoritative voice. "Our mission is not to attack immediately. We're here to wait for instructions. I'm sure there are other groups like ours in the mountains. The goal is to launch a surprise attack when the signal is given."
Cain narrowed his eyes as he listened.
Team Void had set its sights on Team Heaven. The organization, apparently weakened by pressure in Mauville City, was looking to establish itself in Leafy Town.
Team Heaven, with its rapid growth, seemed to have caught their interest.
Cain watched as the camp members scattered to explore the surroundings. Looking at his Slowking, he gave a signal. In a flash, both disappeared from the tree.
It was time to find out how strong these intruders were.
Team Void, a target Cain had been monitoring for a long time, had finally revealed its hand. Although Cain had planned to wait until he reached a higher level before taking action, it seemed fate had decided to speed things up.
(End of chapter)