With such a Legendary Item-like conjoined Koffing appearing before him, there was no reason to give up. Tetsuya had already prepared himself to catch this Koffing at any cost!
"Houndoom, retreat first. Do not use any Fire-type moves. Beedrill, X-Scissor."
Tetsuya gave the order. Houndoom gritted its teeth tightly and stepped back several paces. Pokémon like Koffing contained many flammable and explosive gases within their bodies, and the cave space was narrow, making it highly possible to trigger an explosion. Therefore, he could only let Beedrill go first.
Beedrill was also bad at battling within such a confined space. The speed it was most proud of could not be displayed here.
Koffing defended from the deepest part of the cave, using defense as offense. Speed truly did not have much effect against it.
Beedrill crossed its twin stingers as green Bug-type energy gathered upon them, then charged toward Koffing!
…Only to see Koffing suddenly close both eyes as Poison Gas sprayed out, shrouding the entire Koffing. Beedrill fiercely rushed straight into the Poison Gas.
Despite being a Poison-type, Beedrill unexpectedly revealed an extremely uncomfortable reaction. Its body trembled nonstop.
Fortunately, Beedrill's resolve was sufficient, and it endured it, continuing its attack toward Koffing.
At this moment, Koffing still kept its eyes tightly shut. Both heads simultaneously spat out masses of purple poison liquid.
Toxic!
A terrifyingly poisonous creature like this being able to learn Toxic was only natural.
"Beedrill, do not confront it head-on. Avoid it first!"
Seeing such intense toxins, Tetsuya was also extremely worried. The Poison Gas alone just now had already caused Beedrill to react so severely. If Toxic landed as well, that would be disastrous.
Beedrill vibrated its wings and avoided Toxic, but while inside the Poison Gas, although it had not become poisoned, it always felt that its condition was not quite normal. Its speed, strength, and everything else weren't fully manifesting.
The Poison Gas still had a major effect on Beedrill!
Only after Beedrill abandoned its attack did Koffing reluctantly open its eyes.
"Its scared inside."
Gengar's voice sounded beside Tetsuya's ear.
Tetsuya nodded. Although he did not know what this Koffing was afraid of, considering it possessed such abilities…
'…Could it be.'
Perhaps watching all its kin collapse before its eyes had already made it unable to accept reality.
What this kind of Pokémon needed was guidance. If it acknowledged you, then you would become its only family, and it would absolutely devote itself to you wholeheartedly!
"Beedrill, return."
After Tetsuya spoke, Beedrill flew back while gasping heavily. It finally felt as though it had returned to solid ground. The Poison Gas had truly made it extremely uncomfortable.
"You are very lonely, aren't you!"
You are very lonely, aren't you... are very lonely, aren't you… lonely, aren't you… aren't you…
Tetsuya's voice echoed throughout the entire cave, while Koffing suddenly looked left and right, its expression appearing dazed.
"Gengar, use Hypnosis."
Tetsuya spoke within his mind. At this moment inside the cave, everything was in complete darkness, so naturally there were no shadows. Gengar could move freely.
A mass of black shadow appear behind Tetsuya. Wave after wave of hypnotic light spread outward.
"Don't be afraid. I am also a lonely person… I no longer have family or friends, but your own life is the most important thing… Since Arceus allowed you to survive, then you must cherish it properly… Come, let us do this together. Together, let us create glory belonging to the lonely."
'Blargh…'
While Tetsuya bristled internally at what he was saying, Gengar continuously released hypnotic light waves.
Koffing gradually calmed down and stared blankly at Tetsuya and Haunter.
Finally, it collapsed.
Koffing had already fallen into a sleeping state, but its sleep was very restless. Its body trembled from time to time.
"Prepare Dream Eater."
After Tetsuya spoke, Gengar returned beneath him as red light suddenly flashed within its eyes, gradually invading Koffing's dream…
◓---
Originally, this cave had housed many Koffing and Weezing.
At this moment, Koffing had still been an egg, merely one among many Koffing Eggs.
From some unknown day onward, the concentration of poisonous miasma within the cave became increasingly dense, while the temperature became lower and lower.
Many Koffing and Weezing began showing signs of physical discomfort, yet the poisonous miasma did not lessen. Instead, it became denser, while the temperature became even colder.
Until the first batch of Koffing and Weezing died, many of its kin began migrating away.
However, many of them still remained behind, especially those with offspring, including the parents of this Koffing.
But eggs were ultimately fragile. Many eggs had already lost signs of life. During this period, batch after batch of Weezing and Koffing also died.
Until all the eggs had lost signs of life, leaving only this single Koffing. At this moment, the only living beings remaining in the cave were this Koffing's parents and this single egg.
In the end, this Koffing's parents also died before they could wait for Koffing to hatch…
Within the entire cave, only this one tiny life remained, together with poisonous miasma so dense it could suffocate people and extremely cold temperatures.
The miasma and cold aura both invaded the egg. Koffing suffered terribly within the egg, enduring incomparable torment.
Its tenacious vitality allowed it to adapt to such an environment.
It survived…
It hatched…
However, there was not a single soul around it. All it could see were corpses scattered everywhere. Koffing did not know what difference there was between its appearance and the appearance of other Koffing, because their consciousness was synchronized.
Loneliness was what tormented it the most. It also did not dare leave the cave, being filled with fear toward the outside world.
When it became hungry, it discovered that the poisonous miasma within the cave could serve as its food. Every day it absorbed the miasma, while later the concentration of it gradually became thinner and thinner until there was none left at all.
Later, several unknown two-legged creatures barged in. Naturally, it was extremely frightened, but it only knew how to spray Poison Gas and spit Toxic. Somehow, it ended up driving them away in confusion.
Until Tetsuya appeared…
---◓
That should be enough!
At this moment, Tetsuya's eyes had already recovered, and through Koffing's dream he had also learned of its experiences.
'Let me take you away from here.'
Changing to another environment would definitely be better. What should pass will eventually pass.
Koffing gradually calmed down.
At this moment, Tetsuya threw out a Poké Ball and captured Koffing.
Picking up the Poké Ball… Tetsuya still felt somewhat heavy-hearted. This Koffing had encountered such a huge tragedy shortly after being born, and its timid and fearful personality had long since become ingrained deep within its bones.
Although it was a Pokémon with tremendous potential, wanting to untie the knot in its heart would not be easy.
Sure enough, Arceus would never casually hand something over to you so easily…
There was still plenty of time ahead. When dealing with a Pokémon with such potential, he himself was still very patient.
---◓---
When leaving the cave entrance, those six Trainers were still standing there looking around. Seeing Tetsuya come out.
All six surrounded him.
"How was it, how was it!"
"Did you catch that Pokémon!?"
Tetsuya nodded before leaving. The six people who had just wanted Tetsuya to take it out and show them immediately felt incomparably awkward.
They could only watch Tetsuya's departing back…