The evolution of Blaziken was undoubtedly timely, as although Lian could handle the situation alone, being just a Charizard, there was always a risk if Mightyenas attacked Kalia. If Lian couldn't intercept them all, Kalia would likely suffer injuries or even face life-threatening danger.
Thus, Blaziken's evolution arrived at the perfect moment. Despite its relatively low level, as a Fighting-type Pokémon, it held certain advantages against Mightyenas. Compared to Ninetales, battling two-on-one wouldn't be an issue for Blaziken.
Now, with this setup, Lian faced off against three Mightyenas, confident he could swiftly eliminate one within a short time, significantly reducing the overall danger.
After evolving, Blaziken underwent a remarkable transformation, exuding newfound confidence—genuine self-assurance. The previous negative effects from Intimidate were completely dispelled.
Without hesitation, Blaziken charged towards the Mightyenas. Lifting its slender leg, flames seemed to dance around it, and with fierce precision, it kicked at one of the Mightyenas—a move indicative of the Fighting-type skill, Double Kick, learned autonomously by Blaziken.
Boom! Boom!
Two swift kicks sent the Mightyena flying, dealing double damage due to type effectiveness, combined with Blaziken's impressive attack power, instantly eliminating the Pokémon.
It's undeniable that after evolving, Blaziken's strength significantly increased. Although the move was super effective, instantly defeating a Mightyena showcased Blaziken's formidable power.
In the blink of an eye, one Mightyena fell, but Blaziken didn't pause. The advantage of attack moves is their continuous use as long as there's sufficient stamina; however, rapid and successive execution requires extensive practice.
Blaziken lacked none of this, having diligently trained various moves daily even before its evolution, achieving remarkable proficiency.
Smiling, Lian raised his hand and unleashed two consecutive Air Slashes. Invisible razor-like blades swiftly targeted separate Mightyenas. The delay between attacks allowed Lian to locate the injured one. Without the benefit of type advantage, although his Air Slash is powerful, Mightyenas aren't easily defeated at full health, making it challenging to achieve an instant kill.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Two air-formed blades, staggered front-to-back and left-to-right, rapidly shot towards the Mightyenas. Due to their intangible nature, Air Slashes are notoriously difficult to dodge. Untrained, relying solely on instinct, the Mightyenas were unable to evade effectively.
Unless the Mightyenas possessed the Danger Sense Ability, but it seemed unlikely for this species.
In life-threatening situations, Mightyenas with such an ability could instinctively evade danger. However, Lian's Air Slash primarily aimed to incapacitate them rather than cause fatal harm.
The two invisible blades precisely struck the Mightyenas, halting their charge and forcing them backward.
One of the Mightyenas, already injured, couldn't withstand Lian's Air Slash and instantly lost its fighting capability. Interestingly, this particular Mightyena appeared to be the leader among the ten.
With their leader defeated, the remaining Mightyenas abruptly halted their attacks, seemingly hesitating. Without a leading wolf, they became disoriented.
Lian realized then that he should have targeted the leader Mightyena from the start; two consecutive Air Slashes could indeed instantly defeat one.
Now, with only a few Mightyenas left and their leader downed, these remaining Pokemon prepared to scatter, clearly understanding they had no chance of victory if they continued the fight.
Lian didn't intervene, as wild Pokemon primarily hunt for survival. In the wilderness, there's no one to provide them with food; without hunting, they would starve.
With the Mightyena dispersing, the battle concluded.
"Phew, that was close," Kalia sighed in relief. When the Mightyena charged earlier, it felt incredibly dangerous, and she feared it might be the end for her.
Indeed, the wilderness is notoriously perilous, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance.
This time, they faced only ten Mightyena, but what if next time there were twenty? They'd likely have to flee, not because they couldn't defeat them, but due to the potentially high cost even if victorious.
Without any Pokemon protection, Linden and Kalia, both lacking combat capabilities, were virtually defenseless against wild Pokemon.
"Let's find a spot to rest before continuing our journey."
Although this encounter wasn't overwhelmingly dangerous, it served as a stark reminder for Kalia and Linden to remain cautious. The road ahead could hold unforeseen perils at every turn.
As Kalia spoke, she glanced at Blaziken. Compared to Combusken, Blaziken looked even more impressive, with flames emanating from its wrists and striking white feathers.
Kalia grew increasingly fond of Blaziken, which now became her primary attacking Pokemon within the team. Her previous lineup heavily relied on Special Attacks, considered a significant weakness.
While Charizard's strength had always covered this shortfall, encountering opponents at a similar level could prove problematic.
With the addition of Blaziken, the team no longer lacked offensive capabilities. Whether in close combat or ranged battles, Blaziken demonstrated impressive power with its moves.
Linden seemed more subdued after the incident; without Lian's Air Slash earlier, he would have been pounced by the Mightyena, leaving him visibly shaken.
This experience significantly diminished his confidence in his own Pokemon and made him more cautious, quietly following behind Kalia.
With Linden less talkative, their journey became quieter, allowing them to better observe their surroundings. They managed to avoid several hidden dangers along the way.
Kalia eventually found a relatively flat area where they decided to rest and confirm their location. She unfolded the map, studying the eastern mountain range chart. Having continuously checked their bearings throughout the journey, she quickly determined their current position.
To ensure accuracy and avoid any mistakes, Kalia still had Lian fly high to survey the surrounding area.
After confirming their location, Kalia marked it both on the ground and on her map.
Suddenly, Linden spoke up, "I also want a flying-type Pokémon." Seeing Kalia's powerful Charizard assisting with reconnaissance, he felt envious.
Many adventure-seeking Trainers often have a flying-type Pokémon, which can provide swift escape by soaring into the sky during critical moments.
"Why don't you capture one then?" Kalia responded, puzzled. If he desired such a Pokémon, why not just catch one? Given Linden's resources, it shouldn't be too challenging.
"I-I have a fear of heights," Linden admitted quietly.
"How does that relate to having a flying-type Pokémon? At most, you wouldn't ride them in the sky, but there's no conflict there." While Kalia sympathized with Linden's acrophobia, she thought avoiding flying-type Pokémon altogether seemed unnecessary. In dangerous situations, fears like acrophobia should take a backseat to survival - surely life is more important than overcoming a fear of heights.