The flames caused by Heat Wave didn't spread slowly from one or two points. They ignited entire sections all at once!
Sharpedo was in charge of extinguishing flames, while Weavile focused on lowering the temperature to contain the fire's spread.
With no more enemies to fight, the enormous Murkrow gave Sato and his group one last long look. Then, with a powerful flap of its wings, it turned and flew off without looking back.
Sato knew he couldn't capture it, so naturally, he didn't try to stop it. He felt some regret, but there was nothing he could do.
However, just two minutes later, the flock of Murkrow returned in a dark mass. The leader took the initiative, casting Icy Wind to help, while the rest used Aerial Ace and Wing Attack to create a firebreak and contain the blaze.
Clearly, these Pokémon, who had lived here their entire lives, didn't want to see their home destroyed. But throughout the process, the Murkrow kept their distance from Sato and the others, clearly drawing a line between them.
At this point, the sheer number of Pokémon made all the difference. The spreading fire was quickly extinguished.
However, the Murkrow did not return to their nests. They remained in place, staring silently at Sato's group.
"Joseph, let's go."
"Alright."
Joseph nodded.
He could see the Murkrow's determination as well. Capturing their leader was essentially impossible now.
As a Pokémon Breeder, Joseph also leaned toward respecting a Pokémon's will; especially when it came to capturing one.
"Krow-krow!"
Suddenly, there was a stir among the Murkrow. Sato and Joseph instinctively turned their heads and saw several Murkrow carrying a grass basket in a hurry, flying toward the giant Murkrow!
A sharp, pained cry echoed out, followed by a frenzy of Murkrow gathering around, screeching nonstop in distress.
"Sato, what are you doing?!"
Sato suddenly began walking straight toward the Murkrow flock, causing Joseph to shout in alarm. His voice also reminded the Murkrow that the two humans were still there!
"Krow!"
More than a hundred Murkrow took to the sky, their eyes now burning with open hostility, glowing red as they glared at Sato and Joseph!
This was nothing like earlier. The aura of fury they radiated was so intense that Joseph instinctively took a few steps back.
Just as the entire flock was about to launch a unified attack, Sato suddenly raised his right hand, unleashing a surge of concentrated Dark Energy!
"I can save it! Please… let me try!"
He continued pouring out Dark Energy, while using his left hand to quickly return Weavile, Umbreon, and Sharpedo to their Poké Balls. Signaling that he posed no threat.
The entire Murkrow flock was stunned by the Dark Energy. Still, they surrounded the two humans tightly, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
Seeing that the Murkrow remained in place, Sato cautiously took a step forward.
When they didn't react, he moved quickly, and the Murkrow parted just enough to let him through… though their expressions remained far from friendly.
Passing through the crowd, Sato approached the giant Murkrow. Feeling its Peak Elite-level aura, teetering on the edge of becoming Pseudo-Elite Four, he couldn't help but feel a hint of regret again.
But perhaps… something better was right in front of him.
The giant Murkrow was gently cradling a grass basket with its wings. Inside the basket lay a blue-black Pokémon Egg, with a barely visible crack across its surface.
An ordinary person might not have noticed anything, but Sato, attuned to the flow of energy through his Dark Energy, sensed it immediately. The Egg's vitality was rapidly fading.
At this moment, the giant Murkrow looked up at Sato. Its eyes were filled with conflicting emotions.
It was this human who had driven them to the point of fleeing with their entire flock, and because of that, their unborn child had been damaged.
But the energy radiating from this human's hand made the giant Murkrow feel an overwhelming urge to trust… both for itself and its companions.
Sato didn't have time to worry about the Murkrow still glaring at him. The vitality of the Pokémon Egg in front of him was rapidly fading!
Just now, the emotional feedback returned by the Dark Energy had plummeted. The Egg's Dark-type potential had dropped to Pseudo-Elite Four level.
As its vitality drained, the Egg's potential was vanishing too. Originally, it had been born with the same Elite Four-level Dark-type talent as its mother.
There was no time to think. Sato immediately dropped to one knee, placing his right hand on the Egg. At that moment, the giant Murkrow instinctively tensed up.
He began channeling his Dark Energy, careful not to push too hard. A faint stream of energy entered the Egg. And the results were immediate.
First, the Egg's potential stopped falling, stabilizing at Pseudo-Elite Four level. Then, its vitality began to hold steady.
Sato slightly increased the flow. The Murkrow Egg responded instanly, actively absorbing the Dark Energy.
Even though the giant Murkrow wasn't as sensitive to energy as Sato, the Egg's active absorption was visible to the naked eye.
Its child… there was still hope!
The sadness in the giant Murkrow's eyes faded, replaced by an even deeper, more conflicted look toward Sato.
Although the Egg was now absorbing Dark Energy to replenish its vitality, the actual amount it required wasn't that great. It was just an Egg, after all.
Several minutes later...
As the Egg continued to absorb Dark Energy, Sato began to feel something was off. 'Why was it still taking in so much?'
Sensing more closely, his brows furrowed deeply.
The Egg wasn't just absorbing, it was still leaking energy at a rapid pace!
It was just that the absorption was stronger, and the loss more subtle, which had kept it hidden until now.
What could he do?
"Of course, the crack is still there!" Sato slapped his forehead in frustration. His Dark Energy could replenish lost vitality, but it couldn't repair a cracked shell!
At that moment, the giant Murkrow grew increasingly uneasy. Why wasn't the Egg recovering? Its gaze toward Sato turned dangerous once again.
Wait!
"Joseph! I need your help!" Sato suddenly thought of something. Repairing the shell was technically healing, right? The Viridian Power, with its all-purpose healing ability, might work!
"Huh?"
Joseph, who was bandaging an injured wild Murkrow, flinched at Sato's sudden call, nearly tying the bandage into a knot.
While Sato had been focused on saving the Egg, Joseph hadn't been idle either. With Kirlia and the Viridian Power, and since he hadn't attacked during the battle, he had quickly earned the Murkrow's trust.
Kirlia was using Heal Pulse to treat those with serious injuries, while Wigglytuff helped soothe frostbite with Heal Bell.
Joseph, naturally, handled external wounds and bandages. The Murkrow queued up in front of him obediently, patiently waiting for treatment.
Finishing up with the Murkrow he was tending, Joseph quickly made his way to Sato's side, giving him a questioning look.
"See that little crack on the Egg? Can you use the Viridian Power to heal it?" Sato looked up with a serious expression.