As a Psychic and an expert in survival in the open field, it was impossible for Number Two not to perceive those concentrations of gas hidden within the mist, surrounding him and waiting for him to fall into the trap deliberately laid before his eyes.
If he did not ignite the gas, it would not matter either. In that case, fire-type attacks, in which his Pokémon were most proficient, would be severely restricted, and even so he would eventually be worn down to death by the poison and Number Four's attacks.
That was the combat style Number Four excelled at the most: laying his traps openly right in front of the enemy. Whether you choose to jump or not, in either case you have already entered his battle rhythm.
As time passed, the accumulation of toxins from Poison-type Pokémon was no joke. Before the enemy even realized it, they would end up losing consciousness.
Cain moved around the outside of the toxic cloud. His mission was quite simple: force the enemy back into the mist if he tried to escape.
Just like at that moment. While Number Two was entangled with Number Four, he secretly sent one of his Pokémon to look for a way out through the mist. However, it was intercepted by Cain, who was waiting outside. A Sky Attack that Honchkrow had been charging for a long time sent it straight back into the cloud.
After that blow, Number Two understood that those attacking him were not just one person, but at least two, and that this was a well-planned ambush.
At first, although he was surrounded by the mist, he only felt somewhat restricted. Even though the enemy's preparations alarmed him, he did not believe he was in real danger.
As a subordinate of the Relaxed Man, friction with the subordinates of the Black-Faced Man was something common: constant small conflicts, but no one had ever attempted to kill, since the church explicitly forbade it, and the consequences were not something just anyone could bear.
"Such audacity you have!!! Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?" Number Two's voice emerged from the mist for the first time, revealing his growing panic.
Neither Cain nor Number Four paid him any attention. They simply carried out their respective tasks with precision. From the moment they took action, their resolve would not waver. If they did not kill Number Two at that moment, he would become a problem they could never get rid of.
Receiving no response, Number Two's face, hidden beneath the psychic layer, grew even darker. His heart sank slightly: he knew that the worst had truly happened, and yet he had no clear solution.
If it were only a single enemy, he could have transmitted his psychic energy and used the church's special methods to call for help. But Cain and Number Four would never give him that opportunity. A huge net woven from psychic energy had already completely sealed the entire poisonous cloud.
Under those conditions, not only was it impossible to send information outside; no one from outside could transmit anything inward without the consent of Cain and Number Four.
Number Two's morale collapsed completely. He had never imagined that someone would dare to risk their life for loot that, on the surface, did not seem that great.
He did not think this was the work of the League, as they would never go that far. Only those who also belonged to the church truly understood the church.
Upon realizing his situation, Number Two's mind became chaotic. Number Four seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, forcing him to retreat again and again.
Although Cain was outside the mist, he was still closely watching the battle. Even without his help, with all the preparations made in advance, Number Two was already at an absolute disadvantage. In terms of pure strength, he was no match for Number Four either.
According to what Cain knew, Number Four stood out remarkably among all the church members involved in this operation.
The reason Number Two was still able to hold on under such unfavorable conditions was his signature Pokémon: Delphox.
Pokémon: Delphox (Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 84
Type: Fire + Psychic
Ability: Blaze
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Wish, Hypnosis, Heat Wave, Magic Coat
Basic Moves: Mystical Fire, Future Sight, Role Play, Switcheroo, Shadow Ball, Scratch, Tail Whip, Ember, Howl, Flame Charge, Psybeam, Fire Spin, Lucky Chant, Light Screen, Flamethrower, Will-O-Wisp, Psychic, Sunny Day, Magic Room, Fire Blast
Learned Moves: Blast Burn, Fire Pledge, Iron Tail, Laser Focus, Telekinesis, Snore, Wonder Room, Low Kick, Snatch, Ally Switch, Trick, Shock Wave, Foul Play, Fire Punch
TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Calm Mind, Safeguard, Double Team, Attract, Overheat, Dream Eater, Substitute
Thanks to Delphox's expert combination of Psychic-type and Fire-type moves, Number Two did not have to fear his flames igniting the gas hidden in the mist. Precisely because that fire was controlled through psychic power, the toxic cloud could not encroach upon his immediate vicinity.
After the initial confusion, Number Two managed to calm himself. Facing Cain and Number Four, he had a great advantage: he could superimpose his psychic power onto Delphox's, achieving amplification. As a member of the church, the use of divine infusion was indispensable, even if it was not his main resource with that Pokémon.
Cain and Number Four carefully observed every move of Number Two and his Pokémon. The more it seemed that victory was assured, the more they had to fear a desperate counterattack.
Therefore, neither of them completely cornered him; on the contrary, they left him a path that seemed to offer a chance of survival.
Cain's Gengar also entered the mist, joining Number Four's Pokémon to pressure the enemy. As a Ghost- and Poison-type Pokémon, Gengar did not fear the toxins, and having absorbed extremely poisonous gases in the past, it was not concerned about the gases hidden within the cloud either.
After the initial outbreak, the three entered a war of attrition, precisely the type of battle in which Number Four, an expert in Poison-type Pokémon, excelled.
Standing outside the cloud, just one step away from it, Cain narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. And inside the mist, both Number Four and Number Two himself also harbored their own thoughts.
Trust others completely?
Impossible.
