There was no need to explain much about the usefulness of the move Camouflage.

Among Cain's Pokémon, Florges had already achieved an outstanding mastery of that move. She could modify her type according to the environment and terrain she was in.

Even without nearby plant life, she could turn her type into Grass without external support. Thanks to that, Cain could use her as if she were a genuine Grass-type Pokémon.

Once transformed, her Grass-type moves were practically as effective as those of a naturally Grass-type Pokémon.

All of this with just one move: Camouflage.

And if on top of that it was combined with the ability Adaptability, the result was simply devastating. Not only did it reach the full potential of the type, but the power of the moves was doubled.

That was no exaggeration.

If this Dragalge were to learn moves from other types and could freely manipulate his type using Camouflage, then, put simply: he would have no real weaknesses.

And any of his attacks would hit with double the normal power.

It was a perfect combination.

If Cain could have a Pokémon with the Adaptability ability, he could use Gengar's moves to copy it and transfer it to Florges, who already knew how to modify her type.

Even without the Camouflage combo, Adaptability alone was an extremely powerful ability for any Pokémon.

But what a pity about this Dragalge...

According to the data the system showed, he was already quite old. He probably didn't have much time left. He had likely survived this long only because he was a Dragon-type Pokémon.

As Cain watched him, he fully understood what he was seeing.

This Dragalge had immense value. But neither the one who had chained him nor even the Crobat had truly known how to make use of him.

After a brief hesitation, Cain chose to try communicating. He used his psychic power to establish mental contact with the ancient Dragalge.

"Dragalge, hello. My name is Cain," he said telepathically.

Silence.

Both human and Pokémon stared at each other in silence.

"...Fine," Dragalge finally replied, his mental voice barely perceptible.

It seemed like it had been a long time since he'd communicated with another living being. His capacity for expression was limited.

Cain wasn't sure how to continue.

He decided to ask the obvious: who had done this to him?

But Dragalge didn't answer. He simply kept his gaze fixed, and in those lifeless eyes, for a brief moment, a flicker of emotion appeared.

As if he were remembering something he would rather forget.

He slowly closed his eyes again.

He said nothing more, but Cain could feel the pain inside him.

No matter how violent a Pokémon may be, if you chain them for decades—or even centuries—unable to move, while their energy is slowly drained... it's unbearable torment.

All his pride had been worn down.

Over the years, he had even forgotten why he had been imprisoned.

Vaguely, he remembered leading a pack and causing chaos in the ocean... until he encountered someone he shouldn't have. That person didn't kill him, but imprisoned him.

He no longer remembered the face of his captor.

During the first ten years, his desire for revenge was unbreakable.

In the following twenty, he just wanted freedom. To see the sea. To know how his kind were doing.

After thirty, he gave up all hope. He just wanted to die.

...

But fate seemed to mock him.

Being a Dragon-type Pokémon gave him a resilient body... and an overly long life.

Even with his energy being drained, he did not die.

The other wild Pokémon that fluttered around him no longer bothered him. They just saw him as a power spring. A natural energy source. They didn't dare get too close, but they slowly consumed his energy from afar.

Eventually, one of them—the Crobat with the most potential—absorbed so much that it reached the Elite level.

When Dragalge thought that Pokémon would finish him off, the other chickened out.

From then on, Dragalge stopped thinking. He stopped hoping. He merely existed.

Today, with Cain's arrival, something changed.

Dragalge showed him all of this, hiding nothing. Not just his thoughts, but his emotions as well.

He remained still.

In reality, he had little Poison-type energy left. But his Dragon-type energy remained almost intact.

Cain didn't know why his captor had only drained his Poison energy, but now Dragalge was an invaluable treasure for any Dragon Pokémon seeking to purify their evolutionary line.

Dragalge noticed what Cain was thinking.

He didn't resist. He even slightly raised his head, which hadn't moved in decades, as if to say: "Take it. But please... end this."

"Slowking, destroy those chains," Cain said after a long silence.

Slowking was surprised, but didn't hesitate. He used his psychic power like a sharp blade and launched it at the chains.

It seemed those chains were only designed to absorb Poison energy.

The psychic blade sliced through them in one go.

Of course, it helped that Slowking was already at the Elite level.

The chains broke.

Dragalge fell from the pillar, his eyes filled with disbelief. Slowking caught him with psychic power and placed him before Cain.

Even though the system showed he was still level 60, in reality, even Pupitar could defeat him right now.

That level was probably only being maintained by the remaining Dragon-type energy.

Under Dragalge's dim gaze, Cain took out a Pokéball. He gently placed it on his forehead.

A red light enveloped him. He offered no resistance. He was captured instantly.

"Your value doesn't end here. Don't underestimate yourself," Cain said to the Pokéball in a calm voice.

Because in his eyes, the value of that Dragalge went far beyond what could be used right now.

A Dragalge that had once surpassed the Elite level...

Even if he no longer shone like before...

He was no ordinary Pokémon.

(End of Chapter)