"Dreepy and Drakloak..." Shiro murmured, hovering in the sky as his sharp gaze swept over the battlefield below.
Terrified by the sheer power of the Gigantamaxed Machamp, the remaining Onix frantically surged toward the hill in the distance—the only place that seemed remotely safe.
Despite the steep incline, panic drove them forward. They clambered over one another, using their fellow kin as stepping stones in their desperate bid for escape.
Those lagging behind unleashed Rock-type moves toward the rear, hastily constructing an irregular stone barricade. From above, it looked less like a defense and more like a chaotic pile of rubble.
"CHAAAMP!"
Machamp's bulging muscles tensed as it gripped two Onix in its massive hands. With terrifying ease, it tore them apart, sending shattered rock flying in every direction.
Looking around, it realized its prey was no longer surrounding it. Instead, they were fleeing. That only fueled its rage.
As a pure Fighting-type Pokémon, Machamp valued the honor of battle above all else. Even in the face of defeat, one should fight to the bitter end—not turn tail and run like cowards.
"MAAACHAAMP!"
A pack of weaklings!
Machamp swung its massive arms, uprooting several giant trees with their roots still clinging to chunks of soil. With a powerful throw, the trees hurtled through the air before crashing down onto the cluster of Onix.
Boom!
The ground trembled violently as several Onix were slammed into the earth, partially buried under the impact. Yet, despite the force of the attack, none were fatally injured. They writhed and twisted, still determined to push forward.
"Block them! Hold the damn line! Don't let them through!" Gareth roared from the hillside, his voice raw with urgency as he ordered his team to send out their Pokémon.
But the hunting team, accustomed to fighting for profit rather than survival, had never faced a situation like this.
Among them, only three were Gym-level trainers. The rest were merely at the Advanced level.
Now, faced with a swarm of Gym-level Onix charging like they'd lost their minds, they were already on the verge of breaking. And that wasn't even the worst of it. Behind them was an even more terrifying sight—an enraged Gigantamax Machamp.
The two captured Pokémon weren't even theirs. This was just another job for the organization.
Who in their right mind would risk their life for this?
One by one, Pokémon vanished into their Poké Balls as trainers recalled them. The defensive line that Gareth had barely managed to form disintegrated before the Onix even reached it.
Only his Rillaboom remained, standing firm.
"Rillaboom! Wood Hammer!"
Even amidst the chaos, Gareth's command rang clear.
Rillaboom crouched low, its muscular form pulsing with Grass-type energy. The leaves and branches on its shoulders flourished wildly as power coursed through its body.
Summoning a massive wooden hammer, it slammed it into the ground before charging forward, weapon in tow.
The nearest cluster of Onix was sent flying, crashing into those behind them and rolling back down the hill.
But with only Rillaboom holding the line, two Onix still managed to slip past. They roared and rushed toward the retreating hunters.
"Shit! The Onix are getting through! Stop messing with the device!"
A few reluctant hunters exchanged looks. They glanced at the two captured Pokémon, then clenched their teeth and ran.
Their Pokémon appeared one after another. Some mounted their Pokémon, others took to the air—everyone was escaping the Dynamax space as fast as possible.
Only Torin stayed, unwilling to give up yet.
As the others left, he rushed to the device, searching for a button that could instantly knock Drakloak unconscious.
"Damn it! Where is it?!"
His fingers scrambled over the control panel. But aside from "Activate," there were only "Connect" and "Cancel." No energy release. No knockout function.
"Draaak!"
From within the glowing light-blue barrier, Drakloak glared at him, eyes burning with fury.
If it wasn't knocked out before being released, it would make sure every last one of these humans was sent to their grave.
"Ooonix!"
Suddenly, an Onix reared up before the barrier and slammed down hard. The impact rippled through the energy field.
Torin ducked just in time, barely avoiding being crushed.
His expression twisted. With a growl, he slammed his hand down on "Cancel."
"Damn it! If I can't have these Pokémon, then those damn brats hiding behind the chairman won't get them either!"
A sharp hum echoed as more than a dozen black cylindrical devices flickered in unison. The light-blue barrier surrounding the area began to dim and weaken.
Seeing this, the Drakloak slammed into it with even greater force.
Torin didn't hesitate anymore. He spun around and fled, summoning a golden-furred Boltund. He leaped onto its back and sped off.
...
Near the edge of the forest, Shiro watched as Drakloak was about to escape the barrier, his eyes gleaming with a hint of greed.
A Dragon-type pseudo-legendary...
Unfortunately, his current strength wasn't enough to claim it.
Floating high in the sky, Shiro's thoughts were conflicted.
'If I were a true Gym-level trainer, with at least three Gym-level Pokémon, I'd definitely go down there and take my chances.'
As he considered it, his gaze landed on the burly man commanding the Rillaboom. His jaw tightened.
'Three Gym-level Pokémon might not even be enough.'
"Coorv!"
A sharp cry from Corvisquire snapped him out of his thoughts.
Following its gaze, Shiro spotted an Unfezant with deep gray feathers flying toward them from about a hundred meters away.
And on its back sat a man in a red cloak.
"Move!"
Without hesitation, Shiro patted Corvisquire's talons, urging it to get them out of there.
He wasn't surprised that another trainer had taken to the sky to avoid the chaos below.
With Machamp's Fighting type and Onix's Rock/Ground type, neither had any means to reach high altitudes. They wouldn't even bother looking up.
And there was no way Shiro and those three trainers who had died earlier were the only ones lurking in the Dynamax den. At least ten others had to be around.
"Coooor!"
Corvisquire swooped down diagonally, steering away from the approaching Unfezant.
"Squiiire!"
Another urgent cry. Its wings flapped even faster.
It had noticed something.
That Unfezant had suddenly changed direction, flying straight toward them!
"Hmm? So he knows he isn't strong enough either and wants to kill me for my spoils?" Shiro let out a low, cold chuckle. He wasn't afraid.
Even if he couldn't claim the two Dragon-type Pokémon, the Onix scattered across the battlefield were still worth a fortune. If that trainer had chosen to come after him instead of joining the fight below, he most likely wasn't at the Gym-level.
And if he didn't have a Gym-level Pokémon he had personally trained, there was no way he could take down his Rhyperior.
A piercing screech rang through the area.
Corvisquire swooped down toward the grassy plains at the edge of the forest, dropping Shiro off.
...
Near the hill, Machamp finally closed in, its massive hands reaching out and effortlessly grabbing several Onix at once.
The sheer pressure from its towering form forced even Gareth to step back.
"Boom!"
"Drraaakloooak!"
At the same time, an enraged Drakloak broke free from its confinement.
Its gaze locked onto its first target—Gareth, who stood not far away.
Even in the short time it had been imprisoned, Drakloak had memorized the faces of every human in those gray uniforms.
Especially their leader.
**
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