"Damn it! How is that thing so fast?!"
An irritated shout cut through the quiet outskirts of Town.
Silas immediately understood.
The Phanpy wasn't wild.
It was being chased.
He remained hidden behind the sandstone ridge, silent, watching.
Moments later, a short, pale-faced man came running into view, breathing heavily. His complexion was unnaturally white, almost sickly. Beside him slithered a massive purple serpent.
"Arbok…"
The snake's scarlet eyes gleamed coldly. Its tongue flicked in and out with a soft, chilling hiss.
"Ssssss…"
The instant Arbok saw the small Phanpy, excitement flared in its eyes. It reared up, hood expanding slightly as it opened its fanged maw.
"Arbok, Poison Sting!"
Dozens of tiny purple needles shot forward like rain.
"Phan-!"
Phanpy tried to roll away, but it was too late. The second command came immediately.
"Poison Tail!"
Arbok launched forward, tail glowing with toxic violet energy. It whipped down viciously.
Bang!
The little elephant Pokémon was struck and sent tumbling across the sand.
Silas's gaze sharpened.
The pale-faced man walked forward and retrieved the Poké Ball that had automatically recalled the injured Phanpy.
"Hmph. A rare Johto species… this should sell for quite a bit."
Just as he turned to leave-
His footsteps paused.
A faint blue-pink light flickered in his eyes.
"Come out," he said coldly. "Is hiding fun?"
Silence filled the rocky terrain.
Bluff… or real detection?
The man chuckled softly.
Blue-pink energy began to ripple around his body.
Then-He slowly lifted off the ground.
Silas's pupils contracted sharply.
Psychic.
No wonder he had been detected.
Seeing he was already exposed, Silas stepped out from behind the stone, expression calm but serious.
The pale man pulled a metal spoon from his pocket, gripping it loosely as psychic energy swirled faintly around it.
A Poké Ball opened.
Red light flashed.
Kadabra appeared.
Long pointed ears. Red star on its forehead. Narrow eyes glowing with mental power.
"Kadabra…"
Silas immediately drew his dagger and released all his Pokémon.
Umbreon landed beside him.
"Yuee…"
Murkrow flapped above.
"Kraaa!"
Crawdaunt snapped its claws sharply.
"Craaa!"
Sharpedo emerged in flashy way from a summoned water pool around him, teeth glinting.
"Shaaa!"
Sandile stood at Silas's feet, low growl rumbling.
"San…"
The pale man's eyes moved over Crawdaunt and Sharpedo.
"…Team Aqua?"
Silas didn't respond.
The psychic man's expression shifted slightly.
Interesting.
Rocket intelligence reports had mentioned Hoenn's two rising factions. If this boy was connected, then Capturing him might prove useful.
His eyes flashed again.
"Kadabra - Psybeam. Arbok -Poison Fang."
The commands were transmitted instantly through telepathy.
No delay.
No warning.
A spiraling beam of psychic light shot straight at Silas.
Arbok lunged simultaneously, venom dripping from its fangs.
They targeted the trainer directly.
Silas reacted a fraction too late.
"Protect!"
Umbreon leapt forward.
A brilliant green barrier flared into existence.
Boom!
The Psybeam smashed against the shield, scattering light in every direction. Arbok's fangs scraped against the barrier but failed to penetrate.
The shield cracked-
But held.
Silas exhaled sharply.
Close.
Too close.
Silas didn't waste a second.
"Crawdaunt use Night Slash! ,Sharpedo quickly Aqua Jet, target the man!"
Crawdaunt burst forward in a dark blur, claws glowing as it engaged Arbok head-on.
"Craaa!"
Sharpedo's Speed Boost activated instantly.
Water engulfed its body.
It shot forward like a torpedo.
Shooom
The water pressure lifted sand into the air as Sharpedo opened its jaws wide, aiming straight for the floating psychic man.
The pale man did not panic.
Pink light flashed.
He vanished.
Sharpedo tore through empty air.
He reappeared at a safe distance.
Silas's expression darkened.
"Teleport…"
Sharpedo lunged again.
Pink light.
Disappear.
Reappear.
Each time narrowly evading.
Each movement precise.
Minimal.
Efficient.
But then Silas noticed something.
Each teleport was slightly slower than the last.
" It seems Psychic reserves aren't infinite."
He adjusted tactics instantly.
"murkrow use Tailwind!, Umbreon Shadow Ball on Kadabra!"
"Kraaa!"
Wind currents surged behind the team.
Umbreon's rings glowed as a sphere of dark energy formed and shot toward Kadabra.
Boom!
Kadabra staggered mid-air, psychic barrier flickering.
"Arbok - Glare!"
This time, the psychic man shouted the command verbally.
Arbok's chest pattern expanded, grotesque face glaring outward.
Umbreon stared directly at it.
Crackling electricity danced across her fur.
Paralysis took hold.
Silas remained calm.
"Umbreon, hold it. The rest– close your eyes!"
Arbok's Glare completed.
Umbreon's body stiffened
And then Her golden rings flashed brightly.
Synchronize activated.
The paralysis surged back like a reflected current.
Kadabra's body twitched violently mid-air.
Arbok froze, muscles locking.
"Sss—!"
The psychic man's face turned even paler.
He tried to activate telepathy again.
Pink light flickered weakly.
Then died.
His breathing grew heavier.
The small pink orb in his palm glowed faintly.
Spoink Pearl.
Energy recovery tool.
But too slow.
Silas stepped forward calmly.
"Press the attack!."
Crawdaunt slashed fiercely.
Sharpedo lunged again.
Murkrow dove.
"Kraaa!"
Kadabra attempted to move-
Its body spasmed from paralysis.
Shadow Ball struck.
Arbok struggled to retaliate but Night Slash tore across its scales.
The battle shifted instantly.
The psychic man realized it.
His expression changed.
Without hesitation, he pulled out two Luxury Balls and recalled both Pokémon.
The battlefield fell silent for a split second.
He turned-Preparing to escape.
<><><><><><>
(End of chapter)