Cain quickly arrived at Team Void's headquarters. It was a modern building that stood out in the urban landscape.
At the entrance, a few members tried to stop him, but with Honchkrow, Weavile, and Gengar at his side, no one dared to approach.
Even the subordinates of Team Void, under orders from their superiors, didn't dare confront him. They knew well there was no point in fighting someone so vastly superior in strength.
Did they want to die pointlessly? Besides, considering Cain had already defeated several leaders, his confident arrival at their headquarters could only mean he was entirely certain of his victory.
Cain calmly entered the Team Void building. It was midnight, but the attack had turned on all the lights in the place. Meanwhile, spies from other factions, who had been following the confrontation from a distance, didn't dare enter.
After all, this was the headquarters of one of Mauville City's largest organizations, and normally they didn't even dare get close.
But today was different: someone had stormed the building with unprecedented audacity, which motivated them to watch the show from outside.
Even though Team Void had been marginalized by the other factions in the city, it was still a powerful organization. Even in its decline, its influence far surpassed that of these smaller groups.
Cain advanced through the building, while Team Void members stepped back with every step. Honchkrow, Weavile, and Gengar openly displayed their energy and presence, making it clear they weren't there to play.
It had been a long time since they had such an exciting battle, and their enthusiasm showed.
Cain, for his part, wasn't worried about the possible implications of using Gengar. Although this Pokémon was known in the Alliance, no one would associate it directly with him. Honchkrow and Weavile had never been seen in that context, and while Gengar was more common, its use by members of clandestine organizations wasn't unusual.
Everything about Cain, from his clothing to his fighting style, fit perfectly with the profile of a member of a clandestine faction, ruling out any suspicion of a connection to the Alliance.
"If you want to live, you still have time to leave," Cain said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
He had made his purpose clear: eliminate Team Void. Anyone who chose to stay after hearing that could only be a loyal fanatic or a hopeless fool, and neither deserved to live.
Cain's statement left the lobby in absolute silence. No one dared to respond, as everyone was evaluating their options. The guards knew several leaders had left and hadn't returned. It didn't take a genius to understand what that meant.
"Three," said Cain, beginning a countdown.
The message was clear: those who remained after the count would not be spared. His icy and authoritative tone triggered an immediate reaction. Some began to show signs of panic, though others looked at him with hatred.
The latter were clearly the loyalists to Team Void. Cain activated his recording system to ensure their faces were logged.
"Two."
The atmosphere became unbearably tense. Finally, someone broke the silence.
"Damn it! I didn't come here to die! I'm not staying!" Although his words were defiant, his actions were the exact opposite. He quickly took off his Team Void uniform and ran off, making it clear he'd rather flee than face Cain.
There was a saying: "You may curse as you speak, but your way of fleeing is admirable." This act of bravery—or cowardice—inspired others.
"He's right!"
"I'm not staying for this either!"
In a matter of seconds, several more followed his lead, removing their uniforms and leaving the place. They avoided eye contact with Cain, carefully circling around him as they exited.
Behind his mask, Cain smiled faintly. He didn't care about the mass exodus. After all, his target was the leaders.
Seeing that most of the present members had fled, Cain didn't bother to say "one." He simply raised his hand, signaling his Pokémon to attack.
The few who remained weren't particularly strong, and under the assault of Honchkrow, Weavile, and Gengar, they didn't stand a chance. The confrontation ended swiftly.
It was then that the Team Void leaders, who had been on the upper floors, finally rushed down. The scene they encountered in the lobby was devastating: uniforms scattered everywhere and the corpses of their subordinates.
Leading them was Robert, a cold and calculating-looking man. He was the strongest of the remaining leaders and, according to rumors, the most likely successor to the former boss.
Beside him was Kainan, the man Cain had long marked as a target, and an attractive-looking woman whose strength was comparable to Gibson's. According to rumors, her rise in Team Void was due to her relationship with the former leader.
Cain knew that defeating these three would mark the definitive end of Team Void.
"Who are you?" asked Kainan, his voice filled with fury and disdain.
In truth, the question was unnecessary. The leaders who had left before hadn't returned. Even if they managed to defeat Cain, Team Void would never be the same again. Without its main resources and leaders, the organization was doomed to fall to the level of a minor faction.
Cain didn't answer. Instead, he let out a cold laugh as he unleashed all his psychic energy. Honchkrow, Weavile, and Gengar charged at the three leaders, taking advantage of the confined space to gain the upper hand.
The three were forced to retreat as they released their Pokémon in a desperate attempt to defend themselves.
Cain wasted no time. He took advantage of the confusion to quickly approach the woman. In a precise movement, five black letters glowed on his right hand, and a black crack appeared between the woman's neck and body. Without even a sound, her head vanished.
"One down," Cain thought as he prepared to face the two remaining leaders.
(End of chapter)