Inside the Wyndon Stadium lobby.
Trainers stared at the screen and found no answers. Even the experienced Shae and Edgar could only fall into thought. No one else had any clue at all.
"Maybe... some kind of held item?" Edgar spoke at last, turning toward others with an uncertain tone.
Nessa and Marvin shook their heads. Allister stayed silent. Milo continued to stroke his Wooloo with an apologetic smile. Bea seemed completely lost.
Only Leon looked troubled. His voice was low.
"I've seen it once in the data the company gave me. It should be Corviknight's…"
* * *
"It's Corviknight's hidden ability."
Oleana stated it firmly to Rose.
In the office atop Macro Cosmos Headquarters, she stood behind him while he watched the match on the screen.
"It has to be the hidden ability. The company recruited many Corviknight trainers, and the data is clear. This ability is extremely rare, but it can reflect stat-lowering effects back at the user."
"I see…" Rose tapped his fingers on the desk. "No wonder Shiro raised that Corviknight as one of his main partners. So he discovered this…"
His words stopped. His fingers paused as a troubling thought crossed his mind.
If Shiro knew Corviknight's hidden ability… then that meant he noticed it when it was still a Rookidee or a Corvisquire. Many Pokémon changed abilities upon evolving.
Which meant Shiro had recognized the hidden trait long before it became Corviknight.
Oleana adjusted her glasses.
"Shiro is an exceptionally gifted researcher. Discovering hidden abilities in his own Pokémon is nothing strange."
Rose exhaled, though his feelings were mixed.
If not for the Unown…
Even if Shiro took the Sword and Shield, even if he had dealings with the Dragon Tamer family…
Things could still have been negotiated.
The company could have offered resources in exchange for studying the Sword and Shield. They could even have let Shiro lead the research.
A trainer and researcher of such talent was someone every region would fight to recruit.
"He must have found something in the Sword, the Shield, and the Unown," Rose murmured. "I was right. He's a genius. One more gifted than Leon…"
* * *
The battlefield fell silent.
Because the match was paused and neither side had any move that would be affected by the break, Corviknight and Zweilous stood on opposite ends of the arena without making a sound.
A moment later, Ryan finished confirming the Mirror Armor ability with Shiro. He hurried back to the referee's stand with the help of a Pokémon, grabbed the mic, and said loudly, "Everyone, I've learned why Zweilous's speed dropped. It's caused by the Corviknight's ability. But since this is an official match, I can't reveal the exact details. The earlier battle results are valid."
The crowd began whispering.
"So it was an ability."
"Does that kind of ability really exist? I've raised Rookidee before. It never reflected anything."
"That's Corviknight's ability. Raising a Rookidee is useless."
"Maybe it's a rare ability."
"Forget it. I'm not choosing a starter next time. I'll ask the League for a Rookidee that can evolve into one with that ability..."
The chatter was lively but not loud enough to disturb the two trainers on the field.
Hearing Ryan's explanation eased Raihan's nerves. What he feared most was some kind of special power. If that were the case, there would be no way around it.
There were too many special abilities in the world. Not only Pokémon, but many trainers had them too. Things like Psychic Power, Aura, the Dragon Power unique to the Dragon Clan, and rare ones like the Viridian Power or the Bond Power.
These abilities came from talent, heritage, or blessings from legendary Pokémon, and all of them could influence battles.
If the effect that reflected stat reductions was some sort of special power, Raihan would have to watch out for other effects too. But if it was just an ability, then that reflection effect should be the limit.
He didn't know what this Corviknight's ability was called, but its effect seemed straightforward.
Raihan calmed himself, keeping this hidden ability firmly in mind. It was only rare. Shiro simply had the information advantage.
Ryan then shouted, "Alright! Both sides are ready. The match continues!"
The moment he spoke, both trainers raised their voices.
"Corviknight, use Air Cutter!"
"Zweilous, use Work Up!"
Corviknight beat its wings. The air before it was compressed into pale blades that formed within seconds and sliced toward its target.
These blades were sharp and narrow, not casual attacks. Each one could deal real damage.
Zweilous didn't dodge. It couldn't dodge. It let out a low growl and activated Work Up.
Work Up boosted its attack and special attack.
It endured the slashes head-on. Its dark fur split open, blood flowing, yet it finished the move without hesitation.
Raihan followed with a sharp cry.
"Use Hyper Voice!"
Hyper Voice?
Shiro froze for a second.
Hyper Voice hit everything that could hear it. The area was huge. With Work Up boosting its power, a direct hit wouldn't knock Corviknight out instantly, but it would injure it badly.
He had two choices: charge in to interrupt the attack or use Protect.
His thoughts raced. He refused to risk a head-on clash.
"Protect!"
Roar!
Zweilous's two heads tilted back and released an earth-shaking scream. The entire arena seemed to tremble. Many spectators jumped in fright and stopped talking. The whole stadium went quiet.
Corviknight stood firm inside its bright green shield, untouched.
Hyper Voice lasted for several long seconds. Even the area around the arena lit up with psychic barriers to contain the attack.
When the roar finally faded, Shiro immediately ordered, "Corviknight! U-turn!"
Corviknight shot forward the moment the sound vanished, giving Zweilous no time to set up.
Raihan wasn't flustered. He had expected Shiro to attack.
Zweilous had the higher level, but its speed was heavily reduced and it had taken a lot of damage. Another few hits would finish it.
But it also had Hyper Voice, a wide-ranged attack that Corviknight couldn't defend against forever.
The only way out was to strike first and risk everything.
The winner would be decided in this exchange.
Raihan didn't plan on using Protect or another Hyper Voice. He waited for the moment.
Corviknight shot forward like a bullet. As soon as people saw it move, it was already at Zweilous's side.
Its beak was sharp as a spear, ready to pierce straight through the unmoving dragon.
Now!
Both trainers shouted at the same time.
"Thunder Fang!"
"Aerial Ace!"
Golden lightning burst from Zweilous's twin mouths. Corviknight was already too close to avoid it. If it was caught by that electric bite, it would fall instantly.
Corviknight let out a sharp cry. It had already angled its body from using U-turn, and switching to Aerial Ace let it twist upward instead. It skimmed past the attack, leaving a pale arc through the air.
Zweilous lunged with its thunder-charged fangs. In normal condition, it would have landed the hit at that range. But with its speed cut, even a short distance felt like a canyon.
Corviknight curved through the air, drawing a half-circle, then dropped behind Zweilous.
"Zweilous!" Raihan roared, "Dragon Tail!"
The dragon reacted at once. Its deep-blue tail, streaked with black fur, lashed upward.
If Corviknight kept falling, it would be hit for sure.
Raihan focused on the tail.
Zweilous was slow and couldn't launch ambush attacks. But forcing Corviknight to approach and defend gave him the advantage.
If this Dragon Tail landed, the match would end.
But Corviknight suddenly lifted itself high into the air, beating its wings above Zweilous. Wind blades formed and rained down from above.
**
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