Sieg's eyes gleamed with excitement. This is exactly what he'd been waiting for!
Evolving from Murkrow to Honchkrow, its ability had changed from Prankster to Moxie.
"Honchkrow, let them witness your true power! Use Wing Attack on that Minun in the corner!"
"KRAAA!"
Honchkrow cried out excitedly, its raspy shriek echoing throughout the entire power plant. Its body shot forward like an arrow, rapidly attacking the wild Pokémon in the corner.
Seeing Sieg and Honchkrow's actions, Kikuta dreadfully realized what Sieg was up to.
He intended to trigger Moxie by defeating wild Pokémon!
The Moxie ability, with each defeated opponent, confidence would surge and Attack power would rise, gaining amplification.
No wonder he'd been moving in that direction earlier. She thought Sieg wanted to escape, but now it was clear, his constant looking around had been because he was searching for wild Pokémon!
"Damn it, stop him! Manectric, use Spark! Ampharos, use Thunderbolt!"
Kikuta anxiously stamped her foot. She understood, the scales of this battle might truly tip.
Both Pokémon unleashed their signature Electric-type attacks, attempting to exploit Honchkrow's Flying type weakness.
Unfortunately, Honchkrow's speed had reached an incredible level. The speed of their attacks simply wasn't enough anymore.
They could only watch two techniques chase Honchkrow from behind, never catching up, left far in its wake.
A victorious smile played at Sieg's lips.
Though Honchkrow's base Speed stat had dropped 20 points after its evolution, from 91 to 71, just by looking at how many amplifications were stacked on Honchkrow's body right now, it truly resembled a true sovereign of the sky.
Honchkrow approached the two cowering wild Pokémon. Its black wings gathered a radiant sheen and struck downward.
Minun and Plusle instantly lost their ability to battle.
"KRAAA!!!"
Honchkrow's feathers bristled with excitement as it shrieked triumphantly. Moxie successfully taking effect!
Its Confidence surged!
"Show them your power!"
"Honchkrow, Brave Bird!"
Hearing Sieg's command, Honchkrow soared high up. It felt exceptionally confident now, its gaze radiating determination.
Pale blue flames gradually began burning across Honchkrow's body, eventually enveloping it completely.
A firebird descended from above with incomparable might.
This inherited move, Brave Bird, a technique with a base power of 140, currently the strongest Flying-type move discovered.
And the longer it charged, the greater its power.
Having completed its charge near the power plant's ceiling, Honchkrow dove down. Under Kikuta's horrified gaze, it struck Ampharos directly.
Even its Protect barrier shattered instantly.
"BOOM~~~~!!!!"
Ampharos was blasted into the ground. The explosion echoed throughout the power plant.
When the smoke cleared, Ampharos could be seen embedded directly into the steel floor plating, unconscious and possibly dead.
Honchkrow cried out excitedly once more. Moxie stacked again.
With its base 125 Physical Attack stat, plus all the various amplifications, Honchkrow had become a killing machine.
Once its attacks landed, for Kikuta's Pokémon, it meant the end of life itself.
Perhaps only the Elite-level Magnezone could withstand one strike, but Sieg wouldn't give her that opportunity.
"Honchkrow, use Brave Bird again! Target... Manectric!"
"Crawdaunt, charge forward and use Razor Shell to distract Magnezone! Sharpedo, use Crunch! Umbreon, use Helping Hand!"
With Sieg's command, he swiftly coordinated his team.
Kikuta swallowed hard. A rare feeling of panic started surging through her body, though her face remained composed: "Don't be afraid of him! Magenzone is still here! No matter how high their amplifications are, they'll eventually run out!"
Whether Kikuta spoke to reassure herself or calm her Pokémon's panic was unclear.
"Magnezone, Flash Cannon! Manectric, use Wild Charge!"
Both Pokémon charged their attacks, each employing their most proficient moves. Victory or defeat would soon be decided.
Naturally, Sharpedo attacked first. Maintaining Aqua Jet constantly meant that even though Honchkrow had stolen its Speed Boost state, it could still maintain a high velocity.
Opening its savage shark maw, crunching repeatedly, it left wound after bloody wound on Manectric's body.
As the ace frontliner, Crawdaunt naturally faced the strongest opponent, Magnezone. With Umbreon providing support from the side, it managed to hold its own for the moment.
The only concern was avoiding direct hits.
Fortunately, having followed Sieg for so long, Crawdaunt possessed a lot of combat experience. Until now, it had been fighting Magnezone evenly.
Whenever it detected the opponent preparing an Electric-type technique, it would instantly escape using Aqua Jet, creating distance.
At this moment, Honchkrow, circling in the sky with pale blue flames engulfing its entire body, had charged to its absolute limit.
Sieg's eyes flashed brilliantly. His hand swept down.
"Honchkrow, Brave Bird... use Brave Bird on Manectric!"
Honchkrow dove down once more, like Death's scythe. The black shadow silently claimed Manectric's life.
"BOOM!"
This strike triggered another explosion.
After the smoke cleared, Manectric was actually dead, all signs of life completely extinguished.
In the current battle situation, Honchkrow's power could no longer be blocked by any single Pokémon.
"KRAAA!"
Though Honchkrow felt its stamina rapidly draining, the sensation of being filled with such overwhelming power was far too intoxicating.
It felt exhilarated!
As Kikuta's Pokémon gradually fell one by one, some dead, some unable to battle,
Without exception, Kikuta had reached the end of her rope. A single Magnezone couldn't possibly stop the siege from so many of Sieg's Pokémon.
Magnezone's stamina gradually gave out as well. It was cornered.
"Hahahaha!"
"To think that despite my extraordinary talent, I overlooked the move Snatch! But since you want to take my life... I won't just sit here waiting to die!"
Kikuta laughed maniacally, her words tinged with self-mockery and desolation.
Originally, she held such an overwhelming advantage.
She prided herself on being exceptionally intelligent, perfecting her Electric-type team composition. In less than two years, she'd trained Pokémon to Elite level. Whether in strength or talent, she far surpassed her peers at the gym.
Otherwise, she couldn't possibly have become an Elite apprentice after joining Mauville Gym for less than two years. Yet today, carelessness had brought her down here.
"Magnezone... use Explosion!"
Kikuta spoke these words through gritted teeth with bloodshot eyes.
Anyone could see her intense fear. After all, when faced with death, no one could remain perfectly calm.
She truly was ruthless, ruthless to her enemies, and even more ruthless to herself!