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Bali stood at the door, gripping a Poké Ball tightly in his hand. He called out softly:
"Who's there?"
Silence.
A strange unease hung in the air like a fog.
The knocking had stopped as if it had never happened, like a hallucination.
Bali's expression darkened. He remembered a news segment he had seen recently. A notorious criminal Pokémon syndicate, Dark Star, had reportedly been operating nearby.
They had just raided a Pokémon Center under the League's jurisdiction, stealing numerous Pokémon. A drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead.
Dark Star was a relatively new but rapidly rising dark organization, emerging over the past five years. Unlike other crime groups of the same era, Dark Star focused on an elite model. Their core membership was reportedly under 200 but each one was said to be extremely dangerous.
According to official League releases, at least seven of their top members were confirmed to be Champion-tier trainers. And their mysterious leader, known only as "Black," was rumored to be in a league of his own.
Bali's grip tightened around the Poké Ball.
He swallowed hard and reached for the doorknob.
Creak…
The wooden door opened slowly. Bali's body was tense, and the Poké Ball in his left hand vibrated slightly as if the Pokémon inside could feel its trainer's anxiety.
"Baa!"
A lone Mareep stood at the doorstep, looking up at him.
Bali let out a long breath of relief and lowered the Poké Ball.
"Scared me for a second there!"
"What are you doing here?"
Of course, Bali recognized this Mareep.
Not because of a photographic memory but because this one had been weird from the start. Not long ago, it had started sprinting around the pasture like it had lost its mind, worrying Bali so much that he'd called in a professional Pokémon medic.
It turned out to be a false alarm but this eccentric Mareep had left quite the impression.
"Baa! Baa!"
Kael bleated frantically, trying to communicate something urgent.
Bali just chuckled, thinking it was more of Mareep's usual mischief. He bent down, ready to scoop it up and return it to the pen.
Kael grew more frustrated. Thinking quickly, he bit onto the hem of Bali's pants and tugged just once before sprinting off a short distance and stopping, bleating again with determination.
Bali paused.
As someone who had personally raised every Pokémon on this ranch, he was deeply familiar with their behaviors. This wasn't typical.
"You… want me to follow you?"
"Ya! Hooman!!!"
Kael nodded eagerly and turned, running in the direction from which the cries had come.
Bali didn't ask any more questions. He simply followed, now more alert than ever.
As they moved, he wondered what Kael had found. Maybe a fruit tree had finally borne fruit and the little guy wanted to show off? Or maybe another Mareep was about to evolve?
If one of them did evolve into a Flaaffy, that would actually be great for the ranch. While Flaaffy feed was more expensive, their wool fetched far higher prices in the market.
But as he daydreamed, a metallic scent crept into his nose.
"Wait… that's…"
Bali's eyes narrowed.
The smell of blood.
He picked up the pace, heart pounding.
If one of the Pokémon had been injured, it could be catastrophic. Every creature on this ranch was vital to their livelihood.
The scent grew stronger.
"Grrr…"
A low, guttural snarl echoed ahead.
Bali's heart skipped a beat.
"That voice…"
He broke into a full sprint toward the source of the sound.
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The fading sun cast long, heavy shadows across the land its final gift to the world before darkness fell.
Herdier stood firm, trembling slightly from the pain searing through its side.
A deep gash along its right flank pulsed with agony, blood dripping steadily onto the grass.
Across from it stood a beast far larger than itself covered in crimson-and-white fur, upright like a humanoid wolf. Slender forearms hung lazily in front, each ending in three long, deadly claws. The very gash in Herdier's side had come from those deceptively delicate arms.
A mane of thick white fur ran down its back and across its head, lined with jagged black stones that looked like blades. Its red eyes glowed with cruelty.
Herdier didn't know what kind of Pokémon this was. All it knew was that this predator had invaded the ranch and attacked the Mareep.
And Herdier was the one tasked with protecting them.
Drip. Drip.
Blood splashed onto the earth.
Despite the pain, Herdier's eyes never left the intruder. The fire in them only burned brighter.
Whoosh!
Kicking off with its hind legs, Herdier launched forward. White light surged across its body.
Its form blurred, streaking through the grass like a bullet.
"[Take Down]!"
The Lycanroc (Midnight Form) sneered, watching the desperate charge.
Its left claw glowed with dark yellow energy.
The air thickened.
Rock-like energy condensed in its grip.
With a snarl, it hurled the attack straight toward the charging Herdier.
WHAM!
The stone smashed into Herdier mid-dash. The impact sent a shockwave through the field, stopping Herdier in its tracks.
"[Rock Throw]!"
"[Poison Claw]!"
Lycanroc's power erupted again.
Its blood-red form vanished in a blur, appearing beside the wounded Herdier. Both claws now gleamed with dangerous purple light, shimmering with lethal toxicity.
The claws crossed.
SLICK!
They tore deep into Herdier's already wounded side. Blood gushed freely, spraying into the air.
Herdier gasped, strength leaving its limbs. It collapsed to the ground, rolling limply.
Lycanroc grinned, its long tongue running across its blood-splattered face.
It took a slow step forward toward its fallen prey.
But then—
BOOM!
A shockwave rang out.
A gray blur exploded onto the scene, wrapped in spiraling wind and raw energy.
A fist surged forward, crackling with explosive power.
"[Power-Up Punch]!"
Lycanroc's eyes narrowed. With a growl, it kicked off the ground and narrowly dodged the incoming strike.
CRASH!
The punch slammed into the earth, carving a massive crater into the grass. Wind and soil blasted outward in all directions.
A furious roar followed.
"RAAAAAHHHH!!!"
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
Thank you so much for reading!