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Kael's blackened skin melted into the shadows, his outline blurred by a faint haze of [Ghost]-energy leaking from within.
The veil cloaked his presence almost completely, so much so that even a sharp-nosed Houndoom would sense nothing unless it stood mere steps away.
He was stone. Silent. Watching.
Crimson-tinged eyes gleamed faintly through the dark, tracking Bert and his squad.
"Arbok and Houndoom…" Kael whispered inwardly.
Confidence burned in him, but not arrogance. Recklessness was death.
Yes, he had proven against Sandslash that he could crush a fully evolved Pokémon in straight combat. But two at once, plus armed humans? Reality was not a turn-based game.
Every opponent multiplied the complexity of moves, stamina, defense, and evasion until mistakes meant only one outcome.
He needed precision. Strategy. An ambush.
The base gates were sealed. Only the squad's retreat path remained. This corridor was a dead end sooner or later, they would find him.
Which meant his only option was to strike first. Eliminate them all.
A cold light flickered in his eyes.
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Bert split his men, leaving a handful to guard the bloodstained lab while he led the rest deeper into the corridor.
Silence pressed down like a weight. Every scuff of boots, every strained breath, even the rasp of Arbok's scales against stone grated on the ear, magnified by the stillness.
Arbok slithered at point, body weaving with slow coils. Its vision meant little in darkness but it didn't need sight.
Tongue flickers drew scent and particles from the air, translating into a predator's map in its mind. Nothing escaped its senses.
Until—
A surge of warped energy pulsed from the shadows. [Ghost]-type aura, sharp and unearthly.
"Shadow Ball!"
A black sphere swelled, corrosive vapors spilling as it streaked toward Arbok.
The serpent reacted instantly. Its hood flared wide, dazzling patterns flashing across its scales.
[Ability Triggered: Intimidate]
[Move: Defensive Pattern]
Energy rippled down its body like invisible armor. The Shadow Ball splashed against its tail, acid hiss clawing at purple scales but the reinforced hide held.
The squad froze. Guns whipped up toward the darkened corner. Houndoom snarled, turning sharply to guard the rear.
And that was when Kael struck.
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A blur of muscle and shadow tore free from the opposite end of the hall, speed ripping the air like water breaking. Wind shrieked as his power cleaved the silence.
He was behind Houndoom before it realized.
Kael's right hand closed fingers fused, flame-brown aura igniting along his arm like molten glass.
Muscles surged beneath his skin.
The palm came down like a falling hammer.
Houndoom sensed death behind it. It twisted desperately, flames scattering from its tail but too late.
Kael's burning hand slammed onto its spine.
"BOOM!"
The impact reverberated like thunder. Vertebrae shattered. Bone fragments and blood sprayed outward, black fur sponging crimson as the beast's body bent into a grotesque curve.
Before it could even cry out, Kael drove harder Arm bracing, body coiled, right leg snapping forward. Brown-red aura blazed around his knee.
[Move: Low Kick]
His shin crashed into Houndoom's gut, pulverizing its ribs and collapsing its core.
"CRACK!"
The beast flew like a ragdoll, smashing into the corridor wall. Stone exploded, dust shrouding the impact zone.
By the time debris settled, Houndoom was limp its life force extinguished.
Elapsed time: one second.
And in that single breath, the Nightmare Syndicate's security squad lost half its Pokémon strength.
[Enemy Pokémon Defeated: Houndoom]
[Status: Unable to battle]
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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