Silas carefully observed the Cacnea.
Its size was small.
The energy fluctuations around its body were weak.
Below Level 10.
Perfect.
Exactly within Sandile's sparring range.
"Sandile. Focus Energy."
Since hatching, Focus Energy had been one of Sandile's core training priorities.
Sandile's enhancement moves were limited. It could not learn Dragon Dance. It could not learn Swords Dance.
Only two relatively common boosting techniques were available to it was-
Hone Claws and Focus Energy.
And because of that, they were essential.
Unlike time-based enhancement moves, Focus Energy empowered the next attack.
It sharpened the strike.
Increased critical hit probability.
Made the blow lethal.
Sandile inhaled deeply.
Its dark, goggle-like eyes widened as it steadied its breathing.
His body tensed.
Across from it
Cacnea swung its spiked arms forward.
"Cac—NEA!"
Dozens of Poison Sting needles shot forward, wrapped in violet mist.
Each one carried dangerous toxins.
A normal human struck by even one would likely collapse from poisoning.
Poison-type attacks were among the most dreaded for trainers.
Sandile did not flinch.
Instead, it twisted its body–
Turning its back toward the incoming barrage.
Ding–ding–ding–
The sharp needles struck its hardened scales like rain against stone.
Not a single one penetrated.
Sandile turned its head slowly.
And grinned.
A cruel, predatory grin.
With a flick of its short tail, it launched forward, using recoil force to propel itself ahead. Its four legs scurried rapidly across the ground.
"Bite," Silas ordered calmly.
Sandile opened its jaws.
Rows of sharp teeth gleamed, faint blood still clinging from earlier battles.
Dark-type energy condensed between its fangs.
It clamped down hard on Cacnea's spiked arm.
"Cac—!!"
The thorns pierced Sandile's mouth.
Blood flowed.
But Sandile didn't loosen its grip.
If anything ,The taste of its own blood only excited it further.
Its eyes darkened.
Its breathing quickened.
Cacnea reacted instantly.
Green energy flowed from its arm.
Absorb.
Thin strands of emerald light entered Sandile's body, draining stamina.
But Sandile had never planned for a drawn-out fight.
Its style was pure aggression.
Find weakness.
Close distance.
End it.
It bit again.
And again.
Its teeth tore through Cacnea's body mercilessly.
Within seconds, multiple wounds opened across the cactus Pokémon's form.
The small amount of energy recovered through Absorb was nowhere near enough to offset the accumulating damage.
Silas gave no further commands.
He simply watched.
By the end ,It was no longer a battle.
It was a slaughter.
Sandile's thick scales blocked most counterattacks.
Its reckless exchange-of-damage style overwhelmed Cacnea completely.
"Cac… nee…"
The cries weakened.
Then stopped.
Cacnea's body went limp.
Another life ended.
Silas's expression did not change.
This Cacnea had approached first.
And even if it hadn't-
Silas would not have raised it.
Though Cacnea evolved into the Dark-type Cacturne, the Grass/Dark typing was flawed. Its base stat total of 475 was mediocre.
He had no intention of cultivating it.
He stepped forward.
Sandile's mouth still dripped faint blood.
Silas fed it an Pokeblock Cube to restore stamina and reduce internal strain.
"Good work."
A brief pat on the head.
Then he recalled him into his Poké Ball to rest.
Cacnea's body still bled onto the soil.
Silas drew his dagger.
He carefully cut off the small yellow flower from its head and stored it as material.
Then he dissected the corpse.
Grass-type Pokémon hearts often contained concentrated life energy.
The heart would be useful-
A simple healing concoction could be refined from it later.
Silas studied the body carefully.
During the battle, Cacnea had only used Poison Sting and Absorb.
No inherited moves.
No advanced techniques.
Its physical development was ordinary.
Poor aptitude.
"That figures," Silas muttered quietly.
"You don't find high-potential Pokémon growing on trees."
He glanced toward the surrounding grass.
The glowing eyes that had watched earlier,
Were fewer now.
The brutal display had shocked them.
Wild Pokémon understood one rule well:
Bully the weak.
Fear the strong.
Avoid danger.
In the wilderness, retreat alone was meaningless.
If you showed weakness, predators would pursue relentlessly.
But if you displayed fangs and If you made them afraid then They would keep their distance.
A faint, cold smile formed on Silas's lips.
"Murkrow. We're pursuing."
"Kraaah!"
Murkrow's hoarse cry split the night.
Its wings flapped once-
Tailwind activated instantly.
Wind surged through the clearing.
Umbreon moved silently at Silas's side.
"Umbre…"
Graceful.
Soundless.
A creature of the night.
Dark-type Pokémon were at their strongest beneath moonlight.
....
When dawn finally broke
Silas returned to camp with his team.
He looked slightly tired.
But the Pokémon Were exhilarated.
Especially Sandile and Murkrow.
After a full night of battle, something had changed between them.
Both were ruthless.
Both reveled in combat.
During the night's relentless clashes, they had found something like kinship.
When they returned, Murkrow casually landed on Sandile's back and perched there without resistance.
Silas couldn't help but chuckle faintly.
After a night of fighting, the improvement was evident.
Crawdaunt and Sharpedo had only provided support, ensuring safety.
The greatest growth belonged to Sandile.
Silas scanned it with the Pokédex.
Level 9.
But numbers were only surface-level progress.
What pleased him more Was the aura of sandile.
A faint scent of blood lingered on them.
An invisible ferocity.
Humans might not notice.
They would only think the Pokémon looked "fierce."
But to other Pokémon ,The difference was unmistakable.
Danger.
Predator.
Threat.
Even Umbreon, who rested quietly while recovering stamina, did not reject this atmosphere.
Silas observed her silently.
Dark-types were naturally cold.
Aloof.
Unsentimental.
Umbreon had changed.
And Silas considered that A good thing.
His Pokémon could not afford softness.
Not in the wild.
Not in Hoenn.
Not on the path he intended to walk.
<><><><><><>
(End of chapter)