Facing the wild Pokémon's attack, Honchkrow displayed an excited expression. Battle and bloodshed had always been its greatest passion.
"Caw!!"
Honchkrow instantly beat its wings, whipping up gusts from both sides that struck down toward the Sawsbuck below.
Honchkrow currently held a Sharp Beak, which already provided significant amplification for Flying-type moves. Moreover, it had type advantage against the Sawsbuck below.
Sawsbuck shook the two massive bundles of maple-red branches atop its head. Verdant green energy condensed at its crown, ramming toward the incoming gale.
This was one of Sawsbuck's signature moves, Horn Leech.
Among all discovered Pokémon to date, only three species could learn this move: the Skiddo line, the Phantump line, and finally Sawsbuck.
This skill was not only a rare Grass-type physical attack with 75 base power, but could also restore the user's stamina.
Sieg remained calm, commanding coolly. "Use Drill Peck and clash head-on!"
Sawsbuck directly shattered both gusts with Horn Leech. Simultaneously, its four hooves charged forward, leaping toward Honchkrow in the air.
But to no use. Honchkrow easily dodged with a simple maneuver. At the same time, its sharp beak spun rapidly, brutally piercing Sawsbuck's body.
Bang!
It crashed into the ground brutally and scraped open its skin, a thin layer of bloood donning its body. It staggered to its feet, looking up at Honchkrow in the air, its eyes blazing in fury.
Its temperament was truly befitting that of an autumn Sawsbuck.
Spring was gentle, Summer passionate, Autumn violent, Winter silent.
"Honchkrow, use Sucker Punch." Sieg commanded swiftly.
Sucker Punch was one of the moves Murkrow automatically learned upon evolving into Honchkrow, also a signature Dark-type technique.
Famous for its incredibly fast activation speed.
Hearing this, Honchkrow's shot through the air. With Tailwind's speed boost pushed to the limit, it rapidly closed in on the Sawsbuck that had just barely staggered to its feet.
Under the shocked gaze of the Sawsbuck, Honchkrow closed in lightning fast, spread its wings and tore open the wound caused by Drill Peck, rivers of blood flowing out of the Sawsbuck.
But the wound's pain didn't make Sawsbuck submit. Instead, it got even more violent. Its hooves continuously scraped the ground behind it, coiled and ready to strike.
Suddenly!
Sawsbuck leaped high, as if equipped with springs, actually jumping to match Honchkrow's altitude.
After using Bounce, Sawsbuck spun mid-air, its body airborne, hind legs suddenly kicking out with Jump Kick.
Honchkrow calmly condensed a Protect barrier, easily blocking this strike. But Sawsbuck, still airborne, was in trouble, the sky was often the hardest place to dodge attacks.
Honchkrow executed a lateral spin, its body surface emanating faint blue flames as it dove down from high altitude once more, charging up Brave Bird.
Just as Sawsbuck was about to land, Honchkrow directly struck its face.
Seeing the Sawsbuck had lost its ability to battle, Honchkrow displayed a lot of disdain. With just this level of strength, it dared to ambush?
Sieg hastily pulled out a Poké Ball, capturing this rare Sawsbuck. However, he didn't leave the area or clean up the battlefield.
He let the bloody scent spread freely, continuously attracting various Pokémon from the forest.
Honchkrow cried out excitedly. From its hoarse screech, one could sense it had entered a killing rush. Sieg was extremely satisfied with Honchkrow's condition.
However, this still wasn't enough.
Honchkrow's battles were far from sufficient!
More wild Pokémon were needed to become nourishment for Honchkrow's leveling, stepping stones for its progress, piles of bones beneath its breakthrough.
As more and more Pokémon were defeated in this forest, the nearby bloody scent grew increasingly thick. Honchkrow also battled numerous Pokémon of similar strength, each one a whetstone.
"Honchkrow, use Brave Bird!" Sieg issued another command, his cold voice devoid of emotion.
"Caw..."
Honchkrow called out lowly. Its black wings shuddered, instantly ascending higher as it circled in the air.
Its body glowed with blue flames as it dove down once more.
Boom~!
After defeating yet another wild Pokémon, Honchkrow's confidence surged, excitement boiling in its blood almost impossible to suppress.
Sieg hurriedly called Honchkrow to leave this dangerous area. He could sense increasingly numerous watching gazes lurking in the surroundings. Even with Crawdaunt standing guard nearby, the pressure they faced was still considerable.
Sure enough, shortly after Sieg and Honchkrow departed, countless Pokémon instantly emerged from surrounding grass, all attracted by the pervasive bloody scent.
These carnivorous, highly aggressive Pokémon would likely erupt in a massive battle. But all that had nothing to do with Sieg, who'd already left.
"Come, Honchkrow, chugs this down."
Sieg gently stroked Honchkrow standing on a boulder. Its normally smooth feathers had become somewhat matted due to blood and sweat.
But right now, Honchkrow couldn't be bothered grooming its usually cherished plumage. It gripped the potion Sieg handed it with its beak, swallowing it whole, bottle, cork and all.
"Crunch crunch~~"
As the potion was absorbed, energy gradually spread to every part of its body. Honchkrow felt warmth throughout, as if inexhaustible power surged within.
As time passed, the power gradually concentrated. Suddenly, at a certain moment, it surged dramatically.
"Caw!"
Honchkrow unconsciously flapped its wings and took flight, displaying the magnificent form of a sky sovereign mi-air.
An aura of dominance radiated outward. Honchkrow circled leisurely in the air, its speed elevated by more than one tier compared to before. One could only see a black shadow flash past, impossible to discern its actual form.
Elite Level!
"Excellent, Honchkrow. Overtaking on the curve, you've caught up with your big brothers."
Sieg could sense Honchkrow's internal energy was still rising. The potion's effects hadn't dissipated yet.
Sieg thought internally: "Honchkrow breaking through to elite level can serve as a trump card. Until a critical moment arrives, it shouldn't be easily exposed."
Sieg instructed Honchkrow to remember concealing the energy waves emanating from its body, preventing others from easily detecting its true level.
Keeping a hidden card, caution was always imperative.
Who knew whether this mission could be completed safely? But since it involved a legendary beast like Raikou, even if they were just collecting blood and fur samples, mere "battlefield cleanup", it still felt tense.
"BOOM~~!"
Suddenly, thunder boomed across the sky.
At night, dark clouds gathered in the gloomy sky, gradually forming a severe thunderstorm. In this moment, it seemed as if God himself was furious, bringing down divine punishment.
Countless Mauville City residents jolted awake from sleep, looking up at the lightning in the sky, their hearts increasingly filled with anxiety.