Silas hysterically called for a medic Blissey to use Softboiled. This attack, when used by a high-level Blissey, can help a Pokémon survive mortal wounds.
The League medical staff was running around but prioritizing its trainers and Pokémon. Police officers, lab aides, and trainers like Silas were largely ignored.
"Someone, please help us," Silas pleaded as he ran frantically toward an approaching Nurse Joy.
She looked over and immediately saw the horrible state Tangrowth was in. Her Blissey used Softboiled while her Audino followed up with Heal Pulse. Tangrowth regained some color; however, it continued losing vitality.
They tried the healing combination several more times before Nurse Joy gently advised Silas to say his last words. Tangrowth was fading fast. It was a miracle it was still alive at all.
Silas sat with Tangrowth in its final moments, reliving some of their old memories.
He cried for a long while. Koga watched him with displeasure, but Silas didn't care. In fact, the stare angered him. He remembered that when Machamp went berserk using that slashing move, Crobat had stayed out of range, allowing the massacre to continue.
Silas stared at Koga, anger burning as he thought about how Koga had just stood there while that evil Machamp attacked everyone.
Koga noticed the stare and was enraged. He strode over, one hand resting on the hilt of the sword on his back. "You got something to say, boy?" he demanded, fixing Silas with a menacing glare. Silas met his gaze, refusing to back down.
Madam stepped between them immediately. "Koga, he is a child who just lost his first Pokémon. Please let him grieve in peace." Koga scoffed and walked away.
"Silas, that is Koga," Madam said quietly. "You do not pick a fight with a master shinobi and trainer. It's a death wish."
"Madam, he let so many Pokémon die when he could have intervened. I refuse to acknowledge his authority. He is no different from that man, Jaden."
Madam realized now was not the time to reason with Silas. She let him vent his anger and then comforted him. It was a surprisingly warm side of Madam, one Silas had only ever seen when she groomed her Pokémon.
He eventually calmed down and, along with everyone else who had lost a Pokémon, took a special Poké Ball to store the body inside. Not long after, the group that had left with Professor Oak returned to discuss the aftermath.
Team Rocket had managed to steal at least fifteen high-talent Pokémon. By the time Oak's group arrived, the stolen Pokémon had already been sealed into Poké Balls.
They fought hard, but battling a powerful enemy while they were retreating was especially difficult. Team Rocket had come prepared with an escape plan and managed to get away without any casualties on their side.
After Oak finished recounting events at the lab, he turned to Koga and asked how things had gone at the auditorium.
Koga's face darkened. "We repelled the bikers, but we suffered heavy casualties—particularly among the police officers. Ten humans and twenty-seven Pokémon are dead. They also stole all the high-grade natural treasures."
Oak was livid when Koga mentioned the last part. "How could they sneak past you and access the auditorium?"
"They had a hidden strike team infiltrate while the main force engaged us outside, keeping us too busy to notice."
This was really bad. The only consolation was that they hadn't escaped with Zapdos. It was worth several times more than everything else that had been stolen.
"Among the stolen treasures were a Zapdos-O feather and a Thunder Origin," Koga continued. "Those were the most valuable items brought out of the vault for the conference."
"The cost was heavy, but Zapdos and most of the trainers are safe," Oak said. "That is what matters. Treasures can be replaced."
Silas caught the subtle implication immediately. Zapdos was clearly more important.
Silas watched the two men discuss the night's losses as if everything had gone within expectation. He knew making a scene here would serve no purpose.
After the League members left to rest, only Oak, Zane, Madam, and Gary remained. Silas decided to gather information. A question had been nagging him.
"Professor Oak," Silas asked, "Koga's Crobat and that crazy Machamp were clearly different from the rest of their species. Why?"
Oak thought for a moment, then smiled. "It's called Battle Bond. When a trainer and Pokémon reach a certain level of strength and share a powerful bond, the Pokémon undergoes an evolution that maximizes its strengths and aligns with the trainer's battle style. A trainer can only have one Battle Bonded Pokémon."
Silas's eyes widened. There was potential for further evolution within his own team. It finally made sense why those two Pokémon had been so powerful.
"How do you trigger it exactly?" Silas pressed. "I know you said strength and bond, but I want specifics."
"Nobody knows," Oak admitted. "Strength and an unbreakable friendship are the only consistent elements across every recorded case."
"Thank you, Professor."
Silas stopped asking questions after that. He, Madam, and Zane walked home together in silence.
Silas was lost in thought. The League was supposed to be the good side, but Koga didn't feel like a hero. Oak was a former Champion, yet he seemed most shaken by the loss of resources.
Silas had once planned to collect Gym Badges, challenge the Indigo Plateau, and work his way toward Champion. He no longer felt the desire to do so.
What was the point if he would only become powerful and cold like Koga?
He resolved to never be weak again. He would not hesitate to take a life if threatened—but he would never become ruthless like Koga.
When they arrived home, Silas immediately ran to the berry fields. In an empty patch, Silas, Chimchar, and Elekid dug a deep grave and laid Tangrowth's body inside, placing an Oran Berry beside it. One day, it would grow into a tree that nourished others, just as Tangrowth had.
That night, Silas took a long, cold shower. When he finally lay down in bed, his Pokémon watched him with serious expressions. He understood their meaning clearly.
Only strength could prevent tragedies like this.
The following morning, Silas didn't mope around like everyone expected. He rose early and ran into the forest, returning to the spot where Tangrowth had always met him. The sense of loss hit him again as he stood there.
Silas grieved with his Pokémon until the moment passed.
"Elekid. Chimchar," he said quietly. "We need to train like war is coming."
First, he accessed his system. Several notifications had appeared during the battle, but he had muted them to focus.
He now had 37 BP.
Silas hadn't realized how many Pokémon he'd defeated. Still, he knew nothing of real value would be cheap, so checking the shop was unnecessary. He did, however, want to use the first-time reward: TM – Shadow Claw. Chimchar was compatible.
Teaching the move was straightforward. After selecting Chimchar, a black-and-purple aura enveloped it before sinking into its body.
Moments later, Chimchar extended long, sharp, dark-purple claws from its hands. The move was Rank D. Silas was satisfied but they had a lot of work to do.