"Wh-What's going on here? Did we invade its territory or sothing?"
Seeing the drooling dog that had suddenly appeared, Ichiki was startled.
There weren't many Pokémon species that actively attacked humans. Most wild encounters occur when humans accidentally enter a Pokémon's territory.
"Did we stumble into its turf by mistake?"
Ichiki wondered.
"But that doesn't make sense—I slept right next to this rock before, and this dog wasn't around. Did it claim the area as its territory after that?"
"No, Houndooms like this one usually acts in packs, led by one or two Houndooms commanding a group of Houndours," Stephen explained calmly.
Most Pokémon had a habit of moving in groups—owth and Houndour families were pri examples. Typically, an evolved form served as the leader, guiding the unevolved ones. Even Team Rocket's owth had once followed a Persian as its boss.
This pattern was even depicted in the Scarlet and Violet gas.
But this Houndoom had no subordinates in sight. Most likely, it was dosticated.
"Oh? So this thing's called 'Houndoom,' huh? Is that the na recently approved by the League? Since I captured it, I've only issued commands without ever giving it a na," ca a voice, dripping with malice.
At that mont, Stephen and Ichiki noticed a burly figure erge from behind the Houndoom.
The man wore a mask that obscured the upper half of his face. His stocky build and eerie grin made it clear he wasn't soone you'd want to ss with.
"It's him—the League's A-Class wanted criminal, Pokémon Hunter Bishas!"
Ichiki exclaid, his face tightening in alarm.
"Hahaha~"
Bishas didn't react much to being identified. He simply smirked and stared greedily at Stephen's Umbreon and Ichiki's Exeggutor, like a collector spotting rare artifacts.
"That one's a Dark-type, right? Hahaha, Dark Pokémon have beco quite trendy since the League recognized the type. I've got clients clamoring for them lately. And that Grass-type over there—what's this, a newly discovered species? What luck! Who'd have thought I'd hit the jackpot before leaving Johto?"
To Bishas, Stephen and Ichiki might as well have been air as he ogled their Pokémon.
"Listen up, kids—leave your Pokémon and scram, and I might let you go unhard," Bishas smirked. Then, his voice dropped into a sinister chuckle.
"Or did you think I'd say that?!"
The mood shifted abruptly.
The already hostile Houndoom bared its fangs and unleashed a dark, purplish-black energy wave straight at them.
Dark Pulse!
"Unlike those soft-hearted fools, I, Bishas, believe in leaving no loose ends—not even kids!"
Bishas roared with laughter.
"Don't get cocky!"
Despite the sudden attack, Ichiki, hailed as a prodigy since childhood, quickly regained his composure.
Exeggutor, standing beside him, began to emit a shimring psychic wave from its body, unleashing a colorful surge to counter the Dark Pulse.
Psychic!
But the next mont, the Dark Pulse tore through the psychic energy and kept coming.
Ichiki was shocked.
"What?! That didn't work?"
"Dark types are immune to Psychic moves," Stephen reminded him nonchalantly as if explaining a basic lesson.
Umbreon darted forward, eting the incoming Dark Pulse head-on.
BOOM!
The Dark Pulse detonated against Umbreon, shrouding the area in a cloud of dust.
"It took that hit directly?!"
Bishas's grin faltered.
As the smoke cleared, Umbreon erged, baring its teeth in a feral grin and glaring down the larger Houndoom with eerie confidence.
"Compared to the training partner' we've faced, your Houndoom's attacks are weaker than the won working the streets of Goldenrod," Stephen taunted.
Bishas's face darkened.
With a flash of light, Umbreon charged forward, a blur of black and white streaking toward the Houndoom.
"Watch out!"
Bishas shouted.
THUD!
Umbreon slamd into Houndoom's chest, sending it skidding backward several ters. Despite the blow, the sturdy Houndoom was far from defeated.
A blazing column of flas erupted from Houndoom's throat and roared toward Umbreon.
Flathrower!
"Fire and Dark-type? That's a perfect counter to my Exeggutor!"
Ichiki frowned.
"Snarl!"
Stephen's sudden shout startled Ichiki. He wasn't sure if Stephen was giving a command or simply yelling.
"Umbreee—!"
Umbreon let out a resonant howl, releasing rippling waves of dark energy.
The Flathrower clashed with the dark waves, partially dispersing them before continuing toward Houndoom, though its power was noticeably weakened.
Even so, the attack barely made Houndoom flinch.
"Hahaha! Is that supposed to be an attack?"
Bishas mocked.
"Keep laughing," Stephen smirked, his tone dripping with contempt.
As Houndoom launched a more intense Flathrower, Umbreon rushed straight into the flas, her crazed grin growing wider as the fire scorched her body.
"Impossible!"
Bishas's confidence began to waver.
"Double Kick," Stephen ordered.
Umbreon leaped high, spinning in midair before landing a powerful kick with her hind legs.
BAM!
Houndoom crashed into a tree behind Bishas with enough force to make the entire tree sway. The startled bird Pokémon perched atop it scattered in every direction.
"Umbree!"
Umbreon stood victoriously, lifting one paw to the ground and tilting her head back in a taunting pose.
Ichiki and his Exeggutor exchanged uneasy glances, a shiver running down their spines.
"Note to self: never provoke this guy..."
Ichiki muttered, his earlier suspicions of Stephen being the Joker resurfacing.
But he quickly dismissed them.
"Still... that Umbreon's stance... It's just like Joker's Pokémon back at the Goldenrod Station!"
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