In a corner of the underground arena, Blaine, disguised as Hunter M, glanced at his communicator with a frown before relaxing slightly.
Bertha had sent a message confirming that the black-cloaked man was not Hunter A.
Since it wasn't Hunter A, there was nothing to worry about. That black-cloaked hunter definitely didn't have Hunter A's strength. He was just putting on an act.
Everything was still going according to the original plan.
First, confirm the locations of the wanted criminals. Then let some people escape and clear the battlefield...
* * *
After dealing with the body in his hand, Shiro merely glanced at the hunters fleeing in all directions before ignoring them.
He then turned and shouted, "Farlen! Get out here already!"
From the shadows of the passageway, the old man, who had been quietly backing away, could only jog over while putting on an innocent and frightened expression.
Even now, he was still hoping to find a chance to slip away.
Shiro simply patted Farlen on the shoulder. His psychic power instantly hypnotized him. After confirming he wouldn't wake up anytime soon, he casually tossed him aside.
Psychic energy surged as the black cloak floated upward.
Shiro rose into the air. Everything below came into full view. His heavy voice, amplified by his psychic power, echoed throughout the entire underground battle arena.
"You scum wanted by the League, along with the shameless fools who came here hoping to profit from the chaos. None of you are qualified to join the guild. Since you've all come here today, not a single one of you is leaving!"
As those words rang out, the Elite-level trainers who had been calmly watching from the sidelines could no longer stay still.
Everything had already been settled. The available seats had practically been decided, and now someone who had just arrived wanted to take away their chance with a few words?
"Damn it! Hiding your face like a coward. Who the hell do you think you are?!" The hot-tempred Shane roared as he pulled out a Poké Ball.
He didn't believe this was Hunter A. It wasn't like he'd never seen Hunter A before.
Besides, none of that mattered. One fight would prove everything.
"Nidoking! Throat Chop!"
A flash of red light burst forward as the massive and muscular Nidoking leaped into the air. Dark-type energy spiraled around its hardened horn. Dust swirled through the violent wind, making the airborne Nidoking look like a heavy tank capable of crushing anything in its path.
Shane narrowed his eyes, already picturing the black-cloaked hunter panicking in midair or simply being pierced straight through.
He had deliberately chosen Throat Chop.
Most people who liked showing off psychic powers were only borrowing the strength of their Pokémon. True psychics with overwhelming power were honored guests in every major organization. They would never associate with scavengers like the Hunters Guild.
Even Hunter A, who was famous for psychic abilities, was just a lucky man who happened to obtain the help of a powerful Pokémon.
Several years ago in Snowpoint City, Shane had witnessed Hunter A fighting League trainers from a distance. He had also seen the true source of Hunter A's psychic power: it had been nothing more than a mysterious crystal.
Aside from that, there were only a few black letter-like Pokémon that were Psychic-types. Their combat ability had looked average and nothing particularly special.
Now this black-cloaked hunter was facing Throat Chop, a Dark-type move that countered Psychic power.
He would either run away, summon his Pokémon to block the attack, or simply die where he stood.
Boom!
A sharp explosion echoed through the air.
Right before Shane's widening eyes, Nidoking's horn shattered into pieces. Its powerful body suddenly twisted through the air like a loose ribbon, like an Ekans with every bone broken.
'How… is that possible?'
Boom!
Nidoking crashed to the ground, its fate unknown.
Shane's pupils contracted as a chill spread through his entire body.
With all his years of experience as a trainer, he hadn't seen when the attack was launched or even what the attack had been… How could a person block the full-force charge of a peak Gym-level Pokémon head-on?
Throat Chop was designed to counter Psychic power. A Gym-level Psychic Pokémon would never dare take it directly. Even an Elite-level Psychic Pokémon would still have to reveal itself to block it.
Dark-types were naturally immune to psychic abilities, allowing them to overcome a considerable difference in strength.
To produce a result like this, there were only two possibilities. Either the black-cloaked hunter was a genuine psychic who could directly borrow the psychic power of his Pokémon, or the Psychic Pokémon under his command had already reached Champion-level.
Whichever was true, it was far beyond anything he could confront.
Those thoughts flashed through Shane's mind in an instant. Acting on pure instinct, he recalled his badly injured Nidoking. Then he silently retreated toward the edge of the battlefield and slowly moved closer to the tunnel, silently admitting defeat.
Floating in midair, Shiro dusted off his black robe. After making sure there wasn't even a speck of dirt on it, he coldly said, "Is that all? If this is your strength, you're still not qualified to join the guild."
The moment he finished speaking, Hunter Z could no longer remain silent.
The instant he had seen Hunter F step forward, he had already recognized the identity of the black-cloaked figure in the air: Hunter W.
W's appearance had genuinely surprised him. This newcomer, who had joined the guild not long ago, actually possessed such strength, and he was also unbelievably greedy.
But if this continued, how was he supposed to use this perfect opportunity to fill every remaining seat in the Hunters Guild?
Hunter Z waved his hand, ordering Mismagius to raise a wall of shadows that blocked the passage behind them, cutting off the trainers trying to sneak away.
Then he raised his voice, "Everyone, there's no need to rush to leave. You're all highly capable trainers, and I welcome every one of you to join us. We can even create additional seats for you."
"W, their admission follows the proper procedures. The Hunters Guild also needs more people if it's going to grow."
Recruit wanted criminals? Create more seats? Claim the guild needed to grow?
In Shiro's eyes, it was nothing more than recruiting more followers to divide the authority originally held by the seated hunters.
He didn't believe hunters had any sense of collective loyalty. With obvious disdain, he replied, "The guild doesn't need useless trash dragging us down. And who do you think you are? What gives you the right to speak?"
"With Hunter A gone, I'm now the leader of the Hunters Guild."
Once he finished speaking, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
Right now, he was Hunter W. Not the Galar Champion who had to consider the League's reputation in everything he did.
A hunter driven entirely by profit should naturally seize the chance to unite and take control of the Hunters Guild.
Appearing here while his original identity was also present would conveniently clear away any suspicion. As long as the League members inside made it out alive, everything else was fine.
After all, any trainer capable of participating in this operation had to be at least Gym-level. If they truly wanted to escape, they could. He just needed a little time to confirm where they all were.
For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield.
Even Blaine looked up in surprise, carefully studying the black-cloaked hunter. This was the first time he had ever seen such an arrogant hunter.
Not even Hunter A had openly humiliated fellow hunters. This Hunter W, who resembled Hunter A in some ways, probably hadn't been officially recognized as the guild leader yet.
* * *
In the corner, Bertha turned to glance at the fake Shiro beside her with a puzzled look. "Do you know this Hunter W?"
Unown G gently shook its head.
Hunter W? It definitely didn't know him.
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