Brave Bird!
This was one of the most famous and powerful Flying-type moves, and it was the first time Corviknight had used it against an opponent since learning it.
Perhaps because of the training habits it had developed when it was young, Corviknight loved constantly practicing all kinds of moves. It would keep training until it could use them almost instantly.
Changing from Drill Peck to Brave Bird took only a split second.
The intense pressure bent the branches and leaves of the surrounding trees. Some wild Pokémon that had been watching from a distance immediately fled.
Facing the move head-on, Salamence narrowed its eyes. A chilling sense of danger that it hadn't felt in a long time spread throughout its entire body. Its blood-red wings instinctively began to flap as it tried to move to the side, but reason stopped it from retreating. At this distance, backing away would only allow Corviknight to catch up easily and land the full force of the attack.
Driven by the pressure, the lightning inside Salamence's huge mouth grew even stronger, but it was of little use.
The dazzling golden streak struck it directly in the chest and abdomen. The fully charged Thunder Fang dispersed as its body convulsed from the impact, and a large amount of saliva spilled from its mouth.
In the short span of a second, Corviknight easily pierced straight through Salamence and reached the sky dozens of meters away on the other side.
Salamence's body tilted and fell from the sky. Through its half-closed eyes, the last thing it saw was Drake running toward it with a greatly changed expression.
Boom!
After smashing through several trees, the powerful dragon's body crashed into the forest.
One strike.
Salamence had basically lost its ability to fight.
Even though Drake had already prepared himself mentally for the possibility of being defeated, he still couldn't hide his shock when he saw Salamence lying there on the verge of collapse so quickly.
No matter what, this was Salamence, a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon!
Yet it had actually been knocked down by a single attack from Corviknight!
It had taken the full force of a powerful STAB move, but the two Pokémon were basically at the same level. Salamence was also extremely tough and durable. By all logic, it should have been able to withstand the attack.
If this had been an ordinary Flying-type Elite-level Pokémon, Salamence could have endured the attack and bitten down on its opponent to counterattack and kill it.
But that Corviknight...
How was this possible?
Drake raised his head and met Corviknight's crimson eyes. A chill spread uncontrollably down his back.
Shiro, however, only curled the corners of his mouth slightly. He wasn't surprised by the result at all.
Corviknight's training earlier had been focused on Hone Claws. The move increased both attack and accuracy, and they had been trying to find a way to solidify the abilities gained from it.
Corviknight had already used Hone Claws six times to raise its abilities, so it was only natural that a powerful move could instantly defeat Salamence.
Salamence had arrived at exactly the right time. It was perfect for gaining some experience.
Up in the sky, Corviknight didn't think about it that much. It kept its eyes fixed on Salamence and noticed that its opponent still seemed to be moving.
It was about to fly down and finish it off when Shiro quickly stopped it. "Corviknight, come back."
Shiro could tell that Drake hadn't come here to attack him, nor did he intend to fight to the death. He had only come to test them through a battle. After all, Drake had approached them openly from the beginning, and his original target hadn't even been Shiro. So far, he had only sent one Pokémon, Salamence, into battle.
If Shiro accidentally killed Drake here, it would complicate things.
Earlier, when Drake had ridden Salamence over, his first target had been Sapphire. It seemed that he had deliberately ordered Salamence to frighten her...
Could Drake have some grudge against Birch?
Was this some long-standing conflict between a trainer and a researcher?
Whatever the reason, Drake was already an old Elite Four member. Yet he was actually being so petty toward a young girl.
Shiro found it quite shameless.
Drake himself, however, showed no embarrassment at all. After reaching Salamence and giving it a quick check, he sprayed it with some healing medicine before taking out its Poké Ball and recalling it. He then walked over with a loud laugh.
"Hahaha, Shiro. For trainers, all it takes to get acquainted is a single battle..."
Shiro raised an eyebrow and mocked him directly. "Elite Drake, so before trainers get acquainted, you have to attack a child with a Pokémon?"
Drake paused for a moment, then laughed several more times without the slightest concern. "You mean that little brat?"
His eyes turned toward Sapphire. She had already stood up and was hiding behind Shiro.
Feeling his gaze, Sapphire instinctively shrank back. She pulled a face and bit her lip. Like a child hiding behind a tree, she poked half her head out and stared straight at the fierce old man.
"A truly talented child would never be afraid of Pokémon!"
Drake put his hands on his waist and raised his voice. His words echoed through the forest. "It was only a little test. If she cannot even get through this, she has no chance of becoming a trainer!"
Shiro remained expressionless and didn't answer immediately.
The Elite Four member in front of him carried a trace of hostility all over his body. He had clearly targeted Sapphire on purpose, yet he insisted on calling it a test… What child could face the charge of an Elite-level Salamence without changing expression?
Even if you searched through all the trainers in the entire Pokémon world, there wouldn't be many.
Shiro let out a snort before asking, "Elite Drake, you didn't come here on vacation, did you?"
Drake stopped walking and looked over the two people in front of him. After a moment, he finally said, "I came to see the Galar Champion who just saved an Elite Four member in Hoenn. I wanted to see if you had time to come with me to the Hoenn headquarters. There are quite a few Pokémon Eggs and resources there. You should need them."
Shiro thought for a few seconds before replying, "If I have the time, I'll visit the Hoenn headquarters. As for the rest, I'll not trouble you, Elite Drake."
After hearing this, Drake didn't continue inviting him. Instead, he looked toward Sapphire again with an unfriendly expression. However, when he saw Shiro standing there like an iron wall between them, he could only reluctantly withdraw his gaze.
His real purpose for coming this time had indeed been Sapphire. Visiting Shiro had only been incidental.
"Elite Drake, would you like to talk with Professor Birch?" Shiro asked.
Drake didn't answer. He took a deep look at the Birch Research Institute before waving his cloak and throwing out a Poké Ball.
Red light flashed, and a green Flygon appeared in the air. It then slowly landed on the ground.
Drake jumped onto Flygon's back. Just as he was about to order it to leave, he paused and looked back. "Shiro, if we put aside your identity as a trainer and a researcher, are you truly someone who protects the League?"
Shiro didn't understand why he was asking this, but he answered without hesitation, "Of course."
The League was powerful now and ruled over most of the regions, so of course he firmly supported it.
After hearing his answer, Drake chuckled a few times before asking again, "Before the Indigo Plateau Conference, you will stay in Hoenn the whole time, right?"
Shiro thought about it before nodding. "That's right."
Drake gave him a meaningful warning. "Keep a close eye on Birch. Be careful. If anything happens, remember to contact me."
With that, he rode Flygon away.
Shiro was left behind with his brows tightly furrowed, unable to understand what Drake meant.
Apart from wasting his days, what other secret was Birch hiding that could harm the League?
The only thing Shiro knew was that Birch had been secretly supporting Alden's research. For the higher-ups in Hoenn, that shouldn't be much of a secret.
Then was the reason Birch was funding Alden the real key?
The reason he was funding Alden.
Alden's research was about the Primal Reversion of Groudon and Kyogre...
At that thought, Shiro's pupils widened slightly. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, but he couldn't determine which one was correct.
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