A sharp glint flashed in Silas's eyes.
This was exactly the moment he had been waiting for.
When Murkrow evolved into Honchkrow, its ability changed from Prankster to Moxie.
"Honchkrow, show them your real power!"
"Use Wing Attack on the wild Minun in the corner!"
"KRRAAA!"
Honchkrow let out an excited, hoarse cry that echoed through the abandoned power plant.
Its massive black body shot forward like a streak of dark lightning, rushing straight toward the wild Pokémon hiding in the corner.
The moment Kiera saw Silas's move, her expression changed drastically.
She instantly understood his intention.
"He's trying to stack Moxie!"
Every time Honchkrow defeated an opponent, its Attack would rise.
That was why Silas had been slowly moving toward the outer area earlier.
He wasn't trying to escape.
He was searching for wild Pokémon.
"Damn it! Stop him!"
"Manectric, Thunderbolt!
Ampharos, Thunderbolt!"
Two powerful electric attacks shot across the battlefield, attempting to strike Honchkrow out of the sky.
But Honchkrow's speed had already reached an unbelievable level.
Dragon Dance.
Tailwind.
Agility.
Multiple buffs stacked together had turned Honchkrow into a true ruler of the skies.
The two lightning bolts chased behind it but they simply couldn't catch up.
Silas's lips curved into a faint smile.
Honchkrow's base Speed had indeed dropped after evolution—from 91 to 71 But with so many boosts stacked on its body, that difference meant nothing.
Right now, Honchkrow was the king of the night sky.
A predator born from darkness.
Honchkrow swooped down toward the frightened wild Pokémon.
Its black wings gleamed as they slashed downward.
"BAM!"
Both Minun and Plusle instantly lost their ability to fight.
"KRRAAA!"
Honchkrow shrieked excitedly.
Its feathers bristled as its ability activated.
Moxie.
Its Attack rose sharply.
Silas raised his arm.
"Use your strength to announce the start of the counterattack!"
"Honchkrow, use Brave Bird!"
Honchkrow spread its wings and soared upward once more.
Confidence filled its eyes.
Pale blue flames began burning across its body before spreading over its entire form.
A blazing bird of destruction descended from the sky.
Brave Bird.
The most powerful Flying-type move currently known.
Honchkrow completed its charge near the ceiling of the power plant before diving downward like a falling meteor.
Kiera's eyes widened in horror.
The attack slammed directly into Ampharos.
Even its Protect barrier shattered instantly.
"BOOM!"
The explosion shook the entire power plant.
When the smoke cleared, Ampharos had been blasted deep into the steel flooring.
It had completely lost the ability to fight.
"Honch-KRRAAA!"
Honchkrow cried again.
Moxie activated once more.
Its Attack rose again.
With a base Attack of 125, combined with Dragon Dance and Moxie boosts, Honchkrow had become a terrifying killing machine.
If its attack landed, none of Kiera's Pokémon could survive.
Only the elite-level Magnezone might be able to endure a hit.
But Silas had no intention of giving her that chance.
"Honchkrow, Brave Bird again!"
"Target Manectric!"
"Crawdaunt, use Razor Shell to hold off Magnezone!"
"Sharpedo, use Crunch!"
"Umbreon, Helping Hand!"
Under Silas's command, his Pokémon moved instantly.
Kiera swallowed hard.
For the first time, panic appeared in her eyes. But she forced herself to remain calm.
"Don't panic!"
"I still have a true Elite-level Pokémon!"
"No matter how many buffs they have, they'll eventually run out!"
Whether she was trying to comfort herself or reassure her Pokémon was unclear.
"Magnezone-use Flash Cannon!"
"Manectric ,Wild Charge!"
Both sides unleashed their strongest moves.
The battle had reached its final moment.
Sharpedo was the first to attack.
Maintaining Aqua Jet propulsion, it kept its incredible speed even after its earlier buffs had been stolen.
With savage jaws wide open, Sharpedo tore into Manectric again and again, leaving bloody wounds across its body.
Meanwhile Crawdaunt confronted the strongest opponent head-on.
Magnezone.
With Umbreon providing support, Crawdaunt managed to hold its ground.
But it had to be extremely careful.
One direct hit from a powerful Electric-type move could be fatal.
Fortunately Crawdaunt had fought alongside Silas for a long time.
Its combat experience allowed it to react instantly–using Aqua Jet to retreat whenever Magnezone attempted a powerful electric attack.
Above them all, Honchkrow hovered in the air.
The pale blue flames around its body burned brighter and brighter.
Its power had reached its peak.
Silas's eyes flashed.
He swung his arm forward.
"Honchkrow!"
"Brave Bird–finish Manectric!"
Like the scythe of a grim reaper, Honchkrow plunged downward again.
The dark silhouette descended silently.
"BOOM!"
Another explosion shook the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared, Manectric lay motionless on the ground.
Its life force had completely faded.
At this moment, Honchkrow's power was beyond anything on the battlefield.
No single Pokémon could stop it.
"KRRAAA!"
Although Honchkrow's stamina was rapidly draining, the overwhelming power coursing through its body was intoxicating.
It felt incredible.
One by one, Kiera's Pokémon collapsed.
Some lost the ability to fight.
Some died.
Now only Magnezone remained.
But even it was being pushed into a desperate situation.
Kiera suddenly burst into wild laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"I never thought someone as talented as me would overlook a move like Snatch!"
"But if you want my life…"
"I won't just sit here and wait to die!"
Her laughter carried both madness and bitterness.
She had once held the absolute advantage.
Her knowledge.
Her strategy.
Her perfectly constructed Electric-type team.
All of it had made her arrogant enough to allow Silas time to evolve his Pokémon.
In less than two years she had raised her team to Elite level.
Her talent far surpassed the other trainers in the gym.
That was why she had become an elite apprentice of the Mauville Gym in such a short time.
Yet today…
She would fall here because of a single mistake.
Kiera's eyes turned bloodshot.
Her body trembled slightly as she spoke the final command.
"Magnezone…"
"Use…"
"Explosion."
Even now, facing death, she chose the most ruthless option.
A woman cruel to her enemies
And even crueler to herself.
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(End of chapter)