Boom!!
Another slap.
The Salamence, who had just managed to get back up, wasn't even fully awake yet, and was once again slammed to the ground.
And.
This time it really can't get up.
"Buyi!" ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧
Nobody was more excited than Little Eevee, even more excited than if it had beaten Salamence itself.
This grudge will be settled.
On Little Eevee's side unilaterally.
Joanna's expression was extremely unpleasant.
She had anticipated the possibility of Salamence's defeat upon seeing Natsuhiko summon Snorlax.
Yet she didn't expect it to be so straightforward.
Salamence's attacks were like hitting cotton, whereas Snorlax's two shots of "Frozen Fist" were deadly.
They managed to knock Salamence down flat.
Joanna's hand, almost instinctively, reached towards the Pokeball at her waist.
"If I were you, I wouldn't make the next move." Natsuhiko's calm voice rang out.
Joanna's movements froze.
Because she felt a chilling cold slowly creeping up from beneath her feet.
She looked down.
It was her own shadow.
But within her shadow, Joanna felt a strong threat.
It's a Pokémon!
And it's a Ghost-type Pokémon!
Had he already prepared for her to break the agreement and make a move?
Looking up, she saw Natsuhiko gently stroking Eevee's fur, looking at her calmly.
Joanna was dejected.
She lost.
And she lost in a direct confrontation.
This result made it hard for her to accept.
It wasn't that she couldn't accept defeat; she just couldn't accept how, in such a short time, Natsuhiko, who she always considered her subordinate, reversed her strength and had her pinned down.
This feeling of defeat was what truly left her feeling dejected.
Could it be?
Is it really her inadequacy?
Is she inferior to Natsuka?
Perhaps... Helping Natsuka take the seat might be best for her?
After all, although she follows a top seat now, she did transfer from someone else's command. Even if her abilities are decent and her talent strong, why would they prioritize her, a newcomer, over their own trusted followers?
To put it positively, Joanna follows a top seat.
But in reality, it was not much different from acting alone.
It was just an unwritten rule within the Hunter Guild that requires them to have a superior.
But with Natsuka, it's different.
They could genuinely cooperate wholeheartedly, like grasshoppers tied to the same rope.
Wait!
Why am I so readily accepting defeat?
As Joanna had these thoughts, which even she found somewhat absurd.
She suddenly jolted awake.
She quickly looked down at her feet again.
At some point, a ribbon from the shadows had already bound her ankle.
When did this happen?!
"Strong-willed indeed."
Natsuhiko's voice whispered in her ear.
Unbeknownst to her, Natsuhiko had already come before her, his deep eyes glistening with a blue halo.
Psychic powers!
"You..." Joanna was too stunned to speak.
"Don't worry. I won't change your mind, just make our cooperation smoother and give me some assurance."
Natsuhiko's voice was gentle, landing in Joanna's ears like a lullaby, making her eyelids struggle uncontrollably.
In just a few seconds.
Joanna's eyes were completely closed.
"Hiss—"
Aegislash slowly emerged from her shadow; the ribbon wrapping Joanna's ankle was its arm.
Aegislash, even during its Honedge period, possessed this special ability to control others' thoughts and consciousness.
In the Kalos Region, many stories about Aegislash circulate.
Most are tales of Aegislash taming the minds of people or Pokémon, making them submit.
Natsuhiko's Aegislash rarely employed this ability, having only used it once in Groudon's Alternate Space, with quite impressive results.
This was the second time.
But clearly, Joanna's willpower differed greatly from the two of the Magma Team at that time.
Nonetheless, Natsuhiko never intended to completely control Joanna.
Doing so would only diminish her abilities and reduce her autonomy.
Natsuhiko's infiltration into the Hunter Guild necessitated an ally, not a puppet.
"Enough." Natsuhiko nodded towards Aegislash.
"Hiss."
Understanding, Aegislash released its grip, melding back into the shadows, returning to Natsuhiko's shadow, continuing its role as a bodyguard.
Not long after.
The eyelashes beneath Joanna's transparent sunglasses quivered gently as she slowly opened her eyes.
First came a brief disorientation, then she immediately recalled Salamence's defeat to Natsuhiko's Snorlax.
Her expression turned unpleasant momentarily, but quickly recovered, shaking her head dejectedly.
"You won. Your strength indeed surpasses mine."
What could have been a life-or-death struggle was ingeniously defused by Natsuhiko.
Otherwise, with Joanna's personality, accepting Natsuhiko's reversal to pin her beneath him wouldn't be easy.
Her pride stemmed not just from Salamence, this Quasi-God Pokémon, but from her very being.
But now, she accepted this result and was willing to let Natsuhiko lead, wholeheartedly helping him ascend.
Though she herself was surprised by how quickly she accepted this outcome.