Before Arbok could recover from being smashed into the ground, Bangila's next attack was already on its way.
Golden light gathered in its mouth as energy condensed at an astonishing speed.
Arbok panicked.
If that terrifying attack struck directly, it would be crippled—even if it survived. It struggled frantically to escape.
Sam watched coldly from the side.
While Bangila fought Arbok, he had noticed something in the shadows—
Human bones.
If his guess was correct, the remains were Arbok's doing.
Ordinary Pokémon rarely attacked humans. At most, they would drive trespassers out of their territory.
But this Arbok attacked with killing intent every time.
It was no guardian of the forest.
It was a predator.
A man-eating beast no longer deserved to be called a Pokémon.
Bangila sensed the rage in Sam's heart.
It did not hesitate.
The Hyper Beam fired.
The destructive light pierced straight through Arbok.
When the smoke cleared, Arbok lay motionless.
"Let's go."
Sam did not spare it another glance as he and Bangila continued deeper into the forest.
That battle had barely warmed Bangila up.
It hoped the next opponent would be stronger.
---
"Raticate."
A massive Raticate—over a meter tall—blocked their path.
It wasn't a Totem Pokémon like those of Alola, but its size was extraordinary. Nature's diversity was truly astonishing.
Sam activated his Detection Eye.
Pokémon: Raticate
Type: Normal
Strength: Elite — High Level
Potential: Champion
Evaluation: There are no weak Pokémon—only weak Trainers. This Raticate proves that statement true.
This Raticate had likely sensed Bangila's powerful presence and come to challenge it.
Different opponents deserved different treatment.
Arbok had intended to kill.
Raticate sought only battle.
There was no need to take its life.
"Then let's begin," Sam said calmly.
"Bangila, Sand Tomb."
Bangila stomped the ground.
The earth beneath Raticate instantly turned to swirling quicksand, attempting to swallow it whole.
But Raticate reacted instantly.
Despite its bulky frame, its agility was incredible. It exploded backward, barely escaping the quicksand's grasp.
Sam was surprised.
He had assumed such size would slow it down.
He had underestimated it.
Rather than press the attack immediately, Sam raised a hand and gestured for Raticate to make its move.
He could see it—
Raticate stood at the brink of breakthrough.
That was likely why it had come to challenge Bangila.
An ordinary Raticate aspiring to reach champion-level… no one knew how much effort it had poured into that dream.
Sam decided to give it a chance.
Understanding his intention, Raticate's eyes lit up.
Energy surged through its limbs.
"Bang!"
Its hind legs pushed off violently.
Raticate became a streak of yellow light.
Under Agility, its momentum reached its peak. Its sharp incisors glowed lavender beneath the faint fluorescent plants—
Hyper Fang.
Even Bangila hadn't expected such explosive power.
It grinned.
Now this was interesting.
Flames wrapped around Bangila's right fist—
Fire Punch.
The two attacks collided.
Hyper Fang versus Fire Punch.
The winner—
Bangila.
Though Raticate was powerful, its opponent was stronger.
Bangila's punch sent Raticate flying, smashing through several towering trees before it finally came to a stop.
Fortunately, Bangila had held back at the final moment.
Otherwise, that single punch might have left Raticate bedridden for days.
After regaining consciousness, Raticate felt something unexpected—
Residual energy from Bangila lingered within its body.
Energy it could absorb.
Energy that would push it closer to the Champion threshold.
It struggled to stand, wanting to thank them—
But Bangila and Sam had already disappeared into the forest.
For Raticate, the battle had been life-changing.
For Sam and Bangila—
It had simply been another step forward.
---
Deeper still.
The trial continued.
"ROOOAAARRR!!!"
Bangila's thunderous roar echoed through the forest as it finally overpowered Rhydon in a brutal contest of strength.
It lifted Rhydon high—
And slammed it into the ground.
The impact nearly knocked Rhydon unconscious.
Though Rhydon attempted to rise again, unwilling to submit—
Bangila stepped forward and struck its horn with a crushing punch.
The pain shattered its resolve.
Rhydon whimpered and lowered its head in surrender.
Bangila released it and stood tall.
Then—
It roared.
The roar reverberated through the entirety of Viridian Forest.
This was no ordinary cry of victory.
It was a declaration.
A challenge.
Bangila was calling out to the true rulers of this forest—
The Totems hidden in its deepest shadows.
---------------Author---------------
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