As the girl's cheers faded, the battle erupted instantly!
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
"Sceptile, Leaf Storm!"
"Hitmonchan, finish off that Greninja!"
The three Trainers gave their orders simultaneously.
The storm composed of scorching flames and emerald Leaf Blades was like two giant waves, sweeping from left and right toward the surrounded group of Froakie, instantly sealing off all their paths of retreat.
And that Level 45 Hitmonchan suddenly exerted force with its legs, causing the ground to sink slightly as its entire body turned into a brown afterimage, heading straight for Greninja! Its fists were wrapped in blinding electric light—it was Thunder Punch!
Greninja's eyes narrowed, and its figure instantly became blurred, narrowly dodging the pincer attack of the flames and Leaf Blades. At the same time, it waved its hands, and two Water Shurikens hissed as they slashed toward the incoming Hitmonchan.
"Bang!"
Hitmonchan didn't dodge or evade. It threw a punch, lightning exploding, and actually shattered the Water Shurikens into pieces!
Greninja's pupils constricted. It knew the gap in strength between itself and its opponent was immense, and it didn't dare to face it head-on.
It tapped its legs on the ground, and its figure disappeared again. The next second, it appeared at Hitmonchan's side, delivering a swift kick aimed straight at the opponent's waist!
However, Hitmonchan's combat experience was incredibly rich. It was as if it had eyes in the back of its head; it twisted its waist, and another fist, which had been ready for action, met Greninja's kick with a dull sound of breaking wind.
"Bam!!"
A heavy, dull thud echoed through the cave.
Greninja let out a cry of pain. Its entire body was like a kite with a broken string, flying backward and slamming heavily against the rock wall before sliding to the ground, struggling for several moments without being able to stand up immediately.
With just one move, the difference in power was clear!
This was the loud noise that had reached outside the cave earlier.
Having dealt with Greninja, Hitmonchan turned around, its cold gaze sweeping over the panicked Froakie who were already caught in the sea of fire and the Leaf Blade storm.
Sen's face still bore a smile; everything was under control. Greninja trembled as it propped up its body.
Blood dripped from the corner of its mouth, blooming into a small dark red patch on the ground.
It forcibly gathered energy, and the outline of a Water Shuriken appeared in its palm again, though it was much dimmer and smaller than before.
At the end of its rope.
It was well aware of its own condition, but the terrified cries of its kin behind it pierced its heart like needles.
"Gua!!"
With a hoarse roar of anger, Greninja dragged its heavily injured body and stumbled toward the Hitmonchan that was approaching its kin.
But in the next second, the storm woven from scorching flames and emerald Leaf Blades swallowed it without mercy.
Greninja charged desperately through the energy storm, using the last of its strength to throw the small Water Shuriken in its hand.
This strike was its final dignity as a leader.
"Tch, not dead yet?" One of the Trainers showed a look of impatience and waved his hand casually toward Hitmonchan.
Hitmonchan understood and flickered, appearing instantly in front of Greninja.
It didn't even bother to use a skill, just a simple straight punch containing terrifying power, striking Greninja right in the head.
"Crack!"
A dull sound of bone fracturing.
Greninja's forward momentum came to a sudden halt, its body falling limp, the last light in its eyes completely extinguished.
Inside the cave, there was instant silence.
Only the crackling of the burning flames and the suppressed sobbing of the Froakie remained.
"Daddy... it, it's dead..."
Misato's small face was pale. She tugged at Sen's sleeve, her voice trembling.
"Can we... can we stop catching them? I don't want a Froakie anymore, let's just let them go..."
Sen knelt down and gently wiped away the tears from his daughter's eyes, but his tone carried a calm that brooked no argument.
"Misato, you have to understand, we are doing this for their own good."
"Really?" The girl's eyes were full of confusion.
"Of course."
Sen pointed at the Froakie huddling in the corner.
"Look at them, living in this dark and damp cave, worrying about food every day, not knowing when they might be eaten by a stronger pokémon. We take them away, find them a powerful master, let them eat their fill and stay warm, and make them stronger—isn't that helping them?"
"But... but..."
"No buts."
Sen's voice remained gentle, but it added a hint of something that allowed no rebuttal.
"Misato, you must remember, being weak is the original sin. Even if we didn't come today, other Trainers would come tomorrow. Rather than letting them be bullied by others, it's better for us to protect them and give them a better future, do you understand?"
Misato looked at her father half-understandingly and eventually gave a small "Mm," but her gaze didn't dare to look back at the motionless Greninja lying on the ground.
Sen stood up satisfied, the smile on his face returning to how it was. He waved his hand at the three subordinates beside him.
"Get to work. Capture all these Frogadier and Froakie. Pick out the ones with good potential separately."
"Yes, sir!"
The three Trainers responded and immediately commanded their pokémon to step forward.
Inside the cave, the aftermath of the battle had not yet completely dissipated.
The air was filled with the scorched smell of rocks, the grassy scent emitted by plants after being cut by Leaf Blades, and a faint hint of blood.
The Frogadier shielded the Froakie behind them, using Water Pulse to counterattack the Pokémon in front of them.
But in the face of the gap in strength, all of this was in vain.
With a single Giga Drain from Sceptile, the group of Frogadier immediately went limp.
Sen's three subordinates were crudely carrying out their orders.
Like experienced hunters, they used specialized nets and Poké Balls to round up the terrified Frogadier and Froakie one by one.
Panicked screams and futile struggles rose and fell, but they quickly fell into silence.
"Boss, this one!"
One Trainer, commanding Charizard to tightly clutch a struggling Froakie in its hand, walked quickly to Sen with a fawning smile on his face.
Charizard's grip was extremely strong; the Froakie's body was squeezed slightly out of shape, its limbs kicking wildly, and its mouth letting out "Gua gua" protests, but it was to no avail.
"This one has the best potential in the group—it's Gym-level!" The Trainer's tone could not hide his excitement and a hint of greed.
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