Before Silas could fully process the situation, the battlefield shifted once again.
Deep within the storm clouds, a massive pillar of lightning suddenly descended, tearing through the sky with overwhelming force. At the same time, another surge of lightning rose from the mountain peak below, as if answering its call.
The two collided violently.
Thunder exploded across the entire mountain range as the intertwined lightning illuminated everything in blinding white.
Even those hiding in the shadows couldn't suppress their shock.
"This… this is the power of a Legendary…"
Silas narrowed his eyes and focused on the center of the storm And then He saw it clearly.
Standing amidst the lightning was a majestic, saber-toothed beast.
Raikou.
Its golden body shimmered under the stormlight, streaked with black lightning-like patterns. A metallic crest extended from its forehead, and beneath the distinctive X-shaped blue facial markings, long fangs gleamed sharply.
Behind it, a cloud-like purple mane floated and surged, constantly releasing arcs of electricity that distorted the air around it ,Its tail resembled a bolt of lightning itself, crackling with energy at the tip.
Every breath it exhaled carried the weight of thunder.
This was a Pokémon said to descend alongside lightning, a being that carried storm clouds upon its back and could unleash thunder at any moment.
Yet Silas quickly noticed something off.
Despite its overwhelming presence, there was a faint instability in its aura.
Raikou… was injured.
That single realization spread like wildfire.Hidden figures shifted, there Eyes sharpened and Greed surfaced.
Wattson stepped forward, his usual cheerful demeanor completely gone.
"Old friend…" he said quietly as he approached. "Looks like I dragged you into trouble again. How bad is it?"
"Raaaooou!!"
Raikou answered with a low, furious roar.
Lightning surged outward from its body, spreading across the forest like a violent tide.Trees cracked, branches snapped, and the ground itself trembled under the force.
That roar Was a warning And it worked Because no one hid anymore ,Figures emerged one after another from the mountains and forests.
Gym-level trainers.
Elite-level experts.
Members of powerful families.
Even figures connected to underground organizations.
Each of them had come for the same reason.
Raikou.
Their gazes Were filled with desire.Raikou's expression turned colder.Its body erupted with electricity once more, a suffocating pressure sweeping across the entire battlefield.
Even breathing felt heavier. Wattson exhaled slowly.
"Looks like we'll be fighting side by side again."
He didn't hesitate any longer. Poké Balls opened and Light burst forth.
Five powerful Pokémon appeared beside him:
Ampharos
Raichu
Electrode
Manectric
Magnezone
Each one radiated a powerful aura, clearly far beyond ordinary elite Pokémon.
"Set up the Electric Terrain."
Electricity spread instantly.
The ground lit up with crackling currents as the entire battlefield was engulfed in an electrically charged field.
Even from a distance, Silas could feel the faint tingling sensation on his skin.
The scale alone was enough to make him realize this level of battle was far beyond anything he had experienced before.The first to make a move was a cloaked figure hidden along the mountainside.
Their Shiftry darted rapidly between trees, launching a barrage of attacks.Sharp leaves sliced through the air. Seed-like projectiles followed in quick succession.
The attacks came from multiple angles, attempting to overwhelm through sheer pressure.
Wattson didn't move.
He simply watched.
"…Not enough."
Beside him, Ampharos stepped forward.
The red orb at the tip of its tail began to glow intensely as lightning gathered throughout its body.
The energy built rapidly then Condensed and Stabilized Then A massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky.
Thunder.
It struck with terrifying precision.
The Shiftry attempted to evade, shifting directions repeatedly through the forest.
"Leaf Storm!"
A violent cyclone of leaves surged upward to intercept the attack But the moment the two forces collided the difference became clear.
The leaf storm shattered instantly.
The lightning continued forward without slowing down It struck directly and The impact echoed like an explosion across the mountain.
When the light faded, the Shiftry collapsed onto the ground, its body completely still.
A near-Elite-level Pokémon defeated in a single strike.
Silence spread ,No one spoke.
Because everyone understood now. the gap between levels wasn't something numbers could overcome.
Wattson lowered his hand slightly.That attack wasn't just an attack. It was a warning.And it worked.Several hidden presences hesitated,Some even withdrew slightly But not all. The ground trembled again.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the battlefield as six massive figures appeared from different directions.
Rhyperior.
Each one towered over the terrain, their armored bodies built like living fortresses.
They moved in coordination. Encircling Raikou and Wattson completely.Then They attacked.
Their stomps shattered the ground, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Even from far away, Silas could feel the vibration beneath his feet.
Wattson reacted immediately.
Electric-type attacks surged forward, lightning crashing down with destructive force But The Rhyperior didn't dodge,They didn't defend. They simply stood there and took the attacks head-on.
For a brief moment, confusion spread Then The lightning vanished. Not dispersed. Not resisted but Absorbed.
A faint glow spread across the Rhyperior's bodies, and their already powerful aura increased slightly.
Silas' eyes narrowed.
"…Lightning Rod."
All six of them ,Every single one. This wasn't coincidence. It was preparation.
A deliberate strategy designed to completely neutralize Electric-type attacks. The situation shifted instantly.
What had once been Wattson's advantage was now being countered.The storm above grew even more violent. Thunder roared continuously ,Lightning split the sky again and again And standing at the center of it all Raikou remained.
Injured, Surrounded; Yet still radiating a presence that made even the strongest hesitate.
Silas tightened his gaze The real battle Had only just begun. ⚡
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(End of chapter)