"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing rang out as sparks from two daggers flying in the night were especially vivid. As a Psychic, Frey was not weak at all when it came to close-quarters combat. Ever since he massacred an entire village in his youth, he had never neglected his training in physical fighting.
Furthermore, Frey's fighting style was remarkably similar to Gu Yuan's. Neither had undergone systematic study; instead, they relied on techniques forged through countless life-and-death struggles. This made their exchange perhaps less elegant, but the danger level was absolute. Combined with the fact that both Psychics could constantly shift positions to launch attacks from unexpected angles, the battle took on a surreal, supernatural quality.
During another clash, Gu Yuan and Frey almost brushed past each other. Simultaneously, their psychic powers surged out and collided, creating an impact that forced both of them back. In this specific contest, the clearly stronger Frey held the advantage.
The moment he stabilized his footing, Gu Yuan launched another attack. However, Frey's movements were faster. He directly suppressed Gu Yuan and used his superior strength to steadily expand his lead. Within a short time, Gu Yuan fell into a disadvantage. Frey's experience was immense; he easily neutralized Gu Yuan's counterattacks while tightening the noose.
For Gu Yuan, this was his first true, high-stakes battle against another Psychic, and he finally felt the immense pressure of facing one stronger than himself. Whether he used psychic energy to attack or Teleport to dodge, he could not shake his pursuer. Instead, each move only deepened his predicament.
Gu Yuan used Teleport again to open up some distance, but before he could catch his breath, Frey was upon him. Before the cold glint of the dagger could reach him, Frey's psychic shockwave arrived first. Gu Yuan, whose psychic energy was reaching its limit, squeezed out every last drop of strength to barely withstand the shockwave and parry the dagger.
But waiting for him was yet another psychic pulse from Frey. Gu Yuan, already suffering from a mounting headache, had no strength left to resist. Frey's psychic shock slammed into him unimpeded. The headache he had been enduring instantly overwhelmed his reason.
Frey, strictly following the principle of "killing the enemy while they are weak," used Teleport once more. By the time he reappeared, his dagger was already poised to pierce Gu Yuan's heart.
Hiding in Gu Yuan's shadow, Ceruledge and the others were losing their patience, ready to step in and intercept Frey's attack. But in the next instant, a wave of psychic energy rippled outward, forcing Frey back.
Gu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. They were filled with a brilliant light, shining like two stars in the dark night. At the final moment, under the pressure of the intense headache, Gu Yuan successfully took that final step. In that instant, he actually felt a bit of empathy for Misty's Psyduck and understood why that "Duck God" was so powerful.
However, even though he had broken through, Gu Yuan could not continue fighting Frey. The task of finishing him naturally fell to Ceruledge and the rest of the team. Frey, already heavily exhausted, stood no chance against their onslaught. As Ceruledge's blade pierced his body, his life force quickly faded. In truth, from the moment Frey chose to engage Gu Yuan personally, he had lost his last hope of escape.
Collapsing to the ground, Frey turned his gaze toward Hypno.
To Frey, the Pokémon he caught later were at most companions, but the only one he considered family was Hypno. Throughout his journey, Hypno had played the role of an elder. In his final moments, Frey felt a strange sense of relief—relief that he was the one leaving first, so he wouldn't have to endure the pain of losing a cherished family member.
"Hypno!"
A roar mixed with pain and fury erupted. This was the first and last time Hypno felt the agony of a loved one's departure. Its hateful gaze locked onto Gu Yuan before it immediately used Teleport.
Mega Alakazam's reaction was just as swift, immediately bringing Mega Charizard Y and the others back to Gu Yuan's side. The moment it appeared, Hypno launched an attack, only to be blocked by Mega Charizard Y's Blast Burn. As the flames scattered, Moltres used the unique aura of a Legendary Pokémon to suppress Hypno.
Roaring Moon surged forward using Scale Shot, circling Hypno to find an opening. But for a Hypno consumed by grief and rage, no obstacle could deter its desire to drag Gu Yuan down to hell with it. A massive amount of psychic energy poured out, condensing into something like a giant dragon that roared as it swallowed Mega Charizard Y's Blast Burn, only to be easily intercepted by Moltres.
Seizing this chance, Roaring Moon struck fast. It used Dragon Rush, but Hypno dodged with Teleport. The moment Hypno reappeared, Annihilape was behind it, delivering a Rage Fist. Unbeknownst to the others, Annihilape had already finished off its own opponent.
Psychic shields appeared one after another, but they couldn't withstand a Rage Fist powered to its absolute maximum. Helpless, Hypno had to use Teleport again to escape.
Gu Yuan's voice rang out, and Mega Charizard Y and Moltres simultaneously attacked the spot where Hypno was reappearing. As the two offensives collided, Roaring Moon lunged from behind the Hypno. With no way to dodge, Hypno could only form a psychic shield, but Roaring Moon shattered it through sheer force. Upon impact, Roaring Moon followed Gu Yuan's command, leaving several deep wounds on Hypno before forcing it back.
Then, without giving Hypno a chance to counter, Roaring Moon pulled away. A Future Sight that Mega Alakazam had set up at some unknown point triggered, slamming directly into Hypno. Annihilape followed up, emerging from the shadows to land a heavy Rage Fist on its chest. Finally, Mega Charizard Y and Moltres unleashed a combined Blast Burn.
Raging flames burned, instantly engulfing Hypno. When the fire dissipated, Hypno no longer had the strength to fight, but its eyes remained fixed on Gu Yuan, filled with a hatred as deep as an abyss.
Having no desire to torture the creature, Gu Yuan signaled Alakazam to give Hypno a swift end. Regardless of the past Frey and Hypno shared, their bond was real. But since they were destined to be enemies, fighting with everything he had was the best form of respect Gu Yuan could show.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Gu Yuan began to recover his psychic power, preparing for whatever battles might come next.