"Machamp, Bellossom, One-Sword Style: Finger Pistol – Venomous Bloom!"
As soon as Ron's command rang out, Bellossom transformed into a purple blur, vanishing from sight.
Hitmonchan swung its fists desperately at full speed to counter, but it was still a step too slow.
A streak of purple light spread from Hitmonchan's chest, gradually forming the shape of a blooming flower before slowly fading away.
The searing pain, combined with the effects of the poison, forced Hitmonchan down onto one knee.
Looking at the lifeless body of its fallen Trainer just a short distance away, Hitmonchan's eyes burned with fury and remorse.
Watching its Trainer die before its very eyes, yet being powerless to avenge them—worse still, nearly losing the ability to fight after a single blow—was unbearable.
"End its suffering. One-Sword Style: Finger Pistol – Iai!"
Having eliminated the target Pokémon hunter, Ron originally intended to capture Hitmonchan in a Poké Ball and convert it into resources.
However, upon catching sight of Hitmonchan's unwavering gaze, Ron decided to grant it a chance to fight back.
Unfortunately, despite both Pokémon being of High Elite rank, the gap between Hitmonchan and Bellossom was simply too vast.
Now that Hitmonchan had lost, Ron no longer planned to turn it into resources. Instead, he chose to grant it an end to its suffering.
Hearing Ron's voice, Hitmonchan forced itself to stand once more, steadying its trembling arms before launching another desperate punch.
From Hitmonchan's perspective, all it could see was a blinding white flash.
In the next instant, its body reverted to a state of stillness, but the wound on its chest had widened further. Unable to hold on any longer, Hitmonchan collapsed beside the slain Pokémon hunter.
Scenes like this—Ron had witnessed them more times than he could count since becoming a Forest Hunter.
Many of these Pokémon hunters had originally aspired to become League Trainers. However, due to the overwhelming burden of resources and the corruption within the League, they were forced to turn to Pokémon hunting to continue their journey as Trainers.
While the demand for Pokémon played a part in the rise of hunters, the League itself had undeniably contributed to the problem.
After gathering information and completing his mission, Ron cremated both the Pokémon hunter and Hitmonchan.
Burying them underground wasn't a guarantee of peace; at any time, they could be unearthed and become part of the cycle of conflict. Reducing them to ashes ensured tranquility.
With the matter settled, Ron vanished from the scene in a flash, thanks to Gardevoir's Teleport.
Next target—the Poaching Syndicate!
Deep within the darkened forest, several Rangers moved swiftly through the undergrowth.
Upon closer inspection, a striking figure could be seen among them.
Ever since Ron's proposal had been accepted in Vermilion, Mankey Forest had become the first experimental site. Now, results were finally beginning to show.
Through emotional conditioning and repeated field exercises, Mankey Forest had become the first wild Pokémon habitat capable of working alongside Rangers to combat Pokémon hunters.
Whenever Rangers encountered danger near Mankey Forest, they could release a specially marked flare to signal Mankey and Primeape for assistance.
Conversely, if Primeape and Mankey encountered a threat beyond their ability to handle, they would activate an emergency button prepared by the Rangers to call for reinforcements.
Now, this squad of Rangers was the first wave of responders to Primeape's distress signal.
Leading the team was none other than Lily, who had once lost to Ron at the Indigo League Conference.
After Ron left with Bruno, Lily had barely hesitated before deciding to become a Ranger, enrolling in Ranger training.
By the time Ron had risen to notoriety as a Forest Hunter, Lily had only just completed her training and begun her work as a Ranger.
Though Ron and Lily had exchanged contact information before parting ways, neither had reached out since then.
Yet, despite the lack of contact, Lily's feelings for Ron had only grown stronger.
At times, even Lily herself couldn't discern whether she admired Ron for his strength or if she had truly fallen for him at first sight.
The only thing she could do was narrow the gap between their abilities, as if that alone could bring her closer to him.
Compared to when she competed in the Indigo League, Lily had grown significantly stronger. Her most powerful Pokémon, Machamp, was now on the verge of breaking into the quasi-Elite Four tier.
Moreover, based on her achievements, it wouldn't be long before she could shed the title of Vice Captain and take on the role of Captain.
If she managed to reach quasi-Elite Four rank, her status would rise even further.
"We're approaching the target location. Stay alert and keep an eye on your assigned Pokémon scouts. If anything happens, report it immediately."
As they neared Mankey Forest, Lily issued a firm reminder to the surrounding Rangers.
The other Rangers held deep respect and admiration for Lily's strength and skill. Many even harbored romantic feelings for her, but no one had succeeded in capturing the heart of their team's flower.
"Yes, ma'am!"
A chorus of voices rang out in unison as the group, previously marching at a quick pace, instinctively slowed down, ensuring they could react immediately in case of an ambush.
"Move in!"
"Machamp, use Focus Blast to clear the battlefield!"
The moment Lily's voice echoed through the forest, a brilliant azure Focus Blast shot out from the dense foliage.
Immediately after, the rangers and their Pokémon burst out from the trees, cutting off the poachers' retreat.
"Primeape, attack!"
With a furious roar, Primeape lunged forward, its rage fueling its strength as it prepared to strike. The plan was clear: a pincer attack to crush these poachers who dared to invade their home.
"Defensive formation—tighten up!"
Despite the sudden ambush, Waul showed no signs of panic. Instead, he calmly ordered his team to form a defensive line, ready to withstand the joint assault from the rangers and Primeape's group.
"Stay alert, everyone! Scan the area for any additional enemies!"
Nearly a year of intense training had sharpened Lily into a capable ranger. The unusual response from the poachers set off alarms in her mind—there had to be more of them lurking nearby.
"Impressive! No wonder they call you Vice Captain Lily—your instincts are sharp. I wonder if you're just as sensitive in other ways?"
Before the rangers could react, another group of poachers emerged from the treetops.
This was precisely why Lily's team had failed to detect Dumas and his squad, who had masked their scent within the canopy.
From the very beginning, Waul had merely been bait, a lure designed to draw the rangers into a trap—giving Dumas' poaching crew the perfect chance to strike and make a name for themselves.
Lily knew enough about Dumas to recognize the threat. His ace Pokémon, Golduck, had already reached the High Elite level.
But now, seeing its newfound power, she realized it had broken through to quasi-Elite Four strength.
This wasn't just an ambush—it was a full-scale extermination attempt. If Dumas succeeded in wiping out the rangers, his poaching syndicate would gain notoriety overnight.
"Send word to Captain Yusef! The enemies are Dumas and Waul. Dumas has reached quasi-Elite Four level!"
"Prepare to break through!"
"Primeape, get your tribe out of here—now!"
Barking out three swift commands, Lily wasted no time. She charged forward, directing Machamp to lead the charge, determined to buy enough time for both the rangers and Primeape's kin to escape.
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