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"Heh—so it's Nishiyama. I didn't expect to run into you here. What a surprise," Liam said, sneering coldly at the man emerging from the forest, someone he had encountered once before.
"Oh? You know my name? Is my fame really that widespread now? Hahaha! You've got a good eye, kid! I'm starting to like you." Nishiyama laughed loudly, unfazed, clearly pleased with himself.
"Tell you what, I'll cut you some slack today. Take your Pokémon and leave. I'll pretend nothing happened. Consider it a reward for recognizing someone of my stature."
As soon as Nishiyama was named, he showed no signs of panic. Instead, he acted like he was basking in glory.
"Wait, Lord Nishiyama!! These two saw our faces! We can't just let them go! They'll definitely call the police!"
Beaten and bruised by the fierce windstorm earlier, the four members of the hunting group had finally gotten up.
The leader among them, still disheveled, hurriedly stepped forward with a panicked expression upon hearing Nishiyama was going to let Liam and Delia go.
"Hm? You dare question my decision? Are you looking for death?! Aggron!"
"Rooarr!!!"
Annoyed by his subordinate's protest, Nishiyama scowled and gave Aggron a meaningful glance. With a roar, Aggron raised its steel-hard tail and slammed it into the ground. The earth trembled violently, sending the four just-recovered men crashing back to the ground.
"Heh, my subordinates have been a little unruly lately. What a joke I must look like. Still, I'm a man of my word. You two can go," Nishiyama turned back to Liam, smiling as if he were showing mercy.
"Oi, oi, oi... what's with all that one-sided nonsense? Is your brain made of the same steel as Aggron's armor? Solid metal all the way through! Do you seriously think I'm scared of you? With your pitiful strength? And you talk about being a man of your word? You abandoned your Forretress and your teammates—you think I'd trust the words of a coward like that?"
Liam first peeled off the terrified little Cyndaquil who was clutching his pant leg, handing him over to Delia with a reassuring smile. Then, turning around, he unleashed a verbal barrage at Nishiyama.
By the time Liam walked over to stand beside Garchomp, who he'd released earlier, Nishiyama's face was red with anger and humiliation, unable to respond.
"Abandoned Forretress? Hah! I've done that plenty of times! How am I supposed to know which one you're talking about?" Nishiyama sneered. "But you've succeeded in pissing me off. I was going to let you go because you looked somewhat competent—but now? That was a mistake. Go, Aggron! Double-Edge! Crush them!"
"Aggrrr!!"
Enraged beyond reason, Nishiyama pointed forward, and Aggron roared before charging like a tank.
"You got lucky last time! But not today! Garchomp—Brick Break!"
"Rooarr!!"
Liam's lips curled into a grin as he gave the order. Garchomp roared and, in the blink of an eye, turned into a white bolt of lightning. Its dual fins glowed red, trailing crimson streaks as it dashed straight toward the charging Aggron.
Before Aggron could even react, Brick Break smashed into its armored chest.
BOOM!!
"GRRAAAH!!"
With a deep, echoing cry, Aggron's steel chestplate cracked in several places, a deep slash running through the center. Despite weighing over 700 pounds and using Double-Edge, Aggron was driven backward by Garchomp's mighty blow, leaving deep footprints with each step. It was pushed back far before it finally managed to stop.
"W-What?! That kind of strength? How? Aggron, Heavy Slam!"
Nishiyama looked like he'd seen a ghost. His expression was one of complete disbelief. He barked the next command, desperately trying to retaliate.
"GRRRAH!!"
Aggron clutched its cracked chest, wincing at the pain. It glared at Garchomp with gritted teeth, then let out an explosive roar. Its body shimmered with metallic energy, legs stomping hard enough to shatter the ground as it launched itself forward like a living missile.
"Hmm... Garchomp, Dig!"
Heavy Slam relied on sheer body mass to overpower the opponent. But Garchomp, though strong, was smaller and lighter than Aggron. Even if it could go toe-to-toe in raw strength, this kind of brute-force contest wasn't ideal.
"Roar!"
At Liam's command, Garchomp let out a cry and disappeared underground in the next instant. It had clearly mastered this burrowing technique.
"Grrh?"
Aggron slowed, puzzled as its target vanished. It let out a low, confused growl.
But just then—
"Don't stop, Aggron! Plow through! Smash everything in front of you!"
"GRRRAAH!!"
Obeying Nishiyama's order, Aggron regained its momentum and barreled forward—right toward where Liam stood.
"Liam! It's coming for you! Get out of the way!!"
Delia cried out in panic when she saw Liam completely unmoved by the oncoming attack. She ran toward him frantically.
"Heh. There's no need to worry, Delia. Don't you trust me... and Garchomp?"
Hearing her footsteps, Liam turned slightly with a calm smile, his tone light and relaxed—completely unbothered by the rampaging Aggron mere meters away.
Closer and closer! Nishiyama was already celebrating in his heart. He could practically taste victory. A wild grin spread across his face, and he opened his mouth to roar in triumph—
But at that moment, Aggron's foot slammed into the ground—
And the earth collapsed beneath it.
A torrent of sand exploded upward like an angry dragon. Aggron, with all its massive weight, was thrown skyward by the surge of Sand Tomb.
And from the swirling sand emerged Garchomp, transformed, rising with scorn in its eyes. It stared at Aggron, now helpless and flailing midair, its wings of sand snapping open behind it like a predator about to pounce.
"ROOOARR!!!"