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"Lapras!!"
Seeing Lapras blasted away, Pryce didn't even think—he shouted and rushed forward, spreading his arms to catch Lapras. But the tremendous force smashed into him, lifting both him and Lapras off the ground before they crashed heavily into the sand.
"Roar!!"
At that moment, Aerodactyl—after completing its attack—let out a roar and leapt out of the crater formed by its impact. Flapping its wings twice, it landed firmly beside Lapras and Pryce.
Seeing Pryce pinned beneath Lapras, Aerodactyl's eyes showed a trace of disdain. Its jaws opened wide as a golden energy rapidly condensed—Hyper Beam was about to fire!
"Alright. Stop, Aerodactyl."
Just as Aerodactyl finished gathering Hyper Beam and was about to unleash it, Liam walked up and patted its side.
"Roar? …Roar!!"
Aerodactyl tilted its head in confusion, but obeyed. Instead of firing at Pryce, it turned and blasted the Hyper Beam at the distant beach.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion followed, sending sand spraying high into the air.
"Cough… ahem… come back, Lapras."
Pryce struggled to raise a PokeBall and recalled Lapras from atop him. Though coughing violently, he still wore a smile.
"Heh… impressive. This time, you win. I admit defeat. To think I planned all of this for so long, only for it to be ruined by an outsider brat… Just thinking about it is laughable."
Smiling bitterly at himself, Pryce tried to get up but failed, collapsing back onto the sand. Lapras's PokeBall slipped from his weak grip as he stared up at the blinding sun.
Liam: "…"
Liam simply stood there, watching Pryce who had completely given up resisting. He seemed deep in thought.
"What now? Waiting for me to embarrass myself? Heh. Didn't expect you to have that kind of twisted humor."
Seeing Liam silent, Pryce smirked and mocked him.
Liam: "…Aerodactyl. Dragon Claw. Right leg."
A cold command.
"ROAR!!"
Aerodactyl's wing claws lit up with sharp draconic energy, then—under Pryce's bewildered gaze—stabbed straight through his right leg, the talons piercing through bone and into the sand beneath.
"Ghh—!!"
Blood splattered. Pryce broke out in a cold sweat but gritted his teeth, refusing to scream. His glare remained locked on Liam.
"I've always considered myself a decent person. I like Pokémon battles, but I don't like needless violence. Even when people provoked me, I'd still hold back. I'd subdue them and hand them to the police—at most some scrapes."
Liam spoke calmly, but the anger on his face was unmistakable—barely restrained.
"But you… you're an exception. You've done too many things I cannot forgive. This claw is for Delia. If she had been hurt… that claw would be in your neck."
His eyes flashed with killing intent—he meant every word.
"Hah… Delia? Oh, that girl with you… Yes, she's an excellent child. A bit dense, but—"
Before he could finish, Liam issued another order:
"Aerodactyl—left leg."
"ROAR!"
Aerodactyl ripped its talons free, tearing flesh and spraying blood, then drove them into Pryce's left leg.
"AAAH—!! Ghh!!"
This time Pryce couldn't hold it in. Even so, he forced himself to stay conscious, laughing painfully.
"Heh… and that one… who's it for?"
"For Max. The boy who was with Entei earlier. I appreciate how you spared him back then. Consider this my return gift."
Liam looked down at Pryce, whose lower body was now soaked in blood.
"…Heh. That kid… If I'd known, I should've finished him off when I had the chance… Maybe things wouldn't be like this…"
Pryce muttered bitterly.
"Hmph. Regret now? Too late. These legs are your compensation. I won't kill you, and I won't hand you to the League. Only I and Harribel know your true identity—and she promised not to reveal it."
Liam glanced around.
"This is a deserted island. No food. Remote. And you're gravely injured. Whether you survive is up to fate. From today on, the 'Masked Man' is dead. If you manage to crawl out of here alive, then stay in your Gym, quietly. Honestly… dying here might even be a mercy."
He patted Aerodactyl's wing. Aerodactyl pulled its talons free, then crouched so Liam could climb on.
"Let's go, Aerodactyl. To Red Rock Isle."
"ROAR!!"
Aerodactyl surged upward, carrying Liam into the sky.
Just then, Pryce's hoarse, furious scream echoed up from below:
"Liam!! You're really going to let me go?! Aren't you afraid I'll come back someday?! If I live— I will return! You'll regret this!!"
Liam only smiled faintly, shouting back:
"You're destined to be a tragic man. Why should I care about some tragedy?"
"Damn you…!!"
Pryce growled through clenched teeth, fighting the dizziness of blood loss as he cursed at the empty sky where Liam had vanished.