On the power plant's first floor, the battlefield shifted once more. Sieg's Pokémon were just barely standing thanks to good and coordinated teamwork, but it was looking grim.
"Hehehe, you keep moving toward the perimeter... Don't tell me you're trying to escape?" Kikuta's face wore a mocking smile, as if she'd seen through Sieg completely.
When Sieg heard Kikuta called him out for the direction he is heading in, his heart skipped a beat, but her latter statement about him attempting escape made him relax slightly.
"Good, she hasn't realized my actual goal. If only I can find..." Sieg's eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for a wild Pokémon.
Unfortunately, Kikuta continued commanding her Pokémon with overwhelming finesse and aggression.
"Manectric, use Spark! Ampharos, Dragon Pulse!"
Kikuta rapidly directed her Pokémon while releasing several more Electric-types, not particularly high level, but nonetheless in their twenties.
But their collective attacks, their gathered electrical power, definitely packed a punch.
"Crawdaunt, use Crunch to block Dragon Pulse!"
"Sharpedo, accelerate and stop Manectric from closing in!"
"Umbreon, withstand Magnet Bomb, don't let it affect Sharpedo!"
Sieg responded swiftly while calming himself, keenly observing the situation.
Sharpedo pushed its speed to the max. Without Magnet Bomb's interference, its Speed Boost combined with Aqua Jet transformed it into an aquatic lightning bolt.
Approaching the electricity-shrouded Manectric at high velocity, it opened its savage shark maw for a Crunch attack without a shred of hesitation.
Forcibly enduring an electrical strike, it engaged Manectric in close combat. Having undergone talent enhancement, Sharpedo felt like it was reborn.
The battle reached a stalemate.
Sieg relied on his five Pokémon's coordinated teamwork to barely withstand the amplification-enhanced Manectric and Ampharos, along with several lower-level Electric-types.
Meanwhile, Magnezone, busy maintaining both Electric Terrain and Magnet Rise, hadn't launched any attacks.
If Magnezone were to also enter the fray, it would be more than Sieg could handle.
"Hmph, I'll admit you've got some wits. But how could you coddled greenhorns possibly compare to an experienced veteran like me?"
Kikuta laughed wildly and presumptuously, her words not bothering to conceal her resentment toward League-affiliated trainers.
As Ampharos and Manectric exchanged positive and negative electrical charges once more, their Special Attack rose again. Their ability synergy was a match made in heaven.
Once they broke through Crawdaunt's desperate frontal defense, this battle would be over.
And of course, Sieg's life as well.
Suddenly, he glimpsed two weak infant Pokémon in the corner, a wild Plusle and Minun.
Sieg smiled.
"Finally found wild Pokémon. Later than I hoped, but just in time!"
Abandoning his previous caution, Sieg laughed boldly. His spatial ring flashed with silvery light.
A palm-sized, dark-colored stone appeared in his hand.
Sieg held it high above his head. Under the electric light's illumination, it radiated an extraordinary glow.
A high-grade Dusk Stone!
Kikuta also noticed Sieg's action, but her heart felt nothing but disdain. Among his Pokémon, Murkrow barely ranks third in strength.
Even if it evolved into Honchkrow, its power probably couldn't match Crawdaunt's. It would have virtually no impact on the battle outcome.
Murkrow noticed the Dusk Stone in Sieg's hand. It suddenly felt an intense attraction, a trembling sensation from deep within its bloodline, which made it incredibly excited.
Though it wanted to evolve ever since first obtaining a Dusk Stone, Sieg held it off, saying they needed to find a higher-quality one.
Later, when they acquired a higher-quality Dusk Stone, Sieg had told it to settle down and still wait some more. Though it desperately desired evolution, it couldn't disobey its master's commands.
But now, finally, it could evolve?
Murkrow, who'd been waiting so long, could finally evolve!
Endless longing erupted in its eyes. Ignoring the various Electric-type attacks relentlessly pursuing it on the battlefield, Murkrow flew toward Sieg.
The pitch-black, profoundly dark Dusk Stone radiated an overwhelming allure.
As Murkrow gradually approached the Dusk Stone, wisps of black energy overflowed. White light suddenly illuminated the entire arena.
"Hmph, thinking you can turn the tables with a mid-battle evolution?"
Though Kikuta didn't believe Murkrow's evolution would affect the battle's outcome, she still commanded her Pokémon to interrupt the process.
If a Pokémon's evolution was interrupted, irreversible consequences could occur.
At minimum, severe injury and permanent stagnation of strength.
At worst, immediate death from energy collapse.
Among the most severe crimes stipulated by League law was interrupting a Pokémon's evolution.
The minimum sentence was execution.
How audacious Kikuta was! Though a woman, her ruthless decisiveness and brutal methods matched any dangerous criminal operating in the dark.
Sieg detected the scent of an ambitious warlord when looking at her.
"Crawdaunt, Sharpedo, give everything to stop them! Cover Murkrow's evolution!"
Simultaneously, he threw the Dusk Stone. The airborne Murkrow caught it directly with its talons.
Instinctively touching the Dusk Stone triggered the vast, pure energy within. Instantly, fine cracks appeared.
Dark mist surged out frantically. Wisps of black fog completely enveloped Murkrow. The Dusk Stone seemed to burst from internal pressure, it shattered!
Every Pokémon's attention was drawn.
After just two or three seconds, pure white light erupted into the air. The energy fluctuations within the light sphere continuously intensified.
Murkrow had successfully completed its evolution... No, it should now be called Honchkrow!
"KRAAA!!!"
A sharp, raspy shriek pierced the air.
Honchkrow felt inexhaustible power surging through its body, energy it had never experienced before.
At this moment, Honchkrow felt incredibly invigorated. Its eyes brimming with confidence.
"Honchkrow, you are the sovereign of the skies! It's time to demonstrate your power!"
Sieg raised his arm triumphantly. It was time to counterattack.
Time to turn the tide!
"Honchkrow, use Snatch on Crawdaunt and Sharpedo!"
Honchkrow didn't quite understand its trainer's command, but out of long-cultivated trust, it obeyed anyway.
Snatch, exactly as its name suggested.
It could steal the opponent's recovery moves or stat changes for its own use.
At this moment, Honchkrow snatched the Dragon Dance buff from Crawdaunt and the maximized Speed Boost from Sharpedo.
Converting everything for its own benefit!
At this moment, Honchkrow's amplifications had reached their absolute limit. Perhaps calling it the Silent Assassin, the Sovereign of the Skies, would be more appropriate!