"Growll!!"
One of the Mightyena surrounding the injured Ralts suddenly raised its head and sniffed, its savage eyes locking onto the bushes.
The other reacted faster it opened its jaws wide and fired a Shadow Ball directly into the undergrowth.
The dark purple sphere of energy streaked forward. Aiden had no time to dodge before it smashed into his chest, knocking the breath out of him.
Seriously?! I just wanted to ask for directions was that necessary?!
The sudden commotion drew the attention of the two men. Their gazes shifted from the battered Ralts to Aiden, now lying winded on the ground.
"Grrr…" One Mightyena growled lowly, pressing its heavy paw against Aiden's chest, fangs bared just inches from his throat.
Seeing Aiden under attack, the vacant look in Cramorant's eyes sharpened for the first time. White light flickered within them, and in the next instant, rings of glowing blue energy spiraled into existence around its body.
The very air trembled, heavy with an indescribable pressure.
"What the hell is that?!" one of the men gasped, staring in shock. "That Pokémon… that move!"
No one had time to answer.
From the glowing rings, countless beams of bluish-white light burst forth, crashing down in a devastating wave. The energy engulfed both Mightyena in a merciless strike.
Aiden's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That… that's Origin Pulse! Kyogre's signature move?!"
The light tore through the battlefield. Trees splintered, grass disintegrated, and the very earth shook as if nature itself was being unraveled.
When the radiance faded, the two Mightyena lay broken and twitching, on the verge of death.
Aiden swallowed hard.
That power… it's absurd!
Cramorant, as though nothing had happened, flapped over and perched dumbly on his shoulder once more, tilting its head with its usual vacant stare.
The two men trembled, still reeling from shock. That wide-range attack had landed just a hair's breadth away from them. If it could annihilate Mightyena in a single strike… what would have happened if they were hit? Neither dared to imagine.
Run!
They turned on their heels only for a graceful figure to appear in their path.
A womanly Pokémon materialized from thin air, elegance radiating from her every movement.
"Gardevoir…" Aiden whispered.
Her eyes glowed a furious blue as she lashed out with telekinesis, seizing both men and hurling them like ragdolls against a massive tree trunk. They collapsed with dull thuds, instantly unconscious.
'So fast!' Aiden thought, heart pounding.
But before he could even react, the world blurred. A flash of white appeared above him Gardevoir had teleported directly overhead, psychic energy condensing into a shimmering blade of light poised to strike.
"W-Wait—!"
Before the blade could fall, a small body leapt between them.
"Ralts!"
The little Pokémon stood protectively before Aiden, crying out in urgent tones.
For a tense moment, the psychic blade flickered in Gardevoir's grasp. Then, at her child's plea, it dissipated into nothing.
The Gardevoir's expression softened like stern, like a mother scolding her daughter. Ralts looked back at Aiden, eyes filled with pain but also trust.
Then, in a flash of light, both mother and child teleported away.
Aiden let out a long, shaky breath.
"She… she thought I was with those poachers."
The Pokémon world was far more dangerous than any game or anime had ever shown. He'd nearly been killed simply for stumbling across the wrong scene.
He turned to Cramorant. "So… when I was attacked, did you automatically protect me?"
"Gah?" The bird tilted its head, blank and clueless once more.
"…Forget it." Aiden sighed, rubbing his temples.
Instead, he went to check on the two downed Mightyena.
_______________((Status))________________
[Species: Mightyena]
Type: Dark
Ability: Moxie
Base Stats: 420 (HP: 70 | Atk: 90 | Def: 70 | Sp. Atk: 60 | Sp. Def: 60 | Spd: 70)
Known Moves: Bite, Thief, Sand Attack, Roar, Shadow Ball
Status: Severely injured (unable to battle, wounds cannot self-heal)
Condition: Critical (will die without treatment)
Friendship: –50 (Hostile! Sees you as an enemy, will attack if able)
_____________________________________
Aiden grimaced. One move… and they're nearly dead.
Even he, who had coded those absurd stats back in his old world, was shaken seeing them unleashed in reality. With all six base stats maxed, Cramorant was stronger than even Eternatus. A creation so broken, it was practically cheating.
If only he could actually talk to it.
Shaking the thought away, Aiden checked the unconscious men next. After confirming they were alive, he stripped their shirts, tied them to nearby trees, and searched their belongings.
He laid out the haul:
Two empty Poké Balls
A black walkie-talkie-like communicator
Several bottles of spray Potions
A wallet full of Poké-dollars
And a ferry ticket bound for Slateport City.
"Slateport… so I really am in Hoenn," Aiden muttered.
But if these two weren't in Team Magma or Aqua, then who were they?
The communicator crackled. A woman's voice came through:
"Takehara, did you succeed? The auction is ready. We only need that Ralts!"
Aiden froze, then lowered his voice. "…He's asleep. Just tell me what you need."
"???" The voice grew wary. Within seconds, the line went dead.
At that moment, one of the men stirred, his eyelids fluttering.
Aiden crouched down, eyes narrowing. "If you keep pretending, I won't hesitate to shove this dead fish down your throat."
The man's eyes snapped open in terror, darting to the flopping Magikarp Cramorant had spat out earlier.
"W-what do you want from me?"
"That's easy," Aiden said coldly. "Answer my questions."
......