Boom!
These words were like a clap of thunder, exploding in Ariel's mind!
His pupils suddenly constricted.
Houndoom!
He had just insta-killed a Houndoom!
This old man had indeed seen it! Not only had he seen it, but he was now using it to point it out to him!
This was a blatant threat!
Countless thoughts flashed through Ariel's mind in an instant.
"Damn it, did I stumble into a Houndoom nest?"
He couldn't help but complain inwardly, but the expression on his face grew increasingly solemn.
"It seems today's battle is unavoidable."
Ariel slowly turned around, facing the old man properly once more, his aura shifting in an instant.
If he was like a sword hidden in its scabbard just now, then now, the sword had quietly unsheathed itself, its sharp edge fully revealed.
Since it couldn't be avoided, then he would fight!
He, Ariel, was no pushover to be toyed with at will!
"Fine," Ariel uttered a single word, concise and to the point.
A flash of approval flickered in the old man's cloudy eyes.
Now that's more like it.
A powerful Trainer should have such sharp spirit. No matter how deep one hides, the pride in their bones cannot be concealed.
"Very good." The old man nodded, moving his cane to his side, clearing the path to Lavaridge Town.
"Defeat me, and you can leave at any time. However..."
He changed his tone, his lips curling into a grin that revealed somewhat yellowed teeth.
"I'm using more than just one Pokémon."
Before his voice even faded, the old man slammed his cane onto the ground!
"Bang!"
The cane collided with the ground covered in volcanic ash, letting out a dull thud.
The old man's withered hand reached for his waist, unhooking an old Poké Ball.
As a flash of red light passed, a Houndoom with a size far exceeding the ordinary appeared on the field.
It wasn't like the one Ariel had just dealt with, which only had level and ferocity.
This Houndoom's fur was sleek and glossy, even glinting coldly under the dim volcanic light.
The horns on its head were thicker and more curved, bony armor covered its back, and its limbs were corded with muscle, full of explosive power.
What made Ariel's heart sink most was its gaze.
In those dark red eyes, there was no beastly madness, only the calm and cruelty of a hunter.
It just stood there quietly, without even a low growl of threat, but that invisible pressure was heavier than the barking of ten Houndoom.
Strong.
Compared to the one from before, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Ariel expressionlessly pulled out his pokédex.
"Houndoom, the Dark pokémon, level 30, ability Flash Fire..."
Level 30, the same as Weavile!
"I can win this."
He put away the pokédex, feeling more confident.
He also pulled out a Poké Ball, a red light flashed, and Weavile's agile figure landed on the ground.
It crouched low, its crimson eyes meeting Houndoom's, its long claws lightly scraping the ground in front of it, making a tooth-aching "hissing" sound.
Type disadvantage; this battle wouldn't be easy.
"Let us begin."
The old man spoke calmly.
Before his voice even fell, and without him making any command gestures, that Houndoom had already moved!
"Awoo—!"
With a long howl, Houndoom opened its massive maw, and a highly compressed dark red fireball instantly condensed, then transformed into a thick fire tornado, sweeping towards Weavile!
Flamethrower!
But this power, this range, this speed!
Ariel's pupils shrank, and he practically roared: "Dodge it!"
Weavile's figure turned into a black shadow, narrowly avoiding the edge of the flames by a hair's breadth.
But even the heat from the aftershock left a scorched patch on its black fur.
"Scree!" Weavile hissed in pain, glancing back at the ground.
The rocky road, originally covered in volcanic ash, had been scorched into a several-meter-long blackened trench, the rocks at the edges even melting under the high temperature, emitting sizzling white smoke.
Ariel's heart sank.
How could a level 30 Pokémon use a move like this?
With this power, people would believe it even if you said it was level 40!
However.
Ariel's fighting spirit soared.
His Weavile, in terms of talent and potential, was not inferior to this Houndoom!
"Young man, good reflexes."
The old man remained as calm as ever, as if everything was under control.
"Your Weavile is also very well-trained."
As he spoke, he observed Ariel's reaction with interest.
"However, just dodging won't win you the match."
Just then, an imperceptible glint flashed in the old man's cloudy eyes.
"Young man, have you heard of Team Rockets?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into the lake of Ariel's heart.
Ariel's heart skipped a beat, but his commands didn't pause for a second.
"Ice Shard!"
Weavile swung its claws, and several sharp Icicle Spears shot through the air, heading straight for Houndoom's face.
Houndoom didn't dodge, merely tilting its head slightly, letting the Ice Shard hit its hard skull armor, making a series of "clink-clank" sounds without even leaving a white mark.
"The notorious underground organization from the Kanto region. Any Trainer would know about them."
Ariel responded coldly, his tone devoid of any emotion.
While commanding Weavile to maneuver, he thought rapidly.
Why did this old man suddenly mention Team Rockets? To test me?
He saw me insta-kill the Houndoom and suspects I'm with Team Rockets?
"Oh?"
The old man drew out his words, seemingly not surprised by the answer.
"Then do you know that their reach has already extended to Hoenn?"
Boom!
These words were even more powerful than the Flamethrower from before!
Ariel's head buzzed.
This old man really did suspect his identity!
But judging by his meaning, the fact that Team Rockets had come to the Hoenn region was likely no longer a secret to the League's high-ranking officials.
So, how far away was this news from being made public?
Countless thoughts flooded his brain in an instant, causing him to lose focus for a split second.
And when experts clash, a momentary opening is fatal!
"Now!" A sharp look flashed in the old man's eyes. "Crunch!"
"Roar!"
Houndoom seized this fleeting opportunity. Its four legs exerted force, and its sturdy body turned into a bolt of black lightning, instantly crossing the distance of over ten meters to appear before Weavile!
Shadow energy gathered frantically in its wide-open maw, carrying a terrifying aura that seemed ready to tear everything apart as it bit down hard on Weavile's neck!
"Not good!"
Ariel snapped out of it, his expression changing drastically!
"Quick, use Protect!"
However, he was a step too late after all.
The pale green barrier Weavile hastily erected had just taken shape when it was instantly shredded by Houndoom's violent fangs!
"Crack!"
"Scree—!"
Weavile let out a shrill cry of pain as its entire body was bitten by Houndoom and then violently thrown away, crashing heavily into the nearby rock wall before rolling to the ground.