A dark shadow shuttled rapidly between the rows of rooftops. His movements were impossibly light; his toes barely skimmed the tiles like a dragonfly touching water, allowing his entire body to glide several meters. He landed soundlessly, stirring only a faint, imperceptible breeze.
Following close behind were two even swifter shadows, one tall and one short—it was Greninja and Weavile.
Greninja's form melded into the night, every leap precise. It used the walls and eaves for leverage, moving like a phantom.
Weavile was more direct, its sharp claws digging deep into the white walls. Every kick left deep gouges, its body turning into a streak of black and red lightning as it pursued relentlessly.
Ariel stood in an alleyway below, looking up at the rooftop chase, his brow furrowing deeper.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong!
Greninja and Weavile were both aces in his team known for their speed.
Especially Greninja, whose speed was top-tier even among its kind.
But now, the two of them working together were barely able to keep up with that Hooded Man, and they were even on the verge of being shaken off!
That guy... is he really human?
This absurd thought flashed through Ariel's mind.
That movement technique, that explosive power and coordination that made complex terrain seem like flat ground, had exceeded his understanding of human physical limits.
No wonder the Gym apprentices couldn't even touch the guy's shadow; who could catch him?
Even if the League's Superior Investigators came, they would probably just stare in despair.
"Damn it..."
Ariel cursed under his breath, his shock quickly replaced by a stubborn competitive streak.
Running fast?
I'd like to see if your two legs are faster, or if Teleport is!
He no longer hesitated. With a flick of his wrist, a special Poké Ball popped out between his fingers.
"Malamar, come out!"
With a low hum, Malamar floated before Ariel, its tentacles swaying silently. The strange patterns on its head looked even more eerie under the moonlight.
Ariel didn't waste a second and gave the order immediately.
"Teleport, get in front of him!"
Malamar's eyes flashed with a deep blue light, and an invisible psychic force instantly enveloped Ariel and itself.
In the next moment, the surrounding scenery suddenly distorted and folded, the alley walls stretching into blurred bands of light.
Ariel felt a slight dizziness, and then his vision cleared.
Beneath his feet was solid white stone pavement.
Before him was a relatively open small plaza.
And that Hooded Man was currently leaping down from the roof of a building ahead, preparing to cross this plaza and escape into a more complex district.
He had just landed and hadn't even had time to catch his breath when he looked up and saw Ariel standing calmly in the center of the plaza, with the ominous-looking Malamar beside him.
The Hooded Man's movements visibly stiffened.
He probably couldn't figure out how someone he had clearly left behind had managed to get in front of him.
Ariel wasn't going to give him time to think.
"Malamar, Dark Pulse!"
The patterns on Malamar's head suddenly lit up, and rings of deep purple evil energy rippled outward, condensing into a thick beam that blasted straight toward the Hooded Man's face!
The attack was fast and sudden, cutting off almost all escape routes.
However, just as the beam was about to hit, the Hooded Man performed a move that made Ariel's eyelids twitch.
His upper body bent backward at an angle impossible for a normal person, becoming almost parallel to the ground, his entire body forming a bizarre bridge.
The Dark Pulse whistled past the tip of his nose, slamming heavily into the wall behind him and exploding into a cloud of purple-black energy smoke.
Having missed, the Hooded Man's body acted like a compressed spring, snapping back to its original state and retreating a dozen steps in one smooth motion, putting more distance between himself and Ariel. The whole process was seamless.
This guy...
Ariel's heart sank.
This could no longer be described as mere "agility"; he was simply a monster.
"Who exactly are you?"
Ariel stared at him, his voice heavy with gravity.
The Hooded Man didn't answer. His face was hidden in the shadow of the hood, and he seemed to take another half-step back, his entire body radiating a highly alert, defensive posture.
Ariel narrowed his eyes and changed the question:
"Why are you running? Especially after seeing me."
From their first encounter at the market, this guy's reaction had been very strange.
He didn't seem to be avoiding Wallace, but rather avoiding Ariel himself.
This time, the Hooded Man finally spoke.
His voice was somewhat raspy, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time, or as if he were deliberately lowering his voice.
"The aura on you... is very dangerous."
"The aura is dangerous?"
Ariel was stunned for a moment before feeling like laughing.
"That's a fresh description; it's the first time I've heard someone say that about me."
He flexed his wrist, his tone becoming playful.
"But then again, it's about right."
As soon as he finished speaking, two faint whistling sounds came from the air.
The Hooded Man shuddered, his body freezing.
He could feel two cold bursts of killing intent from his left and right, having already used Lock-On on him.
Unbeknownst to him, Greninja and Weavile had appeared silently behind him, completing the encirclement.
Greninja held a Shuriken made of highly compressed water in one hand, its sharp edge pressed tightly against the right side of the Hooded Man's neck. The cold sensation sent goosebumps across his skin.
Meanwhile, Weavile held up its glinting sharp claws against his left waist. With just a little force, it could easily pierce through his body.
A perfect pincer move.
The Hooded Man didn't dare move.
He could clearly feel that if he made any move, the two "murder weapons" at his neck and waist would take his life without hesitation.
Ariel walked over leisurely and stood before the Hooded Man, a probing smile on his face.
"Alright, game over."
"Now, let me see what kind of face is hidden beneath this mysterious hood."
He gave Greninja a look.
Greninja understood. Its other hand shot out like lightning, grabbed the edge of the hood, and yanked it down!
Whoosh—!
The large hood was pulled back, and a face was completely exposed under the cool moonlight.
The moment he saw that face, the smile on Ariel's face froze.
His eyes slowly widened, his expression shifting from playful curiosity to shock, and finally settling into an indescribable sense of absurdity and bewilderment.
This face...
Messy hair, a wretched mustache, and a pair of shifty, thieving eyes...
This, isn't this...
Ariel's brain stalled for a full three seconds.
Isn't this the pervert who was caught by him and Wallace for stealing Widow's underwear?!
Exactly the same! Even the mole at the corner of the mouth was identical!
Ariel was completely flustered.
After all that, this "expert" who was so agile he didn't seem human, had a mysterious aura, and couldn't even be caught by his two ace speedsters, was actually that Underwear Thief?!
Is there something wrong with this world?
***************************
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to drop a review, leave a comment, and smash that like button! Every Power Stone helps push the story further—thanks for reading and supporting! 🚀