Arbok released Monferno immediately.
The extreme heat pouring from Monferno's body had become unbearable. Blue flames coated Monferno like a living cloak while the smell of burning flesh spread throughout the isolated street.
"Monferno, get clear using Acrobatics. Electabuzz, use Discharge on everyone."
Monferno reacted instantly.
He kicked off Arbok's body and launched himself skyward. Grayish-silver energy wrapped around him as Acrobatics activated, granting him incredible aerial mobility while simultaneously increasing his speed.
At the same moment, Electabuzz vanished in a blur.
Using Quick Attack, Electabuzz positioned himself directly between the enemy Pokémon before unleashing Discharge in every direction.
Lightning exploded outward violently.
Because the attack spread between multiple targets, the raw damage wasn't devastating, but the effect was still significant. Arbok, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Fearow, Golbat, and even Scyther all stiffened briefly as electricity coursed through their bodies.
The opening lasted less than a second but it was enough.
High above the battlefield, Monferno began charging Flame Aura Burst.
The blue aura flames around his body condensed rapidly into his palms while fire-type energy surged violently outward. The pressure coming from the attack caused the surrounding air to distort visibly.
Then Monferno had an idea.
Instead of releasing the attack normally, he charged Vacuum Wave simultaneously.
Compressed fighting-type energy merged directly into the burning mass of aura flames, transforming the attack into a massive flaming blade spinning downward toward the enemy Pokémon at terrifying speed.
Silas's eyes widened slightly.
Even Monferno's own creativity was evolving. The enemies barely had time to react.
The massive flaming Vacuum Wave crashed into the center of the battlefield and exploded violently.
Scyther and Golbat narrowly escaped the direct impact. Fearow, Arbok, Hitmonlee, & Hitmonchan weren't as fortunate.
All four Pokémon were consumed by the explosion at close range.
Blue flames clung to their bodies long after the attack ended, burning unnaturally as they screamed in agony. When the fire finally faded, every single one of them collapsed onto the ground severely burned.
They were alive but barely.
Electabuzz immediately followed up with another Discharge.
This time, the enemies reacted properly.
"Golbat, Wide Guard!"
Golbat spread its wings wide, generating a green barrier that intercepted the electrical attack before it could fully connect.
"Scyther, Fury Cutter!"
Scyther blurred forward instantly.
Its glowing blade arm carved directly across Electabuzz's torso before he could fully defend himself. Blood sprayed across the street as a deep slash wound stretched from Electabuzz's chest down toward his stomach.
Electabuzz dropped to one knee immediately.
Silas's eyes sharpened.
Before Scyther could follow up, Monferno descended from above using Acrobatics.
The flexibility granted by the move while airborne was terrifying in close combat. Monferno twisted midair before driving a spinning backfist directly into Scyther's side.
The impact blasted Scyther across the street.
Before the mantis Pokémon could recover, Monferno surged forward again.
Double Shadow Claw.
Dark energy covered both hands as Monferno slashed downward twice in rapid succession, carving deep wounds across Scyther's chest and abdomen.
Scyther collapsed heavily into a growing pool of blood.
Golbat froze briefly seeing the state of its allies. Then it tried to flee.
"Electabuzz," Silas said calmly, "don't let it."
Electabuzz raised one hand and fired Charge Beam.
The electric attack pierced through Golbat's wing mid-flight, sending it crashing violently against the ground. Before it could recover, Electabuzz appeared beside it and unleashed another Charge Beam point-blank.
Golbat stopped moving. Silence settled across the battlefield. The two masked men stared at the carnage around them in horror.
Their Pokémon had been utterly destroyed.
Silas felt strangely calm. The hesitation from before was gone.
Those who treated him well would receive the same in return.
Those who threatened him or the people close to him…
Could only die.
The realization settled inside him with frightening clarity.
The two cloaked men finally panicked and tried to retreat.
Silas moved first.
The knife techniques Madam drilled into him countless times now flowed naturally through his body. One man attempted to draw another Pokéball before Silas slashed directly across his throat.
The second man stumbled backward in terror but Electabuzz intercepted him instantly.
Moments later, the street fell completely silent again.
At the same time, Monferno finished off the severely burned Pokémon.
Only Hypno remained alive.
The psychic-type trembled visibly while raising both hands in surrender.
Silas scanned it quickly.
Hypno — Level 35
Ability: Insomnia
Potential: D
Silas stared at the frightened Pokémon for several moments. Then he lowered his knife.
"You didn't participate directly," he said calmly. "Leave."
Hypno looked stunned then relieved.
Silas felt they had taken enough lives tonight. Hypno had created the barrier, but it hadn't actively attacked once the battle began.
That distinction mattered to him.
At least for now.
Silas stored the bodies and unconscious remains inside a storage bag before ordering Hypno to deactivate the spatial lock. The moment the barrier disappeared, normal city sounds flooded back into the street.
Hypno immediately fled.
It ran like something horrific was chasing it.
Silas didn't bother pursuing.
"Hermes," Silas said internally, "digest and analyze all battle data."
"Processing."
Several seconds passed.
"For Monferno," Hermes began, "the Flame Aura state activates when aura energy merges completely with fire-type energy. As a dual fighting and fire-type Pokémon, Monferno naturally possesses affinity toward both energies coexisting harmoniously."
Silas listened carefully.
"The recent battle indicates Monferno's creativity increases significantly while in the enhanced state. Combining Vacuum Wave with Flame Aura Burst demonstrates evolving combat intuition."
That attack had genuinely surprised even Silas.
Hermes continued.
"For Electabuzz, its mastery over Thunder Punch has reached an unusually advanced level relative to its overall growth. If properly nurtured creatively, I estimate a sixty percent chance Electabuzz may eventually develop a unique signature move."
Silas's eyes widened slightly.
A signature move?
Those were incredibly rare.
Pokémon capable of creating their own techniques were almost always exceptional.
"There must be a catalyst first," Hermes added.
Silas mentally noted that carefully. Then Hermes spoke again.
"As for you, I believe you possess strong aura affinity."
Silas froze.
"What?"
"When Monferno's Flame Aura activated, your body displayed a resonance response. The reaction was subtle but measurable."
Silas's heart started beating faster.
Aura affinity?
Humans in this world could occasionally awaken extraordinary powers. Aura, psychic ability, and poison affinity were the three most famous. Even possessing potential toward one of those paths automatically elevated someone beyond ordinary people.
Combined, perhaps ten percent of humanity possessed some level of affinity. Most never awakened it. They lacked the catalyst.
Silas walked slowly through Viridian City while processing Hermes's words.
The streets barely reacted to his appearance despite the blood staining his clothes and the obvious signs of battle. To ordinary people, that might have seemed strange.
To trainers?
Not really.
Being a trainer was dangerous.
Wild Pokémon attacked people regularly. Criminals existed everywhere. Poachers, bounty hunters, rogue trainers, and underground organizations all contributed to the reality that violence was common in this profession.
Seeing an injured trainer at night wasn't unusual.
Eventually, Silas arrived back at the Pokémon Center and headed directly toward Madam's room.
The moment he entered, he pulled out the storage bag containing the bodies.
Jolteon immediately snatched it away using Quick Attack before Silas could dump everything onto the floor.
"What is wrong with you?" Madam snapped. "You think producing corpses inside a Pokémon Center is smart?"
Silas blinked. She made a fair point. He calmed briefly but then the irritation returned immediately.
"What is wrong with you?" he shot back. "You set me up to get attacked!"
Madam looked completely unbothered.
"Did you die?"
Silas stared at her.
"You look very alive to me," she continued calmly. "And before you complain further, understand this—I never allowed anything beyond your ability to handle. I stayed nearby the entire time."
Silas wanted to stay angry.
Unfortunately, he also understood exactly why she had done it.
This wasn't punishment. It was cruel but effective training. Silas eventually sighed and nodded.
Madam's expression softened slightly afterward.
"I'm proud of you," she admitted quietly. "Your growth far exceeds mine at your age."
She studied him carefully.
"And now you finally carry the dangerous air of a proper trainer."
Before Silas could respond, Madam stepped forward and hugged him briefly.
The warmth caught him completely off guard.
Then she pulled away and continued speaking normally as if nothing unusual happened.
"I'll be returning to Pallet Town tomorrow morning. I've been away too long."
Silas felt his chest tighten slightly.
"I wanted to make sure you could truly handle yourself before I left."
For a moment, Silas didn't know what to say.
In his previous life, he lost his mother as a baby. He grew up with only his father. Even in this world, genuine parental warmth remained unfamiliar to him.
Madam was the closest thing he had ever experienced to a mother figure.
That realization hit harder than expected.
"Thank you," Silas said sincerely. "For everything."
Madam only nodded.
After several moments, Silas spoke again.
"I think the Ursaring should go with you."
Madam looked surprised.
Silas explained his reasoning calmly. Carrying an entire Ursaring family while traveling constantly wasn't practical. Madam, meanwhile, owned a large berry farm and plenty of land where they could live comfortably.
More importantly, she had already bonded with them. The Ursaring trusted her. After thinking briefly, Madam agreed.
Silas released the Ursaring family and explained the situation. The adult Ursaring accepted almost immediately. They understood their children would likely become stronger following Silas while they themselves would live more comfortably with Madam.
The two Teddiursa also agreed. The farewell went surprisingly smoothly.
Afterward, Silas returned to his own room and released all the Pokémon currently under his care.
Monferno, Electabuzz, Zubat and the two Teddiursa. Zubat looked around nervously the moment it emerged.
Since being captured, it mostly left its Pokéball only for feeding and limited care. While Silas treated it properly, the lack of freedom still made the bat Pokémon uneasy.
Silas crouched slightly.
"You'll start training with the team," he explained calmly. "Eventually, I'll likely transfer you to another trainer."
Zubat looked worried initially but Silas reassured it quickly.
"Your situation will improve, not worsen."
The bat Pokémon relaxed slightly afterward.
Silas finally scanned the younger Pokémon properly now that things had settled.
Teddiursa — Level 17
Ability: Pick Up/Quick Feet
Potential: B
Moves: Rank C Growl, Rank C Scratch, Rank D Belly Drum, Rank D Close Combat, Rank D Lick, Rank D Payback, Rank D Sweet Scent
Zubat — Level 20
Ability: Inner Focus
Potential: B-
Moves: Rank C Astonish, Rank C Bite, Rank C Wing Attack, Rank D Tail Wind, Rank D Brave Bird, Rank D Leech Life
Silas nodded in satisfaction. All three young Pokémon possessed strong potential.
Then he reviewed his inventory carefully. The amount of valuable resources he carried was honestly absurd.
Large quantities of Phoenix Lake Water, Omni Berries, standard berries, medicinal herbs, training supplies, etc.
Most importantly, none of those truly precious resources would ever be revealed publicly.
Only his own Pokémon would benefit from them.
Finally, Silas opened the system shop.
BP Balance - 1,165 BP
Shop List
Mid Grade Revival Herb - 3,000 BP - Can save a pokemon from life threatening injuries and repair old injuries
Mid Grade Fire Stone - 2,500 BP - Evolves certain pokemon and slightly improves talent.
Mid Grade Mystic Water - 1,000 BP - Can be held to increase water energy capacity overtime by 20%
Mid Grade Rare Candy - 1500 BP - Directly increase a pokemons stats by 1 level up to 45.
Mid Grade Vitamin Pill - 500 BP - Increase a pokemons overall constitution, repairing old injuries, and strengthening talent.
Big Nugget - 150 BP - No use for raising pokemon but valuable to humans.
All Mid grade berries - 5 BP - Various effects.
Silas immediately purchased the Mid Grade Mystic Water.
He attached it around Froakie's neck carefully before hiding it within the frubbles surrounding the small frog Pokémon's body.
Then Silas paused.
His attention locked onto another item description. Aura Seed. "Useful for any being." Silas noticed it didn't say pokemon.
Silas slowly narrowed his eyes. Could humans use it too? If Aura Seeds existed…did psychic versions exist too? What about Poison variants? Silas felt his curiosity rise immediately.
For a long time, he viewed the system shop as secondary compared to Hermes and the scanning feature. Those abilities alone already made the system invaluable.
But now?
Perhaps he had underestimated the shop entirely.
Silas leaned back quietly while processing the possibilities.
He would explore this carefully.