Chapter 227: Pecharunt’s Trump Card

"Gibé~! Adorable~!"

"Gibé~! Time…"

"Gibé~! Delicious~!"

Under Pecharunt's control, the three trainers simultaneously threw their Poké Balls, summoning their Pokémon.

A pink-furred bulldog, Granbull, bared its fangs. The steel-plated avian, Skarmory, spread its razor-sharp wings. And the blazing combat ape, Infernape, clenched its fists, flames dancing atop its head.

"Hey, you three! Look at your trainers!" Summer shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. "Do they look normal to you?!"

The Pokémon hesitated, turning their heads toward their trainers—only to find them jerking and twisting in an unnatural dance, their eyes glowing purple, mumbling the same eerie chant over and over.

…That's not normal.

Granbull's ears twitched. My trainer… they'd never do something this UN-CUTE!

Skarmory's red eyes narrowed. My trainer HATES dancing. Something's wrong.

Infernape winced. Oh no. Did they eat one of their weird food experiments again?!

Pecharunt—speaking through Abe—felt its smirk falter.

"What the—?!"

It gritted its teeth. Why are they hesitating?! Those cursed Spirit Link Balls were supposed to give me full control over their minds!

"Looks like you've realized it too," Summer pressed on. "So step aside and let me deal with the real problem."

Without waiting for an answer, he flung his remaining Poké Balls into the air.

BOOM!

In a flash, Rillaboom, Ogerpon, and the Loyal Three materialized in front of the Civic Center, completely surrounding the partially buried Pecharunt.

Abe—his face still twisted in Pecharunt's sneer—froze.

"Y-You… You TRAITORS!!"

The voice erupted from Abe's mouth, dripping with rage.

"You dare show yourselves before ME?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA how long it takes to make a single Poison Chain?!"

Rillaboom cracked its knuckles.

Ogerpon slammed its spiked club into the ground, flames flickering from its mask.

The Loyal Three—now free from their past sins—stood firm.

"Warmmonkeys." Okidogi scoffed, crossing its arms. We're not with you anymore, loser.

"Snarlwoof." Munkidori shrugged, smug as ever. We're part of the Sunset Forest crew now.

"Kekekeke~!" Fezandipiti fanned its wings, chuckling. And your 'fashion sense' is still atrocious!

Pecharunt's core trembled.

It didn't dare look directly at Ogerpon's burning gaze, nor Rillaboom's clenched fists, nor the Loyal Three's steady resolve.

This… This was bad.

"D-Don't come any closer…! H-How about… THIS?!"

THUD!

Abe's body collapsed, as if Pecharunt had abandoned it, along with the three possessed trainers.

At that exact moment—

CRACK!

Pecharunt's outer shell split open.

From within, its true dark-purple core emerged, its face contorted into a twisted, furious snarl.

Three venomous chains snapped out, lashing through the air—

—but not toward Summer's Pokémon.

Toward the Granbull, Skarmory, and Infernape standing beside their fallen trainers.

SHINK!

The chains wrapped around them, the toxic glow pulsing into their bodies.

"Gibé~! SUCCESS!!" Pecharunt cackled.

The Loyal Three's betrayal had taught it a lesson:

Why bother giving them free will?

This time, Pecharunt wouldn't let its pawns think for themselves.

This time, its chains would never break.

This time—

It would be unstoppable.

Summer sighed, shaking his head.

"…You're really obsessed with the whole monkey, dog, bird thing, huh?"

Pecharunt twitched.

"…WHAT?!"

Summer ignored the outburst, instead raising his hand.

"So this is your big move, huh?" His voice remained calm.

Pecharunt grinned viciously.

"Gibé! Tremble in fear, human!"

"…Nah."

"…Gibé?"

Summer simply pointed forward.

"Rillaboom, crush Infernape. Ogerpon, smash Skarmory. Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti—deal with Granbull."

For the first time, Pecharunt's smirk faded.

Why… Why is he so calm?!

"GIBÉ—!!"

The possessed Pokémon lunged—

CRACK!

Rillaboom grabbed Infernape's arm, yanking it mid-air before slamming it into the ground.

BOOM!

Infernape's head bounced off the dirt, a dazed look in its eyes.

Pecharunt shuddered violently, its core pulsating as it coughed up a purple liquid.

W-Wait, why am I… feeling pain?!

Before it could recover—

WHAM!

Ogerpon's thorned club ignited in fiery rage, slamming into Skarmory with two consecutive blows.

The first hit shattered its Sturdy defense.

The second sent it CRASHING into the dirt, completely unconscious.

Pecharunt gasped, feeling its own energy dwindle.

It didn't have time to panic—

Because the Loyal Three had already descended upon Granbull.

Okidogi's fists glowed with Poison Jab.

Munkidori's eyes flashed with Nasty Plot.

Fezandipiti's claws shimmered with Venoshock.

Three-on-one.

The bulldog didn't stand a chance.

"GIBÉ—!!"

Pecharunt screamed, convulsing.

Its core twitched erratically, purple fluid dripping onto the ground.

"Tch…! No, NO, NO!! This wasn't supposed to happen!!"

"Hatterene."

Summer's voice rang clear and sharp.

"Break those chains."

A soft, eerie hum filled the air.

Hatterene lifted a delicate claw.

CRACK.

The Poison Chains snapped.

Pecharunt froze.

Ogerpon stood before it, club burning like the wrath of a thousand suns.

Summer stepped forward, gaze cold.

"…There's a lot I want to ask you, Pecharunt."

"…But first—"

He gave Ogerpon a nod.

"I think someone else has a score to settle."

Pecharunt turned—

Just in time to see Ogerpon's mask glow with an unholy fire.

"Ogerpon."

Summer's voice was final.

"Make sure it doesn't die."

Ogerpon raised its club high, eyes blazing with fury.

Pecharunt squeaked.

"G-Gibé…? Uhh… C-Can we talk about this…?"

Ogerpon swung down.

(End of Chapter)