Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [27]

The moment Elias sensed that Gardevoir had lost her psychic powers, he used the last of his strength to [Teleport] in front of her—shielding her from the devastating attack.

Crack—crack—

The eerie sound of ice spreading echoed through the silent forest.

From the point of impact along Elias's spine, frost began creeping over his body, inch by inch.

And yet, when he turned to face Gardevoir, he smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Gardevoir, I really like the bracelet you gave me."

With a gentle motion, he brushed a strand of her silken hair behind her ear, his lips drawing close as he whispered softly.

But Gardevoir's wide, watery eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.

She watched in horror as the ice slithered up Elias's shoulder like a merciless predator.

His chest, arms, thighs—soon, only a small part of his body remained unfrozen.

The cracking sound of spreading ice felt like a whisper from the abyss.

Tears welled up in Gardevoir's eyes, spilling over in heavy droplets.

"Elias… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

She desperately tried to stop the ice from advancing, but it was useless.

Her helpless sobs and murmured apologies echoed in the stillness of the woods.

Meanwhile, Delibird hesitated for a brief moment upon seeing Elias suddenly appear.

But soon, it remembered its mission from Pryce.

And upon noticing Elias's immobilized state, it wasted no time soaring high into the air before diving straight down.

[Aerial Ace]

This time, its target was Elias.

Gardevoir's fragile mental state was already on the verge of collapse, but Delibird's movement snapped her attention back.

Terror surged anew—she nearly wanted to beg, to plead for the attack to stop.

But before she could act, Elias grasped her wrist.

He knew exactly what Gardevoir was about to do.

But the masked man would never let them go just because she begged for mercy.

On the contrary, showing weakness would only hand Delibird the perfect opening to strike.

"No… no!"

Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered incoherent words.

Elias looked at her, his expression helpless yet affectionate.

He knew his wounds weren't something Gardevoir could heal in time.

In fact, even if he were rushed to a hospital this very second, the chances of saving him were nearly nonexistent.

Everything she was trying to do—it was futile.

But he didn't tell her that.

Instead, he gently pulled her into his arms.

"Gardevoir, as much as I'd love to stay with you a little longer, to enjoy your care and affection…"

"…Carrying someone like me, a burden, will only ensure you can't escape the masked man's pursuit."

"So, take care of yourself."

His voice was soft, like the way he used to tell her bedtime stories.

But to Gardevoir, this was no bedtime story—this was the most terrifying nightmare of all.

Because she suddenly realized—Elias was using his powers to manipulate the psychic energy within her.

"What are you doing?!"

Panic surged through her as she struggled violently.

But after years of training with Elias, her psychic energy was more attuned to him than even to herself.

No matter how she resisted, her body obeyed his command.

In her despair, she was teleported several hundred meters away to an open clearing.

At the last moment before the teleportation, Elias had removed the bracelet from her wrist.

Now, standing at a distance, she could only watch helplessly as Delibird's sharp talons plunged toward Elias's back.

"No!"

Gardevoir's vision blurred with crimson rage.

Without hesitation, she forced her psychic energy into overdrive, teleporting back at full speed.

She arrived just in time—just before Delibird's attack landed.

But…

She was still a meter away.

A single step—a distance that would normally be nothing—now felt like an insurmountable abyss separating them into two different worlds.

Thud!

Delibird's claws sank deep into Elias's back, piercing through and emerging from his chest.

A vibrant crimson bloom erupted from his chest, unfurling like a blood-red rose.

Gardevoir had imagined this scene before—Elias dressed in a white suit, a red rose pinned to his chest, standing beside her as they walked toward a grand altar.

But never, never like this.

Delibird, having landed its strike, wasted no time retreating, executing [Aerial Ace] to soar back into the sky.

There was even a flicker of human-like satisfaction in its eyes—as if pleased to have completed its master's task.

Elias swayed on his feet, on the verge of collapse.

Gardevoir rushed forward to catch him, her trembling hands reaching out—

But just before she could touch him—

Crack!

With a crisp shatter, Elias's body dissolved into countless ice crystals, scattering into the wind.

"Gardevoir, take care of yourself."

That was the last thing he said to her.

Even in his final moments, his voice remained so gentle.

"No… you won't die… you won't die…"

A raging storm of psychic energy erupted in the air as Gardevoir desperately tried to gather the scattered shards of ice.

But for the first time, her once-unshakable powers failed her.

The ice crystals slipped through her grasp, refusing to be pieced back together.

Even sensing Elias's presence became nearly impossible.

All she could do—

Was watch.

Watch as every last fragment of ice dissolved into nothingness, vanishing into the night air.

Until finally, the last speck disappeared.

Elias was gone.

Completely, utterly gone.

As if he had never existed in this world at all.

Gardevoir's strength drained away.

She slumped to the ground, lifeless and hollow.

---

T/N: fucking simulators man...