Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [35]

Even though Sird's attempt to call for backup had failed spectacularly, Elias still decided to retreat.

After all, putting aside everything else—that Darkrai of hers was already a massive threat.

And there was no doubt a Team Rocket base somewhere nearby.

If the battle dragged on too long, reinforcements could arrive, and then he'd be the one at a disadvantage.

While Elias was calculating his escape route, Sird, outwardly calm, was internally seething.

"Mew!"

Sird gritted her teeth so hard they practically cracked.

That damn Mew!

They had an agreement—if she couldn't win, it was supposed to come help!

And yet, it didn't even bother to pick up the call.

Honestly, Sird wouldn't be surprised if Mew had smashed the communicator to pieces.

It wouldn't be the first time, after all.

Suppressing her rage, Sird narrowed her eyes and rested a hand on a Poké Ball at her waist.

Darkrai.

This was the reason she still stood here unshaken.

Sird wasn't blind—she knew her Banette wasn't a match for that Gengar.

But she hadn't retreated because she was waiting for a single chance—

A moment where she could use Darkrai to catch her opponent off guard.

If she could capture a high-ranking League official, she could either extract intel or brainwash them into an undercover agent.

Either way, it would be a huge win for her.

And judging by this psychic's capability—

He was definitely connected to Lance.

A gleam of fervor flashed through Sird's eyes.

Quietly, she closed the distance between herself and Elias.

She was waiting.

Waiting for a single, decisive strike.

---

Meanwhile, Sird thought she was being subtle.

But Elias had already noticed her every move.

Knowing she had a Darkrai in reserve, there was no way he'd let his guard down.

"Gengar, create an opening for her."

Elias spoke telepathically to Gengar.

Since Sird was waiting for a chance, he might as well bait her out and escape in the process.

"Ha-ha!"

Gengar understood immediately.

Intentionally throwing a [Shadow Ball] off-course, it pretended to get angry and charged after Banette.

For a brief moment, Elias was completely exposed.

"Now!"

Sird's eyes lit up.

Without hesitation, she released her Poké Ball.

A burst of red light flashed—

And in the next instant, a shadowy figure streaked across the battlefield.

It was so fast, it was almost a blur.

Even though Elias had been on full alert, he was still caught off guard.

He had expected Darkrai to be fast.

But not this fast.

Even Gengar would probably lose in a speed match.

But while his mind was shocked, his body was already moving.

With the aid of psychic abilities, Elias dodged swiftly to the side, his afterimage still lingering in place.

BOOM—!

Darkrai's [Shadow Claw] barely missed.

The force behind the attack was immense, creating a powerful gust of wind in its wake.

"Darkrai, [Quick Attack]!"

Sird's expression darkened slightly when her ambush failed.

But her battle instincts were sharp.

She knew she had to strike again before Gengar returned.

Hearing the command, Darkrai moved instantly.

Its misty black body blurred as it charged toward Elias.

However—

Just before it reached him—

Darkrai's expression suddenly twisted, its body jerking to a halt.

Sird didn't even have time to ask what happened before—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion echoed through the air.

The shockwave was so strong that Sird's ears rang.

But she barely registered it.

Because, in that same instant—

She had watched as her so-called trump card, Darkrai, was launched backward like a ragdoll.

It wasn't dodging.

It wasn't retreating.

It had been blasted away.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Darkrai slammed through multiple trees before finally stopping.

Its posture wavered, one arm hanging limply—clearly injured.

For a moment, the entire battlefield fell silent.

Sird wasn't the only one who was stunned.

Even Elias stood there, completely dumbfounded.

What the hell just happened?

He turned to Gengar—who had rushed back to his side—only to find the same bewildered expression reflected in its eyes.

Elias had already prepared to run, but after seeing Darkrai suddenly get obliterated, he hesitated.

Because before making any sudden moves, he needed to figure out—

What else was lurking nearby?

Just as he tensed in caution—

A small pink figure appeared at the center of the battlefield.

It floated midair, its face clouded in anger, its large blue eyes locked onto Sird.

If looks could kill, Sird would have been six feet under.

Mew.

Just a little bit more.

Mew's heart still pounded.

When it had first heard Elias's voice, its emotions had surged so violently that it had nearly rushed out immediately.

But it had held back.

Because people could be imitated.

Voices could be faked.

Mew wanted to be sure—

To confirm that the pendant had truly responded to the right person.

But because it had hesitated for that one second—

Elias had nearly been ambushed before its eyes.

An overwhelming rage flooded through Mew.

It glared at Sird.

The air around it rippled, waves of psychic energy surging outward.

Sird, on the other hand, stared back in shock.

At first, she didn't even realize Mew was the one who had attacked Darkrai.

She assumed her emergency request had finally worked.

Her eyes lit up.

"Mew, quick! Capture that human—wait, what are you doing?!"

Her command was cut short.

Because Mew had just launched a massive [Aura Sphere]—one far bigger than itself—directly at her.

The searing energy cut through the air, leaving a faint burning smell.

It was clear Mew wasn't holding back.

With the help of Banette, Sird narrowly dodged the attack—

But she was furious.

Yet before she could explode, she hesitated.

Because she knew Mew's temperament.

It must just be venting its frustration, she reassured herself.

Once it gets it out of its system, it'll do its job.

There were only two people here.

Mew wouldn't just turn against her and help a random stranger… right?

This optimistic delusion lasted exactly five seconds.

Until her Banette was brutally KO'd by a single [Psychic].

She didn't know where things had gone wrong.

But at that moment—

Sird finally realized…

Mew had switched sides.

Her face darkened.

A sense of utter betrayal filled her chest.

After hesitating for a moment, she clenched her teeth and gave the order:

"Darkrai, we're retreating!"