Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [160]

Tornadus smirked as the storm he controlled closed in on the human before him.

As expected—here in the Pure White Tundra, I'm practically invincible.

Those strong enough to fight him lacked his ability to ignore terrain. And those who could fly like he did were usually blown away by his ice-laced gales.

The only ones who ever gave him trouble—

Were the Gardevoir clan that also lived deep in the tundra—psychic-type Pokémon capable of matching him in both power and mobility.

He couldn't completely defend against their psychic powers, even with his own strength.

But unfortunately for this human… there wasn't a Gardevoir hiding up his sleeve.

Chuckling coldly, Tornadus clenched the storm around Elias.

In his mind, the wind should lift the human screaming into the air, delivering him right to Tornadus's feet—where he could use him as leverage against the fox and the Lucario.

But reality had a small surprise for him.

—The hand of wind he'd formed wouldn't close.

It was as if a thick, invisible wall stood between him and Elias. No matter how hard he tried to squeeze, the storm couldn't get any closer.

Tornadus frowned. The strange resistance stirred unpleasant memories.

He'd encountered something like this before—during a fight with a territorial Gardevoir that had defended its nest with similar psychic barriers.

But that had been a Gardevoir. This was just a human… Was it possible he had psychic power?

That question barely formed when a high-pitched tearing sound pierced the wind.

Tornadus looked up.

A rip had opened in the storm wall he'd conjured.

I'm out of here!

The chain of strange occurrences sent his instincts into overdrive. Lucario and Zoroark had already closed in, and he'd lost his best shot at taking Elias.

If he didn't flee now, he might not get another chance.

Without looking back, he spun around and darted into the swirling snow, using the whiteout as cover.

But just because he wanted to leave didn't mean Elias was letting him go.

Heh. A Pokémon that dares charge a Hisuian head-on? There's no way I'm letting you get away now.

After all, that had been his plan from the beginning: to capture Tornadus.

Predicting the Pokémon's flight path with uncanny precision, Elias raised his hand and made a pulling motion.

A surge of psychic energy erupted toward Tornadus.

At Elias's current level, his psychic power was on par with a trained psychic-type Pokémon.

Tornadus hadn't expected a mental assault. Midair, he froze for a split second—just long enough to be yanked violently from the sky.

Whump—!

He landed hard in a pile of snow, coughing as he scrambled to his feet—

Only to be struck by a powerful [Psychic] the instant he stood up.

It felt like a steel pin had been driven through his skull. He cried out, face contorted in pain.

"Zoroark."

Elias called softly, and the fox had already reached his side, her fury radiating off her in waves.

A twisted red-and-black aura swirled behind her, surging into the shape of a claw.

She slashed.

It was [Bitter Malice]—a move born from the strength of one's own resentment.

The greater the anger, the stronger the damage.

And Zoroark—wracked with guilt and fear for having failed to protect Elias—was seething.

Even Lucario, who had just caught up, flinched at the sheer malice in the air.

The claw landed squarely on Tornadus, who hadn't fully recovered from the last blow.

Thud—

He dropped like a stone, unconscious before he hit the ground.

Zoroark wasn't satisfied. She raised her claw again, ready to strike a second time—to finish it.

But Elias stepped forward quickly, wrapping his arms around her furry body.

"That's enough. He's out cold. One more hit and he might not survive."

His voice was calm, soothing.

It wasn't an exaggeration—Zoroark's [Bitter Malice] had been so potent it had even carved a chunk out of a nearby boulder.

Tornadus had only survived because of his legendary resilience and sheer brute endurance.

Another strike might've killed him.

Crunch—

Before Elias could think further, Zoroark suddenly shoved him to the ground.

Pinned beneath her, Elias blinked up at his partner.

Her crimson eyes were glowing faintly, filled with both fury and fear.

Steam curled from her mouth with each breath. Sharp fangs glinted in the low light.

If she weren't his Zoroark, she might've looked like a true beast—wild and untamed.

But Elias didn't move.

He simply let her pin him.

After a long moment, her breathing slowed. The red faded from her gaze.

She lowered her head and buried her snout against his neck, warm breath puffing against his skin.

"…Elias… I'm sorry…"

Her voice trembled in his ear, laced with guilt and the threat of tears.

She was clearly shaken—both by her earlier failure and the reckless power she'd just unleashed.

She couldn't bear the thought of what might've happened if Elias hadn't been psychic… or if Tornadus had been just a little stronger.

"It's okay," Elias murmured, gently petting her head.

Even though she was taller than him now, he still cradled her head in his neck and offered quiet comfort.

Maybe it was in her species—Zoroark carried emotional burdens more deeply than most.

Like now.

Elias was certain she hadn't meant to push him over.

But fear had driven her to it anyway.

Still, he wasn't worried.

Even in the heat of it, she'd made sure to cushion his fall—tucking a paw behind his back so he wouldn't get hurt.

And now, with his quiet reassurance, her sobs slowly softened.

But just as Elias shifted, thinking to sit up, Zoroark nuzzled deeper into his neck.

With a sigh, he resigned himself to staying on the ground a while longer.

Not far away, Cynthia stood frozen, utterly dumbstruck.

Beside her, Garchomp stared in silence, equally stunned.

What… what kind of place is this?

Is everyone here this… intense?

To take down a legendary Pokémon barehanded, Cynthia felt her worldview had just been shaken.

The only other person she'd ever seen throw hands with Pokémon was Bruno, the martial arts master from Kanto.

And even then, it was against Machoke—normal fighting types.

But this boy… was something else entirely.

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T/N: hmmmmm damn and elias is still a kid, zoroark is gonna get so much stronger than now