Chapter 33: Ambush

Leon's destination was Moonview Lake, located at the center of Glowfern Forest.

Though Moonview Lake wasn't very large in area, it was home to many Water-type Pokémon.

Among them was the target Leon wanted to recruit.

As soon as he entered the forest, Leon released his Scyther and ordered it to stay alert.

After all, he was heading deep into the forest, where many powerful Pokémon lived. Caution was necessary.

Behind him, a figure cloaked in black followed closely.

"I wondered how he dared to enter Glowfern Forest alone. So he has a Beast Control Device. Looks like I'll be getting an unexpected windfall this time."

The black-cloaked man's eyes burned with greed. Beast Control Devices were rare and could fetch a high price on the black market with ease.

"Ekans!"

"Not yet. They just entered the forest and are still on high alert. Now isn't the best time to strike. Let's follow them a bit longer."

He soothed his restless Ekans before continuing to trail Leon.

"Huh? Why did he stop?"

After following for a while, the black-cloaked man noticed Leon had halted in a relatively open area.

Just as he was puzzling over why Leon wasn't moving forward, he suddenly heard Leon shout.

"Scyther, Wing Attack!"

Before the black-cloaked man could react, Scyther's attack was already upon him.

Thankfully, Ekans reacted in time, blocking the strike while firing Poison Sting to force Scyther back.

Only then did the black-cloaked man realize he had been discovered long ago. He stepped out from hiding and asked curiously,

"How did you find me?"

Seeing that Scyther's attack hadn't hit the black-cloaked man, Leon shook his head regretfully.

Too bad. He had hoped to capture the leader first. All that acting for nothing.

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. Ever heard of Swarm? Scyther sensed your presence the moment it came out."

Swarm? Scyther has that ability?

The black-cloaked man truly didn't understand what Leon was talking about. Annoyed, he sneered.

"I don't need to know what Swarm is. All I know is you're about to die!"

"Oh? Want to kill me? You'll have to get past my Scyther first!"

"Scy!"

Seeing Scyther enter battle stance, the black-cloaked man scoffed disdainfully.

"Stop bluffing. Don't think I can't tell your Scyther is far weaker than my Ekans."

Though the black-cloaked man couldn't see Pokémon levels like Leon, his decade-plus experience as a Beast Tamer allowed him to roughly gauge the power difference between Pokémon.

"So you pretended not to notice me this whole time, hoping to catch me off guard and take me out first with Scyther."

"Not a bad strategy, I admit. You almost succeeded. Almost!"

His tone was taunting, trying to provoke Leon into making a mistake.

But Leon showed no signs of anger or regret. Instead, he crossed his arms and said leisurely,

"Yeah, what a shame. All that acting for nothing."

Seeing Leon remain unshaken, the black-cloaked man threatened,

"Quit pretending to be calm. You're dead today!"

"But if you kneel and beg now, then hand over that Beast Control Device, I might consider leaving your corpse intact."

"Yeah, yeah. If you're so sure you can kill me, why waste time talking? Come at me already~"

Leon beckoned with a mocking smile.

This finally broke the black-cloaked man's composure. He snarled,

"Fine! Let's see how tough your mouth is when Ekans crushes your bones one by one!"

"Ekans, Acid Spray!"

He ordered Ekans to attack immediately.

"Ekans!"

Ekans opened its mouth wide, spewing green liquid at Scyther.

"Quick Attack!"

Leon also gave his command.

Scyther dodged the Acid Spray with blinding speed before charging at Ekans.

"Follow up with Slash!"

Closing the distance with Quick Attack, Scyther raised its scythes high before slashing down.

"I was waiting for you to get close!"

The black-cloaked man smirked.

"Ekans, Bind it tight!"

Ekans endured Scyther's attack before coiling its long body around Scyther.

"Scy!"

Scyther struggled against Ekans' grip, but their strength difference was too great. The coils only tightened, forcing a pained cry from Scyther.

"Miscalculation. Shouldn't have let Scyther get close to Ekans!"

Seeing Scyther in pain, Leon felt deep regret. His lack of experience had cost him.

In his past life playing Pokémon games, he rarely battled other players.

And game battles were turn-based—you attack once, then I attack once.

Real battles were far more dynamic, requiring quick adaptability in commands.

But since arriving in this world, Leon had barely fought at all. His only battle experience was ganging up on an Ursaring.

Never having fought a Beast Tamer before, his inexperience had now put Scyther in danger.

"Finish it with Fire Fang!"

The black-cloaked man didn't care about Leon's thoughts. He just wanted Scyther gone.

Flames erupted from Ekans' mouth as it lunged for a deadly bite.

Just before impact, a sphere struck its body, sucking it inside as a red light.

Though it broke free quickly, Scyther was already free.

"You have another Beast Control Device?!"

The black-cloaked man was stunned, then pained.

In his eyes, Leon's devices were already his. Losing one meant losing a huge profit.

"You know that trick only works once. You'll never hit again."

"I don't know if you have more devices, but if you do, hand them over instead of wasting them. Maybe I'll spare you!"

Leon understood. A Poké Ball could catch a Pokémon off guard, but once they were alert, it was useless.

Even the berserk, near-mindless Ursaring had learned to dodge after two tries.

This seasoned Ekans would be even harder.

"Sigh. Wanted to practice my commanding skills, but almost messed up. Guess I really don't have trainer talent."

Leon sighed before pulling out another Poké Ball.

"I do have another Beast Control Device. Too bad I can't give it to you—it's already taken. Come out, Aron!"

"Aron!"

"What?!"

The black-cloaked man's eyes bulged. He never expected Leon to have a second Pokémon. The intel said he only had a Scyther!

He quickly assessed Aron's strength. Finding it weaker than Scyther, he relaxed slightly.

Thank goodness. This Aron isn't strong. Though its type counters Ekans, I still have the advantage!

Then he saw Leon pull out another Poké Ball.

"No way..."

Sweat dripped down the black-cloaked man's forehead.

Leon tossed the ball forward lightly.

"Come out, Ursaring!"

"Roar!!"

"GODDAMMIT HOW MANY POKÉMON DO YOU HAVE?!"

The black-cloaked man completely lost it.

(End of Chapter)