Explosions, screams, and the deafening csh of Pokémon attacks filled the air—the Pokémoer, a symbol of pead healing, had desded into plete chaos.

  Sato rushed to a nearby telephone, quickly dialier's number.

  "Hello? Wester, are you there?"

  There was rustling oher end before a zily drawn-out voice responded.

  "It's two in the m. Don't you ever sleep?" Wester yawhen tinued—"What's with all that noise?"

  Before Sato could reply, an attack came his way!

  With one hand gripping the phone, his other hand swiftly released Ariados's Poké Ball!

  "Ariados, Sticky Web!"

  Strands of resilient bug silk spread out in a massive —intercepting the enemy. A strong-looking Arbok was noed within the web!

  "The Pokémoer is utack. All four semifinalists—except for us… no, except for you—have been targeted. Watch yourself."

  With that, Sato hung up before Wester could even respond.

  Oher end of the call, Wester snapped awake immediately. He hurriedly threw on his clothes, then goward the door, where his bodyguards stood watch.

  They were sent by his family, each possessing at least one pseudo-Elite Four-level Pokémon.

  Meanwhile—ba the Pokémoer…

  Ariados and Arbok were evenly matched.

  her Ariados's bug poison nor Arbok's snake venom could pletely suppress the other. Additionally, Sticky Web's effectiveness against serpentine Pokémon was greatly reduced.

  Oher side, Zoroark was locked in a fierce battle with another Pokémon—a Rhydon. Ae Peak-level oppo with a rock-hard body, making it an absolute ter to Zoroark.

  But Sato's focus wasn't otle. His attention was locked onto the assassin in front of him. A man in bbat gear, his face masked, sp short, -cut hair…

  And a pair of dead-fish eyes. Eyes that, no matter how well disguised, Sato could never fet.

  "Shh!"

  A bck dagger fshed through the air, slig past Sato's cheek.

  Sato's frown deepehe ohing he didn't want to happen… had happened.

  His master's target… was him.

  "Zoroark, Night Daze!"

  "Zoroaa!"

  A wave of dark energy erupted around Zoroark, instantly bsting both Arbok and Rhydon backward.

  Sato took the ce to recall Ariados, then turned and bolted out of the Pokémoer!

  "Zor?"

  Zoroark instinctively followed, though it didn't uand why they were running. They had defeated Blue Badge assassins before—and buying time was clearly the better option.

  Sato patted Zoroark's back, saying nothing, only pointing toward the southwest exit of the Pokémoer—where waste disposal trucks came in.

  It was the least crowded area.

  Overhead, a dark shadow swooped down, blog the moonlight—its wings casting a rge silhouette over them.

  Sato gnced up.

  "Extreme Speed!"

  Without hesitation, he issued a and—and Zoroark instantly picked up speed!

  Two Air Sshes struck the ground behind them—only clipping some of Zoroark's fur, which fluttered away in the wind.

  "Jump left!"

  "Right side!"

  "Turn and slow down!"

  Oer another, Air Sshes rained dow Sato dodged them all, as if he had eyes on the back of his head.

  Within moments, they had left the Pokémoer behind.

  Sato gnced back—a massive Fearoursuing them relentlessly.

  Good. That's exactly what he wanted.

  Sato directed Zoroark further into the outskirts, while atop Fearow, the dead-fish-eyed assassin grew increasingly puzzled… and cautious.

  "What is that traitor pnning?"

  "Fearow, Extreme Speed!"

  "Zoroark, stop."

  Zoroark came to a sudden halt, and Sato immediately dismounted.

  Caught off guard, Fearow overshot them by a signifit distance—before awkwardly cirg back, its trainer muttering in irritation.

  "You led me all the way here… do you really think you handle me alone?"

  The dead-fish-eyed assassin spoke as he dismounted from Fearow.

  Having run this far, Sato's emotions had gradually settled down—the man before him was only his master from the previous life.

  Now, the same person had marked him as a target for assassination. Trying to use their past retionship here—would only make him look like a fool.

  "Dead-fish eyes, let's see how much you've got!"

  Sato grinned.

  He had already figured out how to keep him alive. Knock him out—and dump him somewhere safe.

  Simple. Direct. Effective.

  "Fearow, Aerial Ace!"

  "Zoroark, Night Ssh!"

  Beak and cws cshed violently—the sharp, ear-pierg sou shivers down the spihe sed—Arbok suddenly lunged out from underground, aiming at Zoroark!

  Sato didn't even flinch. He turo his master. He khis move all too well.

  "Gengegegenge…"

  An eerie cackle echoed through the night—Gengar emerged from the ground, surrounded by ten surging Shadow Balls, which it hurled toward Arbok all at once!

  "Arbok, Substitute!"

  Boom!

  A loud explosi out. Arbok vanished underground once more, and Gengar pursued instantly.

  The chaos forced both Zoroark and Fearow to separate—her making another move.

  "I uimated you."

  The low, serious voice, paired with those lifeless eyes, really… didn't sound ving at all.

  Sato nodded calmly.

  "Yeah, you did."

  Without another word, he stepped back lightly—and several vines suddeed from the ground where he had just stood—grabbing nothing but air.

  Meanwhile.

  A row of gray stones, lined up ly in formation, came crashing toward the assassin's joints! Most of the rocks missed—but some nded.

  Fortunately, Sato had instructed Larvitar to hold back, or his master would already be on the ground.

  For the first time, the lifeless eyes showed a flicker of surprise. He was stunned—Sato pletely saw through his tactid now, he couldn't uand Sato's motives.

  "Is this really all you've got?"

  Sato sighed in disappoi.

  In his memory, his master was not only a master of ambush aion—but also a genuinely strong fighter.

  Then again—this wasn't the same timeline. In the previous life, his master had died proteg him.

  After that, Sato had grown far strohere was no way to pare their growth anymore.

  And his master, in this timeline, had yet to reach his peak.

  "Damn it!"

  Sato's words weren't even whispered—ahey clearly infuriated the assassin. Even with a stroal fortitude, being mocked by a mere child—was enough to make anyone feel ashamed.

  "Rhydohquake!"

  Another colossal Pokémon nded heavily—the ground itself trembled beh them!

  "Larvitar, Gengar, e out!"

  "Fearow, Drill Run! Arbok, Iron Tail! Target Larvitar!"

  Earthquake was especially dangerous for Pokémon hiding underground!

  And the moment Larvitar and Gengar emerged—Fearow and Arbok immediately locked onto Larvitar!