Ray held his breath.
Every instinct screamed for him to run, to vanish into the trees and pretend he'd seen nothing. But his feet remained rooted to the earth. His eyes stayed locked on the man in the clearing. On the cage. On the Dratini.
The man wasn't just standing idly anymore. He was speaking.
Ray leaned forward slightly, staying perfectly silent.
"...hatch rate came back 98%. Good genetic markers, too. If the buyer's serious, we could move it tomorrow."
Another voice crackled from a small communicator clipped to his vest. Grainy but clear.
"Shipment arrives next week. Three Johto breeds confirmed, two Kanto. We'll need to secure more before the inspection."
The man glanced at the cage and sneered.
"Such a waste on a newborn. You'd think something that rare would at least be combat-ready."
Ray's heart pounded.
This was trafficking.
The Dratini wasn't just captured—it was part of a system. A black market chain. Possibly global. And this guy was only a piece of it.
Ray bit the inside of his cheek.
He had to go. Now.
He turned silently and motioned to Pidgeotto, who had crouched close behind him, feathers puffed in agitation.
But just as they began to slink away—
A rumble in the air.
Followed by a roar that shook the treetops.
Ray's blood froze.
Wind blasted the treetops as a massive shadow tore through the canopy above.
Dragonite.
A blur of orange, wings outstretched like thunderclouds, eyes glowing with raw fury.
It dove into the clearing like a missile, striking the ground with such force the earth trembled beneath Ray's feet. Leaves scattered in every direction.
The man stumbled back, cursing.
Ray's eyes snapped to the creature. He didn't need to focus—Statsight surged to the surface, drawn instinctively to the massive aura.
Dragonite – Aptitude: Deep Purple | Combat Level: 50Status: Severely Weakened – Estimated Original Level: 89Condition: Injured. Aura unstable. Rage state.
Ray's jaw dropped.
It was the strongest Pokémon he had ever seen with his own eyes.
Even weakened, the Dragonite radiated a pressure that choked the air. Its muscles trembled from strain, but its gaze was locked onto the cage.
Onto the Dratini.
Ray understood instantly.
This wasn't just any Dragonite.
It was the parent.
"Luxio, engage!" the man barked, recovering fast.
The Luxio leapt from the brush, sparks crackling as it lunged for Dragonite's flank.
"Not alone," the poacher growled.
He reached into his coat and threw out four more Pokéballs in rapid succession.
Cracks of light exploded through the clearing.
A Toxicroak – Combat Level 41, Aptitude: Blue
A Mightyena – Combat Level 39, Aptitude: Green
A Golbat – Combat Level 35, Aptitude: Yellow
And a towering Ursaring – Combat Level 40, Aptitude: Deep Green
Ray instinctively ducked behind a root as the forest exploded into sound and motion.
The Luxio's attack was intercepted midair—Dragonite swung its tail in a brutal arc, knocking the electric-type sideways into a tree.
But the others closed in fast.
Mightyena and Toxicroak flanked from the sides, Golbat dove from above, and Ursaring charged in with both fists glowing with Hammer Arm.
The Dragonite snarled and took to the air with a blast of wind. It twisted midflight, launching a devastating Dragon Pulse that split the air in a violet beam and slammed Golbat into the dirt.
Toxicroak managed to land a Poison Jab against Dragonite's shoulder, and Ray saw black mist spread across its scales.
Even weakened… Dragonite wasn't holding back.
Ray trembled.
This wasn't a battle—it was a war.
He pulled Pidgeotto back behind a thicker bush.
If they were caught in the crossfire—
A surge of emotion welled in Ray's chest. Dratini… Dragonite… These Pokémon weren't just rare.
They were being hunted.
And someone needed to stop it.
But not now.
He needed to survive first.