Silas scanned the crowd around the arena,then spotted a familiar face.
That mohawked punk from earlier,the one who'd been beside him in the intermediate stands was here too.
His fiery red hair was impossible to miss, sticking up like a flare amid the sea of faces.
The punk caught Silas's gaze and smirked. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, a flicker of mutual recognition passed between them-the kind that existed only between people who were bold, reckless, and unafraid of risk.
"Heh… an all-Dark-type showdown, huh?"
The boy tossed a Poké Ball into the air and caught it again, repeating the motion lazily.
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with amusement. "This might actually be interesting."
....
"Now then!"
The host's booming voice filled the Battle Club. His flushed face and exaggerated tone whipped the crowd into frenzy.
"Will our three-time victor, Wolf, keep his streak alive for a fourth win or will this newcomer, Black Sky, pull off a dark horse upset?! Let's find out!"
The cheers erupted like thunder.
Silas and his opponent stepped onto the stage, locking eyes from across the arena.
"This will be a one-on-one Pokémon battle," the referee announced.
"Level cap: 20. The match continues until one Pokémon faints or the trainer forfeits!"
"Begin!"
Silas pulled a Poké Ball from his belt and flicked it forward.
"Go, Murkrow!"
With a flash of white light, the black bird materialized, spreading its glossy wings with a sharp cry.
"Kraaaw!"
Murkrow circled above the ring, dark feathers gleaming under the floodlights.
Only Eevee and Murkrow were eligible to battle here. His other Pokémon-Crawdaunt and Sharpedo had long surpassed the level limit.
And since Eevee wasn't ready for the pressure of thousands watching, Murkrow was the clear choice.
Across from him, the other trainer threw out his Poké Ball.
"Let's go, Mightyena!"
The wolf-like Pokémon emerged, growling low, baring its sharp fangs that still glistened faintly with the blood of previous fights.
Silas's eyes flickered. 'Intimidate, huh?'
Mightyena's piercing glare sent a wave of oppressive energy across the ring but Murkrow didn't flinch.
Having endured the life-or-death battle in Rusturf Tunnel, its will was iron. Fear was something it no longer knew.
"Tailwind," Silas commanded quietly.
Murkrow gave a sharp cry and beat its wings.
A swirling current of air rose from the floor, surrounding it like a miniature storm. Its speed surged instantly-its form becoming a blur in midair.
The opposing trainer frowned. "What–? Intimidate didn't even faze it…"
That single detail already broke his rhythm.
Three victories in a row had made him overconfident in that ability and now, his usual advantage was gone.
"Alright then! Mightyena, Howl!"
The Dark-type threw back its head and let out a long, savage cry.
A deep brown soundwave rippled outward, shaking the rafters.
"Now, Astonish!" Silas countered.
Murkrow let out a sharp, eerie screech that echoed across the hall.
Even the audience winced, covering their ears as the cry reverberated through the walls.
Mightyena stumbled slightly, momentarily disoriented.
"Don't falter!" the other trainer barked. "Use Howl again!"
But panic was beginning to creep into his voice.
Mightyena, already weary from three prior matches, was visibly strained-its chest heaving with each breath.
And against a flying opponent, it had no ranged moves. Its best attacks, Bite and Crunch, were useless at a distance.
Beads of sweat formed on the trainer's forehead. He was trapped and he knew it.
Then Silas's next order cut through the air, cold and measured:
"Murkrow-ascend, then dive! Use Wing Attack!"
The crowd gasped. A head-on assault?
The opponent's lips curled into a grin. "You fool… close combat against Mightyena? Fine by me! Mightyena, Crunch!"
Both Pokémon charged their strength.
Murkrow soared higher, its feathers glimmering with streaks of wind energy-the full power of Tailwind swirling into its body.
Then like a bullet-it plunged.
A black shadow flashed downward.
Mightyena braced itself, its fangs glowing with dark energy but it was too late.
With terrifying speed, Murkrow's wings cut through the air, striking before Mightyena could even react.
The wolf Pokémon let out a guttural yelp as pain exploded through its body.
Its last sight was Murkrow's crimson, predatory eyes staring straight into its soul.
Then it collapsed, twitching once before going still.
"Kraaw!"
Murkrow circled and, without hesitation, dove again at Silas's order-a second Wing Attack, executed with ruthless precision.
That was Silas's rule of battle:
When your opponent falters-press harder. Never give them time to recover.
The second strike ended it completely.
The referee's flag rose. "Mightyena is unable to battle! Black Sky wins!"
The arena fell silent for half a second,then erupted in a roar of cheers.
Even the punk in the stands was grinning now.
"Damn… that guy's no joke."
The masked trainer known as Wolf raised his arm weakly, recalled his fallen Mightyena, and stepped off the stage.
For him, this arena was lost.
The cheers that once belonged to him now belonged to someone else.
He paused briefly at the exit, his eyes flicking toward the shimmering pool of prize money-₽60,000 Pokédollars and a sealed mystery prize.
Regret flashed across his face.
If only he'd quit while ahead… greed had cost him everything.
And yet—
People are always greedy. Once they taste victory, they crave more.
...
"The match is over!" the host bellowed, his excitement peaking.
"Congratulations to Black Sky for defeating his opponent and becoming the new champion of this ring! The prize pool increases by another ₽20,000 Pokédollars!"
"Now, the question is-will Black Sky continue his streak? Another win, and the pool will rise to ₽40,000!"
The host's voice was baiting-trying to stir Silas into accepting the next challenge.
From the stands came a rising chant:
"Fight! Fight! Keep going!"
To Silas, ₽20,000 was pocket change. But for the average civilian-someone who wasn't a trainer ,that was months of wages.
Their cheers were laced not with support, but with hunger.
They wanted blood.
They wanted drama.
They wanted to watch him climb higher–just to see him fall harder.
Win more. Lose everything.
That was the cycle they adored.
And as Silas looked around at their eager, twisted faces, he saw it clearly.
The ugliness of the human heart.
<><><><><><>
(Bonus chapter for holloween)
(End of chapter)