The host's question echoed through the Battle Club's speakers.
"Will contestant Black Sky continue defending the ring?"
Silas didn't hesitate.
"Yes," he said calmly. "I'll keep defending my title."
The moment those words left his mouth, the crowd exploded into a frenzy.
As the one who had just defeated the brutal "Wolf," Silas now inherited all of his predecessor's cheers.
"Black Sky! Black Sky! Black Sky!"
Murkrow fluttered down, landing neatly on Silas's shoulder. Together, they stepped off the ring and disappeared into the dimly lit corridor as the Battle Club's system began pairing Silas with a new opponent.
"kroww…"
Murkrow let out a raspy cry, his tone still sharp with battle fervor.
Silas smiled faintly, running his fingers over his sleek black feathers before retrieving a small Pokéblock Cube from his sleeve.
"Here. Recover a bit."
In truth, Murkrow hadn't gone all out in the previous match. He had used only a few moves and sustained no real damage,just a bit of energy drain. Still, the bird's bloodlust had clearly awakened. His sharp eyes glinted crimson in the corridor's low light.
That was the nature of crows-once the scent of battle was in the air, it was hard to calm them down.
"Well done, Murkrow," Silas said softly. "Remember that sensation from using Tailwind. Keep your speed steady even mid-battle. Once you master it, you'll be able to support your teammates in future fights."
Though he had placed heavy bets and looked forward to the rewards, training his Pokémon's combat instinct mattered far more.
The money was just a bonus-as long as it didn't interfere with progress.
After collecting his quadrupled winnings from the betmaker-₽400,000 Pokédollars in total,Silas adjusted his mask and strode toward the next arena call.
"Contestant Black Sky, please report to the battle stage!"
The announcer's voice boomed twice through the corridor before Silas even had time to rest.
That was the thrill of ring battles: non-stop, back-to-back challenges that forced both trainer and Pokémon to their limits.
And that's exactly what Silas wanted.
Glancing at the confident Murkrow beside him, he stepped into the light again. He checked the new betting odds on the screen-now balanced to reflect his previous dominance. The organizers had already adjusted for his growing reputation.
He wasn't surprised.
In the Beginner Arena, Silas now ranked among the strongest.
His next opponent, judging from the accent, wasn't from Hoenn at all-perhaps from Sinnoh.
And fittingly, his Pokémon was one of Sinnoh's native birds–Starly.
The moment the match began, the air exploded into motion.
Murkrow and Starly clashed in midair, black and gray streaks slicing through the ring like twin bolts of lightning. The audience leaned forward, captivated, as the two birds weaved and dove at incredible speed.
With Tailwind at its back, Murkrow easily seized control of the aerial chase.
"Close in-Wing Attack!" Silas commanded sharply.
Murkrow darted in, one wing glowing faintly as it slammed down with a whip-like strike.
The blow hit squarely, sending Starly crashing to the ring below with a thud and a cloud of smoke.
"Don't let it recover-again! Wing Attack!"
Murkrow dived, following through ruthlessly. The milky white energy rippled across the floor like a wave as a sharp gust dispersed the smoke.
The sight that emerged made the crowd erupt-Starly lay unconscious, its feathers tattered and streaked with blood.
The audience, far from horrified, roared in excitement.
This was the kind of fight they came for raw, violent, and thrilling.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
The host's voice rose above the chaos. "Contestant Black Sky claims a second consecutive victory! His prize now stands at ₽40,000 Pokédollars, plus a new mystery gift! Give it up for our rising star!"
Bundles of cash cascaded into the transparent prize pool box as the audience howled with exhilaration. The visual spectacle of money alone sent the crowd into a frenzy. Dozens of banners waved; voices fused into one tidal cheer.
"kroww!" Murkrow croaked proudly, landing back on Silas's shoulder.
"Good work," Silas murmured. "But don't underestimate what's next. Every match will be harder than the last."
He raised his gaze toward the host and nodded-ready to keep going.
Ten consecutive victories. That was his goal.
And beyond that awaited the Ability Capsule-a rare treasure worth millions, accessible only through flawless victory.
Battle after battle followed.
Each rival stronger than the one before.
By the ninth match, Murkrow's feathers were streaked with crimson, its body covered in scratches and blood. The Club's rules forbade healing between rounds-only minor sprays and rest were allowed.
Even so, Silas pressed forward. His winnings had already climbed past ₽180,000 Pokédollars.
"Haa…" He exhaled slowly. "One more. Just one more, and we can pause this streak before the arena championship."
But the tenth match would be the hardest yet.
His opponent was another veteran-a trainer with eight straight wins.
Their Pokémon: a Scizor, freshly evolved with a Metal Coat.
Its sheen of steel glimmered under the ring lights, and though its stamina was partly drained, it remained a formidable threat.
Silas treated Murkrow's wounds with a spray and whispered, "You good to go, partner?"
The bird gave a firm nod.
The Battle Club's pairing system was rigged, of course-Silas knew it. The organizers wanted drama, not fairness.
But that was fine. He wasn't afraid of a strong opponent. What he feared was deceit.
'An open blade is easy to dodge', he thought. 'But a hidden arrow-that's what kills.'
He checked the betting screen one more time.
The prize pool had grown enormous, and the maximum bet had been raised to ₽500,000 Pokédollars.
Silas's eyes narrowed behind his mask.
"So that's how it is."
He tapped in his wager-₽500,000 on himself to win.
If the organizers wanted a show, he would give them one.
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(Bonus chapter for holloween)
(End of chapter)