Ariel showed just the right amount of shock on his face. He took a step back, pointed at the Camerupt, then at himself.
"My Pokémon were all heavily injured in the previous battle and can't fight anymore. I'll leave this place to you, Lord Soro."
Soro's expression changed too, but he glanced at Ariel and forced himself to stand tall.
He couldn't show any cowardice in front of this kid!
He had to maintain his last shred of dignity as a powerhouse; otherwise, this kid would likely Detect his true state and turn on him on the spot!
"Hmph, just two pieces of trash."
Soro struck a disdainful pose and waved his hand at Ariel.
"Hurry up and get the ore, don't waste my time. I'll take care of this easily."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Ariel dropped those words and turned to leave, his steps hurried as if he were truly escaping danger. He disappeared into the shadows of the woods without looking back.
Soro stared intently at Ariel's back until he was sure the boy was completely gone and he could no longer feel his presence. Only then did he let out a sharp sigh of relief.
His entire back was soaked with cold sweat.
That confident look just now was all an act.
He turned around to face the two encroaching Camerupt. His composure instantly crumbled, leaving only bone-deep fear and despair.
With trembling hands, he fumbled at his waist for his only Poké Ball.
"Damn it!"
Soro cursed under his breath, his voice carrying a hint of a sob.
"If only my main team was still here... if only my ace was still here! I could crush these two Camerupt with a single breath!"
But now, he had nothing.
He gripped the Poké Ball tightly, as if it were his last lifeline.
"Now... I can only rely on you!"
"Come out! Farfetch'd!"
With a flash of red light, a duck holding a leek with a somewhat dazed look in its eyes appeared before Soro.
Its level was displayed as 30. Faced with the two aggressive Camerupt, it looked so small, pitiful, and helpless.
Farfetch'd:
"Quack?"
Soro: "..."
He felt like dying.
Just as Soro was preparing to bite the bullet and command his "ace" to launch a suicidal charge.
Swish!
Swish!
Two red beams shot accurately from the shadows of the woods, directly hitting the two Camerupt.
Before Soro could react, the two massive creatures vanished into thin air before his eyes, recalled into Poké Balls.
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
Only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the bewildered Growl of a Farfetch'd remained.
"Quack?"
Soro froze on the spot, his mind going blank.
Leisurely footsteps came from the shadows, getting closer and closer.
Ariel walked out from behind a tree, holding two Poké Balls, a playful smile on his face.
He tossed the Poké Balls in his hand while taking a keen interest in Soro and the shivering Farfetch'd beside him.
"Lord Soro, your style is as impressive as ever."
Ariel's tone carried a hint of mockery.
"I'm just a bit curious. How is it that a grand boss of an underground casino... only has a Farfetch'd left on him?"
Soro's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpricks. He stared at Ariel as if he wanted to swallow him whole.
"Ariel!"
His voice was hoarse, filled with incomprehensible horror.
"You... didn't you leave!?"
Ariel weighed the Poké Balls in his hand, the smooth sensation flowing through his fingertips.
These things were quite handy.
He hadn't expected that the two Camerupt he had casually captured for convenience in Mt. Chimney would actually be so useful at this critical moment.
Soro's expression was incredibly ugly now.
His Adam's apple Rollout; recalling the two Camerupt that had been spitting sparks just a moment ago, sweat had already soaked his back.
"These... these two are yours?"
Soro's voice was as dry as if it had been sanded down, full of cracks.
"They weren't wild! You... aren't you a Trainer who specializes in the Dark-type!?"
He finally shouted it out. It was less of a question and more of a wail.
Why would a Dark-type Trainer carry two big Fire and Ground-type guys? This didn't follow the rules! This made no sense!
The intel didn't say anything about this!
Ariel Ignoring his breakdown,He just tossed it around leisurely. Poké Ball, as if weighing an insignificant toy.
After a while, the horror and confusion on Soro's face suddenly froze, then transformed into a twisted, mad laughter.
"Haha... Hahahaha! I see! So that's how it is!"
He pointed at Ariel, laughing so hard he was doubled over, tears almost coming out.
"You actually dared to scheme against me! You've been plotting from the very beginning! Good! Very good!"
The laughter echoed in the sweltering cave, sounding exceptionally piercing and neurotic.
Ariel finally looked up at him, his eyes as calm as a pool of deep water, without the slightest ripple.
"Scheme?"
He gave a light chuckle and shook his head.
"Mr. Soro, you might have misunderstood one thing. You know my identity, right?"
Ariel took a step forward. The gravel under his feet made a slight sound, but to Soro, it was like the drumbeat of doom.
"I, Ariel, am a League core Trainer."
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud but clearly reaching Soro's ears.
"Punishing evil and promoting good is a mission etched into the bones of people like us. Tell me, when I encounter a wanted fugitive like you, what should I do?"
Soro's laughter stopped abruptly, and his facial muscles twitched with extreme anger and fear.
"Bullshit!"
He roared, spittle flying everywhere.
"Don't you fucking put on that righteous act with me! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! You just want to rob a robber! You've got your eyes on my stuff! What kind of League hero are you pretending to be!?"
Ariel smiled.
This time, the smile held a bit of playfulness.
He really wasn't interested in wasting words on a dying man.
To him, the current Soro was no longer that wanted fugitive, nor was he that high-and-mighty mysterious casino boss.
He only had one value.
In Ariel's mind, the image of that Black Charmander appeared clearly.
Those eyes that burned with life, only to dim rapidly.
That kind of power was formidable, but also lethal.
The purplish-red ore... Ariel could never use such a thing directly on any of his own Pokémon.
Whether it was Krokorok, Weavile, Malamar, or Frogadier, he had poured a great deal of effort into each one of them.
They weren't consumables to be sacrificed at will for a moment of strength.
Ariel wouldn't let them become a short-lived species.
Absolutely not.
Therefore, he needed to know the correct method of use.
Or rather, a way to circumvent those fatal side effects.