"Spinarak, spin a web! Larvitar, Rock Slide!"

  "Zzz!"

  "Lar!"

  Thanks to Sato's focused training, Spinarak's level had risen rapidly. It was no longer as sluggish as before and was finally beginning to show the threatening presence of a true Poison-type spider.

  Up in the sky, a flock of Gligar scattered in panic. However, a few unfortunate ones found themselves entangled in Spinarak's sticky web, pletely immobilized.

  The moment they were trapped, Larvitar unleashed a precise Rock Slide. Though the forpact tore through the silk, none of the ensnared Gligar mao escape. The barrage of falling stones hit them square on.

  "Gliii!"

  The weaker Gligar were instantly knocked out, leaving only a single survivor. Its thin wings remained covered in clumps of webbing, making it struggle to stay airborne.

  Spinarak, ag on its own, fired a Poison Sting, delivering the final blow.

  Sato watched as the st remaining Gligar fled into the distance. He retrieved Zorua and Haunter's Poké Balls.

  "Zzz!"

  Spinarak rushed up to Sato, big round eyes filled with tears, pitifully presenting the small wounds it had sustained from a sneaky attack.

  "Alright, alright. A little medie, and you'll be good as new."

  "Lar!"

  Larvitar gave Spinarak a reassuring pat, adopting the stance of an older brother.

  "You did well too, Larvitar. Your Rock Slide is being more refined."

  "Lar... Lar!"

  Lifting its head proudly, Larvitar turned away, ag as though Sato's praise was expected.

  "Gliscor!"

  Suddenly, a deep, menag cry echoed through the forest. Sato's body tensed instantly. Without hesitation, he grabbed Spinarak and Larvitar, rolling them both out of harm's way.

  CRACK!

  A massive tree behind them split in two, falling with a thunderous crash.

  Sato barely had time tister the situation before he released Zorua.

  "Zorua, Fake Tears!"

  "Zoruuu~!"

  Sato used the brief distra to s the battlefield. Floating just a short distance away, a massive, violet-hued scorpion hovered in midair, gring down at them.

  "A Gliscor…? What a rare Pokémon!"

  There was no anger in Sato's voily excitement.

  Wild Gliscor were exceedingly rare. Most people didn't even realize that Gligar could evolve into Gliscor. Some believed that Gliscor was a pletely separate species, referring to them as "Gliding Scorpions."

  "Zorua, Dark Pulse!"

  "Zor!"

  The moment its tears stopped, Zorua swiftly unleashed a fast-moving Dark Pulse—hitting the still-distracted Gliscor head-on.

  Gliscor didn't rely on fpping its wings to fly but rather used wind currents to glide. This meant that while it served stamina, its trajectory redictable—a weakhat seasorainers could exploit.

  "Gliss!"

  The attafuriated Gliscor. It had never seen a Pokémon like Zorua before, but based on its small size, Gliscor definitely didn't take it seriously.

  "Zorua, Scary Face!"

  "Zor!"

  With an exaggerated snarl, Zorua bared its fangs at Gliscor.

  To Gliscor, it felt as if it had suddenly e face-to-face with a Tyranitar!

  However, from Sato's point of view, all Zorua had done ull an ugly face.

  "Hit it again! Dark Pulse!"

  "Zoruuu!"

  "Gliscor!"

  Gliscor suddenly twisted its massive tail, using it to alter its flight path. The Dark Pulse whizzed past harmlessly. Three times now, it had been struck without nding a hit of its own.

  Fueled by rage, Gliscor lu Zorua, its fangs bared and glistening with toxiergy.

  Even uhe effects of Scary Face, Gliscor was still faster than Zorua. Sato could tell—this wasn't just any Gliscor.

  It had already reached Elite-level. This wasn't going to be easy.

  "Zorua, stay calm! Dodge only when necessary!"

  "Zor!"

  Despite the ferocity of Gliscor's Fire Fang, it simply couldn't nd a hit on the nimble fox.

  Sato kept his eyes locked otlefield, waiting. The moment he saw the fiery fangs flicker and begin to fade, he gave the order—

  "Foul Py!"

  "Zor!"

  Rather thareat, Zorua surged forward.

  Using the power of its oppo against it, the attack forced Gliscor's own heavy pio sm into its own head!

  Duang!

  Zorua flinched slightly at the brutal sound of impact.

  The sheer power behind Gliscor's attack was evident. But that was exactly why Foul Py was such a deadly move—it allowed the weak to defeat the strong.

  "Glisco gliscor!"

  Enraged, Gliscor shot into the air once more.

  This time, a faint white aura surrous body.

  Acrobatics—activated!

  "Zorua, disrupt it with Dark Pulse!"

  "Zor!"

  A wave of dark energy burst forth, but without a held item, Acrobatics' power doubled, making Gliscor's movements lightning-fast.

  It dodged effortlessly.

  Then—it struck.

  Zorua was sent tumbling across the battlefield.

  Sato ched his fists.

  This was it. Zorua was on the brink.

  If it could endure—if it could push past this final moment of pressure—then it would evolve.

  "Zor... Zor!"

  The sed—a brilliant white light enveloped Zorua.

  Evolution had begun.

  Without hesitation, Sato tossed out a Poké Ball—summoning Haunter onto the battlefield.

  It had one job.

  "Protect Zorua's evolution!"

  "Kehehe!"

  Haunter materialized right in front of Gliscor. There was no way it was letting this battle be interrupted.

  Then—Sato took out his knife.

  And sliced open his own palm.

  Dark Energy-ced blood surged outward, but instead of dripping to the ground—it was drawn toward the evolving Zorua.

  Abs the pure Dark Energy, the white light around Zorua intensified. For thirty seds, the glow domihe battlefield.

  And when it finally faded—standing before them was a t, bipedal fox.

  Zoroark.

  Its headband-like crest—which stored its essence of power—wasn't the usual blue-green.

  It was deep blood-red.

  "Zoroark!"

  Zoroark let out an exhirated cry. Uher Pokémon, it could only evolve once.

  And after abs Sato's Dark Energy-infused blood, its potential ceiling had grown even higher.

  "Zoro... Zoraaark!"

  "Kehehe~"

  Haunter, ever uanding, let the Shadow Ball in its hand dissipate and took a step back.

  The battle beloo Zoroark now.

  "Glisco..."

  Gliscor hesitated.

  It g Hauhen at Zoroark—then at the sheer pressure exuding from the newly evolved Pokémon.

  It wao run.

  "Zoroo!"

  Zoroark wouldn't allow it.

  Its blood was boiling. It needed a battle to unleash its newfound power.

  With a sudden burst of strength, Zoroark uself tliscor.

  Its right hand pulsed with a trated wave of Dark Energy—Night Ssh—strike!

  "Gliss!"

  In a panic, Gliscor crossed its pincers in an attempt to block, mitigating the damage.

  But—

  Boom!

  Gliscor was sent reeling.

  Zoroark nded lightly—then coiled. Like a spring being pressed It exploded forward.

  Night Ssh—again.

  Straight to Gliscor's vital point.

  Critical hit.

  Gliscor colpsed.

  Zoroark had won.