NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Hunt of the Persian King
Jim treaded cautiously through the dense forest. Even though his Raichu had reached the Elite tier, in a region teeming with Elite-level Pokémon, he dared not let his guard down.
The trial was set to end in two or three days. Jim's plan was simple: retreat to the border between areas inhabited by Elite-tier Pokémon and weaker ones, and wait for the trial to conclude.
If more than 100 participants remained by the trial's end, Jim was prepared to escape deeper into the forest, aiming to survive until only 100 participants were left.
As noon approached, the pangs of hunger reminded Jim to halt his trek and eat.
A Level 31 Raichu and a Level 28 Primeape—these two were the fruits of his three-month trial effort.
Though it might not seem like much, this combination of power placed Jim comfortably among the stronger trial participants.
While Jim enjoyed his meal, he failed to notice a pair of crimson eyes watching him from the shadows of a nearby thicket.
Raichu, with its twitching ears, picked up on the faint rustle, its instincts instantly going on high alert.
Noticing Raichu's reaction, Jim quickly prepared his Pokémon for defense. Raichu's keen hearing had repeatedly helped him escape danger, much like the Persian at Ron's side.
Before Jim could issue a command, a flash of pale white darted through the air, and Primeape was sent flying.
Blood splattered across the clearing, pooling around Primeape's motionless body.
Real combat was nothing like friendly battles. Pokémon with fangs and claws often targeted vital points, making lethal strikes with terrifying efficiency.
Without needing instructions, Raichu remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings.
Realizing the danger, Jim released his third and final Pokémon—a Level 25 Doduo. While not expecting much in terms of combat prowess, Jim hoped Doduo could at least distract their unseen attacker or serve as an escape mount.
"Show yourself!" Jim shouted into the forest, his voice ringing out.
Simultaneously, Raichu sharpened its focus, listening for the faintest noise, ready to unleash a Thunderbolt at the first sign of movement.
But their plan yielded no results; the forest remained eerily silent.
Had it not been for Primeape's lifeless body, Jim might have believed the earlier attack had been a figment of his imagination.
Sweat dripped down Jim's face as he strained his senses, yet he dared not move a muscle to wipe it away.
Minutes passed with no further signs of the predator, yet Jim knew better than to let his guard down. He refrained from letting Raichu attack blindly, fearing that any misstep would give their foe an opening.
From the shadows, the Persian stalked its prey with the patience of a seasoned hunter. It understood the value of tension, using the oppressive silence to wear down its victims, pushing them toward inevitable mistakes.
Another ten minutes crawled by, and Jim's patience began to fray. The harder he tried to remain calm, the more the mounting pressure ate away at his composure.
Doduo, too, grew restless, its claws scraping at the dirt in agitation.
Just as Doduo was about to screech in frustration, the shadowy figure reappeared.
Raichu, reacting instantly, unleashed a Thunderbolt without waiting for orders. But the electricity struck only Doduo's lifeless body, further tainting the air with the stench of blood.
The stark reality of the situation dawned on them—staying here any longer meant certain death.
Forced into a desperate choice, Jim decided to take a gamble.
"Raichu, use Thunderbolt to clear a path! Form a protective barrier with the electric field!"
Raichu immediately obeyed, sending arcs of orange electricity crackling in random directions to ward off the hidden foe. The energy created a semi-circle of safety around them, but the strain on Raichu's stamina was immense.
Jim hoped the strategy would allow them to escape the predator's territory before Raichu's strength gave out.
But he had underestimated the predator. The Persian had already anticipated their movements and lay in wait along their escape route.
As they dashed forward, Persian used Hypnosis, exploiting the brief moment of hesitation it caused.
Seizing the opportunity, Persian struck with lethal precision.
This time, Jim clearly saw the pale, sleek figure of the attacker—Persian.
Crimson blood splattered across his face as Raichu fell, extinguishing Jim's final hope for survival.
The ever-cautious Jim, who had survived by hiding and avoiding danger, now found an unexpected calmness in the face of death. He watched quietly as Persian closed in for the final blow.
The pain was swift, and Jim soon lost consciousness, passing away in an oddly peaceful state.
Moments after finishing its hunt, Persian turned to find Ron and his Machoke standing nearby.
Ron had entrusted this kill to Persian from the moment they spotted Jim. Using Soru and Persian's honed hunting skills, they had left Jim and his team no room for resistance.
"Good work!" Ron praised, scratching Persian affectionately behind the ears.
After clearing the area of any evidence, Ron led Persian back to their temporary hideout.
This territory now belonged to them. Any trial participant foolish enough to enter would meet the same fate.
Back at the hideout, Ron released his other Pokémon—Gloom and Nidoran.
Gloom had reached Level 29, on the brink of breaking into Elite tier, while Nidoran had grown to Level 8, gaining some basic combat ability.
With Machoke and Gloom as his aces, Ron had spent the past three months steadily growing stronger.
Now, he awaited the trial's final confrontation, eager to see who could withstand him the longest.
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