Pokémon Simulation: Hunting The Protagonists

Knife Dragon sneered.

"Last time, that Lairon bought time with its life. This time, they won't be so lucky."

"Hitmonchan, go catch that little one," Scarface ordered.

The slender-armed Hitmonchan leaped down from the cliff. Despite its slim frame, a single punch from it could shatter a massive boulder. It was a nightmare for Rock and Steel types.

With a blank expression, Hitmonchan moved directly toward Aron.

Aron stumbled backward in fear. In the face of overwhelming power, it couldn't even muster the courage to fight back.

Just as Hitmonchan reached Aron, a deafening roar erupted from the pile of rocks behind it.

Lairon, previously buried under the debris, launched itself forward, using Iron Head to charge straight at Hitmonchan.

Hitmonchan frowned.

Though their strength was almost equal, with its type advantage and superior speed, it could easily take on two Lairon at once without breaking a sweat.

"Lost your mind, huh? Hitmonchan, use Power-Up Punch!" Knife Dragon mocked.

If Lairon had used its last strength to help Aron escape, the little one might have had a slim chance at survival. But now, it chose to fight head-on?

Knife Dragon couldn't understand where Lairon's courage came from.

Boom!

Lairon's Iron Head collided with Hitmonchan's Power-Up Punch, causing a visible shockwave to ripple through the air. The force sent both Pokémon stumbling backward several steps.

But when Hitmonchan regained its footing, its face turned grim.

Somehow, during the clash, Lairon had grabbed Aron with its left foot and dragged it back as it retreated.

"Enough of this nonsense. Hitmonlee, Ludicolo, go help!" Two other trainers released their Pokémon, quickly surrounding Lairon.

Lairon glanced at Aron, whispering something softly. Aron hesitated, then backed away several steps, assuming a strange stance.

Lairon raised its head and glared fiercely at the surrounding Pokémon.

"Wow, bold move! Is it really planning to take on all three of them?" one of the trainers joked.

The next moment, to everyone's surprise, Lairon spun around and charged at Aron.

With Rock Head as its ability, Lairon wouldn't feel much pain from a head-first collision. The powerful impact sent Aron flying out of the basin, rolling down the mountainside.

"What the—?! Hitmonchan, what are you waiting for? Go after it!" Knife Dragon shouted in panic.

That Aron was worth 300,000 credits!

The other trainers also barked orders at their Pokémon to pursue it, but before they could move, Lairon summoned a massive Rock Tomb. Boulders crashed down from above, blocking the only exit from the basin.

"Damn it!" Knife Dragon almost spat blood in frustration.

This was the second time the prey had escaped right under his nose—a disgrace in his career.

He never expected Lairon to be so cunning, sacrificing itself to give Aron a chance to escape.

"Quick, break down the rocks!" Knife Dragon released his Pokémon and jumped down the slope.

The other trainers exchanged glances, amazed by Lairon's intelligence.

"If it were me," one of them said, "I wouldn't have had the guts to pull something like that."

Lairon stood at the entrance, its gaze complex and resolute.

It knew this was likely the last time it would see its child.

But it had no regrets.

Even if it had to make the same choice a hundred or a thousand times, it would always do the same.

"What should we do with this Lairon?" Ludicolo's trainer asked, intrigued.

"It's smart and strong. If we can catch it, it'll be a powerful addition to our team."

Knife Dragon snorted.

"Catch it? You think it'll listen to you after everything we've done?"

They had slaughtered its family. There was no way a proud Pokémon like this would obey its enemies.

"Too bad," the trainer sighed.

As they prepared to leave, Lairon blocked their path again, determined to buy more time for Aron to escape.

The scene mirrored what had happened to its mate just days before.

Knife Dragon's face darkened.

"Like father, like mother. Even their time-wasting tricks are the same."

"But against absolute power—what can you really do?"

With a snap of his fingers, the four trainers released all their Pokémon, more than twenty in total, each at level 30 or higher.

"I was going to spare you and sell you for a good price," Knife Dragon said with a sneer.

"But since you're so eager to die… I'll grant your wish."

Aron tumbled down the mountainside, finally coming to a stop at the bottom.

Despite its injuries, it forced itself to stand, ignoring the pain as it frantically searched for help.

It approached a swarm of Beedrill, a flock of Pidgey, and several groups of Rattata and Zigzagoon, pleading for aid.

But as soon as they heard the word human, fear flashed across their faces. They all retreated without hesitation.

Some of the more aggressive Pokémon even attacked Aron, driving it away.

Covered in dirt and wounds, Aron felt despair for the first time.

It had never felt so small and powerless.

In its daze, Aron tripped and fell again, spilling a few energy cubes onto the ground.

Tears streamed down its face. These cubes had been meant as a gift for its dad… but now it could never give them to him.

Aron's mind flashed back to Ethan's face.

Though Ethan was human, he felt different from the others.

One was warm and radiant like the sun, while the others were cold and cruel like the darkness.

With nowhere else to turn, Aron knew it had only one person left to rely on—Ethan.