"Gaah-CHOO!"
Perched atop a sturdy tree branch, Corviknight wiped its beak with one wing, looking utterly irritated.
Damn it. I just got back and haven't even had a proper rest yet—who the hell is badmouthing me behind my back?!
Just then, three Corvisquire underlings flapped over, each clutching a struggling Murkrow in their talons.
"Krah?" Corviknight narrowed its eyes. "Murkrow? What, you guys trying to join my elite flying squad?"
"Yah!" One Corvisquire spoke up. "Boss, these Murkrow were lurking around suspiciously, sneaking peeks at the forest. But the moment we approached, they bolted! We caught a few, but they won't say a word."
"Yeah, yeah!" Another added. "Murkrow are bad news! They wait for us to sleep, then sneak in and pluck our glossy feathers because they're jealous!"
"Gaah~" Corviknight nodded sagely. "Hmph! In my expert opinion, they're just shy. But now that they've seen my magnificence up close, there's no need to hide it anymore!"
One of the captured Murkrow instantly lost its cool. "Our boss is NOTHING like you, you vain lunatic! Our boss is elegant, cold, and calculating!"
"Krah? Krah!" Corviknight zeroed in on the key detail. "Boss? Oh, so someone sent you here, huh? Good. Decision made—take these guys to Summer!"
The Corvisquire trio exchanged looks of admiration. As expected from their boss, it only took a little trickery to squeeze the intel out of these Murkrow!
Corviknight cackled with pride. Hah! This is why I'm a genius! ...Though, honestly, I was speaking from the heart. Too bad I can't admit that now.
Meanwhile, at the gang's hideout, Oranguru was waiting for Perrserker's crew to return with reinforcements.
And sure enough, they arrived—except, instead of an army, they returned looking utterly defeated.
Perrserker wiped the corner of its mouth, grumbling. "Tch! Damn it. How the hell was that old restaurant owner so strong?! That guy's just an old geezer, yet his Pokémon are built like monsters!"
If it weren't for its natural expertise in running away—and the fact that the enemy didn't even bother to chase—it would have been done for today.
Half of the returning Pokémon wore the same haunted expression.
The people in that town… They're way too strong. And their methods? Even more underhanded than ours!
The other half had it even worse.
"The wild Pokémon in that town are insane, too! A Linoone just hummed a tune while absolutely wrecking us!"
At first glance, Spikewood Town might seem like an ordinary place—a town of people working to rebuild their home, with a bit of a punk-rock vibe.
And sure, it was a friendly place.
But thanks to that old man, Gideon, nearly everyone there was a trained battler. Combine that with Gym Leader Piers transforming the entire town into his personal Gym, and Spikewood's seventh Gym ranking meant it had to be a challenge for trainers who had already cleared six other Gyms.
The remaining trainers who lived there had naturally undergone intense training just by being part of the town's culture. Beating up some petty thieves was child's play.
This was also why the local wild Pokémon were just as tough.
Oranguru didn't even bother waving its fan. It just sat there, frozen, deep in self-doubt.
…Am I still asleep?
It shook its head.
No. No, this was my mistake. If I had scouted ahead more thoroughly…
Then, a thought struck it.
Wait.
Was scouting even useful in this forest?!
Meanwhile, Summer was staring at an entire pile of unconscious Murkrow.
This scene, back in his old world, would have been… let's just say questionable.
Some were snoring, knocked out by a lullaby from his wooden flute. Others had fainted due to lack of air, encased in floating water bubbles. Some were pinned to the ground with sheer psychic force, while others were tangled up in thick vines, completely immobilized.
This all started with them just casually eating some Grepa Berries.
How did it turn into this?!
Ogerpon stood nearby with its squad of Nuzleaf, looking extremely smug.
Milotic was still drowsy from waking up but held its usual elegant poise.
Trevenant, though? It had caught the most Murkrow—though, it might've missed a few.
Then, a screech echoed through the sky.
Corviknight had arrived, with three Corvisquire following closely behind, each clutching another captured Murkrow.
"Gaah! Gaaah?"
"Summer! That little ghost said you were in the Dreamwood, so I came over! Uh… what's with all these Murkrow?"
Summer sighed. "It means there's a Honchkrow somewhere behind this mess."
Corviknight's eyes gleamed with admiration.
As expected from Summer! He figured it out just from analyzing the situation—without even needing any extra intel!
"Brilliant deduction! Absolutely brilliant!"
Summer ignored the praise and turned toward Hatterene.
"You knew there were Pokémon lurking outside Sunset Forest the whole time, didn't you?"
Hatterene giggled and playfully stuck out its tongue.
But under Summer and Milotic's sharp stares, it eventually caved and sent a telepathic message.
"I just wanted to enjoy my tea party a little longer~! Besides, those weaklings weren't even a real threat. Barely worth my time."
Summer sighed. Ever since becoming the Dreamwood's ruler, Hatterene had gotten… way too comfortable.
"Alright. Let's go meet them."
He glanced at the Murkrow pile and added, "Oh, and bring them too. That's your job, Hatterene."
Hatterene twirled its tendrils.
Ugh, was this payback for the little prank earlier?
Outside the forest, Oranguru finally made its decision.
No matter what, it would not abandon its allies.
Not like the human who abandoned it all those years ago.
Suddenly, a wave of pressure crashed over the area.
As a Psychic-type, Oranguru was highly sensitive to energy shifts.
And right now—this was danger.
It snapped its fan open.
"Finally! The ruler of this forest is here!"
A massive shadow loomed over them.
Corviknight descended, folding its wings.
It shushed Oranguru with its beak.
"Pipe down, idiot. The two ladies behind me? I don't wanna piss them off."
Because Milotic was there.
And… Hatterene's aura had just spiked.
Oh, no.
Was this what real fear felt like?!
"Hooh?!"
Oranguru was stunned.
A forest filled with weird environments… and now two powerful rulers?!
And this Corviknight wasn't weak, either!
Summer emerged from the trees, flanked by Rillaboom, Milotic, Hatterene, Trevenant, and Ogerpon.
Behind them, the trees were lined with an army of Nuzleaf.
Floating in the air?
A huge flock of beaten Murkrow.
The remaining gang members felt their will falter.
At this moment…
Summer looked way more like a gang boss than Oranguru ever had.
Cold. Calculating. Ruthless toward intruders.
"Hooh…!"
Oranguru made one final move—it poured all its psychic power into one command.
"Run!"
"Sit down. Let's talk."
Summer's voice was calm.
Hatterene flicked a tendril.
The moment the gang turned to flee—
They all collapsed, crushed by an overwhelming force.
Oranguru struggled to lift its head.
This human…
Was terrifying.
And yet, strangely…
Why did he feel familiar?