"Nidoking, Thunderfire Mode—Lightning Fire: False Darkness!"
Ron's command rang out clearly. Electricity sparked, flames flared—and then, the two forces merged into a blazing suit of armor that cloaked Nidoking's body.
Thanks to the influence of Machamp, Persian, and Bellossom—all of whom had previously mastered Life Return, their accumulated experience subtly influenced Nidoking as well. This allowed him to grasp the fundamentals of Life Return even while still in the quasi-Elite Four tier.
Thunderfire Mode was a technique Ron had developed by combining Nidoking's mastery of energy manipulation with the power of Life Return. It formed a hybrid armor of electricity and flame that massively boosted Nidoking's defenses while also enhancing his Fire- and Electric-type moves.
But it came at a cost—Nidoking had to constantly use Life Return on a micro-scale, subtly altering his internal state to ensure he wouldn't be harmed by the very lightning and fire he wielded. Instead, those elements became his strength-enhancing tools.
In a way, Nidoking had become like Machamp in his Gear 2 state and Persian with his Paper Art: Martial Form—a voracious consumer of premium Pokéblocks.
Where most Trainers required quick thinking, strategic prowess, and synergy with their Pokémon to win battles, Ron's team needed one more crucial ingredient: an endless supply of top-tier Pokéblocks.
As Lightning Fire: False Darkness unleashed, the technique—originally an Electric-type combo move—now flared with added firepower. What remained unchanged, however, was the blinding speed of False Darkness.
In a blink, the electrified flame shot forward, piercing straight through Sandslash's defensive arms, which it had raised to block the attack.
Clenching its teeth, Sandslash endured the agony that surged like waves through its limbs.
"Nidoking! Use Lightning Fire: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Flames laced with electricity surged forth like a raging torrent, crashing down on Sandslash.
With Crush Claw linked into Brick Break, Sandslash fought back fiercely. Having climbed all the way to the quasi-Elite Four rank, it hadn't relied on luck—but on raw, relentless strength.
Despite the searing flames and the electric jolts ripping through its body, Sandslash had one goal: to get close enough to Nidoking to land a devastating Earthquake, combined with Magnitude, in a final, desperate counterattack.
Unfortunately, it never got the chance.
"Nidoking! Finish it—Lightning Fire: False Darkness!"
Ron's eyes never left Sandslash, darting through the sea of fire. The moment he spotted a gap in Sandslash's stance, he issued the final command.
A beam of thunder and flame shot forth. Sandslash didn't have time to raise a defense.
False Darkness pierced through, detonating on the ground with such force that it left behind a crater of unknown depth.
The sheer concentration of energy in that single move was staggering.
Sandslash stared at Nidoking with deep frustration. From start to finish, it hadn't landed a single solid counterattack.
"Congrats, Nidoking. You're right at the edge of Elite Four now."
Ron smiled at his partner as he spoke—but inside, he was bleeding.
The hard-earned resources he'd stockpiled were about to vanish again, just to push Nidoking past the threshold.
As if things weren't bad enough, Gengar burst from Ron's shadow, chuckling mischievously as it looked at its Trainer.
Telepathy activated, and Gengar's voice echoed in Ron's mind.
"What?! You're saying you're ready to break into Elite Four tier too?!"
Ron's voice cracked with disbelief, met only by Gengar's firm, unwavering stare.
Fantastic. Now he didn't even have to worry about his wallet shrinking—it was already empty. Time to hit the grind again and start earning all over.
He'd just gotten two days of rest, and now it was back to chaos. Ron could only sigh in resigned despair.
Still, as he glanced at Dwight standing nearby, he forced himself to maintain his composed image.
"Next—Gardevoir and Lucario, stay alert and scan the area. No unknown individuals are to approach."
"Gardevoir, your task is heavier. Find some wild Pokémon around Sandslash's power level—ones that can help Gengar complete the final step before breaking through to Elite Four."
"White, for now, I won't be able to guide you much. There will be times you'll have to be on your own…"
"Dwight, for the foreseeable future, I won't be able to guide you. Sometimes, you'll have to stay behind on your own—you need to prepare yourself mentally."
After a quick adjustment to his gear, Ron was ready to head back out.
The first priority was to roam around and find wild Pokémon that could help Gengar make its final push before a breakthrough. If they happened to run into a Pokémon Hunter or two along the way, that would just be a bonus.
After that, it would be all about tracking down more Hunters, gathering resources, and purchasing Attribute Plates.
When he laid it out like that, the plan actually seemed pretty straightforward.
From start to finish, Dwight hadn't said a single word—he just silently followed Ron's instructions.
Once he patched up Sandslash's wounds, Ron sprang into action.
His wallet might be screaming in protest, but the thought of both Nidoking and Gengar advancing to the Elite Four level filled Ron with excitement. "Painfully thrilled" was probably the best way to describe it.
...
"Gengar—Night Parade of a Hundred Demons!"
Ron's voice rang out like a battle hymn, and in the next moment, spectral apparitions burst from the Netherworld, racing each other to launch a frenzied assault on the enemy Zangoose.
Even Dwight, usually cool and composed, couldn't help but look around in awe. It was his first time experiencing the eerie domain of the Netherworld up close.
Absol, Dwight's partner, was equally stunned. Ever since it had hatched, it had never witnessed a scene like this before.
Zangoose, however, had no time for awe. Just trying to fend off the Ghost Chains had already worn it thin. Now, facing wave after wave of ghostly attackers, it completely lost its footing.
Overwhelmed by the spectral swarm—its body consumed by pain and relentless strikes—Zangoose barely lasted two seconds before collapsing unconscious.
With the Zangoose down, Ron had officially completed the first phase of his mission: giving Gengar the final push it needed before its breakthrough.
Next up was the second, and much harder phase—resource accumulation.
At that thought, Ron's mind began to churn.
Should he use the name of the Dark King to rally Pokémon Hunters to him? Or maybe stir up some chaos and get Team Aqua and Team Magma to put bounties on his head—then collect the rewards himself? Or should he just go full throttle and start hunting Hunters directly?
What a dilemma.
After a bit of pondering, a new idea suddenly popped into Ron's head.
He murmured a quick prayer for the Hunters, then opened his Hunter Account and started searching for the nearest Black Market access point.
One day later, deep in the inland regions of Hoenn, Ron and Dwight arrived at the entrance to the underground bazaar.
Having visited the black market a few times before, Ron confidently led White through the shadowy corridors.
Just like when Dwight first witnessed Gengar's Netherworld, the ten-year-old couldn't hide his curiosity as he took in the unfamiliar, bustling underworld before him.
Ron walked ahead without hesitation. Before long, he found a corner of the market that stood out from those in Kanto—the Bounty Hub.
Unlike the standard bounties issued through the Hunter Guild, the ones posted at the Bounty Hub were only visible to those physically present in this hidden market, offering a layer of secrecy.
The lower commission fees made it a popular spot for both Pokémon Hunters and assassins to pick up contracts.
Ten minutes later, a new bounty appeared on the board.
Thanks to the reward being unusually generous, it immediately drew a crowd of eager eyes.
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