With a loud bang, the door to the training room was kicked open by Aamon.
This rather unpleasant-looking guy scanned the room for a moment before arrogantly declaring,
"Which one of you is Nathan? You? Dare to battle me in a Pokémon fight? If I win, your Pokémon are mine!"
No doubt about it — the rogue-like arrogance radiating from Aamon was on full display.
But Nathan, already seated calmly on a chair, simply nodded and replied without surprise,
"No problem."
If fortune comes, accept it; if disaster strikes, face it head-on.
Since this guy clearly came for him, Nathan saw no point in dodging.
He wasn't someone who liked running away.
"Good! Straightforward! Don't worry, gramps here will sell your Pokémon for a fine price!"
Aamon was overjoyed at Nathan's blunt response.
But speaking so casually — as if Nathan's Pokémon were already in his pocket — brought a cold glint to Nathan's eyes.
Bella, standing beside Zoe, puffed up her little cheeks like a steamed bun as she glared at Aamon.
Even though she was just a child, she could tell this guy was a big bad guy!
"Master, go get him! Beat up that big baddie!"
Clenching her tiny fists, the little girl cheered in a sweet and childish voice.
The crowd collectively sighed, "awsl".
Even the guys!
A faint smile appeared on Nathan's face as he replied softly,
"Don't worry. It won't take more than a minute."
Upon hearing that, Aamon sneered and pulled out a Pokéball,
"Are you saying you won't last more than a minute?"
"No. I'm saying it won't take a minute to beat you."
"Volcarona, eliminate the trash in front of you."
Nathan's voice turned cold and indifferent as he saw Aamon's Pokémon.
He didn't even move from his seat, just remained seated quietly.
But a white flame began to swirl around him, gradually forming into the figure of Volcarona!
A much larger Volcarona than usual.
Its dazzling wings wrapped in white flames looked like the feathers of a phoenix from mythology.
Hovering high above, Volcarona loomed over Aamon and his Gengar like the true solar deity of legend.
Compared to the mischievous old Gengar from the mystic realm, Aamon's Gengar seemed… weak.
Even if it was a genuine Elite-level Pokémon!
"To have made it this far, you must be considered a top-tier trainer in the capital,"
"But why throw your life away like this?"
Shaking his head, Nathan sighed with genuine disappointment.
With the divine Volcarona hovering above him, it was like the sun god had descended.
Regal beyond measure.
Overwhelmingly powerful.
"Don't act so high and mighty! Just some brat who hasn't even turned twenty, and you dare act all superior!"
Seeing Nathan's calm demeanor, Aamon's face twisted into an even crueler sneer.
He had made up his mind.
Not only would he steal Nathan's most precious Pokémon — he'd sell it right in front of him!
As long as he pulled this off, he'd never need to remain a Pokémon hunter again.
At his level, he was already at the ceiling of what the hunter profession could offer.
The only way up was to join a dark organization or the League.
Outside of that? There was no future.
"Gengar, Night Shade!"
Without any hesitation, Aamon gave the command.
Though Volcarona's appearance had surprised him,
he didn't believe a single Volcarona could stand against his three Elite-level Pokémon!
He had seen Nathan gasping for breath earlier that morning — that's what gave him the confidence to strike openly!
"Volcarona, Flame Dance!"
Also without hesitation, Nathan gave his command.
If he didn't have to hide Volcarona's real strength, honestly, he would've ended this even more brutally!
…
"Vooolll!!"
Against Nathan's enemies, Volcarona showed no mercy.
Sacred flames swirled around its body like those of a blazing seraphim, eventually forming into long serpents that lunged at Gengar!
Gengar laughed wildly, attempting to use its Night Shade skill to counterattack.
But something entirely unexpected happened.
Gengar's dreamlike state — a mix of illusion and reality — was completely burned away by the flames!
"This is impossible! Night Shade targets the mind — how could mere flames affect it?!"
Aamon's eyes widened in disbelief as he roared.
His confident grin had completely vanished, replaced by utter shock.
"Finish the Gengar, Volcarona."
Nathan crossed one leg over the other, speaking with calm indifference.
At that moment, Nathan no longer looked like just a trainer —
he was a king.
While Aamon was nothing more than a challenger… a rebel.
An ignorant, arrogant fool.
"So cool!!"
Watching from the side, Zoe felt like she was about to explode with excitement.
Even little Bella's big sparkly eyes began to shine with stars.
This was the reason she had gone to seek out Nathan in the first place!
"Volll!"
Amid all the amazed gazes, Volcarona attacked again.
This time, it unleashed pure white sacred flames.
These flames resembled Zeraora's blue-white lightning —
as if they were solidifying into a tangible form.
Three massive serpent heads with gaping maws formed from flame and lunged toward Gengar!
"Gengar, counterattack! Use Shadow Ball!"
Aamon shouted in panic.
As a seasoned elite trainer, Aamon wasn't lacking in battle experience.
But just now, he had smelled something ominous in Volcarona's flames —
a scent of fear… or perhaps, defeat.
One thing was certain:
He couldn't accept either outcome.
Gengar, following the command, unleashed its strongest Shadow Ball —
a terrifying move representing true Elite-tier power.
"MUDA MUDA!"
Bella pointed a dainty finger at Gengar and shouted.
Nathan's eye twitched.
He nearly lost his composure.
Yeah… he definitely shouldn't have let Bella watch all that "Muda Muda Ora Ora" stuff last night.
Still, the little girl was right —
Gengar's counterattack was nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot!
The Shadow Ball evaporated the instant it touched the sacred flames.
Just like snowflakes meeting the sun.
Not only the attack — Gengar itself was swallowed by the white fire and instantly lost its ability to fight.
It now looked even more like a lump of charcoal than before.
"So strong… Aamon was that powerful, and yet he didn't even stand a chance!"
A bystander gulped nervously and muttered hoarsely.
Though he wasn't a professional trainer, even he could recognize how absurd Nathan's power was!
Totally insane!
"He's too strong… Is this what a genius looks like? That young and already this powerful?"
"I heard he's not just strong — apparently this Nathan kid has a lot of stuff even top-tier trainers would kill to get!"
"Is he really from a normal background? He feels even more monstrous than the heirs of elite clans!"
…
The onlookers talked among themselves, playing their role perfectly —
and adding to the creeping fear in Aamon's heart.
He now knew — he was screwed.
This Volcarona wasn't just Elite-tier…
If it were just an Elite, even at level 60, there's no way it could have defeated his Gengar this easily!
No way!
His mind spiraled into overdrive, and his face turned ghostly pale.
Who knew what kind of terrifying conclusions he had jumped to.
"What, giving up already?"
"Then all your Pokémon… are mine now."
Nathan stood from his chair with a cold smile.
Truthfully, if he had just stayed hidden, Aamon probably wouldn't have dared lay a hand on him.
But Nathan couldn't stand by and do nothing!
He wasn't some cowardly ninja turtle.
All that effort training his Pokémon — it wasn't just for show.
It was for true freedom.
So no one could ever force or manipulate him again.
If he couldn't even handle a Pokémon hunter, then what would he become later?
Some other kind of turtle?
"No… no… Yamete!!!"
As Aamon stared in terror, all twelve of his Pokémon were taken by Nathan.
Some he caught.
Others, he had stolen himself and raised into his core team.
Either way, they were all gone.
(End of Chapter)