Skarmory's Brave Bird flew an uncommonly long distance, but it still wasn't enough to cross the storm barrier.
"Skaaar!" Skarmory's cry was urgent. Brave Bird, a powerful physical move, required all its strength to maintain. It had never attempted such a sustained flight before, and a hint of unease welled up in its heart.
It sensed its control over the airflow weakening, its once agile flight becoming increasingly difficult. At any moment, it felt it could lose balance and be swept into the storm.
Kai's eyes, visible through his goggles, were bright and fixed on the shadowy island in the distance. He once again felt that familiar, peculiar wind, distinctly different from the chaotic gales raging around them.
At the same time, Skarmory felt it too—a pair of gentle hands softly lifting its heavy body, allowing it to stabilize and soar forward. The blue aura of Brave Bird gradually extinguished, but another, more wondrous force quietly emerged.
A white airflow, like a giant, rotating drill, began to form, its momentum growing fiercer. It condensed into a spiral column of air that pierced through the storm, an indestructible fortress tightly enveloping Skarmory. An unyielding sword had been thrust into the chaos, stirring the surrounding air with thunderous might and creating an indescribable wind tunnel, a door opened for brave adventurers.
Skarmory didn't know when this tunnel would disappear, so it mustered all its strength to fly forward.
"Lugia?" Kai murmured softly.
Moving rapidly through the peculiar wind tunnel, Skarmory was like a flying silver shuttle. It quickly burst out of the storm. Tangelo Island revealed its true face. It was a highland protruding from the sea, surrounded by steep rock cliffs. This unique terrain, combined with the strong winds and waves, prevented the island's Pokémon from leaving.
"Skarmory, how are you feeling?"
"Skaaar!" Skarmory responded with a loud cry, looking to be in good condition.
"Let's fly around the island first and see where they landed."
On this isolated island, the speedboat beached below the cliff was conspicuous. Kai found the target without much effort. A few poachers were guarding it, seemingly responsible for the rendezvous.
"Dive down. We'll take them out directly," Kai commanded.
The poachers obviously hadn't expected anyone to break through the storm barrier. By the time they spotted the diving Skarmory, it was too late. Kai threw a Poké Ball, and Ursaring shot out.
"Use Earthquake!" Kai's shout followed.
The stout, brown-furred bear slammed onto the beach like a heavy bomb. Sand and dust flew everywhere as powerful seismic waves struck the poachers, who were shaken off their feet. Unprepared, they fell into disarray.
Ursaring, with the seasoned courage of a forest veteran, pounced forward, launching fierce attacks. A heavy blow for each, and the poachers instantly fell unconscious.
Just then, Kai descended with Ivy, landing steadily on the beach. He jogged over to the large pit Ursaring had created. "Well done, Ursaring! This landing was so perfect even Gaea would give you full marks. You knocked out all four and even shattered a speedboat. Flawless execution!" He patted Ursaring's thick, powerful arm in appreciation.
Next, Kai skillfully tied up the unconscious poachers. "Alright, Ivy, you stay here and watch these guys. I'll go up and check the situation." He had already noticed climbing marks on the cliff face, confirming the poachers had ascended there.
A moment later, Kai remounted Skarmory, and with a crisp cry, it soared into the sky once more.
The cliff was about ten meters high, and Skarmory ascended it in just a few flaps. As Kai flew up, he ran head-on into a group of poachers returning to the cliff.
"Who's there?"
"It must be the Forest Ranger. Take him down!"
There were eleven poachers. They wore matching uniforms, and a few held net guns. The others carried net pouches filled with Poké Balls—an estimated hundred of them. Several large nets shot out, but Skarmory skillfully dodged them.
"This kid's got some skill. Release your Pokémon!" one of them shouted, sending out a Mightyena, a common Pokémon in the Hoenn region. The other poachers followed suit.
There were three Mightyena, one Crawdaunt, and six Nidorino. In total, 25 Pokémon of varying strengths. The Crawdaunt seemed the strongest, close to level forty. The others were mostly in their twenties or early thirties.
Red light shot out from Kai's waist, and his team appeared on the ground. He directed them from the air.
The first thing Lanturn did was use Aqua Ring, a curtain of water enveloping its body. Immediately after, golden lightning from Thunderbolt shot out, blasting the densely packed enemy area. This group of poachers was not unfamiliar with skirmishes, and a jumble of various moves came flying at them.
"Skarmory, Metal Sound!" Skarmory vibrated its steel feathers, emitting a piercing metallic noise.
On the ground, facing the barrage of moves, Poliwrath activated Rain Dance. Quagsire used Substitute, smacking its decoy with its tail toward the incoming attacks. Most of the moves were triggered prematurely by hitting the Substitute. The few stragglers were perfectly defended by Protect.
With its Swift Swim ability activated, Poliwrath's speed increased significantly. It took a deep breath, its belly swelling. Belly Drum activated, and it felt an inexhaustible surge of power.
Octillery's counterattack was the first to take effect; black Octazookas mixed with blue Water Pulses. In just a few seconds, it had fired dozens of attacks. The opponent's Pokémon were too numerous, and there was no place to hide. Octillery's and Lanturn's attacks all hit their mark.
Skarmory in the air continued to use Metal Sound, weakening the opponent's resistance to special attacks. Several of the poachers' Pokémon were knocked flying, crying out in pain, and fell unconscious.
"Be careful! Dodge!" someone among the poachers shouted.
"Damn it, that Octillery is so strong! It must be Elite-level. Take it out first!"
"This Skarmory keeps weakening us! Attack it!"
"Who's using Rain Dance?! My Numel is afraid of water!"
The poachers had some wilderness combat experience, but not much. With so many Pokémon fighting at once, it had turned into a chaotic mess.
Poliwrath had already charged rapidly towards the crowd, its entire body pulsating with intense Fighting-type energy. Its target was the strongest-looking Crawdaunt.
"Close Combat!"
A flicker of panic crossed Crawdaunt's eyes, but its speed was far too slow. A brutal Close Combat attack came. Crawdaunt's owner had not taught it Protect. It tried to block with Razor Shell. It happened in an instant. Crawdaunt flew backward like a sandbag. Poliwrath no longer paid attention to it, turning instead to hit the nearest Nidorino with a Drain Punch.
"Crawdaunt!" the poacher exclaimed. There was no response.
Ursaring had also already charged forward.
***
(End of Chapter)
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