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Tap... tap... tap.
The slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the cave.
Allen and Trevor stiffened instantly.
On their way here, they had scouted the island thoroughly there wasn't a single sign that humans had ever lived here.
If not for the ancient map, they might have believed they were the very first people to set foot on this isolated place.
But now... the sound of human footsteps was unmistakable.
A chill slid down Allen's spine. His right hand tightened around a Poké Ball, eyes locked on the black maw of the cave entrance.
The footsteps grew closer until a figure erged from the shadows.
"Well, well... looks like soone beat here," the man drawled, his voice dripping with amusent.
It was the sa dark-coated young man Kael had seen earlier at the shoreline.
"Who are you?" Allen demanded, his tone laced with suspicion. The stranger radiated danger without even trying.
"You can call Noir," the man replied casually, a crooked smile on his lips. "I'm a Pokémon Hunter." Official source is novel·fiɾe·net
Trevor's breath caught. Allen's grip on his Poké Ball tightened.
The Pokémon Hunters were one of the most infamous organizations in the underground world spread across regions, ruthless, and utterly loyal to one thing: money.
Rocket, Magma, Aqua, and even the newer syndicate Dark Star all had grand ambitions for world domination, no matter their thods.
But the Pokémon Hunters were different. They didn't care who ruled the world or whether legendary Pokémon appeared. If the pay was right, they'd hunt anything or anyone.
Rumors said that with enough money, they could even find out what color underwear Giovanni, Rocket's boss, was wearing that day. No one really believed it... But the fact that the rumor existed spoke volus.
Despite their rcenary nature, they were deadly. Every Hunter who qualified for field work possessed Elite-level strength at a minimum, not just one strong Pokémon, but an entire team averaging that level.
Allen's mind worked rapidly. If Noir was truly a Hunter, he was out of their league, especially with Yanga down.
"What do you want?" Trevor shouted across the cavern.
"What do I want?" Noir licked his lips and let his gaze wander deeper into the cave, toward the nest... and the egg. Then his eyes slid back to them.
"Hand over everything you're carrying, and I'll let you walk away."
"Really?"
"Really. Cross my heart. I'm an honest businessman," he said with mock sincerity.
Allen feigned hesitation, slowly taking off his backpack. "We're both official mbers of Dark Star. If you're lying—"
He pulled out a gleaming gemstone, its pale violet light shimring in the dark. Noir's eyes locked onto it, greed blazing so hot it was almost visible.
Then Allen suddenly flicked the gem upward. Noir's head tilted instinctively to follow it—
Click!
The sharp sound of a Poké Ball opening cut through the cave, red light flooding the shadows.
Years of partnership had Trevor and Allen moving in perfect sync. In the instant Noir's attention shifted, both released their Pokémon.
The air turned frigid. Tiny ice crystals ford in the beam of Trevor's flashlight.
From the darkness, a pair of slitted red eyes appeared, accompanied by the low growl of a predator.
"Snorunt—Ice Beam!"
"Liepard—Shadow Ball!"
An icy-blue beam and a flurry of black orbs tore through the air toward Noir.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The cave shuddered under the impact, dust exploding in every direction.
Then silence. Only their ragged breathing filled the void.
"Did we... get him?" Trevor whispered.
"No," Allen said sharply.
The dust settled revealing two massive, dark-violet wings wrapped tightly around Noir, shielding him completely. Not a scratch marked them.
A piercing, high-pitched screech filled the cave, like invisible sledgehamrs pounding into their skulls.
Allen dropped to one knee, clutching his head in agony, forcing himself to look up.
Noir's chuckle was thin and mocking. "Almost had there. You two are better than you look." His voice now carried an edge of irritation beneath the playfulness.
The wings shifted, revealing the creature behind them.
Its sleek black body was covered in fine, dark fur. mbranous wings extended from its arms, ending in razor-sharp, violet blades.
Blood-red claws gouged into the stone floor, faint purple venom mist curling upward from the cracks.
And on its head two large, bat-like green ears, still vibrating from the sonic onslaught.
Noir reached up and patted the Pokémon's side.
"My partner, Noivern," he said softly, "isn't very forgiving."
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