Chapter 179: Silver vs ???
"Slowpoke, use Confusion!"
"Sloooow—!"
Slowpoke's dull eyes lit up with a blue glow, and a sudden psychic force sent a Spinarak, which had jumped out of the grass, flying.
After completing the task, Slowpoke flopped back onto the ground, looking utterly lifeless.
Why was it being forced to do this? It was just an innocent, weak little Slowpoke…
Asahi ignored Slowpoke's dramatic display. After confirming with Arcanine that there was no trace of Silver's scent nearby, he crossed off another spot on the map.
"If he's not here either, then there are only two places left," Asahi muttered, studying the map.
One was in a mountain range near Azalea Town.
The other was in Ilex Forest, between Azalea Town and Route 34.
"Please don't let it be Ilex Forest..."
The shrine dedicated to Celebi was hidden deep within Ilex Forest.
Every year, Pryce attempted to capture Celebi there. Who knew if he was lurking nearby now?
With that thought, Asahi glanced at his Slowpoke, still lying motionless on the ground.
"You know," Asahi said, "if you're this exhausted after dealing with just a few small fries, it looks like I'll have to put you on a strict training schedule from now on."
Asahi withdrew the Slowpoke, which still had a horrified expression on its face, back into its Poké Ball.
He then flipped onto Arcanine's back, giving its head a few pats. "Let's go to the next location!"
Arcanine nodded, its massive body swiftly bounding forward, racing toward the mountain peak like the wind. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared from sight.
---
At the mountain peak, a fierce battle was underway among the rocky terrain.
"Weavile, use Icy Wind!"
Weavile pushed off the ground with its legs, swinging its claws to release a frigid gust of air.
Whoosh—!
Crack, crack—
One of Ursaring's paws was instantly frozen solid, but it managed to dodge the attack with its other paw.
The partially frozen Ursaring roared with fury, swinging its uninjured paw fiercely at Weavile in a powerful Cross Chop.
Cross Chop!
Silver's expression shifted — Weavile was a Dark/Ice type. If it got hit by a Fighting-type move like Cross Chop...
"Weavile, dodge!"
Under Silver's command, Weavile quickly retreated without panic. As it withdrew, it unleashed another Icy Wind, freezing the ground beneath Ursaring's feet.
Ursaring slipped and skidded on the icy surface, unable to keep up with Weavile's speed.
Frustrated, Ursaring roared and smashed its paw down onto the frozen ground, creating a deep crack, before letting out an enraged bellow in Silver's direction.
Silver, having already distanced himself, showed no sign of frustration — instead, his mind calmly analyzed the situation:
[The difference in strength is still too great…]
If Weavile had managed to freeze both of Ursaring's paws just now, he would have had about a 30% chance of capturing it.
And capturing Ursaring would have brought him one step closer to uncovering the true identity of the Masked Man.
Unfortunately...
Just as Silver was about to retreat with Weavile and head back to Azalea Town to rest, the sound of clapping suddenly echoed from behind a nearby rock.
"What a spectacular battle."
Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Silver's brow furrowed.
For the past two days, the League had been tracking him for some unknown reason.
Even though he had made it clear he wasn't interested in joining them — at least for now — they kept pestering him like a shadow he couldn't shake off.
Annoyed, Silver turned around, prepared to deal with this League member like he always did.
But the figure that stepped out from behind the rock made his pupils contract sharply.
It was someone wearing a mask he knew all too well.
A member of the Masked Army!
Without hesitation, Silver waved his hand and commanded, "Weavile, use Icy Wind!"
Weavile, recognizing the enemy, leapt forward with both claws, sending a blast of freezing wind and ice shards hurtling toward the masked figure.
Faced with the sudden attack, the Masked Man's expression showed no panic.
With a snap of his fingers, two Shadow Claws — formed entirely from ghostly energy — materialized in front of him, blocking the icy gust and shielding him completely.
A mocking voice came from beneath the mask. "Silver, come back with me. There are many people who miss you dearly."
Hearing the masked figure call him by name — and mention taking him back — Silver's expression turned even colder. "Weavile, Hone Claws!"
Weavile, mid-sprint, crossed its claws over each other, dark energy swirling at their tips, making them even sharper.
"Now!"
At Silver's command, Weavile leapt into the air, its sharpened claws slashing down toward the Masked Man's head.
The attack was so fast that even the Masked Man couldn't help but voice his admiration.
Yes — he actually admired it.
"Not bad. If you had used Shadow Claw right now, I wouldn't have been able to block it."
Silver's heart clenched at those words — a bad feeling surged through him — but it was already too late.
In a flash, Weavile's claws descended — only to be stopped by a single hand.
Yes — just one hand.
The Masked Man's arm, glowing with a faint blue light, effortlessly blocked Weavile's fully charged strike.
"Impossible!"
For the first time, Silver's usual composure shattered, his face filled with disbelief.
"Why not?" the Masked Man replied indifferently.
With a flick of his wrist, a pink tongue appeared out of nowhere, licking Weavile's body. In an instant, Weavile's body stiffened — paralyzed — and the Masked Man grabbed it by the neck with ease.
"Weavile!"
Silver fumbled for his Poké Ball, trying to recall Weavile, but the recall beam was shattered by the blue light in the Masked Man's hand.
As the Masked Man stepped closer and Weavile remained trapped in his grip, Silver's whole body tensed.
A large hand reached for him — and in that split second, Silver thought he was about to be knocked out, dragged back to the Masked Army, and "judged" as a traitor.
But instead—
Swipe.
Unexpectedly, the Masked Man pulled out... a smartphone?
The screen lit up as a video call connected, and the person on the other end made Silver's heart sink into despair.
"Sister Green... you got captured too?!"
On the screen, Green saw Silver and thought Asahi had finally found him. She was just about to greet him when Silver's sudden accusation left her utterly confused.
"What do you mean I got captured?!"
She had just been battling Sabrina in a friendly Pokémon match — how did she suddenly become a hostage?
Silver froze.
What… what was going on?
At that moment, the Masked Man's voice broke through his thoughts. "Let me clear up your confusion."
With one swift motion, the Masked Man wiped his hand across his mask.
Swipe.
A handsome face was revealed beneath it.
***
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