Before the sun had even risen the next morning, Entei and the others were already awake.
It was time to deal with those despicable criminals once and for all.
Just as Entei was preparing to leave with Sunny and Hawlucha for the hunters’ hideout, several Pokémon stepped forward and blocked their path, insisting that they wanted to help.
There was Primeape, Furret, Noctowl, Venusaur, and several other powerful Pokémon.
They were all older members of the forest community and could be considered Sunny’s seniors.
Their own children were all friends with him.
Entei calmly refused.
“There is no need. I alone am enough. If too many Pokémon join the battle, it will only increase the chances of something going wrong.”
After all, no matter how many Pokémon the enemy possessed or how powerful they were, they simply could not stand against Entei’s overwhelming level advantage.
Unless the hunters somehow had Pokémon in the sixties or seventies, they might be able to struggle for a little longer, but the final outcome would never change.
The gathered Pokémon looked disappointed.
They truly hated Pokémon hunters.
Every one of them wanted nothing more than to rush over and give those criminals the beating they deserved.
Unfortunately, if Entei forbade it, there was little they could do.
Besides, they knew he was telling the truth.
Entei alone was capable of defeating an entire group of humans and their Pokémon.
If they joined the fight, they might only become a burden instead.
Humans could be frighteningly underhanded, and Pokémon had learned through painful experience never to underestimate their tricks.
Although most of the Pokémon living in this forest only personally knew Sunny, they had all heard stories about the cruelty some humans were capable of.
There were even wounded Pokémon living in the forest who had suffered directly at human hands.
Because of that, they naturally remained cautious toward humans.
Even Sunny himself had only been accepted after spending a considerable amount of time earning their trust.
Seeing everyone’s worried expressions, Sunny smiled gently and tried to reassure them.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back very soon.”
“Even if you can’t come with us, you can still cheer for us. With everyone’s encouragement, everything will surely go even more smoothly.”
After comforting them for quite a while, the Pokémon finally relaxed.
“Alright… then make sure you come back quickly.”
“You have to teach those bad people a proper lesson!”
“Sunny, don’t get hurt!”
“Stay close to your dad!”
Voices of encouragement rose one after another.
Meanwhile…
Hawlucha and Primeape were glaring fiercely at each other.
Something about the way they looked at one another felt completely wrong.
It was as though the two Fighting-type Pokémon had been born to dislike each other.
Seeing the atmosphere rapidly deteriorating, Sunny hurriedly picked Hawlucha up, jumped onto Entei’s back, and signaled that it was time to leave.
If they stayed any longer, the two of them might actually start fighting.
Understanding immediately, Entei burst into motion.
His speed was astonishingly fast, yet his movements remained incredibly steady, ensuring that Sunny did not feel uncomfortable riding on his back.
Soon, they arrived at the forest Hawlucha had described.
It was not a particularly large forest, but it was rich in natural resources.
It should have been a paradise where wild Pokémon lived peaceful and happy lives.
Instead, a group of heartless Pokémon hunters had ignored every law of nature.
They had captured innocent Pokémon all the way from the Kalos region, transported them here, imprisoned them inside cold steel cages, and prepared to sell them through illegal transactions and black-market auctions.
Most of the hunters were still asleep.
Only a handful of guards remained awake.
They chatted and laughed together as though they were engaged in some grand accomplishment, completely ignoring the fact that everything they were doing was utterly disgraceful.
Even their Pokémon looked sinister.
Their expressions were sly, vicious, and cold.
They resembled villains through and through.
In truth, the Pokémon themselves were innocent to a certain extent.
They were merely obeying their Trainers’ commands.
Still…
That did not mean their actions could be forgiven.
Outside the cages stood the laughing hunters.
Inside the cages cowered trembling Pokémon.
The contrast between the two scenes was painfully striking, revealing just how ugly the darkness inside the human heart could become.
As Sunny looked at the imprisoned Pokémon, anger surged through him.
Nearly every single one of them was covered in wounds.
Not one had escaped injury.
Even if the hunters intended to sell them later, shouldn’t they at least have kept them healthy?
It was early morning.
The sunlight had yet to fully chase away the darkness of night.
Fresh morning air still lingered in the forest.
Yet that peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the pitiful cries echoing from the cages.
“Dad.”
“Can you hear them? Those imprisoned Pokémon are crying.”
“We have to rescue them immediately.”
“And then beat those bastards until they’re crippled.”
Originally, he had wondered whether they should show a little restraint.
Now…
There was no need for mercy.
Not killing them already counted as tremendous kindness.
Entei had never been known for having a particularly gentle temper.
Only after living with Sunny for these past years had he gradually become calmer.
That did not mean his fiery nature had disappeared.
At this very moment…
He was furious.
Truly furious.
Beside him, Hawlucha trembled upon seeing the hunters.
Fear briefly resurfaced inside his heart.
But it lasted only a moment.
Soon, his gaze became ice cold.
His fear had transformed completely into hatred.
Entei slowly advanced.
As they moved deeper inside, an enormous steel prison gradually came into view.
Countless Pokémon were trapped inside.
There were Chespin.
Skiddo.
Vivillon of various wing patterns.
Dedenne.
And many others.
Every pair of eyes was filled with despair.
With terror.
Standing guard over these innocent lives were several fully armed hunters.
The foul aura surrounding them was almost tangible.
The stench of evil always seemed to carry its own unmistakable scent.
When the hunters saw Entei walking steadily toward them, panic immediately spread across their faces.
The killing intent within Entei’s eyes was horrifying.
It felt as though his gaze could pierce directly through their filthy souls.
The overwhelming pressure radiating from his body made breathing difficult.
Even the hunters’ Pokémon became frightened.
Nevertheless, they still stepped forward to protect their Trainers.
Sunny quickly glanced over all of their information.
Every single one of them was only around Level 40 or Level 50.
Not a single one posed any threat.
“Dad.”
“They’re all weaklings.”
“Just beat them however you like.”
Entei’s blazing mane danced wildly in the wind, as though the flames themselves were celebrating the battle that was about to begin.
There was no pointless conversation.
No unnecessary declarations.
The battle erupted instantly.
Entei unleashed torrents of roaring flames.
Meanwhile, Hawlucha assisted from the side, immediately tearing a massive hole through the enemy’s formation.
Faced with such overwhelming strength, the hunters fell into complete chaos.
Every strategy they attempted…
Every counterattack they launched…
All of it shattered before Entei’s absolute power.
“Help!”
“How can there be such a powerful Pokémon?!”
“That’s the Legendary Pokémon Entei!”
“If even Entei is here… can our other plan really succeed?”
“Stop standing around! Where are the reinforcements!”
“They’re breaking through!”
“We can’t stop him!”
“The gap is way too huge!”
Panic echoed everywhere.
Entei stood upon the battlefield like an unstoppable king.
Each mighty roar summoned waves of blazing fire, forcing every enemy to retreat. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
In reality…
This was already Entei deliberately holding back.
He was afraid that if he fought with his full strength, he might accidentally burn the entire forest to ashes and bring disaster upon the innocent Pokémon that called this place home.
Nor did he wish to kill the hunters’ Pokémon.
The Pokémon had committed no crime deserving death.
Their only mistake was following the wrong Trainers.
Sunny, hidden beneath an Entei mask, held tightly onto Entei’s back.
This battle required absolutely no commands from him.
Entei alone was more than enough.
This was his battlefield.
Although Sunny seemed to have little to do, his very presence helped keep Entei under control.
After all…
Entei did not wish to appear excessively violent in front of his child.
Otherwise, he feared he might completely lose control of his anger.
Even so, Sunny still issued occasional instructions according to the changing battlefield, allowing the enemy’s already fragile formation to collapse even faster.
Just when victory seemed entirely decided…
One hunter suddenly activated a mechanism connected to the cages.
“Move!”
“Let him taste this!”
The trap sprang into action.
Unfortunately…
It accomplished absolutely nothing.
Justice could not be stopped so easily.
Entei leaped high into the sky.
His entire body became wrapped in blazing flames.
Like a burning meteor descending from heaven, he crashed directly into the control mechanism.
BOOM!!
The entire device was instantly destroyed.
With a deafening explosion…
Every prison door burst open simultaneously.
The Pokémon that had been imprisoned for countless days finally regained their freedom.
The liberated Pokémon had completely lost control of their emotions.
Their eyes turned bloodshot as they charged directly toward the hunters and their Pokémon.
Punches.
Kicks.
Scratches.
Countless attacks rained down.
Every strike vented the fear, anger, suffering, and humiliation they had endured.
Although many of them were weaker than the hunters’ Pokémon, Entei had already exhausted and defeated most of the opposition beforehand.
That gave them enough strength to fight back.
“This is bad!”
“All the Pokémon are loose!”
“Requesting backup!”
“Request my ass!”
“Run!”
“Save me!”
The entire camp descended into utter chaos.
The hunters desperately recalled their Pokémon that had already been beaten to the brink of collapse and attempted to flee.
Entei had absolutely no intention of letting them escape.
One sweep of blazing fire engulfed them all.
Every hunter was burned beyond recognition.
He intentionally spared their lives, leaving each of them barely clinging to a final breath.
The rescued Pokémon immediately rushed over.
Some threw punches.
Others kicked them several more times.
Before long, every hunter had passed out from the overwhelming pain.
The freed Pokémon looked at one another.
Silence lingered for a brief moment.
Then…
Cheers erupted throughout the entire forest.
They were finally free.
The battle had ended without the slightest suspense.
It had been nothing less than a complete and overwhelming victory.
(End of Chapter)