Blazing flames erupted, halting the enemy's second wave of charges. This time, however, what awaited them was not Gardevoir's Illusory Realm, but Persian's Finger Pistol: Bamboo Shadow Execution.
Gardevoir did not linger by Ron's side. Instead, it switched out Blaziken, allowing Blaziken to quickly recover its stamina with Ron's help.
Machamp once again took the front line, its red "elephant foot" looming and crushing down toward Gauthier and the other poachers.
"Golem, Rock Charge!"
Despite suffering a previous loss, the only combination that could match Machamp's Finger Pistol: Evening Elephant was Golem's Rock Charge.
The remaining Pokémon Hunters stood ready, commanding their Pokémon to intervene at any moment to block Persian's assault.
The Elephant Foot crashed down, scattering rocks in all directions. Golem, the largest boulder among them, returned to Gauthier's side after the collision.
"Machamp, Four Tiger Slaughter!"
One after another, four ferocious white tigers manifested through Finger Pistol: Daytime Tiger, charging at Gauthier and the poachers from four directions.
Having anticipated the attack, the Pokémon swiftly responded, releasing various moves to repel Machamp's offensive.
With preparation, no further casualties occurred—only several Pokémon fell in battle.
Though shaken by Ron's overwhelming strength, Gauthier felt a perverse excitement. The thought of a prodigy of this caliber falling to their hands—and the wealth of resources they could loot from his remains—made Gauthier's eyes glint with fanaticism.
The Illusory Realm descended once more. The two High Elite Pokémon resisted the mental onslaught, but the Mid Elite Pokémon suffered grievous injuries under Gardevoir's sudden assault.
White petals danced through the air as Bellossom swiftly cut down two Mid Elite Pokémon, using the momentum to slay a poacher.
Bellossom retreated as Gardevoir covered its exit with Moonlit Bamboo Shadows, a fusion of Psychic and Charmed Voice.
Persian flicked the blood from its claws and grinned menacingly at the trembling poachers and their Pokémon before slowly withdrawing.
The corpses of humans and Pokémon littered the battlefield—a testament to why the poachers dared not give chase.
Since the battle began, Ron had slain nine Elite Hunters. Before reinforcements could arrive, the first wave of poachers had already suffered devastating losses.
After casting a final glare of intimidation, Persian led Nidoking into a tactical retreat.
On the other side, Bellossom and Gardevoir returned to Ron's side, thanks to Gardevoir's Teleport.
"Let this quasi-Elite Four hunter be our final prize. Machamp, Finger Pistol: Evening Elephant—Full Release!"
"Persian, Finger Pistol: Shadow Claw Execution!"
"Bellossom, One-Sword Style: Finger Pistol—Rebirth of All Things!"
"Nidoking, Lightning Release—False Darkness!"
"Blaziken, Inferno Ring: Flame Pillar!"
The red elephant foot materialized again as Gauthier commanded Golem to charge.
Releasing all his remaining Pokémon, Gauthier prepared for the final clash, while the other poachers followed suit.
Gardevoir remained by Ron's side, restoring its strength and using its psychic abilities to scan the surroundings.
The poachers converged from both flanks, attempting to encircle Ron.
Gardevoir detected four powerful presences closing in—likely the remaining four quasi-Elite Four poachers. However, they were still at a distance—enough time for Ron to finish the battle.
The elephant foot descended in full force, the strain making Machamp's bones crack audibly.
But the excruciating pain only fueled Machamp's bloodlust. Its crimson eyes burned with killing intent as it pinned Golem down, suppressing the mighty boulder through sheer force.
Healing waves from Gardevoir washed over Machamp, restoring its stamina.
Though Gardevoir's Mid Elite power made its Heal Pulse less effective on a quasi-Elite Four Pokémon, the sheer volume of healing was enough to keep Machamp going.
Revitalized, Machamp launched another assault on Golem, though its arm still throbbed from the recent Evening Elephant.
Gardevoir shifted focus, cycling between healing Persian, Bellossom, and Nidoking.
White petals fluttered among shadow claws—one misstep would see the delicate flowers torn apart, just like the poachers and their Pokémon.
Persian and Bellossom relentlessly exploited every opening, striking with claws and verdant blades.
Nidoking unleashed a barrage of Lightning Release—False Darkness, its horn firing like a machine gun in perfect sync with Persian and Bellossom.
Likewise, Blaziken, emboldened by the chaos, hurled endless Inferno Ring: Flame Pillars, turning the battlefield into a molten inferno.
"Machamp, Four Tiger Slaughter!"
"Machamp, Four Tiger Slaughter!"
The ferocious white tigers surged forward, relentlessly clawing at Golem, striving to shatter the hardened stone Pokémon into fragments.
Despite the chaotic battle, Gauthier barely managed to hold his own against Ron, maintaining the thin margin that separated them. Otherwise, the title of genius would have been nothing but an empty boast.
However, the Pokémon hunters behind Gauthier struggled to comprehend the situation. They had the advantage in both numbers and strength—so why were they being driven back, suffering casualties, and now reduced to the final prey?
Their frustration and fury boiled within them, yet they remained powerless to alter the crumbling tide. All they could do was carry their unyielding resentment and bitterness into the afterlife.
"Machamp, Finger Pistol: Evening Elephant!"
The crimson elephantine silhouette reappeared, bearing down on the utterly exhausted Golem. Even in its final moments, Golem refused to yield, forming Gauthier's last line of defense with its battered body.
With a deafening crash, Golem was crushed beneath the mighty elephant's footfall, never to rise again. The battle's conclusion emerged alongside the settling dust.
After swiftly looting the fallen hunters of their remaining resources, Ron recalled Persian and the others into their Poké Balls. He then commanded Gardevoir to use Teleport, vanishing into the shadows.
As the arriving Pokémon hunters gathered around the corpses, none dared to speak. They knew they had failed—not only had they failed to kill Ron, but they had become the laughingstock of the underworld.
"I quit the alliance!"
After a long silence, Hoff was the first to break it, delivering a heavy blow to the fledgling alliance.
Following Hoff, Rooney also announced his resignation without hesitation.
With two quasi-Elite Four-level Pokémon hunters leading the exodus, the others soon followed. In mere moments, the entire alliance had collapsed, leaving behind nothing but a silent testament to their crushing defeat.
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