Kay and Eevee, now covered in the scent of blood, moved deeper into the corridor. The air was thick with the metallic smell.
As they advanced, they came across two more lifeless bodies; a man and a woman. Their Pokémons lay beside them, unmoving. The familiar bite marks on their necks confirmed Kay's suspicion.
This time, he didn't stop. He simply ran forward, silent as a shadow. After several minutes of cautious movement, a sound echoed from up ahead. There was a battle.
The flickering glow of fire illuminated the corridor, casting long shadows against the stone walls. Two Pokémons were locked in combat, their bodies colliding in a fierce exchange of attacks.
Kay halted, crouching low as he edged closer. Eevee followed suit, its ears twitching as it observed the scene.
By the time they had a clear view, the battle had already ended.
In the middle of the corridor stood a trainer, his posture relaxed but his face wasn't clear sue to the darkness of the corridor.
Beside him stood a dog-like Pokémon, its sleek black body and red snout unmistakable; it was a Houndour. The flames flickering in its mouth signaled its recent attack.
Kay watched as the trainer ran a hand through his hair and smirked.
"Nice job, Houndour. Let's find another one," he said, his tone casual, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a routine task.
The trainer and his Pokémon stepped over the lifeless body of their latest victim and continued forward.
Kay followed at a distance, careful to keep his footsteps silent.
Soon, they reached the player that was just been killed along with his Pokémon. The pool of blood beneath them was fresh, still glistening under the dim light.
Kay's grip tightened.
His earlier suspicion had been correct. The wounds on the corpses and the brutal precision of the kills were the work of a canine Pokémon who were known for their incredible noses.
Houndour, with its incredible sense of smell, would have detected him if not for the blood disguising his scent.
Kay continued tailing the trainer, waiting for the right moment. Up ahead, a lone figure stood frozen in place. Another player. Beside him, a Bellsprout swayed slightly, its eyes unfocused.
Both of them were trapped in an illusion.
Kay's eyes narrowed. He had seen this before. The ghostly energy lingering around them was caused by a Phantump that was hovering near them.
The small ghost-type Pokémon had put them in a deep illusion, leaving them vulnerable.
The Houndour trainer wasted no time. "Houndour, finish him!"
Houndour responded instantly, its fangs glowing with a dark, menacing energy. It lunged forward, sinking its teeth into the helpless player's neck.
The victim didn't even scream. He simply collapsed, lifeless. At that moment, the Phantump released a shrill cry and vanished into the walls.
The illusion faded, and Bellsprout, now free from the ghost's grip, blinked in confusion. Then it saw its trainer's body.
Its small, leafy arms trembled. It took a step forward, its eyes filled with shock and fear.
"Houndour! Ember. Don't stop until it's dead," the trainer ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.
Houndour opened its mouth, a flickering ember forming at its throat. A second later, it unleashed a small fireball.
Bellsprout, still frozen in disbelief, didn't react in time. The Ember struck its body, flames licking at its leaves. It let out a sharp, pained cry.
More Embers followed.
With each hit, Bellsprout's movements grew weaker. It tried to fight back, launching a desperate Vine Whip, but Houndour easily dodged and countered with another Ember.
The fire spread across Bellsprout's frail body, and within moments, it collapsed next to its fallen trainer.
Dead.
Kay exhaled slowly, his gaze never leaving the trainer. The brief flashes of fire had lit up the corridor just enough for him to see the man's face.
As Kay saw the man's face, an evil smile crept onto Kay's lips.
Kay knew this guy. It was Player number 2 from Team 2; the Houndour trainer.
The very same player who had received the device that could protect the trainer from negative effects before this game had started.
Eevee glanced up at Kay, puzzled by the sudden smile. It couldn't understand why he was grinning in the face of such a bloody massacre.
Kay, however, remained focused. He watched as the Houndour trainer took one last glance at the bodies before stepping forward, ready to move on.
As the Houndour trainer began moving forward deeper inside the corridor, Kay decided to show his presence, so he began following him without trying to move silently.
Kay watched as Player with number 2 stopped in his tracks, hearing the sound of footsteps behind him. Slowly, the man turned around. What he saw made him frown.
A young man with blood smeared across his face and clothes walked toward him. Beside him, an Eevee padded forward, its sharp eyes locked on him and his Pokémon.
The young man was none other than Kay.
Kay had initially planned to ignore the massacre and move forward, but when he saw who the killer was, he changed his mind.
He recognized this player. He remembered that this player was one of the players of team 2 who had received the valuable item at the start of the tournament.
The other player raised an eyebrow as Kay approached slowly.
"You want to fight me? Are you serious?" he asked, crossing his arms.
Kay didn't answer with words. Instead, he gave his command. "Eevee! Toxic."
Eevee leaped forward, its body glowing with a dark, poisonous energy.
"Tch. Houndour! Dodge, then Ember!" Houndour's trainer shouted.
Houndour swiftly jumped to the side, avoiding the attack, then turned and launched a burning ember toward Eevee.
"Eevee! Dig, then use Wish inside!" Kay countered.
As Eevee dove underground to evade, a smirk appeared on the other player's face. "Houndour! Ember at the trainer!"
Houndour's mouth glowed as it prepared to fire at Kay directly. But Kay didn't move. He didn't flinch. His expression remained completely calm.
That reaction unsettled the other player.
Then, just as Houndour released its Ember, Kay pulled a Pokeball from his pocket and threw it forward.
In a flash of light, a Growlithe appeared, standing protectively in front of Kay. The fire attack struck Growlithe, but as a Fire-type, it took little damage.
The other player's eyes widened in shock. "You! You have two Pokémons already?!"
In the F-Rank division, most players could only bond with one Pokémon. Yet Kay had two.
Before he could process the situation, the ground beneath Houndour cracked open.
Eevee emerged, its paw glowing with Ground-type energy, and slammed into Houndour's stomach.
Houndour let out a pained yelp as it staggered backward. The attack had landed cleanly, and since Houndour was weak to Ground-type moves, the damage was significant.
Kay took advantage of the moment. "Growlithe! Helping Hand!"
Growlithe barked, releasing a supportive energy that surged into Eevee, increasing its power.
"Eevee! Double Team, then Quick Attack!"
Eevee dashed around Houndour at high speed, creating multiple illusionary copies of itself.
Houndour's trainer's eyes narrowed. "Houndour! Fire Spin!"
Houndour jumped high into the air and spun, releasing a swirling vortex of fire that spread out in all directions. The flames burned away the illusionary Eevees, leaving the real one exposed.
"Eevee! Dig!" Kay commanded, unfazed. Eevee burrowed underground before the flames could reach it.
"Tch! Houndour, attack Growlithe! Finish it fast!" Houndour immediately turned to Growlithe and dashed forward with blinding speed, using Quick Attack.
Growlithe tried to dodge, but Houndour was too fast. The hit connected, sending Growlithe skidding backward.
"Houndour! Don't stop, Bite!"
Houndour lunged again, sinking its fangs into Growlithe and throwing it to the side. Kay countered. "Growlithe! Double Kick!"
Growlithe spun on its hind legs and kicked Houndour hard, forcing it to retreat. But Houndour reacted quickly, dodging the second kick.
As it landed, Eevee burst out from the ground, striking Houndour again with another Dig attack.
Houndour howled in pain, stumbling back. It was weakening. Kay pressed the attack. "Growlithe! Double Team, then Ember!"
Then Kay sent one last command, "Eevee, finish the trainer, fast." As Eevee heard Kay's command, it attacked the other player with a blinding pace.
Growlithe dashed toward Houndour, splitting into multiple illusionary copies, and launched small bursts of flame as it ran.
"Houndour! Ignore them! Focus on Eevee, Quick Attack!" Houndour's trainer shouted desperately.
Kay smirked. "Growlithe! Stop it with Double Kick!"
Houndour lunged at Eevee, but Growlithe intercepted, leaping in front of it. Houndour barely dodged the first kick, but the second one struck its side, knocking it off balance.
Still, Houndour recovered quickly and bit down on Growlithe's leg, tossing it aside. But it was too late.
Houndour had ignored Eevee for too long. By the time it turned, Eevee was already in front of the other player, moving at high speed.
Kay's cold voice rang out. "Eevee! Bite. Finish him."
See you in the next chapter...
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