Weavile, sent flying backward by Blaziken's attack, spun twice in midair before landing on the branch of a massive tree.
It lowered its head and looked at the three ice blades on its claws—cracks like a spider web had appeared on the outermost one from Blaziken's kick, and icy fragments fluttered down from its edge.
The next second, fresh ice crystals spread out from the base of its claws, gradually filling in the cracks.
However, even after the ice blades had fully recovered, it did not continue attacking.
It was not afraid. It was assessing the situation.
After all, its trainer could only be described as barely adequate. There was no abuse, but certainly no kindness either. It never lacked food, and it was never spared its assigned tasks, but that was all.
Not enough to make it risk its life.
Besides, that strike just now had settled their debt completely.
Weavile withdrew its gaze, and the ice blades at its claws stopped forming. Its scarlet eyes gave Blaziken one final look.
Then, its body became a dark afterimage as it shot off in the opposite direction.
Clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Within seconds, the dark silhouette had completely vanished among the overlapping shadows of the trees. Only a few fallen leaves caught by the airflow continued drifting slowly down.
Elsewhere.
Having recovered from the confusion of its trainer's death, Mightyena looked toward the direction the arrow had come from.
A low, suppressed growl rumbled from Mightyena's throat. The daze in its scarlet eyes was replaced by a desire for revenge.
It launched forward on all four limbs, charging wildly toward the bushes where the arrow had come from!
"Grrr—!!"
It opened its massive jaws as dark-type energy gathered frantically in its throat, forming a thick dark brown