The dust settled

Kanon spared a glance toward the Sword of Royal Authority and could no longer stay put.

At some point, Laika had climbed onto the stone tablet and was holding up a green, doll-like Pokémon.

But that was not what concerned her. What concerned her was the golden Poké Ball the Petilil was holding!

"Damn it!"

Kanon's eyes darkened. "Cofagrigus, Ominous Wind!"

Bang!

The moment she spoke, a black whirlwind blasted Petilil aside just before it could touch the Sword of Royal Authority. Laika, standing atop the stone tablet, was sent flying as well.

"Houndoom!"

With that shout, Kanon immediately ran toward the stone tablet. She could no longer wait for Cofagrigus to finish the Mind-Control Curse.

Laika had already climbed back to her feet, bitten her finger, and begun drawing something on the tablet.

Cofagrigus, hovering above it, merely flicked its gaze toward her and did nothing else.

"Hmph. Unreliable, just as I thought."

Of course Kanon could see that Cofagrigus was only going through the motions, but there was little she could do.

This was not the time to settle accounts. Securing the Sword of Royal Authority mattered most.

Besides, she knew only bits and pieces about the Napolant Royal Family's methods. There were too many unknowns. She needed to get the Sword of Royal Authority into her hands first.

"Low-altitude Drill!"

Belia's voice rang out from the purple mist. Covering his mouth, he hurried out of it and shouted the command.

"Roar!"

The purple mist churned violently as a metallic figure spun through the air, reaching the Houndoom covering Kanon almost instantly.

"Awooo!"

Houndoom did not dodge—or rather, could not. Red light flashed across its body as it leaped up and charged straight at Rhydon instead.

BOOM!

A tremendous crash erupted. Houndoom was hurled backward, slammed hard into