Chapter 154: 3 vs 1 — A Righteous Beatdown

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: 3 vs 1 — A Righteous Beatdown

"No."

Sora’s voice turned serious.

"It could also be an attempt to silence witnesses."

"So to prevent any misjudgment, I hope Elite Four Malva will remain here temporarily."

"We’ll wait for Champion Diantha to arrive and let her determine where you stand."

Malva hadn’t expected Sora to be this difficult.

Meet Diantha?

Setting aside whether she could explain why she was here, the chat records in her communicator alone would be enough evidence to cause serious trouble.

"We’re leaving, Pyroar!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Malva immediately chose to retreat.

I’ve kicked an iron plate this time.

She didn’t know Sora’s identity.

But that brief exchange had already shown her enough.

He was strong.

So strong that Malva felt a pressure from him comparable to that of a regional Champion.

Fighting someone like that for the sake of a bunch of smugglers who deserved to die anyway?

She’d have to be insane.

"You’re sure you want to leave?"

"What?"

Malva froze.

"Don’t you want this back?"

Sora casually held up a communicator.

Judging from the color and design—

"When did you—?!"

Malva hurriedly checked her pocket.

The communicator was gone.

"Give it back!"

She couldn’t afford to lose that device.

It contained far too much private information.

If it ended up in Diantha’s hands, explaining everything would be a nightmare.

"Hehehe~~"

A muffled giggle echoed through the air.

Victini had made her move.

Using invisibility and telekinesis, the little Pokémon had effortlessly stolen Malva’s communicator.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to steal any Poké Balls.

Malva’s Pokémon were simply too strong.

Any attempt to interfere with them would have been noticed immediately.

If that happened, all of Malva’s Pokémon would emerge at once, and Sora might never have gotten the communicator.

"I’d advise you to stay calm."

"We’re inside a ship’s cabin."

Sora genuinely didn’t want to fight Malva.

Nor did he believe an Elite Four member would truly collaborate with smugglers.

Malva might have been portrayed as an antagonist in the original storyline, but fundamentally she wasn’t evil.

She had simply been deceived by Lysandre.

If possible, Sora hoped she’d change course sooner rather than later, before she got dragged down and punished alongside Team Flare.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"You’re one of the Elite Four, right?"

Without hesitation, Sora played the moral high ground card.

"If someone of your level and someone of mine start fighting here—"

"What do you think happens to the passengers aboard this ship?"

"I..."

Malva was stunned.

Do you hear yourself right now?

Who’s the villain here exactly?!

"Hah."

But then she laughed.

A very smug laugh.

"I don’t know who you are."

"But that statement is wrong."

"What?"

Sora frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know who designed this cruise ship?"

Malva smiled proudly.

"The most luxurious cruise liner in Kalos."

"No—the world."

"The Saint Valen uses the most advanced technology available."

"Forget ordinary Pokémon battles."

"Even Legendary Pokémon would have difficulty sinking this vessel."

She glanced around the room.

"Didn’t you notice?"

"Our fight just now didn’t even damage the cabin walls."

If this had been any ordinary ship, Malva really would have been constrained by Sora’s argument.

After all, she wasn’t an actual criminal.

She was only here to help Lysandre clean up a mess.

But Sora’s ignorance amused her.

This guy is ridiculously strong.

Yet somehow he seems completely clueless about common knowledge.

He’s actually trying to threaten me with potential structural damage.

For a moment, the cabin fell silent.

"So you’re saying..."

The corners of Sora’s mouth slowly rose.

"Even if we fight here, the ship won’t suffer any serious damage?"

"Y-Yes?"

"So what if it won’t?"

The look in Sora’s eyes made even Malva instinctively take a step backward.

"Heh."

"HAHAHAHA!"

Smiles never disappear.

They merely transfer.

Sora looked at Malva with obvious amusement.

"In that case."

"Elite Four Malva."

"Please stay right here."

"Ponii!!"

Without waiting for a command, Ogerpon’s heart synchronized with Sora’s.

At nearly the same instant, pale green energy erupted around her body.

Her Defiant ability was activating.

At this point, Ogerpon no longer required an enemy’s stat-lowering effect to trigger Defiant.

By manipulating her own attribute energy and borrowing the properties of certain techniques, she could force the effect to activate in reverse.

50%.

100%.

200%.

"PONIIAAAH!!"

Ogerpon moved.

Her Ivy Cudgel swept forward with even greater speed and ferocity than before.

BOOM!!

The cudgel smashed directly into Pyroar’s head.

Pyroar was launched backward like a cannonball and slammed into the cabin wall.

She fainted on the spot.

"This is ridiculous!"

Malva couldn’t believe what she’d just seen.

Her main partner had been defeated by that green Pokémon.

In a single hit.

"Damn it!"

There was no time to think.

Three Poké Balls flew from Malva’s hand.

"Darmanitan!"

"Chandelure!"

"Torkoal!"

Three Pokémon appeared simultaneously, landing around Ogerpon and surrounding her from three directions.

"Return, Pyroar."

Malva didn’t forget her fallen partner and immediately recalled Pyroar.

A deep sense of unease settled in her heart.

The strength Ogerpon had displayed left her completely unable to judge Sora’s true capabilities.

That strange technique.

And that sudden increase in power...

Drawing from her extensive knowledge, Malva arrived at the most likely explanation.

Defiant?

That Pokémon has the Defiant Ability?

But...

How is she triggering Defiant without any outside influence?

The more she thought about Sora and Ogerpon, the more mysteries appeared.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the time to dwell on them.

Even after deploying three Pokémon at once and engaging in a completely righteous three-versus-one battle, Malva still wasn’t confident she could stop Ogerpon.

"Show her what you’ve got, Ogerpon."

Sora casually pulled over a chair and sat down.

Holding Malva’s communicator, he began fiddling with it.

There wasn’t the slightest concern on his face that Ogerpon might lose.

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