Honchkrow's recent growth had been nothing short of astonishing.
At one point, it had even surpassed Umbreon in leveling speed.
Of course, its own effort played a major role, but the true reason lay elsewhere—the green enhancement potions provided by Team Rocket, along with the residual energy of the Dark Stone that still lingered in its body since evolution.
With both factors combined, its strength had risen rapidly.
Now, it had already reached Level 38.
Silas leaned against the edge of his bed, his gaze falling toward the corner of the room where Honchkrow stood alert, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings even while at rest.
A faint softness appeared in his expression.
"In a few days, the mission begins… Raikou."
He exhaled slowly.
A Legendary Pokémon.
Even injured, it wasn't something they could take lightly.
"If you can break through to Elite before then…"
"That would give us a real advantage."
Without wasting time, Silas opened his account and checked his remaining RocketPoints. After selling the Magnet items earlier, he still had some left.
He immediately accessed Team Rocket's exchange system and navigated to the materials section, filtering for Dark-type and Flying-type resources.
After careful selection, he finally made his choice.
A complete corpse of a near-Elite-level Mandibuzz.
The price was steep.
It drained almost all of his remaining Rocket Points But it was worth it.
Less than an hour later, the delivery arrived.
After verifying his identity and signing, Silas carried the container into his room.
Inside the reinforced glass case, the Mandibuzz's body was preserved almost perfectly.
Only a single wound marked its neck.
A clean kill.
Most likely taken down in one strike by a far stronger Pokémon.
Silas narrowed his eyes slightly.
A near-Elite Pokémon… defeated so easily But that wasn't his concern.
Right now, his focus was clear.
Dissection.
Extraction.
Preparation.
Mandibuzz was one of the very few Pokémon sharing the Dark/Flying typing—just like Honchkrow.
Originally, Silas had wanted a Honchkrow specimen for better compatibility, but the highest available quality had only been Elite level.
This was the next best option.
He picked up his tools and began.
Carefully.
Precisely.
This wasn't unfamiliar territory—trainers who walked the gray path often needed such skills.
The blade moved with control as he separated the necessary components.
Heart.
Claws.
Crest feathers.
Every step required precision, especially the heart.
He had to reduce its biological activity while preserving its core energy.
Two hours passed before he finally completed the extraction without damaging the materials.
The process was meticulous from beginning to end.
He refined the heart's essence, isolating the pure Dark-type energy into a black liquid that swirled slowly within the vial.
The crest feathers, on the other hand, contained highly concentrated Flying-type energy.
By the time the sun rose high into the sky, the base potion was complete.
Silas examined it carefully.
"To achieve the best effect…"
"There still needs to be a real battle."
Only after a full, intense fight would the potion's effect be maximized.
He could feel it.
His understanding of potion-making had improved again.
The steady accumulation of knowledge… was addictive.
....
Outside Mauville City, the sky remained heavy and overcast.
Dark clouds loomed low, and the air carried a constant tension.
Along the roads regulated by the League, trainers moved quickly, their expressions serious, their pace hurried.
Silas walked calmly against the flow.
Police officers stood at intervals, checking identities.
He was stopped as expected.
After a brief inspection, he was allowed through.
One officer glanced at his departing figure, frowning slightly.
"Strange… people are rushing into the city."
"And he's heading out?"
But Silas didn't look back.
....
Forest
In the forest Honchkrow moved ahead, acting as a scout.
His sharp vision and natural awareness scanned the surroundings, watching for any movement.
Silas followed behind at a steady pace.
Honchkrow had always been one of his most talented Pokémon.
Even after Sandile joined and surpassed it in potential, Silas had never neglected it.
In fact Honchkrow trained harder than ever.
Often pushing itself beyond his limits without being told.
Silas stopped briefly and crouched slightly, placing a hand on his feathers.
"You've done well."
His voice was calm, but firm.
"I've seen your effort."
"I'll make sure you become the true ruler of the skies."
Honchkrow met his gaze.
His eyes were steady.
Sharp.
Filled with determination.
Silas smiled faintly.
"You never disappoint me."
....
Not long after entering deeper into the forest An attack came.
Fast.
Sudden.
A Sawsbuck.
Its antlers were deep red–Autumn Form.
Among its seasonal variations, this form was known to be the most aggressive, especially among males.
The energy it emitted Was almost identical to Honchkrow's level.
Silas' eyes sharpened.
A perfect opponent.
A real battle.
Exactly what he needed.
This Sawsbuck was clearly a dominant hunter in the area. Many weaker Pokémon had likely already fallen prey to it.
It charged without hesitation.
Silas remained calm.
"Honchkrow—Tailwind first."
"Then use Gust for ranged pressure."
Honchkrow reacted instantly.
The wind began to gather.
Speed rising.
Control established.
The battle Had begun.
<><><><><><>
(End of chapter)