Seeing that the Houndour pack didn't immediately attack, Sato felt relieved and quietly returned Zoroark to its Poké Ball before stepping forward alone.

  "Houndour, let's have a battle. If you lose, you e with me. If you win, you take all this food with you." Sato spoke directly to the pack leader while reag into his bag, pulling out a rge pouch filled with high-quality Pokémon food.

  The keen noses of the Houndour instantly picked up the rich aroma of the food. A few younger ones couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

  "Grrr..." The Houndour leader stepped forward, accepting the challenge. Si had been cured of the poison in time and had suffered no major injuries, its bat ability remained rgely intact.

  "Larvitar, this one's yours!"

  The moss-green Larvitar perked up, eagerly dashing forward. Despite fag a signifitly taller, jet-bck e, it showed nothing but excitement and battle i.

  As soon as Larvitar took its stance, Houndour wasted no time, ung itself like a bck blur straight at Larvitar!

  Surprise Attack!

  Larvitar instinctively crossed its small arms, showing no fear. At the moment of impact, a thiurdy, polished rock barrier appeared at the point of tact!

  Larvitar's blood-red eyes fshed. The smooth stone barrier instantly shattered inward, turning into tless sharp, jagged shards that embedded themselves into Houndour's body!

  "Whimper..."

  A pained yelp escaped from Houndour. Its bck fur was now streaked with bleeding cuts. Rather than looking weakened, it appeared even more ferocious!

  "Rock Slide!"

  Unlike a ventional Rock Slide, Larvitar's rock-based moves had a unique characteristic—they were small and fast!

  A hail of sharp stones materialized out of thin air, shooting at Houndour from uable angles and varying speeds!

  What seemed like a chaotic barrage was, iy, a precisely calcuted trap. By the time Houndour realized, every escape route had already been sealed!

  Still, Houndour dispyed remarkable adaptability. It minimized damage, allowing only two rocks to graze it as it darted away from the bombardment. Now, it began cirg Larvitar, keeping its distance.

  Without missing a beat, Houndour started ung rapid, low-energy Embers, pying to its speed adva was clear—it had identified Larvitar's ck of agility and was employing hit-and-run tactics!

  Meanwhile, Houndour's incredible resilience allowed it to swiftly seal its wounds, preventing any further deterioration.

  Everything about its approach firmed what Sato had observed earlier—this Houndour was incredibly smart!

  "Larvitar, Dragon Dance!"

  As another Ember attack came its way, Larvitar broke into a mysterious dance, dodging the fmes effortlessly. Unseen energy coursed through its small frame, enhang both its speed and attack power!

  "Again, Dragon Dance!"

  "Awoo—!"

  Years of surviving in the wild had honed Houndour's instincts to near perfe. The moment Larvitar attempted a sed Dragon Dance, a much more formidable Fmethrower erupted toward it!

  Aggressive offense, hit-and-run, cealing its full strength—this Houndour was exceeding expectations!

  "Maintain Dragon Dand charge in! Use Brick Break!

  Larvitar's blood-red eyes remained unwavering. It possessed natural fire resistance, so without hesitation, it charged straight through the fmes toward Houndour!

  By the time the sed Dragon Dance was plete, Larvitar's attack power had skyrocketed. Its tiny arms glowed with a fierce e energy—Brick Break!

  BAM!

  The powerful strike nded ly on Houndour's lower jaw, sending it flying. It crashed into the midst of its pack, causing a stir. Several Houndour bristled, growling aggressively, ready to lu Sato!

  Silently, Gengar emerged from Sato's shadow. Several Shadow Balls hovered ominously around it, radiating an unmistakable aura of danger.

  Just as the mgressive Houndour were about to attack, a weak, yet authoritative whimper echoed from within the pack.

  Instantly, the entire pack froze.

  After a long pause, with the support of the other Houndour, the pack leader slowly stepped forward.

  Its eyes were filled with plex emotions as it looked at Sato, then at Larvitar, who had barely sustained any injuries. Finally, it walked forward, stopping in front of Sato.

  "Woo..." Houndour lowered its head, signaling its submission. The grass and tless small wounds c its body made it look quite battered.

  Sato crouched down, pg his right hand on Houndour's back. The Houndour instinctively tried to pull away but suddenly felt a mysterious energy surge through its body.

  "Hold still for a moment."

  A sharp pain followed, causing Houndour to tense up. Yet, it endured without a sound.

  Mier, Houndour felt an unfamiliar warmth c through its body. It stared at Sato, eyes wide in stunned silence, looking surprisingly... cute.

  "This is your Poké Ball. Whenever you want to e bad visit, I'll bring you here."

  Houndour's eyes lit up. It eagerly nodded, wagging its short tail rapidly iement.

  "Awoo!"

  The Houndour pack seemed to uand what had happened. One by ohey picked up the food Sato had left and slowly retreated, relut but accepting.

  Sato extehe Poké Ball. Houndour raised its right paw and tapped it lightly. A fsh of red light followed, and without resistance, Houndour was captured.

  Captured: Houndour!

  Taking out the Potential Analysis Device, Sato sed the Poké Ball to check Houndour's stats.

  Pokémon: Houndender: FemaleStrength: Ordinary PeakPotential: Dark-type (Pseudo-Elite Four) + Fire-type (Elite)Ability: Early BirdNatural Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Smog, Roar, Bite, Odor Sleuth, Beat Up, Fire Fang, Sucker Punch, Fmethr Moves: Thunder FangTM Moves: None

  Sato blinked in surprise. A female Houndour?

  He hadn't expected that. However, his attention quickly shifted to Houndour's ability.

  Early Bird—a trait that allows the Pokémon to wake up from sleep much faster than usual!

  A seemingly underwhelming ability, but to Sato, it was far more valuable than Fsh Fire!

  Because Houndour erfectly suited for the bo teique he had lear Goldenrod Gym: Rest, Snore, and Sleep Talk!

  Sato had already pnned Houndour's initial training path.

  With ae-tier Fire potential, it wouldn't g behind. And if an opportunity to enhas potential arose, he was fident it could improve even further.

  Moreover, Houndour was on the verge of evolution. O evolved, its Ordinary Peak strength would instantly advao Elite level!

  With this capture, Sato's team was finally full:

  Zengar Larvitar Spinarak Carvanha Houndour

  Six Pokémon, all possessing Pseudo-Elite Four her potential!

  And it had taken him only half a year to assemble this lineup.

  Feeling satisfied, Sato looked at each of the six Poké Balls before carefully seg them onto his belt.

  Releasing Houndour once more, Sato allowed the newly caught pack member to guide him out of the forest. With its lead, he quickly found his way back to the main road, tinuing his jouroward Oliviy.

  "Awoo...!" "Awoo..."

  Eg howls rose from deep within the forest.

  At Sato's feet, Houndour suddenly stopped, ears perked, turning back toward the distant cries.

  It could hear its pack—bidding it farewell.