NOVEL NEXT Chapter 158: Chapter 158: A Cut Above
"Young Master, are you certain this plan will work?"
Walking along the path back, Nasir asked Dunn with uncertainty.
"Don't worry. Judging by their actions, it's clear they want to provoke us into making a mistake. Once we do, they'll seize the chance to trap us here."
"If we just turn back now, Ron certainly won't let us leave in peace. That will be our opportunity."
To be honest, this was just Dunn's speculation. Whether it would actually work or not, he couldn't say for sure. However, having made his decision, Dunn needed to exude enough confidence to reassure Nasir and Huck, ensuring his demeanor positively influenced them.
"So, you want to lure me out? Fine, I'll play along."
After learning of Dunn's new movements from Kirlia, Ron understood Dunn's intentions.
After walking for some distance, a brilliant Aura Sphere appeared once more, spinning and surging toward Dunn's group.
Suppressing his excitement, Dunn forced himself to remain calm.
Just like last time, the ever-vigilant Pidgeot intercepted, using Air Slash and Air Cutter to shatter the Aura Sphere.
Before the attacks could collide, Kirlia used Teleport to whisk Machamp away from the scene.
This interference only solidified Dunn's resolve, and he continued toward the edge of the forest.
Time and again, Kirlia and Machamp appeared to disrupt them, each encounter more pressing than the last. However, Dunn remained composed, biding his time for the perfect moment.
Nasir and Huck were similarly resolute. As they saw the plan unfold just as Dunn predicted, their faith in him grew stronger, waiting for his signal to launch the final strike.
Calculating silently, Dunn noted that only five minutes had passed since the last attack when Kirlia and Machamp reappeared. He realized his plan was nearing fruition.
To Dunn's surprise, even though Pidgeot was ready to strike, the familiar Aura Sphere never came. Pidgeot, unused to the change, faltered.
Kirlia and Machamp left behind a single note before disappearing again via Teleport.
At Hamada's instruction, Pidgeot used Gust to blow the note over. It read only two words: "Safe travels."
Clenching the note tightly, Dunn realized his oversight.
Ron had no reason to keep pursuing him if he truly intended to leave. Yet the initial relentless attacks had misled Dunn into making a flawed judgment.
Or perhaps, Ron had seen through his plan from the start. The earlier assaults were merely to toy with him.
"Go back!"
Barely suppressing his fury, Dunn led Nasir and Huck back into the forest.
After giving the order, Dunn couldn't shake the feeling that every move he made was under Ron's control. The thought even sparked fear—a feeling that shamed Dunn and made him burn with hatred, longing to tear Ron apart.
Nasir and Huck, sensing Dunn's anger, dared not speak. They silently obeyed his commands, exchanging glances to ensure they stayed on high alert, ready to retreat if the situation soured.
Ron's repeated mockery had instilled an inexplicable dread in them. They could only hope Dunn would give up and lead them back to safety.
"You've come back again? Couldn't you just leave peacefully? Must you insist on walking into your own doom?"
Beside him, Machamp rolled its eyes. Without that note, the opponent might have actually retreated after realizing their plan had failed.
Now, that sense of humiliation would only fuel Dunn's stubborn pride, making retreat impossible. Especially now that his confidence was shaken.
For an hour, Dunn's group searched tirelessly. Mightyena and Azumarill sniffed through the forest but found no trace of Ron. It was as if he had vanished entirely.
In a clearing within the forest, Dunn stood frozen, overwhelmed by confusion.
He had believed he had changed—grown stronger. With enough power, he wouldn't even need Nasir and Huck's help to deal with Ron.
But now, he realized he was still too inexperienced. From the start, he had been led by the nose.
Now, with no trace of Ron, he couldn't tell if the enemy had truly left or was lurking nearby, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Lost in thought, Dunn's frustration grew. The cumulative pressure weighed on him, stirring his anxiety.
A gentle breeze, laced with floral scents, swept through the clearing. As Dunn closed his eyes to think, he felt a wave of drowsiness, as though sleep could solve all his problems.
Mightyena's nose twitched at the breeze, sensing something amiss, though it couldn't pinpoint the source. Its eyelids drooped, and it too began to feel drowsy.
Minutes passed. Under the soporific breeze, Dunn's group grew lethargic, their vigilance fading.
Suddenly, a faintly peculiar scent reached Mightyena's nose.
Opening its eyes, it realized Dunn was gone, replaced by Kirlia.
Instinctively, Mightyena prepared to alert the others, using Taunt on Kirlia.
But Kirlia, prepared for this, used Teleport before Mightyena could react.
"Who's there!?"
Mightyena's howl roused Nasir and Huck, who immediately scanned the surroundings for Ron.
But the forest remained silent. If not for Dunn's absence, they might have dismissed Mightyena's reaction as a mistake.
Meanwhile, Dunn, now bound tightly, began to understand what had happened.
From the moment his group turned back, Ron had been nearby. Using Bellossom to scatter pollen and mask their scent, along with Kirlia's Teleport for silent travel, Ron had created the illusion that he had left.
Then, leveraging Bellossom's Sleep Powder, Ron reduced their guard. Finally, Kirlia executed a perfect Ally Switch and Teleport to capture Dunn.
Faced with Ron's elaborate setup, Dunn couldn't help but admit defeat.
Fear crept into his heart. He knew what awaited him wasn't a choice—it was the end of the line.
Ron had likely spared him only to lure Nasir and Huck back.
The feeling of being completely at someone else's mercy left Dunn terrified beyond words.
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