Kay was thinking of a way out of this situation, as he knew that it was hard for Eevee to win against this strong Cubone, especially when it used its two bones in attack.
When Cubone reached Eevee and began attacking, Kay clenched his teeth, then called out, "Eevee! Use Bite! But not on Cubone; use it on one of its bones and try to catch it with your teeth! Then throw it away, far from there!"
It was a risky move. Eevee would have to endure multiple hits to grab the bone, and it would get hurt even more in the process.
But Kay knew that if Cubone kept both bones, there was no way he could win even if he sent Growlithe as well. It was all or nothing.
Cubone rushed in and began using Bone Rush, striking Eevee again and again with both bones. The blows echoed through the clearing.
Eevee was battered and bleeding, its small body trembling with each hit. But it held on. It waited, looking for the right moment, even as pain coursed through it.
Then, when one bone came just a little too close, Eevee snapped its jaws open and bit down hard, with Dark-type energy gathering in its mouth.
The crack of teeth against bone echoed loud and clear. With a cry of effort, Eevee tore the bone from Cubone's grip, spun, and hurled it through the air. The bone flew in a wide arc, landing near Kay.
Cubone froze for a moment, shocked by the sudden move. Its confusion lasted only a second before it let out a furious cry and slammed Eevee with one final, powerful strike using its remaining bone. The hit sent Eevee flying, rolling across the ground, and landing a distance away.
But before Kay ran to check on his partner, he acted quickly. He threw Growlithe's Pokéball and shouted, "Growlithe, come out! Take that bone and run deep into the forest; get rid of it!"
Growlithe appeared in a flash, barked once, and without hesitation grabbed the bone in its mouth and took off at full speed into the woods.
Kay didn't need to explain. Growlithe understood the plan and sprinted faster than Cubone could ever hope to match.
At that exact moment, the star from Eevee's Wish finally descended from the sky. It sparkled brightly as it fell, and when it touched Eevee's body, it burst into soft golden light.
A warm, healing energy surrounded Eevee, mending some of its wounds and giving it enough strength to lift its head again.
Player 27, realizing what was happening, panicked. "Cubone! Don't let that dog take your bone! Stop him! Use Bonemerang."
But it was too late. Cubone threw its bone, chasing Growlithe, but Growlithe was far faster. The fire-type Pokémon dashed through the trees, disappearing into the undergrowth with Cubone's precious bone. There was no way for Cubone to catch up in time.
As Growlithe vanished into the dense forest, clutching one of Cubone's treasured bones in its mouth, Kay didn't waste a moment.
His voice rang out through the trees, firm and urgent, "Growlithe! Hide it deep in the forest and return quickly! We still need you here."
His eyes remained fixed on his opponent, unwavering, while the sounds of the forest slowly swallowed Growlithe's presence.
The player facing him stared with fury written all over his face. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched.
"Do you really think stealing one bone is enough to win this?" he asked, his voice low and sharp, almost like a growl.
But Kay didn't blink. His expression remained composed, even cold. "Who said I did it to win?" he replied evenly. "I know Eevee won't last much longer. Cubone's blows damaged it a lot, and Eevee is already at its limit."
That answer left the opposing trainer stunned for a second, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"Then why?" he asked. "Why send your Growlithe away? That was your last card, and now it's gone."
Kay's lips curled into a small, confident smile. "Even if Growlithe returned right now, I couldn't beat you. Not with Eevee in this shape. And you know that."
Player 27 slowly nodded, his stance loosening slightly, his anger now mixed with curiosity. "So, what? You surrender?" he asked, trying to make sense of Kay's strategy.
But then, Kay's eyes narrowed slightly, and something in his voice shifted; more sly, more calculating. "Not even that, I did all of this for one reason: to negotiate."
That word made Player 27 pause. His head tilted ever so slightly, and for a moment, his aggression dimmed as confusion crept in.
"Negotiate?" he echoed, his eyes narrowing, not fully understanding. "Negotiate what, exactly?"
Kay answered without hesitation, stepping forward with resolve. "I want you to surrender. I know you already defeated your target earlier. That means you've earned your spot in the next game. This battle doesn't matter to your progress. But it does to mine. So, here's the deal: if you surrender this match, I'll return your Cubone's bone."
The forest grew quieter as Player 27 digested those words. His face revealed no emotion as he stood silently, clearly evaluating the proposal.
When he finally spoke, his voice was steady but tinged with skepticism. "And what makes you think that bone is worth enough for me to hand you a win? It's just a bone. I can find another one easily, maybe even stronger."
But Kay was prepared for that. His reply came fast, his gaze steady. "You can pretend the bone doesn't matter, but I've seen how Cubone fights. The balance, the coordination, the rhythm; it's been trained to use those exact two bones. They're not just weapons. They're part of its fighting style. And I'm guessing you didn't find those bones in a day. You chose them. Weighted them. Measured their feeling and balance. You trained Cubone to perfection with them."
He stepped even closer, his voice gaining more weight with each word. "The next game could be tomorrow, or maybe the day after. You won't find a perfect replacement before then. Even the slightest difference in size or weight could throw off Cubone's rhythm. You'd be going in with a disadvantage you didn't need to have, unless you get that bone back now."
His argument hit its mark. The other trainer's brows furrowed again, not with confusion this time, but with reluctant understanding.
The silence between them stretched out, tense and heavy, before Player 27 finally exhaled and began clapping slowly.
The sound echoed in the clearing, calm and deliberate. "I have to say," he said with a smirk, "I'm impressed. Despite your age, you caught all of that just from watching us fight. You're right. Those bones weren't random. I scouted, tested, and trained Cubone with them for weeks. It took me months to get Cubone to fight the way it does now."
His smirk faded into a thoughtful expression as he looked out toward the forest where Growlithe had vanished.
"And since I've already won my previous battle, there's no need for me to risk anything here. If I can ensure Cubone performs at its best in the next round, that's more important than winning a match I don't need."
He turned back toward Kay and nodded, a signal of agreement. "Alright. I accept your offer. I surrender this match. Just make sure my Cubone's bone comes back safely."
As Kay heard that, he sighed a quiet sigh, without showing his relief on his face. Even though he planned the negotiation carefully, he wasn't sure that player 27 would accept his offer.
So, when Kay heard that he had accepted the offer, his tension finally began to ease.
See you in the next chapter...
Droooop some Power Stones...