Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 103: Keep One’s Word – Chop the Hand When Said

Rio said coldly.

"Pu-cha~" Hearing Rio’s words, Primeape didn’t hesitate—it punched itself in the face. The moment the fist connected, its face visibly flushed red with rage.

The surrounding spectators were stunned. They’d never seen a Pokémon punch itself before fighting an opponent. Across the battlefield, Hunter C also breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been nervous about losing a hand, but seeing this—his opponent was a brainless monkey—he relaxed. Scizor wouldn’t lose to an idiot.

So, Hunter C gave the first command with conviction: "Scizor, X-Scissor!"

"Hassh~" Scizor charged at Primeape, its scissor-like claws crossed in an X shape.

Rio didn’t even need to give Primeape a command. The enraged Primeape, seeing Scizor charging, swung its massive fist and charged straight ahead. The two Pokémon met in the middle of the arena.

"Cut that Primeape to pieces!" Hunter C shouted excitedly.

But the next second, his excitement turned to horror. "This can’t be!" he cried in disbelief.

Primeape, facing the incoming X-Scissor, let out a "Pu-cha" and caught Scizor’s crossed claws with both hands, stopping them dead. Then, with a single motion, it flipped Scizor over its shoulder and slammed it hard onto the ground. After that, it threw one punch—just one—straight into Scizor’s abdomen. The arena floor shattered, sending debris flying and leaving a half-meter-deep crater. Scizor let out a pained cry, its eyes bulging as if about to pop out, before collapsing unconscious.

The battle was over in an instant.

Silence fell over the arena, broken only by Primeape’s continued pounding on the defeated Scizor to vent its remaining rage.

The observing hunters were utterly dumbfounded. They had imagined all kinds of intense battles—but never this. They’d seen Hunter C’s Scizor fight others; it was undeniably strong. Even if someone could beat it, it would be a hard-fought victory. Yet this powerful Scizor had just been one-shot by Primeape. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn’t have believed it.

"C—the battle’s over. What about the bet?" Rio called out.

The hunters all turned to look at Hunter C, who was now on his knees, unable to accept the crushing defeat. Though they couldn’t see his face behind the mask, everyone could see sweat dripping from beneath it—maybe tears too. Seeing this, the other hunters felt sympathy, but also relief that they hadn’t rashly accepted Hunter H’s hand-chopping challenge. Otherwise, they’d be the ones kneeling in a cold sweat.

Rio spoke again: "What’s wrong—scared speechless? Where’s that arrogance from earlier? Get up and chop!"

His voice was loud—almost a roar. But no one dared to respond. Hunter C was too terrified to say a word.

Rio laughed at their cowardice: "Or do I need to come over and help you fulfill the bet?"

He walked toward Hunter C, holding Froakie’s Poké Ball aimed at the trembling man.

"H—I’m sorry! I was just joking earlier," Hunter C pleaded, his voice full of desperation.

Rio kicked him down, planting a foot on his chest, and said coldly: "Sorry? Now you’re sorry? Weren’t you all cocky before the battle—acting like you’d definitely win fifty thousand from me? Too late!"

Rio turned to the other hunters: "Bring me a knife!"

The hunters exchanged glances, none moving. Hunter E even started to plead: "H—we’re all partners here. We still have to work together to catch Raikou. If C loses a hand, how will we cooperate?"

The others quickly chimed in: "Yeah, yeah—we’re about to work together. Forget the hand. Let C compensate you with fifty thousand—no, a hundred thousand—as an apology for the lost battle."

"Exactly—just take money. Let’s not ruin the camaraderie."

Hunter C scrambled: "I’ll write you an IOU now—after the mission, I’ll transfer you money. Fifty thousand? No, a hundred thousand! Whatever you say!"

But before he finished, Rio kicked him again. "I don’t want your money! I said chop the hand, and we chop the hand! A man keeps his word."

He then glared at the other meddlers: "Didn’t you all say that whoever chickens out would be looked down upon? Why the change of heart now? Or if I had lost, would you have protected me? Let him chop my hand? Huh?"

His retort shut them all up. They lowered their heads and fell silent.

Rio scoffed and turned to Haunter: "Haunter—bring me a knife."

Haunter phased through the villa wall and returned moments later, carrying a kitchen knife with its psychic power.

"H—I’m sorry! I’m sorry!" Hunter C screamed in terror at the sight of the gleaming blade.

"What’s going on here?" A voice came from behind the crowd. Rio turned to see the villa door opening again—Hunter A stood there, followed by a female hunter wearing a Squirtle mask.

Rio raised an eyebrow. How could he tell it was a woman despite the mask? Not by her hair—but by her incredibly striking figure. How striking? Let’s just say she probably couldn’t see her own feet when looking down—and she was still slim. That’s saying something.

Is that Saurion’s goddess—the Pokémon Ranger Aria Thornwick? Rio guessed, but he wasn’t sure. Two hunters were still missing—one of them could be another woman. Besides, if this really was the Ranger, how did she manage to gather enough Electric-type Pokémon to satisfy Hunter A in such a short time? After all, Saurion’s stock had been taken by Rio.

"A—save me! H is going to chop off my hand!" Hunter C screamed for help.

Hunter A, surprised that the previously timid H was now threatening to cut off C’s hand, approached: "What happened?"

The other hunters quickly summarized the dispute, the bet, and the battle result. When Hunter A heard that C’s Scizor had been one-shot by H’s Primeape, he was stunned. He looked at Rio in disbelief, and the female hunter behind him also turned her gaze to Rio.

"H—give me some face. Let this bet go. Let him apologize and transfer you a million as compensation. After all, we still need to work together," Hunter A ultimately pleaded on C’s behalf.

But his words were met with Rio’s laughter. "Face? Sorry—in this world, if you’re wrong, you admit it. If you lose, you take your punishment. Since he lost the bet, he loses the hand—otherwise, it’s just breaking your word."

"Haunter—the knife!"

"Ghos~" The kitchen knife flew into Rio’s right hand.

Then, before everyone’s eyes, the knife came down—

Accompanied by Hunter C’s agonizing scream and a spray of blood.

The hunters froze in place.