Before heading towards the lake, the group decided to sweep the area. The village might've seemed deserted after the eerie retreat, but Leon wasn't taking any chances.

"We'll split up," Leon said, reloading his shotgun. "Check the stone houses, barns—see if there's anything useful. And keep an eye out for stragglers."

Ash swallowed, gripping the handgun Leon had given him. "You really think there are more of them hiding?"

Leon's eyes stayed sharp. "I don't think. I know." He turned to Ash, lowering his voice. "Listen, kid. I gave you that gun to defend yourself, but don't get cocky. You're still a novice. And I know you've got your little creatures watching your back—"

Ash frowned. "They're called Pokémon."

"Right. Pokémon. Look, they're strong, I'll give 'em that. But you can't expect them to bail you out every time things go south." Leon's voice was firm. "You need to be able to stand your ground, with or without them."

Ash tightened his grip on the handgun, nodding. "I get it."

Leon gave him a small nod. "Good. Let's move."

With that, they spread out, cautiously checking the abandoned buildings for supplies—or worse, lingering threats waiting in the shadows.

The silence was too quiet.

And that only meant trouble.

Moments later...

After searching the village thoroughly, the group gathered near an old well to report their findings.

Ash let out a breath, lowering his handgun. "Well… all I found were pigs, chickens, and cows." He glanced at Pikachu and Lucario. "Nothing dangerous."

Leon scoffed, wiping his knife on his sleeve. "Lucky you." He motioned to a nearby barn where a few fresh bodies lay sprawled out—former villagers, now lifeless. "Ran into a couple of strays. Took care of 'em."

Ash swallowed, still not used to seeing so much death up close. He pushed the thought aside. "Guess that means the village really is empty now."

Leon gave a slow nod, but his expression remained guarded. "For now." He glanced towards the windmill in the distance. "Come on. Time to move."

With that, they pressed forward, leaving the ghostly village behind—unknowing of the horrors still waiting ahead.

...

Following the winding path towards the windmill, the group moved cautiously, cutting down any hostile villagers in their way. The eerie silence between attacks only made Ash's nerves worse—every time they dropped one of those crazed people, more seemed to take their place.

Finally, they arrived at a metal gate blocking the road forward. The structure around it looked sturdy, reinforced with heavy iron bars.

Leon tested it, shaking the metal. "Locked tight. Figures." He scanned the area. "We need to find a mechanism to open this thing."

Ash looked around. "You think it's in one of these buildings?"

Leon nodded. "Most likely. Let's check that barn."

Deciding to stick together, they made their way inside. The air was thick with dust and the scent of old hay. Leon took the lead, scanning for hostiles. Finding none, he motioned them forward. "Upstairs."

They carefully climbed to the second floor, where wooden planks creaked beneath their feet. As they moved forward, Leon suddenly stopped and held up a fist.

"Tripwires," he muttered, kneeling to examine the thin strands stretched across the walkway. Small explosives were rigged to go off if anyone stepped wrong.

Ash's breath hitched. "That… would've been bad."

Leon smirked slightly. "Yeah. Good thing I know a thing or two." He carefully reached down, using a small knife to disable the mechanisms with practiced precision. One by one, he neutralized the traps, ensuring they had a safe path forward.

With the barn now clear, they pressed on, searching for the key to unlocking the gate.

Climbing up the rickety ladder to the barn's third floor, the group found themselves in a dimly lit loft. Dust particles danced in the beams of sunlight that streamed through the cracks in the wooden walls. In the center of the space stood a large wooden structure, its purpose unclear. But what caught their attention was a mechanism system across from it—an array of wooden gears, stalled and motionless.

Leon stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the setup. "Looks like this could be controlling the metal gate below." His gaze landed on a stick handle attached to the system. He grabbed it and gave it a firm pull—nothing happened. The gears didn't budge.

Ash frowned. "It's not working?"

Leon let go of the handle and gestured toward the gears. "There's a missing piece."

Ash, Lucario and Pikachu leaned in, noticing the gap in the system where a wooden gear should have been. "You think someone took it?"

"Either someone, or something," Leon muttered. "Which means we need to find it before we can open that gate."

Ash sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Great. But where do we even start looking?"

Leon reloaded his handgun. "Only one way to find out."

With that, the group turned back toward the ladder, preparing to search the barn—and beyond—for the missing piece.

As the group descended the ladder, the barn was suddenly rocked by a violent crash. The wooden double doors exploded inward, shards of splintered wood flying across the room.

A massive figure stormed in—a towering brute clad in filthy overalls, his head concealed beneath a grotesque, blood-stained bull mask. His chest rose and fell with heavy, ragged breaths as he dragged an enormous sledgehammer behind him, its head caked with dried blood and splinters.

With a guttural roar, the maniac swung the sledgehammer in a wide arc, narrowly missing Leon as it obliterated a wooden crate, sending debris flying.

"Scatter!" Leon barked, rolling to the side as the hammer crashed down where he'd been standing moments before.

Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario darted in different directions, dodging through the cramped barn as the monstrous figure turned its attention towards them. The bull-headed brute swung wildly, demolishing obstacles in his path, his sheer strength making the barn itself tremble.

Leon gritted his teeth. "No way in hell we're taking this guy down in here! Move!"

Without hesitation, the group bolted for the exit, weaving between shattered beams and upturned barrels. The heavy thud of boots behind them sent shivers down Ash's spine. The brute wasn't giving up that easily.

As they reached the barn doors, the sledgehammer came down once more—just missing them as they burst outside.

But the danger was far from over.

Now out in the open, the group barely had time to catch their breath before the brute stormed after them, his massive boots stomping against the dirt.

Leon and Ash didn't hesitate—they took aim with their handguns and fired multiple rounds. Each shot struck its mark, but the maniac barely reacted, his hulking frame absorbing the bullets like they were nothing.

Leon cursed under his breath. "Shit! That bastard is tougher than he looks!"

Ash shot him a look. "Language!"

Before Leon could reply, Pikachu and Lucario took matters into their own hands.

"Pikachu, Electro Ball!"

"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"

The two Pokémon launched their attacks in perfect sync—the crackling orb of electricity and the glowing sphere of energy streaked through the air, colliding with the brute's chest.

BOOM!

The impact sent the massive figure soaring through the air in a spectacular arc, limbs flailing comically before he crashed directly into the metal gate, bending it inward with a deafening clang. His body slumped against it, unmoving, completely immobilized.

The group stared in stunned silence.

Leon wiped a hand down his face and let out a deep sigh. "Well… that's one way to open a door."

Ash chuckled nervously. "Uh… yeah. I meant to do that."

Leon just shook his head. "Sure you did, kid."

With the path now open—albeit in the most unexpected way—the group cautiously moved forward, ready to face whatever lay beyond the gate.

Following the now-open path, the group eventually arrived at a boat docking area, still a short distance from the lake. The air was damp, carrying the scent of moss and stagnant water. The eerie quiet only added to the tension.

Leon exhaled, lowering his weapon. "Let's take five," he said, rolling his shoulders. "No telling what's waiting for us out there."

Ash nodded, wiping his forehead. "Yeah, a break sounds good." He glanced at Pikachu and Lucario, who also looked relieved to rest for a moment.

As the group settled, Leon tapped his earpiece. "Hunnigan, you there?"

A moment later, the familiar voice of Ingrid Hunnigan came through. "I read you, Leon. What's your status?"

"We're near the lake," Leon reported, keeping his voice low. "Still no sign of Ashley."

There was a brief pause before Hunnigan responded. "Understood. Keep pushing forward. Intel suggests she was last seen near the lake—if she's still there, you'll find her soon."

Leon sighed. "Got it. I'll check in later." He ended the call and glanced over at Ash. "Looks like we're heading straight into the deep end."

Ash gave a nervous chuckle. "Yeah… let's just hope there aren't any more giant, crazy people with sledgehammers."

Leon smirked. "Kid, in my experience? It's never that easy."

Sorry if the chapter was a little shorter than the first two chapters.