Chapter 655: The Gambler
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Later, Route 4 (Sandstorm)]
As the trio pushed further into Route 4, the landscape changed from open dunes to the skeletal remains of a highway project. A group of construction workers sat huddled near a half-finished pillar, their faces caked in dust as they tore into lunch boxes.
*Clink-Clang*
The sound of metal on metal echoed. As Azure's Tyranitar lumbered past, giving a surprisingly friendly wave with a massive claw, the workers looked up in awe. One worker shouted, holding up a sandwich, "Hey, look at that beast! That's a Tyranitar from the Johto peaks, ain't it? Wish we had one of those to help move these girders!"
Suddenly, a loud, eccentric voice cut through the whistling wind: "And that, my friends, is why you should never bet against the house! JACKPOT!"
A small crowd had gathered around a man sitting on a crate. He was dressed in a way that screamed 'gambler'—a long, violet-trimmed coat, disheveled hair that looked like it had seen its fair share of storm-tossed nights, and a piercing, analytical gaze.
This was a man who saw the world not in shapes, but in odds. The gambler barked, "Step up, step up! The card is dealt, the fate is sealed!"
His Pokémon was a sharp-bladed Bisharp, standing beside him like a silent, metallic sentinel. Black, always curious, stepped closer and asked the crowd in a curious tone, "What's going on here?"
The gambler flipped a card over. It showed a Level 2 Poliwag. The workers groaned, handing over a few Pokédollars before heading back to their tasks. One worker called out, "See ya tomorrow, Grims—I mean, buddy!"
The gambler turned his attention to the trio. His eyes locked onto Azure for a fraction of a second—a look of recognition that Azure returned with a subtle, knowing nod. Azure thought, 'I see you, Grimsley. Playing the part of the roadside hustler.'
Black asked, looking at the desolate construction site, "Why play games out here? Shouldn't you be... I don't know, somewhere with an AC unit?"
The gambler laughed, a dry, raspy sound. The gambler said casually, "Look at those men, boy. They build roads in a sandstorm that erases their progress every night. It's a gamble. Will the road stay? Or will the desert reclaim it? If you don't see life as a game, the desert will break you. If you learn to see the patterns, though... you might just win."
Black tilted his head, asking innocently, "Patterns in a Pokémon battle?"
The gambler said coolly, his eyes glittering, "Exactly! Want to try a game? The card flip is over, but the desert provides its own tokens."
*SHRING*
He pointed to a small mound of sand nearby. A lone Drilbur poked its head out, its claws twitching. Bisharp suddenly moved its arm blade, slamming into the ground, carving a deep, straight line in the dirt.
The gambler announced, "The Drilbur Game. Simple. That little mole is going to dive back down. When he comes back up, will he be on the left side of Bisharp's line, or the right? Choose correctly, and you win. Choose wrong, and you lose."
White whispered to Azure, "This feels like a scam."
Azure crossed his arms, a small smile playing on his lips. He replied, "It's only a scam if you can't read the player. Let Black have his fun."
Meloetta noted, floating invisibly over the gambler's head, 'He's going to lose! This human smells like old money and calculated risks. Black smells like... berries and over-enthusiasm.'
Black shouted, "I'm in! Right side!"
*Vrrr-vrrr-vrrr*
The Drilbur dove. The sound of its digging echoed under their feet.
A moment later…
*POP*
… the Drilbur surfaced on the left.
The gambler said smoothly, "Left wins."
Black demanded, "Again! Right side!"
*Vrrr-vrrr-vrrr*
*POP*
Drilbur appeared on the right.
Black cheered, "Aha! I won!"
They repeated this four more times. The score was tied: two wins for Black, two for the gambler. The air grew tense.
Even the Tyranitar stopped to watch, its huge eyes blinking slowly. The gambler said confidently, "Last round! Winner takes the glory of the moment. Make your choice."
Black squinted at the ground, trying to track the vibration. He smirked confidently, declaring, "Left! I choose left!"
The gambler said, "Then I take the right."
*CRACK*
As the Drilbur began to dig, a construction worker suddenly stumbled into the area, shouting about a missing tool. The ground beneath the worker's feet gave way. He let out a yelp as he was sucked into a sinkhole created by the Drilbur's frantic tunneling.
White cried out, stepping forward, "Help him!"
Black rushed toward the hole, but the gambler's hand shot out, surprisingly firm, stopping him. At the same time, Azure placed a hand on White's shoulder. Azure said, his voice dropping an octave, "Wait. Look closer."
The worker in the hole wasn't reaching for help. Instead, his hand was reaching for a Poké Ball at his belt.
The gambler said, his voice turning cold and sharp as a razor, "The workers are on the north side of the route today. I warned every soul on this site to stay clear of this quadrant. This man... is an uninvited guest."
The 'worker' snarled, ripping off his dusty orange vest to reveal the grey and black uniform of Team Plasma underneath. He yelled, tossing a ball, "Curse you and your games! Maractus, get them!"
*BOING*
The cactus-like Pokémon appeared, its arms shaking with a rhythmic shuck-shuck-shuck sound. It lunged forward, needles bristling.
The gambler commanded, "Bisharp."
*SHRING-SHRACK*
Bisharp didn't wait for a second command. It moved like a blur of silver and shadow. With an Aerial Ace, it bypassed the sandstorm's interference entirely, striking the Maractus before it could even plant its feet.
*WHHHHHOOOOOOOO*
The sandstorm suddenly surged, the wind kicking up to a roar. Black yelled, shielding his eyes, "Can he even see in this?"
Azure replied, his own Gengar briefly popping its head out of his shadow to grin at the chaos, "He doesn't need to see."
The ghost Pokémon cackled, though only Azure understood the spectral tongue, "Gengar! (He's using the wind as a compass!)."
Bisharp moved with terrifying grace. As the sand blasted against its metal hide, it used its blades to deflect the largest grains, creating a shimmering 'shield' of kinetic energy. The grunt screamed, "Maractus, Petal Dance!"
*Whoosh*
A whirlwind of sharp, pink petals erupted, clashing against the golden sand. It was a beautiful, deadly vortex. The gambler said calmly, "Fury Cutter."
*Clang-Clang-Clang*
Bisharp's blades began to glow. With every strike, the Pokémon's speed and power increased. The petals were shredded into mulch.
The grunt desperately shouted, "Cotton Guard!"
*Poof*
Maractus's body puffed up, its defenses skyrocketing as it became a soft, pillowy ball of fibers. The gambler remarked in a cool, dismissive tone, "A wall is just a target that can't move? Bisharp, finish it."
*SHINNG*
With a final, devastating slash, Bisharp cut through the Cotton Guard like a hot knife through butter. The Maractus was tossed backward, fainting instantly. But Bisharp didn't stop. In a blur of motion, it sliced the grunt's disguise clean off, leaving the Team Plasma member shivering in his true uniform.
As the dust settled, the little Drilbur popped its head out of the ground.
On the right side.
The gambler said, looking at Black, "And that is the game. I win."
The grunt scrambled to his feet and fled into the storm, abandoning his mission. Black stared at the spot where the mole had surfaced as he asked, "You... you knew? You used the game to track the imposter?"
The gambler said, finally reaching up to push back his hair, revealing the aristocratic, tired face of a man who had seen too many high-stakes nights, "I've been a dealer for ten years, kid. My instincts are sharp. But even I didn't know where the Drilbur would come up. I simply played the odds."
Black pulled out his electronic notebook, scrolling frantically through the data he'd downloaded at the Castelia Gym. His eyes went wide as he exclaimed, pointing his finger at him, "Wait... the coat... the Bisharp... the talk about luck... You're Grimsley! Of the Unova Elite Four!"
White gasped in shock, "An Elite Four member? Here?"
*Click*
Azure stepped forward, his Tyranitar returning to its ball with a soft click. Azure said casually, "I figured the Elite Four would be busy with the recent Plasma sightings. I didn't expect to find one playing 'Guess the Mole' in a construction site."
Grimsley turned his gaze to Azure, his eyes narrowing. He said calmly, "And I didn't expect to find a trainer traveling with a Tyranitar and... several other presences I can't quite see but can certainly feel. You're an interesting one, Azure Sky."
Azure just smiled mysteriously as he said casually, "I've had a few lucky hands."
Grimsley purred as he looked over the hyper-focused boy. He said in a casual tone, eyeing Black, "Ah, I can see the gears turning, young man. You're brimming with questions. You want answers?"
*Creeeak*
Grimsley flashed a slow, predatory smile. He said in a confident tone, "I love a good wager. Defeat me in a Pokémon battle, and I'll tell you everything you want to know. But a game requires stakes, boy. To get the most valuable answers, you have to wager the most valuable thing you possess."
Black's breath hitched. His mind raced, flashing through his nine-year obsession with the Unova League, his Pokedex, his boots, and then—down to the three gleaming Gym Badges pinned securely to the lapel of his coat, 'The most valuable thing.... My Badges?! If I lose them, my entire dream—nine years of grinding, sweating, and pushing—gets set back to zero!'
His knees buckled. The sheer cognitive overload, the suffocating weight of the gamble, made his vision blur. The desert sun seemed to spin on its axis. Black swayed sideways, his eyes rolling back as he muttered incoherently about type-matchups, his consciousness slipping into the abyss of sheer exhaustion.
*SMACK*
Azure barked, having smoothly delivered a resounding open-handed swat to the back of Black's head. He shouted, "Wake up, you dramatic idiot!"
*Clack*
Black blinked violently, snapping back to reality as he rubbed his throbbing scalp with a groan. He snapped, "Ow! What was that for?!"
Azure rolled his eyes, turning his attention to Grimsley with a nonchalant shrug, bluntly stating, "For nearly fainting over basic psychological warfare.
And to save you the trouble of agonizing over a rigged bet: they're after the Volcarona in Relic Castle. Am I right, Your Gambler Majesty?"
Grimsley's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he let out a low, amused chuckle, shaking his head. He pouted lightly and said in a dismissive tone, "Spoilsport. You ruin all the fun."
Ignoring the banter, Grimsley reached down and patted the pockets of the unconscious Team Plasma grunt he had pinned. His pale fingers retrieved a crumpled, grease-stained note detailing the coordinates of Relic Castle, along with a sleek phone.
*Bzzzt—bzzzt*
The device lit up in Grimsley's hand, the caller ID flashing a secure, encrypted frequency. Without missing a beat, Grimsley hit answer. A gruff, authoritarian voice boomed from the speaker: "Report. Have you secured the perimeter and the artifact?"
It was Sage Ryoku.
Before Grimsley could speak, Azure snatched the phone out of the Elite Four member's hand with lightning speed.
With a fluid motion, Azure's hand rose to his throat, his facial muscles shifting, his vocal cords tightening as he dropped his pitch into a gravelly, submissive drone.
Azure rasped, perfectly mimicking the frantic, nervous cadence of the captive grunt, "I apologize, Lord Ryuk—"
The real grunt on the ground suddenly stirred, opening his mouth to yell a warning for the Sage, but—
*Zzt*
A soft psychic pulse rippled through the air. Meloetta, floating invisibly just inches from the grunt's ear, executed a sharp Confusion wave that instantly locked the man's jaw shut, freezing him mid-syllable. Deep within Azure's jacket, Victini let out a high-pitched, telepathic 'Hehehe!' chuckle that echoed warmly in Azure's mind.
Azure didn't miss a beat, pressing his thumb against the phone to continue the charade. He said resolutely, "I've just begun to leave my spot, avoiding an Elite Four Grimsley seeing him gamble, taking my chance during my break. I'll be at Relic Castle soon—just need to get Grimsley to focus on his games, and I'll slip away. I've even got a map from an explorer to Relic Castle without him noticing, for you, Lord Ryuk."
On the other end of the line, a heavy pause hung in the air before Sage Ryoku let out a low, satisfied grunt and replied, "Hmph. Competence, for once. Hurry up with that map. We cannot afford delays. Ryoku out."
*Click*
The line went dead.
White stared at Azure, her jaw hanging open in sheer disbelief. She questioned him, "How... how did you just do that?! You sounded exactly like him!"
Azure smirked, slipping the phone into his pocket. He confessed proudly, "Practice, Madame President. My girlfriend in Kanto—Green—is an Interpol operative, an expert thief, and an absolute terror when it comes to social engineering. You learn a trick or two when you're around her long enough."
White muttered, crossing her arms, "Remind me never to leave my wallet near you."
Grimsley chuckled, stepping past them. Then he said in an excited tone with a predator grin, "Well, since our little playacting bought us an open invitation, how would you like another game? Let's see how many Plasma grunts we can sweep off the board before they realize they've been played."
Azure grinned, tossing a sphere, agreeing, "I'm in!"
*Thwump*
Alpha Braviary materialized, its massive wingspan kicking up a gust of wind that parted the remaining dust. Black shouted, his competitive fire instantly reigniting as he whipped out his own ball, "Me too! Let's go, Brav!"
*POP*
A second, equally majestic Braviary materialized with a shrill, battle-hungry shriek. Grimsley flicked his wrist, releasing his sleek, obsidian-feathered partner. He said coolly, "Show them the way, Honchkrow."
White let out a long, long-suffering sigh, pressing two fingers to the bridge of her nose. She muttered in disbelief, "I run a talent agency, not a paramilitary strike force. Why do I always get dragged into your nonsense?"
Nonetheless, she trudged forward, realizing she didn't have a flying Pokémon large enough to carry her solo. With a resigned huff, she hoisted herself up behind Azure on his massive Alpha Braviary's broad, feathered back, gripping tightly to his coat.
Azure teased as Grimsley took the lead, striding effortlessly into the desert wind with his Honchkrow gliding overhead, "Hold on tight, Madame President. The house always wins—and today, we are the house."
/////
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Route 4 – Relic Castle]
Several miles away, nestled deep within the sun-scorched, labyrinthine corridors of the Relic Castle exterior, Sage Ryoku paced impatiently across the ancient sandstone floor. The air here was dead, smelling of ancient dust and sun-baked brick.
*Clack-clack-clack*
Ryoku's boots echoed against the stone as he tossed a bright red Rage Candy Bar from side to side in his palm, absentmindedly. He frowned, his thick brow furrowing as he glanced at the stone-carved entryway.
Ryoku muttered to the cluster of grunts standing at attention behind him, "Troubling… We don't have much time before the patrol shifts. But once that observer arrives with the map... the path to Volcarona is ours. Ghetsis needs that fiery moth subdued if we are to proceed with the 'liberation' of Unova."
He paused, sliding a hand into his coat to finger three heavy, specialized Poké Balls. Inside them churned the manipulated consciousnesses of a drugged Druddigon, a vicious Mandibuzz, and a blazing Chandelure. Ryoku thought with a grim smile, 'Ghetsis prepared well; Druddigon resists fire; Mandibuzz holds the type advantage; Chandelure's Flash Fire will swallow Volcarona's attacks whole. With these drugged beasts under my command, we'll wield power akin to a Champion.'
As the final minutes of the agreed-upon window ticked away, Ryoku's smile faded into a deep, annoyed scowl. Ryoku barked, his patience wearing thin, "Enough waiting! The fool is late. The rest of you—mobilize! Enter the inner sanctum and force Volcarona to appear. We take the beast by force!"
*BOOM*
The entire exterior of Relic Castle violently heaved…
*Rumble-rumble-CRACK*
The ground bucked upward as an overwhelming, seismic shockwave tore through the foundations. A grunt shrieked, stumbling over his own feet, "Wh-What is this?!"
A massive, green-scaled Tyranitar burst from the dunes, letting out a deafening, reality-shattering roar that shook dust from the ancient stone lintels. Before the Team Plasma grunts could even raise their hands to shield their eyes, a second Tyranitar—Grimsley's powerhouse—erupted from the flank, its tail sweeping in a devastating arc that bowled over half a dozen grunts like bowling pins.
*Thud-Crunch*
Black's voice rang out like a gunshot from the haze, "Ambush! Krok, use Dig!"
*Skrrrrt*
Black's Krokorok surged out from beneath the stone floor, its jaws snapping shut with terrifying force as it dragged multiple grunts down into the newly excavated trenches, pinning them firmly to the earth.
A grunt lunged forward with a panicked shout, shoving Sage Ryoku hard to the side, saving the high-ranking official from being crushed as a wave of psychic energy slammed into the stone where he had stood a second before.
White commanded, "Solly, confusion lock!"
Her voice was surprisingly steady as her little green Solosis pulsed with a vibrant blue aura, freezing a dozen grunts mid-stride. Ryoku saw in horror as his group of Grunts was being taken out. Right behind her, Azure's Meloetta and Minccino floated into view, their delicate voices harmonizing into a haunting, lulling melody.
Azure ordered, "Let's play some music, gals! Sing!"
"La-la-lu... re-la-mi..."
*Thump-Thump-Thump*
One by one, the remaining Team Plasma grunts' eyes rolled back, collapsing into deep, dreamless slumbers under the power of Sing. As the dust settled, Azure, Grimsley, Black, and White emerged together from the swirling perimeter of the sandstorm, their collective Sand Stream abilities parting the amber fog like a theatrical curtain.
They stood framed against the harsh desert sun, looking down the corridor with absolute, unyielding dominance. Swiftly, efficiently, Black and Grimsley moved through the dazed ranks, pulling out heavy-duty binding cord and tying up the unconscious grunts with practiced precision.
Sage Ryoku stumbled backward, his back hitting the cold, unforgiving stone of the Relic Castle wall. He stared in absolute horror at the bound bodies of his men, at the broken Poké Balls rolling across the floor, and at the four intruders standing tall amidst the settling dust.
Ryoku's heart plummeted straight into his stomach. His breath caught in his throat as the grim, crushing realization washed over him: 'We've been played.'
/////
A/n: Hope you like the chapter!