A fierce blizzard raged, with a crashed airship still bursting with fire and explosions inside. Everywhere, people parachuted or landed with the help of Pokémon, black smoke standing out starkly against the snowy world.
Such an absurd scene was unfolding above Glaseado Mountain.
At the Glaseado Gym, Grusha, bundled in thick clothes, looked up at the sky. His usually stoic face—only ever changing during battles—twisted in shock: "No way, they really came? But the International Police's much-touted monitoring system didn't react at all."
A report came through his earpiece.
"Gym Leader Grusha, interception teams are in position!"
"Good." Grusha touched his scarf and nodded slightly. He said to his Pokémon, "Let's go, Altaria!"
"Altaria~!"
The beautiful bird with cloud-like wings nodded back.
…
Meanwhile, police officers stationed throughout Glaseado Mountain braved the blizzard, converging on the poachers' landing spots under their leaders' commands.
Even Looker in Montenevera, after ordering his men to evacuate Pokémon from the crash zone, donned gloves and said to his Pokémon, "Toxicroak, it's our turn too."
…
Elsewhere on Glaseado Mountain, Hunter J, escaping at the last second on her Salamence, was left breathless, her expression dark and stormy.
She still hadn't recovered from the shock. Everything had happened too fast.
From the moment she detected the high-energy reaction to the interception, then losing target lock, having the floatation and stealth systems destroyed—it was all over in about a minute.
It was like the enemy knew everything, catching them completely off guard.
"Damn it… If I find out who you are, just you wait!"
Hunter J gritted her teeth. The airship she'd built over years with her fortune was destroyed. She'd escaped with only her petrification beam.
Knowing she'd have to start all over, Hunter J hated the man on Dragonite, the last person the surveillance system caught, wishing she could tear him apart.
But anger aside, Hunter J stayed rational. This was no place to linger; she had to get out fast.
Her usual Pokémon were all with her, she still had money stashed away, the ship had no cargo, and subordinates could be recruited again. She'd rise again, sooner or later.
With a cold snort, Hunter J was about to slip away on Salamence when a voice rang out.
"Where do you think you're going?"
A gust of wind swept over, cold sweat instantly soaking Hunter J's back. Looking back, she saw a man on a Dragonite, watching her with a teasing look.
Though his posture was casual, Lucas showed no carelessness, his eyes fixed on Hunter J.
Before Lucas had blasted through the airship's power systems, Hunter J had abandoned her crew and ship without hesitation, smashing through a window to escape.
He and Dragonite hadn't even caught their breath before chasing after her.
Hunter J's Salamence, in the anime, had fought Regigigas and the legendary golems, and even caught the three Lake Guardians. Its strength was formidable.
He couldn't relax until the very last moment.
Hunter J stared coldly at Lucas, knowing she couldn't escape without a fight.
She immediately threw out four Poké Balls: Drapion, Ariados, Hydreigon, and Tyranitar appeared in the snow.
She didn't use many Pokémon, usually relying on Salamence and tech weapons, with little interest in catching more.
But just these Pokémon alone proved Hunter J's strength was no joke.
Even Lucas raised an eyebrow, eyeing Hydreigon and Tyranitar—Pokémon Hunter J hadn't used in the anime.
Still, while strong, they weren't much of a threat.
Hunter J commanded: "Go! Teach them a lesson!"
The four Pokémon charged fiercely, Ariados nimbly weaving through the snow, Drapion's arms brimming with poison, Hydreigon's three heads glowing with energy, and Tyranitar stomping up rocks from the earth.
Lucas opened three Poké Balls. Ceruledge and Swampert appeared. Without needing his command, they leaped into battle.
Ceruledge's fiery blade and Swampert's overwhelming strength exploded forth.
"You think just two Pokémon can take on my elites? Did your sneak attack make you overconfident, nameless trainer?"
For some reason, Hunter J didn't try to escape during the fight, instead opening up conversation with Lucas.
Lucas narrowed his eyes and pointed to the battle. "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Hunter J looked where he pointed and froze.
Ceruledge vanished, using Shadow Sneak to appear beside Ariados, slicing it down with a single blow before it could react.
One-hit KO!
Swampert, like a tiger among sheep, barreled through Tyranitar's rocks, grabbed Hydreigon by the neck, and slammed it to the ground.
At this rate, the four Pokémon wouldn't last long.
Hunter J was stunned. After a moment's silence, she snarled, "Salamence, Flamethrower!"
Salamence spat fire. Lucas was surprised Hunter J would use a non-STAB move.
But it didn't matter. Whatever plan Hunter J had, he would show her how futile resistance was.
"Hydro Pump."
A torrent of water doused the flames. At the same time, Dragonite, moving faster than the eye could see, struck Salamence with a Dragon Claw, launching it backward!
Then, a super-effective Dragon Pulse battered Salamence, forcing Hunter J to cling to its back, shouting, "Hyper Beam, block it!"
Salamence fired a powerful beam, clashing with Dragon Pulse and exploding. In the smoke, Salamence panted, watching warily.
Only it, fighting Dragonite, could feel the pressure. Its instincts screamed to flee, but pride and Hunter J's command made it stay.
In a clash of Dragon Claw and Thunder Punch, Salamence couldn't resist Dragonite's power and was sent crashing to the snow.
Luckily, the snow cushioned the fall. Hunter J, battered but unhurt, looked up to see Ceruledge and Swampert closing in, having already dispatched her other Pokémon. Salamence, too, was now out of commission.
They'd been utterly crushed.
Hunter J, sprawled in the snow, no longer looked so fearsome—yet she was hardly a weak, helpless woman.
Seizing the moment as Lucas jumped off Dragonite with silver handcuffs, Hunter J grinned fiercely, raising her petrification beam.
Click—
A pair of shadowy claws smashed the weapon. Hunter J gaped in disbelief.
When did this Mimikyu appear beside her?
In the next instant, Mimikyu's angry Shadow Claw pinned Hunter J down with crushing force, making her bones creak.
Lucas's boots stopped ten centimeters from her face. He squatted and smiled, "Checkmate?"