"Impossible!"
"You... how could you be here?"
Koga, who was enthusiastically sending out two Elite Four-level Pokémon to battle the two girls, turned his head—and nearly had a heart attack.
"Leaf? You're okay!"
"That's great! I was really worried sick before. I'm glad you're alright—really glad!"
Serena and Dawn, who had been frowning tightly, nearly burst into laughter the moment they saw Leaf.
No one expected that Leaf—after being singled out by the three Legendary Beasts—would return unscathed.
And they had seen Leaf's strength.
With his return, the crisis was sure to pass. Now, it was the new Indigo League Elite Four who needed to worry.
---
"How... how could he have gotten over here?"
"Did the three Legendary Beasts follow him? Is he being chased?"
"Impossible... let's not deceive ourselves. This young trainer is completely fine!"
"What were the three Legendary Beasts thinking? Why would they chase us away but not detain him?"
"Now... we need to think about how to deal with this. He's too strong. If he fights us to the death..."
The other three Elite Four members frowned deeply the moment they saw Leaf.
During the previous duel, Leaf hadn't even cursed.
If they were in his shoes, they probably would've wanted to kill someone.
---
Clap clap clap...
Leaf walked toward the battlefield with heavy, resolute steps.
Roar roar roar...
Little Charmander, who was with the group, saw its beloved master unharmed and immediately dashed over, excited.
"Alright, I'm fine."
"You did very well just now!"
When Little Charmander hugged his leg, Leaf finally showed a brief smile and patted its head.
But soon, that smile faded. A cold glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.
Charmander was injured.
Although it was a small wound, barely visible, and would likely heal within an hour or two—it still made Leaf clench his fists in anger.
If Charmander had been injured during a fair duel with another trainer, Leaf would have felt sorry for it, but not this furious.
After all, Pokémon grow stronger through hardship—just like men, scars make them tougher.
But this injury had come from an ambush by the Elite Four.
That made all the difference.
---
"You've worked hard."
Leaf nodded to Serena and Dawn as he approached.
"It wasn't hard work—just infuriating!" Dawn snapped.
"These new Indigo League Elite Four members are something else!"
"You had just left, and they blocked us right away. Elite Four? Hah! More like four mangy dogs!"
She was fuming, and her words were sharp.
"I didn't expect them to go back on their word just to complete some league mission," Serena sighed.
"Luckily, you came back."
"Otherwise, if we'd lasted just a bit longer, we would've been defeated—and then, the Pokémon of Cinnabar Cave..."
She trailed off.
Given the character of these new Elite Four members, even if they didn't commit a massacre, they would've waited until the three Legendary Beasts left, then driven the wild Pokémon back into Cinnabar Cave.
They would have died anyway—perhaps even more painfully.
---
"Leave it to me," Leaf nodded.
"You two get some rest—and comfort the Pokémon of Cinnabar Cave. With me here, I'll uphold justice for everyone."
Patting Charmander's head—signaling it to wait—Leaf turned his cold gaze toward the new Elite Four and the Indigo League trainers.
He took a step forward.
That single step brought overwhelming pressure.
Even the Elite Four members instinctively backed away.
Previously, they had sensed Leaf's strength.
Now, they didn't know how he'd escaped the Legendary Beasts—or why they were looking for him.
But one thing was clear: this trainer had some kind of connection with them.
And a trainer connected to the three Legendary Beasts...
Could they even fight him?
Everyone asked themselves this—even the new Elite Four.
They exchanged uneasy glances.
Koga even retreated to the back, terrified that Leaf would strike.
---
Finally, Will stepped forward.
His Gardevoir had entrusted its child to Leaf before.
Surely Leaf would show him some respect.
"This situation... isn't what you think," Will said cautiously.
"We only wanted to persuade the Pokémon of Cinnabar Cave to remain here. We promise—we weren't going to seal the cave again..."
"Then why did a fight break out?" Leaf asked coldly.
"That... was a miscommunication!" Will replied quickly.
"Maybe the wild Pokémon misunderstood our intent. Now that you're here, it's perfect—we can discuss how to handle this peacefully..."
"Hahaha!" Leaf suddenly laughed.
"Do you think I'm a three-year-old who'll believe your nonsense?"
"The Pokémon of Cinnabar Cave misunderstood you? Fine—what about Serena and Dawn? Are they Pokémon too?"
"Cut the crap. Since you dared go back on your word, be prepared to face my wrath!"
---
"Come out, Gengar!"
"Come out, Metagross!"
Even Metagross?
The Elite Four's bodies stiffened in shock.
This was their first time seeing Leaf's Shiny Metagross.
He summoned it even before the battle began...
Leaf was truly enraged!
---
"No! Let's talk this out—"
"Attack!!"
Leaf ignored Will's plea.
His Gardevoir had entrusted him with Ralts. Even Ralts—if it were here—would agree with what he was doing.
Hatcha...
Tch...
Sensing Leaf's fury, Metagross and Gengar moved without hesitation.
They locked onto their targets and dashed forward.
---
"Be careful!"
"Everyone, be on guard! That Gengar's poison is extremely strong!"
All the Indigo League trainers had summoned their Pokémon.
They quickly followed the Elite Four's commands—defending and counterattacking as needed.
But as a few trainers turned to target Gengar...
It vanished.
---
"Koga, you loser!"
Leaf's voice was mocking.
"Let's see you fall in the same place you fell last time!"
Koga flinched at Leaf's words.
He spun around in a panic, thinking Gengar would strike from behind—again.
But the back was still the back.
Turning around didn't make it the front.
Gengar reappeared behind Koga, laughing eerily.
"Koga, behind you!"
"Crouch! You can't dodge it!"
The other Elite Four shouted in warning—but Leaf sneered.
"Gengar, attack!"
"This time, use Poison-type moves!"
Gengar was momentarily surprised but quickly turned savage.
Leaf hadn't let Gengar use poison before—Gengar knew how deadly it could be.
It could kill an elephant if used recklessly.
Unless the opponent was a true Elite, Gengar rarely used its full poison—just to avoid putting Leaf in trouble.
---
"Ahhh—!"
Gengar struck Koga's back with Poison Jab.
Koga flew like a cannonball.
Will and Karen rushed over.
When they saw his back—black and swollen with deep purple—they looked up, prepared to scold Leaf for going too far.
But—
Before they could speak, Metagross charged like a tiger into a flock of sheep.
It smashed through the Elite-level Pokémon like they were nothing.
A wave of cries filled the air.
Metagross attacked without restraint—utterly ecstatic.
It was like a max-level player raiding a newbie village.
---
In just half an hour, the battlefield was in ruins.
Pokémon lay collapsed. Even some trainers were down.
Leaf looked at the fallen bodies, then glanced coldly at the other three Elite Four members—who hadn't dared move.
He said nothing.
Then turned and left.
These people...
Weren't even worth his words.
---