Chapter 241: Dark Pulse
Tuesday, November 13th.
As soon as Teacher Lu's new video dropped, the gaming community erupted. "Holy sh*t, Teacher Lu finally updated!" It had been a whole month. Just when everyone thought he was done, he came back with a full-course feast!
Raw Hypnosis, putting opponents to sleep left and right… that absurd accuracy had viewers dumbfounded. But just as people were beginning to accept this strange reality, the situation flipped. Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam missing three times in a row hit viewers straight in the gut. "Ahhh, there it is… Now this feels normal!"
But what truly shocked the audience was that even in this dire situation, he still pulled off a miraculous comeback. Was this… the legendary bond between Trainer and Pokémon?! Of course, his strategic command also played a major role. Even Unova's Ghost-type Elite Four, Phoebe, reposted the video, adding a poetic comment: "Between twists of fate and insurmountable odds, an unyielding Trainer and his Gengar weave a tale of shadows. Thus, the story begins…"
Lu Ye's expression turned strange. Wasn't Phoebe supposed to be besties with Caitlin? Is it really okay for her to roast her like this?!
The concept of combining Sweet Scent and Gravity inspired many trainers. After a meta dominated by Trick Room and Tailwind, Teacher Lu's Hypnosis Team single-handedly reignited the era of toxic, infuriating tactics! "I thought he'd turned over a new leaf… turns out he's still an absolute menace!"
"YES! I'm taking this to the Gym Leaders right now!"
"Thanks for the invite, currently hospitalized, WiFi is great."
Meanwhile, at Interpol Headquarters, officers were furiously taking notes. "This strategy… is it really suitable for law enforcement?"
"You don't get it. First, we use Sweet Scent to distract the suspect. Then, we Hypnosis them into submission… This is the kind of battle-tested technique that Inspector Looker developed!"
"I see! As expected of the Inspector!"
Over at Team Rocket HQ, members rejoiced. "Our mentor hasn't forgotten us!"
That said, modern-day Team Rocket wasn't really an "evil organization" anymore. Giovanni's "Rainbow Project" was circulating. The infamous trio—Jessie, James, and Meowth—weren't planning any major schemes. Instead, they were… still running a street stall to fund their operations.
Team Rocket—New Island Base
"Just let them keep chasing after Pikachu." After reviewing the reports, Matori sighed heavily. "It's not like we can expect anything useful from those three idiots…" It was strange. Both Giovanni and the "Mentor" placed great importance on that trio. To be fair, their fundraising abilities were truly exceptional.
Removing her round glasses, Matori massaged her throbbing temples. The Rainbow Project had stirred dissent. A former Pokémon hunter and key player in the failed Celebi operation, Archer, was the first to defect. Giovanni eliminated him swiftly. "Using sin to cleanse sin… using evil to reform evil… Was this what the Mentor meant by Rainbow?"
For the sake of Silver, Giovanni no longer cared what others thought. Matori took a sip of hot tea and opened the projection screen dedicated to monitoring the Mentor's activity. "Hypnosis tactics?" She blinked, then blushed slightly. "Maybe… I shouldn't watch this one…"
Still, even if they were short on funds, one thing could not be neglected—the Mentor's reward. Frowning, she drummed her fingers on the desk. What could attract a powerful Trainer's interest? The Pokémon within Team Rocket were too weak. Their battle manuals? Too basic. Unless… they found something more advanced. A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes.
A holographic window opened, showing a tall, striking woman. "What do you want?" Wearing a cropped tank top, a woman with wavy blue hair casually brushed her Houndoom's fur. Slowly straightening up, Karen tossed her hair back. "Last I checked… I already cut ties with Team Rocket."
Matori got straight to the point. "Lady Karen, Team Rocket seeks your help."
Karen scoffed. "You've got some nerve. These techniques are the result of years of experience. Why would I hand them over to a stranger?"
"The new Team Rocket will owe you a favor," Matori's tone remained firm. "Surely you've heard of the Rainbow Project."
Karen frowned slightly. She had been raised by the Masked Man and spent time with Team Rocket in her youth. But now, she was one of Johto's Elite Four. Still, Matori's words made her waver. Having Team Rocket owe her a favor didn't sound so bad.
"I have one condition," Karen said, her gaze sharp. "Tell me the Mentor's name."
Silence. Matori's expression remained unreadable. "…That is classified information."
"Then this conversation is over." Karen waved dismissively.
Matori frowned before finally saying: "I can only tell you this—he is a Trainer whose strength rivals Giovanni himself."
Karen froze. In a battle, even Lance would struggle against Giovanni. And now, this new Team Rocket had someone of that caliber? A slow, intrigued smirk spread across her lips. "Now that… sounds interesting." Stretching, she let out a soft yawn. "Fine. I'll hand over the material. Just make sure your Mentor doesn't disappoint me."
"Can I ask… what exactly are you giving us?" Matori asked.
Karen grinned—a playful yet cunning smile. "I'm the Dark-type Elite Four. What else would it be?" Her golden eyes gleamed. "Of course—it's Dark Pulse."
[Inorin Note:
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