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Pokéblocks were a staple in the Pokémon world carefully crafted treats designed to match a Pokémon's type and physiology, packed with nutrients and energy.
Even just two small cubes were enough to make Kael's stomach feel comfortably full.
"All right," the frail young woman said, returning to her chair in the corner. "Eat up, then get ready for battle."
As she settled back, her thoughts lingered on something odd.
That Flaaffy's stored electric charge… It's unusual.
When she'd fed him earlier, she'd sensed the electric fluctuations he unconsciously released.
As a Ghost-type specialist, Rynce's perception had been honed to a razor's edge over years of working with her Pokémon.
Even without ever raising a Flaaffy herself, she knew instinctively most didn't carry that kind of voltage without trying.
Curiosity sparked. Pulling out her phone, she opened Dark Star's private app and ran a search in the Pokémon database: Flaaffy, high-voltage.
Results blinked onto the screen. She tapped the top listing.
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Flaaffy – Static – Professional Main
Moves: Tackle, Growl, Thunder Wave, Hidden Power (Dragon), Thunder Shock, Cotton Spore, Charge, Thunder Punch, Magnet Rise, Take Down
Evaluation: Keen battle instincts, outstanding Electric-type potential.
Points Required: 75/week
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Rynce's lips curved faintly.
"A Flaaffy that knows Magnet Rise? Now that's interesting…"
She crossed one slender leg over the other, a flicker of anticipation glinting in her tired eyes.
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Bzzzt!
Across the city, a phone vibrated.
Merg glanced at the notification. His Battle Tower entry request had been approved. Relief washed over him like a weight lifted.
He'd competed last year and done well, but the Tower was a once-a-year, month-long event with limited slots.
Competition to get in was fierce entry often went to the organization's most promising or well-connected trainers.
"No connections… so they must think I'm talented," he muttered, a grin spreading.
He packed quickly and headed for the address Dark Star had sent him.
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The sky was a crisp blue, with thin clouds drifting lazily. On the wide tarmac below, a massive black transport plane gleamed in the sun.
Merg shielded his eyes beneath the brim of his cap.
"Merg! Back for another run this year?"
He turned to see a fellow member from the terminal.
"Yeah. Caught a new Pokémon want to give it some battle time," Merg replied. "You know how it is. For those of us in research divisions, combat experience doesn't come often. Have to grab the chance when it shows up."
His companion nodded in agreement, and the group boarded.
Unlike standard passenger planes, Dark Star's transport craft was divided into small private cabins instead of rows of seats with less capacity, but more comfort and security. For an organization full of elite trainers, that mattered.
Merg made only polite small talk before withdrawing to his cabin. He had no interest in socializing for the sake of it.
After a smooth takeoff, he watched the scenery below change mountain ranges giving way to sprawling plains, wild Pokémon running free, and finally the endless blue of the ocean. He leaned back, eyes closing.
The next jolt woke him. The plane had landed.
Following Dark Star escorts through layers of heavy security, he entered a hidden underground facility the Battle Tower.
The "tower" was a misnomer; in truth, it was a multi-level base buried deep below ground. Trainers "climbed" it one floor at a time, facing tougher and tougher Pokémon as they went.
Merg had been here last year, so the sight didn't surprise him.
Receiving a tablet that detailed his assigned route, he started in. The Tower handled its limited capacity by splitting challengers among multiple rooms on each floor, each with its own stationed Pokémon, preventing overcrowding and overuse of any one defender.
"Let's see… first stop, 1-Y."
Minutes later, he pushed open the door to his first opponent.
A huge yellow rodent darted across the room, chittering.
"Raticate, huh?" Merg smiled. "Guess the first floor's still just a warm-up."
He tossed his Poké Ball. "Let's go, Kirlia!"
"Kii-yaa!" The Psychic/Fairy Pokémon's voice rang clear as the battle began.
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Barely twenty minutes later, he'd breezed through the first two floors.
"Next… 3-C," he read from his tablet.
The third floor was the Tower's first "checkpoint" a slightly stronger defender. Still, for the chosen few allowed entry, it was meant to be more of a hand-warmer than a wall.
"If I can't clear floor three, I might as well quit now."
Shoving aside the thought, he gripped the door handle and pushed it open.
Bzzzt!
A flash of golden lightning lit the room.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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