"I'm only interested in Fire-type Pokémon. If I'm going to catch a Psychic-type, it has to have a secondary Fire typing," Alice said, shaking her head and declining Tianchen's offer.
"In that case, I won't be modest," Feng Che said to Tianchen.
Baltoy wasn't exactly a Pokémon Feng Che wanted for his personal team, but he wanted to catch a high-potential Psychic type for Uncle Kaiser. Kaiser had been his benefactor during his lowest moments. A Baltoy, combined with Kaiser's Hypno, would provide a powerful tactical layer to ensure the old man's safety in the increasingly dangerous and faction-torn Team Rocket.
"The guardian Pokémon of the ruins can be taken. We just need to use the Red Gem," Tianchen explained. He raised the gem high, and it emitted a brilliant, undulating red light.
The stone Baltoy statues along the wall began to hum and glow. However, they didn't detach from the wall immediately.
"They're awake, but why aren't they moving?" Alice whispered, afraid of breaking Tianchen's concentration.
"Tianchen is using his psychic link to scan their potential," Feng Che noted. "Only the ones that meet his standards will respond to the call."
Sweat poured down Tianchen's face, soaking his shirt as if he'd been dunked in the marsh. After a long tension, two Baltoy detached from the wall and zipped through the air, coming to rest in front of Feng Che and Tianchen.
"Phew," Tianchen exhaled, immediately downing a bottle of Feng Che's mental potion. "Being a primary psychic is exhausting. But your medicine... it's like a cool spring filling a dry lake. Within minutes, my mind feels clear again."
"Just give me a list of the herbs you need. The Jiade family has channels to find almost anything. I'll make sure you're compensated well," Tianchen added.
Feng Che nodded, though he secretly planned to inflate the "failure rate" of the recipes. In the world of master breeders, a little creative accounting was how you built a private stockpile.
Feng Che scanned the Baltoy before him.
Pokémon: Baltoy Gender: Genderless Potential: Outstanding (Yellow) Level: 15 Type: Ground + Psychic Status: Calm as stone.
A solid Yellow potential. Finding a Green (Elite) potential in the wild is like finding a needle in a haystack, Feng Che thought. This will do perfectly for Kaiser. He tapped a Poké Ball against it, capturing it instantly.
Suddenly, Linoone tugged at Feng Che's sleeve. It looked at the empty Poké Ball in Feng Che's hand and then at him with a look of firm resolve.
[Linoone: I want to be your Pokémon. Formally.]
"Linoone, are you sure? If I take you, you'll be leaving your brothers behind. I don't have enough balls to take the whole pack," Feng Che said seriously.
Linoone nodded without hesitation. It wanted to follow the trainer who had helped it evolve and survive.
"If it's a matter of Poké Balls, I have spares," Alice offered. "You can't just come back here whenever you want. Rocket high-command guards this place like a fortress. Take what you need now, or regret it forever."
Feng Che reconsidered. Alice was right. He didn't just want to be a slacker; he wanted to survive the coming storms (Kanto's Elite Four rebellion, the rise of Neo Rocket). He needed a loyal foundation.
"Understood. I'll take you with me, partner." He tapped the ball against Linoone's head. Wiggle... click. The Linoone was now officially his.
They reached the end of the long corridor, where a much larger figure floated in the air.
A Claydol. Beside it rested a Sapphire Gem glowing with a faint blue light. The black-bodied Pokémon had multiple eyes—some open, some closed—and drifted in a perpetual sleep. Its arms hovered independently, controlled by psychic tendrils.
"Arbok, you're up," Feng Che commanded.
The Claydol snapped its eyes open. Its floating arms began to spin like drill bits, launching toward Arbok like homing missiles.
"Dodge and use Iron Tail!"
Feng Che was careful to call Ditto "Arbok" in front of the others. He watched as the Claydol's arms smashed into the floor, creating craters. Then, the Claydol used Teleport, vanishing and reappearing instantly to avoid Arbok's silver tail.
Thwack! Arbok's tail slammed into the stone wall, leaving a deep fissure.
"Again! Iron Tail!"
But Claydol was too slippery. It teleported every time Arbok got close, exhausting the serpent.
"Tianchen, can you lock its teleportation?" Feng Che asked.
"My power is too weak," Tianchen rasped. "But look for the blue 'pinprick' of light. A tiny blue spark appears where it's about to materialize. It takes about three seconds to fully manifest, and it stays for two seconds before vanishing again. You have a five-second window, but only if you can predict the spark."
Feng Che's eyes narrowed. He took a deep breath, focusing every sense. There—a tiny blue glimmer near the ceiling.
"Now! Above you! Iron Tail!"
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