The sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the trees. Within seconds, Feng Che was surrounded by a group of Team Rocket recruits.
"It's him! His name is Kongjian. we saw him trading with that Alakazam earlier—there's no mistake!" Jiro, the silver-haired youth from before, pointed at Feng Che with a look of smug triumph. Standing beside him was Yin Yin, still chewing her bubblegum, and a dark-skinned man with a buzz cut who radiated an air of command.
"I am the leader of this squad, Utsugi," the man said, stepping forward. His eyes flickered with greed. "Hand over your points, Kongjian, and I might just let you leave in one piece."
Feng Che remained calm. "I don't think so. These points are much safer in my hands."
Utsugi's eyes narrowed. "Fine. To make it fair, let's have a duel. If you lose, you hand over everything. If I lose, I'll give you all the points my team has collected, plus the treasure maps we've found."
"Can you really control your team's points?" Feng Che asked.
"Every point we've earned is on my plate. And I have several map fragments," Utsugi boasted.
"Deal. But first, a question: who else is looking for me?"
Utsugi laughed. "Since you're about to lose anyway, I'll tell you. You've become the prime target for every major faction on Death Island. Currently, there are four main groups:
The Ninja Squad: Led by Serpent Pillar, under Koga's banner.
The Psychic Squad: Led by Nakata, under Lady Athena.
The 'Savage Bear' Alliance: A massive group of about fifteen recruits led by a guy named Manxiong.
My Team."
"Have you heard of a man named Starhunt?" Feng Che asked, his voice low. He needed to find the mastermind while the man's team was still crippled from the Scolipede incident.
"Starhunt? Never heard of him. Probably some low-tier loner," Utsugi dismissed the name. "Enough talk. Let's go. Show me why you're the top recruit!"
Feng Che tossed a Poké Ball, releasing Ditto in his Arbok form. "If you lose, keep your points. Consider the information you just gave me as the payment for your defeat."
"Arrogant brat!" Utsugi roared. "I've had the strength of a formal member for years. I only stayed a recruit to wait for this trial—the first place winner gets promoted directly to Captain. Come out, Absol!"
A sleek, four-legged Pokémon emerged. It had snow-white fur and a scythe-like horn curved over the right side of its head.
Pokémon: Absol Potential: Outstanding (Yellow) Ability: Justified Level: 25 Type: Dark Evaluation: A powerful 'Disaster Pokémon.' If you don't handle its high critical-hit rate, you will flip your car.
Heart-Link Ear... activate, Feng Che thought.
Arbok, stay focused. This one is fast. For the first time, Feng Che used his new psychic power to send a silent mental command to Ditto. Because his rank was still Middle-tier, it was a one-way transmission, but it was enough to give him a massive tactical advantage—no verbal commands for the enemy to overhear.
"Absol, use Focus Energy!" Utsugi commanded.
"Arbok, use Glare," Feng Che sent mentally.
Absol prepared to buff its critical hit rate, but it found itself staring into the terrifying, shifting patterns on Arbok's hood. The Dark-type staggered back, its body suddenly crackling with golden electricity. Paralyzed!
"Dammit! Absol, hang in there! Eat this Cheri Berry!" Utsugi threw a yellow berry into the Absol's mouth. The paralysis faded instantly.
"Absol, Double Team!"
The Absol split into four identical images. "Now, Night Slash!"
The four shadows lunged, claws glowing with dark energy.
While the battle raged, Jiro and Yin Yin were whispering in the back.
"Notice how he hasn't said a single word? His Arbok is fighting on its own," Jiro noted.
"He's a Psychic," Yin Yin said, blowing a huge bubble. "He's using telepathy. And did you see how that high-level Alakazam treated him? Utsugi is a fool. This guy is dangerous."
Yin Yin pulled out a specialized communicator and inserted a small chip.
"Hey! If Instructor Viper catches you hacking—" Jiro started.
"Hush. My skills have improved. Look at Kongjian's records..." Yin Yin's eyes widened as the screen displayed the items Feng Che had traded. "Level 41 Ninjask? Level 41 Shedinja? He caught High-Elite rank Pokémon while we're struggling at Level 20."
She scrolled further. "Full marks in academics, full marks in taming... and he's under Sabrina's personal recommendation. Jiro, if we help Utsugi fight him, Sabrina will turn us into dolls. We need to switch sides."
On the field, Arbok's Iron Tail swept through the clones, popping them like bubbles before slamming into the real Absol. The "Disaster Pokémon" was sent flying, skidding across the dirt in a cloud of dust.
"Absol, get up! Show your bloodlust!" Utsugi screamed.
The Absol let out a roar, its eyes turning red as it entered a frenzied state. It blurred into a white streak of Slash, its horn glowing with blinding light.
Feng Che's eyes flashed blue. His psychic dynamic vision allowed him to track the Absol even as a blur.
Arbok, it's coming from the left! Dodge and use Iron Tail again!
"Did you see that?" Yin Yin whispered, her hair standing on end. "His eyes turned blue. He's definitely a trained Psychic. He's probably been hiding his strength the whole time. We're giving him that 'item' we found. It's the only way to make sure he doesn't kill us later."
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