"By the way, how is that little guy Sabrina introduced doing?" Giovanni asked, recalling the recruit who had left a decent impression.
"During the Death Island trial, his points far exceeded all other candidates. He even captured high-elite level Pokémon like Ninjask and Shedinja," Instructor Viper reported.
"Good, very good. Whether he used trickery or raw power doesn't matter. In Team Rocket, we only care about results, not the process," Giovanni stated, clearly satisfied. "If he takes first place in this tournament, I'll gift him one of my personal collection's Starters."
Viper gasped. "Isn't that a bit too generous, sir?" Giovanni's private collection consisted of backup Pokémon with legendary potential, usually off-limits to anyone without his explicit permission.
"If we don't bind an outstanding talent like him to us, what's to stop the League from poaching him?" Giovanni retorted, giving Viper a flat look.
Beep, beep.
Feng Che's communicator buzzed. It was a file from Tianchen containing intel on the 32 tournament participants.
Feng Che scrolled through his own profile: Rank 1 in Academics, Rank 1 in Taming. Owns a powerful Arbok. Recruited via Sabrina's recommendation.It seems they still haven't figured out Ditto's secret, Feng Che noted with relief. To truly understand what's happening with Ditto, I'd likely need to find Dr. Fuji, the man behind the Mewtwo project and the creator of the original Ditto prototypes.
He then analyzed his main rivals:
Starhunt: Uses a Bronzor. He's hiding his real strength, Feng Che thought.
Serpent Pillar: Uses a Golbat. Typical of Koga's lineage.
Nakata: Uses a Kadabra. Strong, but predictable without a high-level Psychic master's boost.
Manxiong: Uses an Ursaring. A powerhouse, but potentially manageable with Ditto's versatility.
The Tournament: Day One.
Feng Che breezed through his first three matches against "filler" grunts using Raticate and Beedrill. Finally, he stood across from Serpent Pillar.
The ninja-clad man had a white Ekans draped around his neck. "Feng Che... I didn't expect to face you so soon," he rasped. "We both serve the Executives, but I won't go easy on you."
He released a sleek Golbat (Level 25, Yellow Potential).
"I have a question," Feng Che said, releasing Arbok-Ditto. "Why are you called Serpent Pillar if you use a bat?"
"My snake Pokémon aren't battle-ready yet," Serpent Pillar explained. "As Koga's subordinates, Golbat and Muk are our standard arsenal."
As Arbok-Ditto uncoiled, its scales shifting and eyes glowing with ferocity, Serpent Pillar gasped. "That Arbok... its aura is incredible. I haven't seen one like it since Executive Koga's ace Arbok died in battle. Strangely, that Arbok's body vanished from the Rocket cold storage—a mystery that was never solved."
Mystery solved, Feng Che thought with a dry smile. I now know exactly where Ditto's 'malicious' Arbok DNA came from.
"Let's begin!" Serpent Pillar commanded. "Golbat, go!"
Golbat was fast, but to Ditto—who had consumed the Salac Elixir and possessed a cobra's natural anti-air instincts—it was moving in slow motion.
"Arbok, Glare."
"Dodge it! Don't look at its eyes!" Serpent Pillar shouted.
But the Glare didn't just come from the eyes; the terrifying patterns on Arbok's hood shifted, forcing the Golbat to look. The bat stiffened, golden electricity crackling across its wings. It plummeted from the sky, slamming into the ground.
In a hidden observation booth.
Koga and Sabrina watched the match.
"Sabrina, I didn't expect you to take an interest in the recruitment matches," Koga said.
"Serpent Pillar is your 'top' newcomer, and he looks pathetic right now," Sabrina's doll chirped, the real Sabrina remaining expressionless.
Koga bristled but said nothing. He knew he couldn't beat her. "That boy's Arbok is exceptional. It moves like a veteran."
On the field, the paralyzed Golbat struggled. The white Ekans around Serpent Pillar's neck suddenly spat a Poison Sting directly into its teammate.
"Counter-poisoning?" Feng Che muttered. It was a specialized ninja technique—using a minor toxin to jump-start the nervous system and override paralysis. Golbat took to the air again just before Arbok could lunge.
"Golbat, Poison Fang!"
"Arbok, Iron Tail!"
Feng Che predicted the flight path. As Golbat dove, Arbok's tail whipped around like a silver scythe, parrying the bite.
"Golbat, Hurricane! Keep your distance!"
The bat flapped its wings with all its might, creating a localized windstorm. Arbok lowered its head, digging its tail into the dirt to maintain its footing.
"Now, Ice Fang!" Feng Che sent the mental command.
Ditto-Arbok coiled like a spring and launched itself into the eye of the storm. Its fangs frosted over as it snatched the Golbat out of the air. The bat was instantly encased in a block of ice and fell, shattering on impact. Golbat was out.
"Your Arbok is fearsome," Serpent Pillar said, bowing. "I have much more training to do."
As Feng Che walked toward the exit, his eyes scanned the other rings. Manxiong, Nakata, and Starhunt had all won their matches. But as he reached the hallway, a hand reached out from the shadows and grabbed his shoulder.
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