"So your name is Feng Che. Decent name, decent strength... but unfortunately for you, you've run into me. You'll just have to watch as I take that first-place prize for myself."
The speaker was Starhunt. Feng Che felt as if he were being stared down by a venomous snake. Though a smile played on Starhunt's lips, his voice dripped with malice.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch," Feng Che retorted, giving him no face at all. "You should worry about how you'll handle the reality of being crushed by me."
Starhunt laughed. "I hope you keep that confidence in the ring. Psychic types crush Poison types, remember? Try not to cry when my Pokémon slaughters your Arbok." He turned and vanished into the corridor.
"Total lunatic," Feng Che muttered, walking in the opposite direction.
Team Rocket: Instructor Viper's Office.
"Sir, the Final Four bracket is set," the adjutant said, handing over a tablet.
The names were: Nakata, Manxiong, Feng Che, and Starhunt.
"I didn't expect Serpent Pillar to be eliminated by Feng Che," Viper mused. "As for Starhunt... he's a ruthless piece of work Athena forced into the trial. This is going to be a bloodbath. Ensure we have high-level Psychic Pokémon or Trainers on standby to contain any 'accidents.' My right eye has been twitching—I have a bad feeling about this."
Feng Che returned to his quarters and set up a high-end incubator he'd traded from logistics. He carefully placed the Alolan Vulpix egg inside, submerging it in a custom-blended nutrient solution.
If I'm to maintain two identities, I need two distinct teams, Feng Che planned. Rocket only knows about my Arbok. I'll make Rookidee part of my 'Light' identity. But I need more. The Rank 1 prize starter—if it's Cyan potential—will be perfect. That level of talent can reach Elite Four strength.
He recalled a memory from his gaming days. Wait... there was a massive nursery in Celadon City that went bankrupt around this time. They held a high-end auction for a Pokémon with incredible potential. I need to be there.
Between the upcoming Mewtwo Strikes Back event and the Elite Four Rebellion, the Kanto region was about to become a war zone. Feng Che intended to use the chaos to carve out his own empire.
Beep, beep.
The notification for tomorrow's match arrived. His opponent: Manxiong.
"The 'Savage Bear,' huh? A powerhouse, but every Ursaring has its weak point," Feng Che smiled.
A dark alley in Team Rocket HQ.
Manxiong and his gang were walking back from training when a cloaked, masked figure blocked their path.
"Manxiong. It's Starhunt."
"Get out of my way, you freak!" Manxiong barked. "What do you want?"
"I want you to beat Feng Che tomorrow. Beat him until he's broken," Starhunt commanded, his voice cold. "Don't forget, Lady Athena is my patron. Cross me, and you cross her."
Manxiong opened his mouth to roar, but his subordinate, Monkey, quickly covered it. "Leader, careful! We can't afford to anger the Executives!" Monkey turned to Starhunt with a fawning smile. "Understood, Lord Starhunt!"
SLAP!
Starhunt struck Monkey across the face, leaving a bright red handprint. "I was talking to your boss. Don't interrupt me again." He vanished into the shadows.
Manxiong's face turned purple with rage. "Starhunt... pray you don't face me in the finals. I'll tear you apart!"
The Dragon's Den (御龙之窟).
Deep in the misty caves of the Blackthorn region, two guards, Wulong Bai and Wulong Guang, were startled by a massive shadow emerging from the fog.
"Who goes there?!" They released a Dragonair and an Aerodactyl.
"It's me. Lance."
Lance emerged on his Gyarados. "Is the Great Elder in? My Dragonite has been compromised. I need his counsel."
"The Elder is waiting. Enter," a booming, ancient voice echoed from the depths.
Lance walked past the skeletal remains of ancient dragons to a gargantuan tree that pulsed with jade-like light—the Draco-Tree. Half of its leaves were withered.
"Still dying, I see," Lance noted.
"I cannot find the cause," the Elder sighed. "But let us look at your dragon."
Lance released Dragonite, who immediately stumbled and hit a stone wall.
"It drank a Salac Elixir of incredible quality," Lance explained. "The boy who gave it to me also diagnosed Dragonite with a chronic toxin called 'Time.' He said someone has been poisoning my ace for over six months."
The Elder placed a hand on Dragonite's belly, channeling Dragon Force. A golden aura enveloped them for fifteen minutes.
"The boy was right," the Elder said, his face grave. "Something is forcing rapid cellular division. It boosts strength but burns through life force. Your dragon is only twenty years old—in its prime—but this toxin would have aged it to death within a year. It is a slow, 'natural' murder."
"The person who saw through this must be a genius," the Elder continued. "Even I only found traces because I knew what to look for with Dragon Force. Lance, the League is a nest of vipers. Someone wants you gone. Keep the Dragonite here for treatment; use your secondary team for now."
He looked at the empty medicine vial Lance had brought. "And this elixir... the quality is divine. Whoever made this is a Master Breeder. When you find him again, be respectful. We need a man like that in the Dragon Clan."
"I understand, Elder," Lance said, his eyes hardening. "I'm heading back to the League. If they want a fight, I'll give them one."
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