Kanto Region — Vermilion Gym
Today at the Vermilion Gym, everything appeared as peaceful as usual.
Lt. Surge was sprawled lazily across the office sofa, clutching his Pokédex while frantically grinding through Pokémon.
However…
That rugged face of his was suspiciously flushed red.
"Fuck! Lost again! Why is the Vermilion Gym designed to be this hard?! And another thing—am I really that underhanded? Zapping people everywhere when I can't win?!"
His furious roars and complaints echoed through the office.
On the game screen, his character kept pacing back and forth inside the Vermilion Gym—running in and out repeatedly—yet he still couldn't obtain that damned Thunder Badge.
Even worse, every time the in-game Lt. Surge electrocuted him and knocked him to the ground, he would mock him mercilessly.
"Lt. Surge: Hahaha! Kid, with skills like that you dare challenge me? Go train another ten years! Or… beg me? If I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll throw you a badge!"
After suffering countless defeats…
The in-game Lt. Surge finally seemed to grow annoyed and casually tossed him a badge like alms to a beggar.
"Lt. Surge: Scram! Take the badge and get out of my sight!"
At that moment—
The redness on the man's face surpassed all love confessions in the world.
Embarrassed and furious, he raised the Pokédex, ready to smash it!
Buzz—
His phone screen lit up just in time.
It was a group chat invitation.
"The brat Rei Akagi made a group? A game chat?"
Lt. Surge squinted. His anger subsided slightly, replaced by a smug grin.
"Ha! That kid must be stuck at Vermilion Gym and wants advice from the real deal—me! At least he's got some sense!"
He opened the group chat, already thinking about the most dignified way to greet them.
His eyes swept over the member list—
The Man of Battle.
The Man of Breeding.
Lt. Surge's finger froze midair.
Silently, he deleted the arrogant message he had just typed.
BANG!
The office door was suddenly kicked open by a sailor.
"Boss! Bad news! A huge crowd just showed up outside the Gym! They're shouting that they want to fight you in a no-rules battle!"
"?"
Lt. Surge didn't even look up.
"Tell them to get lost! The League banned no-rules Gym battles ages ago! I don't have time to play house with them!"
"Boss! We already told them!"
The sailor looked both helpless and panicked.
"But they said… they're not here for badges! They came specifically to challenge you! They want a real no-rules fight—with their fists!"
"What?!"
Lt. Surge shot up from the sofa.
He grabbed his camouflage vest and threw it on roughly, the fury he'd been suppressing all morning instantly igniting.
"So they've gone this far? Looks like I've got no choice but to fight!"
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking loudly.
Then he suddenly grinned.
"Let them all in. Don't miss a single one."
"And then—lock the front door."
"Yes, boss!"
The sailor shuddered and rushed out to carry out the order.
Lt. Surge walked to his desk and picked up a pair of brass knuckles he hadn't worn in a long time.
Then he strode toward the exit, his roar shaking the entire Gym.
"Come on then, you clueless challengers!"
In short…
The Vermilion Gym was unexpectedly harmonious today.
Only—
From time to time, tragic screams from Trainers echoed through the air.
"Isn't a no-rules battle supposed to start by grabbing the Poké Balls?! Why are you walking straight toward me?! Don't come closer!!!"
"Referee! He's cheating! Look at his hands! Those are brass knuckles! That's illegal!"
"Don't hit my face! I was wrong! I'll never come to Vermilion Gym again! Please spare me!"
"AAAAAA—!"
Afternoon — Vermilion City Pokémon Center
The usually quiet Pokémon Center was unusually crowded today.
Strangely enough—
The injured weren't Pokémon.
They were Trainers.
Punch marks, footprints, burn scars from electricity…
All sorts of injuries appeared in creative combinations.
Nurse Joy, experienced as ever, only needed one glance to reach a conclusion.
The attacker's technique was very professional.
Aside from causing severe pain and leaving bruises that would take a while to fade, the injuries weren't actually serious.
Clearly…
Someone had shown remarkable "restraint."
Meanwhile…
Mausoleum of the First Emperor— Subspace
The ancient palace that once lay in darkness was now illuminated like daytime by artificial lights.
The Ghost-type Pokémon that once slumbered here had all disappeared.
In their place were figures in uniform, moving busily.
They continuously transported high-end equipment into the central chamber where the jade coffin rested.
On every uniform, a glaring rainbow-colored "R" emblem shone under the harsh lights.
Inside the main chamber—
The moment the final data cable connected to the coffin's base, the nearby monitor screens lit up instantly.
Streams of data cascaded across the displays.
A researcher hurried toward the center of the chamber holding a freshly generated analysis report.
Standing there was a cold-faced middle-aged man with his hands behind his back.
The only designated Boss of Team Rainbow Rocket—
Giovanni, from the Victory Timeline.
Beside him stood a humanoid Pokémon of unusual form, clad in special armor, radiating an oppressive and unsettling aura.
"Report! Instrument integration complete! Energy scanning and replication procedures have begun. Estimated completion time—one month!"
The researcher saluted respectfully and handed over the report, his voice tense.
"The anomalous energy discharge is spreading according to plan. The predicted influence zone will cover the entire Dian'an City region! All dormant Pokémon in this area have been awakened and secured. They can be triggered into a riot at any time. Awaiting orders!"
Giovanni accepted the report calmly.
His cold gaze swept over the data.
He said nothing.
The assistant standing nearby stepped forward immediately.
"Seal all subspace channels! Deploy maximum-level defensive measures! Ensure the energy replication process proceeds without interruption while minimizing external detection of energy fluctuations!"
"Yes!"
The researcher retreated quickly in relief.
Only then did Giovanni casually toss the report aside.
His voice was steady—yet carried absolute authority.
"How are the control devices prepared by the equipment division?"
"The first batch of tests is complete. Performance is stable."
The assistant bowed slightly.
"Good."
Giovanni's deep gaze turned toward the jade coffin glowing with eerie light.
"Distribute the first shipment of tools."
"Equip them with the control devices."
He paused briefly.
His tone remained calm and emotionless.
"Soon… guests will arrive."
"Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, Boss!"
The assistant bowed deeply and left to carry out the orders.
The vast chamber soon fell silent.
Only Giovanni and the silent armored Pokémon remained.
He gazed at the jade coffin—
As if admiring a masterpiece.
Suddenly—
The space beside him twisted violently.
Blinding electricity crackled.
A sinister Ultra Wormhole, glowing with purple light, tore open in midair.
Without hesitation—
Giovanni and the armored Pokémon stepped into the swirling vortex.
Their figures vanished instantly.
In the empty hall, only the cold hum of machinery remained.
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