In the world of Pokémon, reaching the "Champion" rank is a feat achieved by a precious few. Even Feng Che, in his past life as a gamer, had only broken through that ceiling by pouring massive resources into exceptionally gifted partners.
"Perfect. When the sky falls, let the tall guys hold it up," Feng Che said with a smirk, watching Lance soar off to intercept Hanzo Shura.
He noted that Hanzo's strength was roughly at the mid-tier Pseudo-Elite level, on par with Captain Kasha. However, the cunning Hanzo kept launching volleys at the ship itself. Forced to prioritize the safety of the thousands of passengers, Lance and Kasha were being lured into a defensive bind, unable to exert their full offensive power.
"Go, Corvisquire!"
Feng Che released the blue bird, which intercepted a swarm of Dustox sent by the lower-level poachers. Corvisquire became a streak of cyan light, knocking the moths unconscious and sending them crashing to the deck.
While directing the defense, Feng Che kept a sharp eye on Nakata. Sure enough, seeing Feng Che "distracted" by the poachers, Nakata pushed through the panicked crowd toward the platform, followed by his Golduck.
I have to strike now before the other poachers realize how special his team is, Nakata plotted, though his face wore a mask of desperate concern. "Hang in there, kid! I'm coming to help!"
"Golduck, listen to me," Feng Che sent a telepathic message to the blue duck. "Use Psychic on Nakata when I give the signal. Do it, and I promise I'll find you a beautiful girl as your permanent trainer."
Golduck:Whoa! A real telepath! But... if I attack him, the psychic geis in my head will detonate and kill me!
So that's why he's afraid of a burly brute like Nakata, Feng Che realized. Let's see what this 'geis' actually looks like.
He channeled his blue psychic energy, his eyes glowing as he delved into Golduck's mind. He found a dense, blue orb of foreign energy latched onto the Pokémon's neural center. He touched it lightly with his intent. Golduck immediately shrieked and rolled on the ground, clutching its head in agony.
"Golduck! What's wrong?" Nakata shouted, startled by the sudden collapse. "Is someone sniping us?" He scanned the area warily.
"Sorry, Golduck. I didn't realize a light touch would be that painful," Feng Che apologized.
Golduck:It hurts! It hurts so much! That Poacher really didn't hold back when he had his boss set this thing!
What if I just... insulate it? Feng Che thought. He carefully wrapped his own psychic power around the blue orb, creating a containment field.
Golduck:Wait... the pain is gone. I can't feel the leash anymore!Golduck:Finally! No more burly men! No more fear! Take this, you stinky Poacher!
Golduck snapped its eyes open and unleashed a point-blank Hydro Pump at Nakata.
"What the—?! Golduck, have you lost your mind?!" Nakata screamed. The jet of water slammed into his chest, throwing him back against the railing. He barely managed to grab a stanchion, preventing himself from falling into the sea to be shredded by the berserk Gyarados.
"Damn you! What's wrong with you?!" Nakata spat, his face contorted in pain. "My ribs... they're broken."
Realizing the game was up, he shed his act entirely. "Go! Tentacruel, Feraligatr, Seadra!"
A massive Feraligatr emerged, its jaws snapping with enough force to crush steel. Beside it, the Seadra looked on coldly, its body covered in toxic spines. The three predators surrounded Golduck.
Golduck:Heavens above! Three against one? My life is a tragedy!
"Yanmega (Ditto), take the Tentacruel! Ivysaur and Scyther, handle the Feraligatr! Golduck, team up with Corvisquire against the Seadra!"
Feng Che's team moved with surgical precision, intercepting the Poacher's heavy hitters.
"Impressive. You even turned my own Golduck against me," Nakata sneered. "How did you know?"
"I knew from the moment you looked at my Pokémon like they were luxury cars," Feng Che replied, his voice cold and mocking. "Your acting was amateur at best."
"So the 'rookie' was the predator all along. Fine. I am a Silver-Rank Hunter of the Syndicate. My name is Nakata—that part wasn't a lie. I usually just steal the Pokémon, but for you... I'll make an exception and take your life too."
"You talk too much," Feng Che shrugged. "Don't you know the villain always dies because they can't keep their mouth shut? If you want my Pokémon, get out of here alive first!"
"Die!" Nakata roared. "Tentacruel, Sludge Wave! Seadra, Pin Missile! Feraligatr, use your raw power!"
"Counter them! Yanmega, Hurricane! Golduck, use Psychic! Corvisquire, Pluck! Ivysaur, Vine Whip! Scyther, Slash!"
The deck became a hurricane of elemental clashes. Nakata, sweating from the pain of his ribs, watched in disbelief as his "subordinates" were systematically picked apart.
"Don't get too comfortable, kid! Feraligatr, Ice Fang!"
"Scyther, bisect the ice! Ivysaur, Solar Beam!"
As the battle raged, Nakata suddenly felt a presence behind him.
"When did...? How?!"
He looked back to see Litten standing there, its paws silenced by its natural pads. Before he could move, Litten used Fake Out, slamming its paws into Nakata's face. His head rang like a bell, and he collapsed, dazed.
"Litten, don't kill him yet. No prize money for a corpse," Feng Che called out.
Red Island Harbor
"Mama, look! The sky is red! It's so pretty!" a child pointed toward the horizon.
On the pier, the locals and tourists stared in awe—and then terror—as the sky turned a demonic crimson, punctuated by distant explosions.
At the Cinnabar Gym, the veteran leader Blaine lowered his binoculars. "That's no sunset. That's a high-level Fire move creating a localized weather effect. And that cruise liner is overdue."
"Notify Officer Jenny," Blaine barked at an assistant. "Someone is attacking that ship. We're going in."
Back on the Ship
Lance and Captain Kasha were slowly driving Hanzo Shura off the vessel.
"Even if I leave, Lance, those Gyarados will tear this ship apart! The Rage Powder has turned the sea into a meat grinder!" Hanzo laughed, perched atop a Honchkrow.
"I've already handled the sea," Lance replied, his eyes cold. "My Pokémon are already in the water. Your 'storm' is over."
"Tch! You always have to ruin everything!" Hanzo waved a hand, and his Crobat became a blur of speed, diving straight for Lance.
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