"Don't bother resisting anymore," Kozaburo sneered. "Our Pokémon have been enhanced by the Pokémon Fury Device developed by Dr. Nanbo! They're nothing like those pathetic Pokémon used by losers like Jessie and James."
"Hmph, stop running your mouth," Raj shot back with irritation. "Do you know how villains usually die? They talk too damn much."
He muttered the last part under his breath so only he could hear it.
Raj analyzed the battlefield calmly. Metagross focuses on defense, while Houndoom excels in offense. Both have been artificially enhanced by Team Rocket's scientists… no wonder they're so confident. But I'm not the kind of opponent they've fought before.
"Haunter, use Dark Pulse! Mudkip, follow with Mud Bomb!"
"It's useless!" Amado laughed mockingly. "Metagross, Aurora Beam! Houndoom, Flamethrower! Block those pathetic attacks!"
Metagross fired a radiant beam from its metallic forehead, forming a shimmering barrier that absorbed Mudkip's Mud Bomb. Houndoom's searing Flamethrower then collided with Haunter's Dark Pulse, filling the air with smoke and fire.
Ash, Misty, and Brock were watching nervously from the side.
"What do you think, Raj? They're really strong. Should we jump in to help?" Ash asked, gripping a Poké Ball tightly.
"No need," Raj replied confidently. "Just watch. I'll wrap this up soon."
In truth, Raj wasn't aiming to win quickly — he wanted to gauge the limits of their power. A small, knowing smile formed at the corner of his lips.
When the smoke cleared, Mudkip had vanished, leaving Haunter hovering alone. Across the field, Houndoom lay unconscious on the ground, unable to battle, while Metagross stood frozen, barely reacting.
"What the—?! What did you do, kid?!" Kozaburo exclaimed.
Then he saw Mudkip digging its way up from underground, rubbing against Raj's leg proudly.
"So that's it… your Mudkip used Dig! No wonder Houndoom was taken out in one hit. We underestimated you!" Kozaburo growled, clenching his fists.
"Metagross, full power! Use Metal Claw!" Amado shouted angrily.
Raj smirked. "Overestimating yourself again. Mudkip, catch that Metagross and toss it toward Haunter!"
Muddy surged forward, its body softening and stretching to absorb Metagross's Metal Claw impact. Using the force of the attack, Mudkip flung the Steel-type toward Haunter.
Haunter extended its claws and charged a bright green orb of energy between them.
"An Energy Ball?!" Amado gasped. "Metagross, Iron Defense! Quickly!"
But Metagross didn't have time to react. Mudkip had already coated it with poison during the deflection, and Haunter's Energy Ball struck dead-on. The impact exploded with blinding light, leaving Metagross immobilized and defeated.
Ash's eyes sparkled with determination. "Alright, everyone! Let's finish this together! Raj already weakened them — let's end it!"
"Got it!" Brock and Misty shouted in unison.
"Staryu, Bubble Beam! Goldeen, Water Pulse!"
"Geodude, Rock Slide!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Charmander, Flamethrower! Squirtle, Water Gun! GO!"
The combined barrage of moves struck Kozaburo, Amado, and their Pokémon all at once, sending them flying high into the air.
"What a disgusting feeling! We'll be back!" they yelled in unison as they vanished into the sky.
Raj sighed. "Seriously… isn't that exactly what Jessie and James say every time?"
He turned — but the original Team Rocket trio had already disappeared. "Figures. Cowards as usual."
Ding! Mission complete — you helped Ash and his friends overcome a dangerous situation. Reward: 20,000 points.
System prompt: No active missions. Host may proceed freely.
Raj's mouth twitched. "What do you mean, 'decide what to do next'? I don't need you telling me how to live my life," he muttered irritably.
The system, as usual, stayed silent.
"Raj, do you want to come with us to Blue Pruzi for a vacation?" Misty asked cheerfully. "It's a gorgeous resort town — perfect for relaxing after all this chaos."
"Oh, sure. I've got nothing else to do right now anyway. Might as well let Haunter and the others rest too," Raj said with a grin.
Ash pumped his fist. "Then it's settled! Raj, next time we get a chance, I want to battle you. You're really strong — I can't beat you yet, but someday I will!"
Raj chuckled softly. "Heh, I'll be looking forward to it. It'll be a great battle, Ash."
For a moment, he was caught off guard by the fire in Ash's eyes. If I weren't such a villain, Raj thought quietly, maybe we could've been great partners.
But the thought faded quickly, replaced by his usual calm resolve.
"Finally, the beach!" Misty shouted, racing toward the sand as the waves crashed gently along the shore.
Raj stretched and smiled. "It's rare to have such peace. Would be nice to have a boat though — sailing would be relaxing."
"Hey, look!" Brock pointed toward the dock. "There's a ship over there — and Pikachu's on it!"
"Awesome! Let's go, Raj, Ash — come on!" Misty said, practically dragging them both along.
On board, she sighed contentedly. "Brock really is amazing, finding us a ship so fast."
"Huh? Wasn't it Ash who spotted it? I just saw Pikachu and followed him…" Brock admitted awkwardly.
Raj blinked. "Wait, does this mean we just… stole someone's boat?"
Before they could even react, something massive surged up from beneath the water — an unseen force that slammed the hull, sending the ship spinning out of control before it crashed into the dock and splintered apart.
A furious voice shouted from the shore:
"You damn brats! You stole my boat — and destroyed it too!"
...
📢 Author's Note
Part 1 of Pokémon: Rise of the Dark Trainer! is now completed and available on Patreon!
✅ Part 1 Complete — 100+ Chapters
Join Raj on his journey through the Pokémon world as he gains the mysterious Strongest Villain System, captures terrifying Pokémon, and walks the path toward becoming the most feared villain in history.
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continued support and happy reading! 💙