"How about it? Hand over your treasures and I'll spare your lives," Feng Che said with a thin smile, looking at Old Smoker and his group. "Your reliance has already been swatted unconscious by my Torracat."
"Everyone, bring out the rest of your Pokémon! He only has one Torracat!" Old Smoker yelled to the other two.
"Come forth, Galarian Slowbro!" "Go, Ursaring!" "Go, Houndoom!"
Galarian Slowbro: Level 48, Green Potential. Ursaring: Level 43, Yellow Potential. Houndoom: Level 45, Yellow Potential.
The three bounty hunters released their Pokémon one after another.
The Galarian Slowbro differed slightly from the usual form; the top of its head, ears, and hands were purple, while its arms remained pink. The tip of its tail was also purple. The Shellder, which usually attached to the tail, was now on Slowbro's left arm, shaped like a biological handgun.
Though Galarian Slowbro often appears to be in a daze, when confronting strong enemies, the irritants in its body stimulate its entire nervous system. Under this stimulus, its gaze becomes sharp, and it can raise its Shellder-arm with speed that would put a master gunslinger to shame, firing toxic liquid from the tip to pierce its target. This Poison typing was a chemical reaction caused by spices in the Galarian Slowpoke's body reacting to the Shellder's bite.
"Old Smoker, did you actually go to the Galar region? Having two Galarian forms... no wonder I haven't seen you for a long time," the fat hunter remarked.
"Yeah, I was sent there for a secret mission and caught two Galarian Slowpoke. I spent a fortune in resources to evolve them," Old Smoker replied. "Go, Galarian Slowbro, use Water Pulse!"
The Galarian Slowbro raised its Shellder-arm, firing a purple-tinted jet of water. "My Slowbro's water contains a paralyzing toxin. Once that Torracat touches it, it's over!" Old Smoker boasted.
"Haha! It hit! The Torracat was struck!" Old Smoker's eyes gleamed with greed. "I want that Torracat. I'll take the cat, and you guys can have the rest of this kid's treasures."
This old fox... the Torracat is clearly the most valuable thing here. He's always taking the best cut, the fat hunter and the monkey-faced hunter cursed inwardly.
"Houndoom, use Flamethrower on the trainer!" "Ursaring, grab him!"
The Houndoom charged, breathing a stream of black-tinted flames that trailed thick smoke. The Ursaring sprinted forward, its sharp claws extended.
Only then did Old Smoker realize that the "Torracat" hit by the water was merely a Double Team afterimage. The real Torracat was already standing directly in front of Feng Che.
Torracat opened its mouth and unleashed a blast of searing white flames. This white fire collided with Houndoom's black flames, devouring them instantly. The white fire then spread to Houndoom's body, causing the dark hound to wail and roll frantically on the ground.
"Impossible! My Houndoom can bathe in lava! How can it be burned by a Torracat's fire?!" Houndoom's trainer stared, wide-eyed in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Torracat had already blurred to the side of the charging Ursaring.
"Now's your chance! Ursaring, Hammer Arm!"
The bear raised a glowing white claw and slammed it down toward Torracat. A massive tremor shook the earth, kicking up a cloud of dust and soot. When the smoke cleared, Ursaring's claw was buried deep in the ground. Torracat had leaped onto the bear's head, unleashing the raw power of Superpower.
With a sickening thud, the Ursaring felt its brain rattle. It saw stars for a split second before collapsing face-first into the dirt.
"Galarian Slowbro, use Teleport! Get us out of here!" Old Smoker realized the tide had turned and tried to flee.
SMACK.
Torracat delivered a lightning-fast Fake Out, interrupting the Teleport. A moment later, its sharp claws were pressed firmly against Old Smoker's throat.
Old Smoker felt the cold, lethal edge of the claws against his windpipe. He began to tremble uncontrollably, his soul nearly leaving his body. "Easy, easy... good hero, let's talk this out. We're civilized people..."
"Hand over your Pokémon and treasures," Feng Che commanded. "Then, each of you will tell me one piece of valuable information in exchange for your lives. I'll know if you're lying. If you tell a single lie, your fate will be the same as this rock."
Feng Che signaled Torracat. The cat raised a paw and slammed it into a meter-high boulder nearby. The solid stone shattered into a dozen fragments.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!" The three hunters scrambled to offer up their secrets to save their skins.
A short while later, Feng Che walked out of the forest, satisfied with his haul. Old Smoker and his two companions were left tied up in a tree near the forest exit.
I didn't expect the Goldenrod Ruins to be opening soon, Feng Che thought. An ancient site related to Unown. When they gather in large numbers, they possess power rivaling the Gods. It opens in two months—plenty of time to prepare. It'll definitely attract many Psychics.
The Sea God Grotto
An Alpha rune appeared on Archie's forehead. The Sea Monster let out a sigh of relief.
[Sea Monster: Finally, I can parasite this human to find Kyogre. And that little thief who cleaned out my Sea Crystals... I will find you, strip your soul, and make you suffer for eternity!]
The monster's rage flared as it remembered the loss of its thousand-year accumulation. "Archie, I must slumber within you for a time. While I sleep, you must put all your strength into finding the Alpha Sapphire. It is the key to restoring my true power."
"My God, I shall spread the glory of the sea across all of Hoenn," Archie replied, his eyes filled with fanatical devotion.
Team Rocket Headquarters
Giovanni's dark expression finally broke into a smile. "Haha! Goodshow didn't see that coming—Rayquaza flew the coop after all his effort! According to Feng Che, it even leveled the Sky Tower on its way out. That tower was Goodshow's pride and joy; Rayquaza might as well have slapped him twice across the face."
"Matori, call the Executives. We discuss the Triple-Bird Fusion tonight," Giovanni said, the gloom finally lifting.
The Bug Forest
As the "lungs of Johto," this forest was home to millions of Bug-type Pokémon. Currently, a severe infestation was underway.
Due to unusual climatic conditions, Heracross and Pinsir were breeding at an unprecedented rate. They were ravenously consuming tree sap, threatening the entire ecosystem. The rangers noted that the outbreak had started earlier than usual—and it wasn't just the beetles. Butterfree and Beedrill were also multiplying at an unnatural speed.
The rangers had issued an emergency summons for trainers to help cull the population.
"Gym Leader Bugsy, we're counting on you," the rangers said respectfully to a youth holding a bug-catching net and dressed in archaeological gear.
"Leave it to me. I intend to investigate the cause of this mass breeding," Bugsy said confidently. "Do not allow any rookie trainers inside. It's too dangerous. Only those with Bounty Hunter contracts or established reputations may enter."
Bugsy stepped into the forest.
Feng Che, arriving early via Corvisquire, had already seen the gravity of the situation. Everywhere he looked, there were bugs. Caterpie and Weedle were evolving into Metapod and Kakuna in mere hours, becoming Butterfree and Beedrill shortly after.
This is bizarre... it's as if an unknown power is driving them into a frenzy, Feng Che thought, his brow furrowed. Wait... something is very wrong. I can't hear their hearts. I can't hear a single thought from these Pokémon.
He could almost feel the forest itself let out a silent scream of agony.