Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

A blinding bolt of lightning crashed down.

The blazing flames swept past.

Extreme cold frost instantly froze.

boom--!!

Accompanied by a sudden bang.

Dark Lugia was smashed down from the sky, and the entire island trembled violently.

The three divine birds thus gained a chance to catch their breath.

pat-

Holding Lugia, Xia Yan landed.

Stepping onto the flat, rocky ground.

An altar stands in the middle.

In the center of the altar, a full-sized crystal ball was embedded, with fluffy golden lightning constantly leaping within it, indicating its extraordinary nature.

"You've arrived."

Her clear voice was devoid of any emotion, and the hood she had pulled down revealed a delicate face.

Short hair, delicate nose, bright eyes—this face was already deeply etched in Xia Yan's mind.

Tom Rucky!

Faced with the greeting that sounded like that of an old acquaintance, Xia Yan replied very calmly.

"Ah."

It really felt like two old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, greeting each other.

"Little Lugia?"

At this moment, a tall, thin man next to Tomruch also took off his black cloak, revealing messy and disheveled hair, sallow skin, sunken eye sockets, and prominent cheekbones, looking malnourished and overworked.

He was wearing a white coat stained with some kind of oil.

He was wearing a pair of thick, round glasses.

He's a researcher!

His attention was completely drawn to the little Lugia in Xia Yan's arms.

Seemingly sensing his malice, little Lugia hugged Xia Yan tightly and buried her head in his clothes.

"Little Lugia!!"

Although the sentences were repeated, the tone was completely different, filled with undisguised fervor and excitement.

"There's even a little Lugia!"

He clenched his fists excitedly, his eyes looking as if he wanted to devour little Lugia.

"Lugia has a child! Hahahaha—Lugia actually has a child! I was right! I was right!"

The hysterical voice was full of madness.

Xia Yan frowned.

Another mad scientist.

"Did you see that? Mythical beasts can have offspring! Who says they can't? My research is on the right track!"

"Ok?"

Listening to his words, Xia Yan had a vague idea of ​​his identity.

Could this guy be the crazy researcher that Bishas mentioned, the one who integrated the genes of humans, Mew, and Pokémon to create the first generation of Mewtwo?

If it were him.

That would explain why Lugia was manipulated and turned into Dark Lugia.

So the other one is someone from the alliance?

Xia Yan looked at Tom Ruoqi's other side, where a man was still cloaked in black, but whose burly figure was clearly visible.

Who is he in the league?

If we say...

The biggest destabilizing factor in Xia Yan's solo operation this time is this person.

This person's identity is currently unknown.

"I never expected that the person you were waiting for would actually be the famous 'Father of Fairies,' Xia Yan?"

A muffled voice came from beneath the black robe.

His words were full of surprise.

Tom Ruoqi smiled and smoothed his bangs, then chuckled and said:

"Right? I didn't expect his growth rate at all, it was quite a surprise."

"The human favored by Reshiram of the Unova region, a true hero, your caution was justified," the man nodded.

"Unfortunately, even Rashiram can't get in here."

Xia Yan remained silent while listening to the conversation on the other end.

"I want that little Lugia! I need that little Lugia! Everything else is yours, all of it is yours!"

The researcher made no attempt to conceal his purpose.

“Take him down, and you can choose whoever you want,” the burly man said.

“He’s mine.” Tom Ruchi took a step forward.

On the other side, Lugia, flying up from the island, charged at the three legendary birds once again, fueled by rage.

"Don't let this go wrong. If you fail this time, all the investment the adults have made in you will be wasted, and they won't be happy."

That's all.

The burly man, accompanied by the thin researcher, took a few steps back.

grown ups?

Xia Yan squinted.

"I don't need you to teach me."

Tom Ruchi said it casually.

She looked at Xia Yan again and smiled sweetly.

It felt like stepping back into that luxurious club in Golden City, where I was a receptionist and a sparring partner from a down-on-his-luck club.

But next second.

She threw the Poké Ball.

Violence—!!

With a flap of its wings, a magnificent lightning bolt burst forth.

One of the thickest arrows hit the crystal ball inside the central altar with pinpoint accuracy.

In a short time.

Countless bolts of lightning struck down as if the end of the world had come.

Golden bolts of lightning formed a fence, encircling Xia Yan and Tom Ruoqi.

of course.

There was also a panting Zapdos in the sky, the one with divine authority.

The battle with Dark Lugia had left it extremely exhausted.

But as the falling lightning circled around the altar, it gradually quieted down.

It slowly descended from the sky and stood not far from Xia Yan.

Is this the real battlefield?

Xia Yan looked around.

The lightning bolts around them weren't particularly thick, yet they seemed to contain terrifying destructive power.

From the outside.

It was as if a golden curtain had been raised, completely enveloping the central area.

Neither the burly man nor the frail researcher could see what was inside.

"Little Lugia, Little Lugia."

The thin researcher rubbed his palms together repeatedly, as if he were possessed.

The burly man crossed his arms and watched silently, though he couldn't see what was inside.

"Zetzart has been weakened to this extent by Lugia. Although Xia Yan is the champion of the 'Islands Tournament,' he is still just a junior."

He analyzed the pros and cons, the advantages and disadvantages.

No matter how you analyze it,

The final result is the same.

Tom Ruchi.

Very stable.

“No need to look, the outside can’t see inside, and we won’t go out until we’ve decided who’s the winner,” Tom Ruchi said with a smile.

Xia Yan then turned his gaze back to the opposite side.

He glanced at the Zapdos, which was breathing heavily, out of the corner of his eye.

He asked slowly, "Why did you choose me?"