The villainous Team Magma!!
Officer Jenny stood before the Weather Institute, fuming with frustration.
The institute was a legitimate research facility, yet these criminals had dared to attack and occupy it in broad daylight.
Broad daylight!
It was as if they had no regard for the Hoenn League at all!
"Officer Jenny, have the area completely surrounded. Don't let any Team Magma members escape."
A smooth, elegant voice issued the command.
It belonged to Wallace, the Champion of Hoenn, who stood beside her with his refined demeanor.
"Yes, sir!"
Officer Jenny responded sharply, immediately instructing her team to block all possible exits.
"Sigh~"
Wallace let out a soft sigh as he looked at the Weather Institute.
Originally, he had been on his way to Slateport City as a guest for a Pokémon Contest.
But as fate would have it, he happened to pass by and saw Officer Jenny's unit mobilizing for a raid on Team Magma.
As Hoenn's reigning Champion, he naturally couldn't just ignore it—especially given his own sense of justice.
To Wallace, Team Magma and Team Aqua were both utterly deranged organizations.
One worshiped land, the other worshiped the sea.
But wanting to massively expand land or sea?
That was pure lunacy.
Land and sea were both essential to the balance of the world.
Of course, Wallace loved the ocean—he was a Water-type specialist, after all. He adored Water Pokémon and the vast, beautiful sea.
But that had nothing to do with wanting to expand the ocean.
He simply couldn't understand the twisted logic of Team Aqua.
And despite their grandiose claims of "expanding land" or "expanding the sea," both organizations engaged in blatant criminal activity—stealing Pokémon, hijacking submarines, and now even taking over research facilities.
Absolute nonsense.
Wallace sighed again.
By now, he should have already been in Slateport City. Meanwhile, that damn Steven was probably off digging up rare stones in some remote cave.
That bastard tricked him into becoming Champion and then ran off to do whatever he wanted. What kind of friend does that?!
Wallace cursed Steven internally.
And speaking of Steven… Wallace suddenly remembered how strange his friend had been a few months ago.
The last time they spoke, Steven's tone had been completely off.
Come to think of it, they hadn't talked in months.
Steven used to call him at least once a month…
Wallace's mind drifted.
"Quite the spectacle, huh?"
Wallace snapped back to reality as a voice rang out.
Looking up, he saw four figures walking out of the Weather Institute.
"Team Magma! You villains! How dare you attack the Weather Institute?!"
Officer Jenny glared at Dylan's group, her voice filled with righteous anger.
She had zero tolerance for criminals who blatantly broke the law.
"Officer Jenny, no need to be so agitated. If you immediately label us as criminals, it puts us in a difficult position."
Dylan remained completely unfazed, maintaining a warm smile.
"We didn't attack anyone. We were simply using the institute as a place to rest and recover."
Courtney stared blankly at Dylan's calm demeanor, momentarily at a loss for words.
Can… can you really just say that?!
"And where are the researchers?"
Officer Jenny narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, they were so welcoming that they got a little too excited. To avoid any accidents, we asked them to take a moment to calm down in another room."
Dylan spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his tone unhurried and graceful.
"You—!!"
Officer Jenny was furious.
What "calming down in another room"?!
That was just a polite way of saying they had locked up all the researchers!
"That's so… ungraceful."
Wallace sighed.
"Ladies and gentlemen of Team Magma, your actions violate Hoenn League regulations. Would you kindly surrender?"
Wallace's voice was exceptionally gentle, almost androgynous in its tone.
Just like his appearance—so unreasonably beautiful that his fair complexion looked even softer than a woman's.
If he dressed in feminine clothes and wore a wig, he could probably pass as a stunning lady.
"My apologies, Champion Wallace, but surely you're joking."
Dylan turned to Wallace, studying him curiously.
Wallace—Hoenn's current Champion.
Originally the Sootopolis City Gym Leader, he had later ascended to the top of the Hoenn League.
And he wasn't just a Champion.
Wallace was also a descendant of the ancient People of Sootopolis!
In the games, Wallace possessed the ability to unlock the Sky Pillar's seal due to this heritage.
"I see."
Wallace frowned slightly, his elegant brow furrowing. He let out a small sigh before extending his hand from beneath his white cape.
A Ludicolo with a green lily-pad hat and a rotund body cheerfully hopped forward.
"This isn't exactly graceful, but I'm on a tight schedule. All of you, come at me at once."
Wallace casually flicked his hair, his tone calm and composed.
Come at me at once.
The confidence of a Champion.
"Oh?"
Dylan raised an eyebrow.
Lillie and Leaf exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat amused.
Courtney, however, became serious. She immediately reached for her Poké Ball, ready to send out her Camerupt.
After all, Wallace was Hoenn's Champion—
The title wasn't just for show.
A Champion was, by definition, "the strongest Trainer in the region."
This wasn't an exaggeration—it was fact.
A Champion's position was determined purely by strength.
Anyone strong enough to defeat the current Champion could take their place.
With Steven now retired, Wallace was undeniably the strongest Trainer in Hoenn.
"Wallace, you sure you want to talk like that? You're not worried about eating your words?"
Dylan twirled a minimized Ultra Ball between his fingers, his tone playful as he watched Wallace.
"Bold words, hmm? What a headache…"
Wallace blinked in slight surprise, then rubbed his temple as if genuinely troubled.
"Has Team Magma really become so bold as to look down on the Hoenn League?"
"You seem to misunderstand something, Champion Wallace. I am…"
Wallace slightly tilted his head, his expression gradually turning colder.
"Wallace."
Before he even finished speaking, Ludicolo launched forward like a bullet, aiming directly at Dylan's group!
So fast!
Courtney's pupils contracted.
The sheer speed at which Ludicolo attacked caught her completely off guard—she instinctively reached for her Poké Ball.
But—
Too late.
She wouldn't make it in time.
Not even close.
Before Camerupt could even emerge, Ludicolo would already be upon them—
BAM!
A heavy impact thundered through the air.
The sheer force made Courtney's ears ring.
Ludicolo flew backward as if it had been struck by a speeding truck, crashing to the ground with a pained cry.
Silence.
For a moment, the entire battlefield fell into stunned silence.
Officer Jenny and her officers stared, dumbfounded.
Even Wallace was momentarily speechless.
As Ludicolo struggled to rise, Wallace slowly turned his gaze toward Dylan's Pokémon.
A white-furred beast with a wild, dragon-like mane.
Crimson eyes, bloodshot and feral.
Thick, muscular limbs bound by black iron cuffs.
Annihilape.
A terrifying presence radiated from the Ghost/Fighting-type Pokémon.
Courtney's jaw nearly dropped as she stared at Dylan and his Annihilape in shock.
"How… are you this strong?!"
Officer Jenny finally blurted out.
"Oh? Well, I should ask you, Officer Jenny—when exactly did you get the impression that I wasn't this strong?"
Dylan adjusted his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Officer Jenny was at a loss for words.
"Who… are you?"
Wallace's gaze turned serious.
Ludicolo was one of his main Pokémon—not his ace, but still Champion-level.
Even if it had been caught off guard, knocking it back in one hit was no ordinary feat.
"Aizen. Honored Champion Wallace, you may call me Aizen."
Dylan remained the epitome of grace—polite and refined as ever.
Aizen?
Wallace quickly searched his memory, but he found nothing—he couldn't recall any information about this name.
No matter how hard he tried, he had never heard of such a Trainer, whether in Hoenn or any other region.
But with such overwhelming strength… how was that possible?
"You're this strong, yet you choose to align yourself with Team Magma?" Wallace furrowed his brows, clearly unable to understand.
"That has nothing to do with you, Champion Wallace. I have no intention of fighting you—so long as you let us leave."
Dylan adjusted his glasses, a polite smile on his face as he looked at Wallace and Officer Jenny.
"How about we all just pretend nothing happened today?"
"Aizen, surely you must be joking."
Wallace threw Dylan's words right back at him. Then, he calmly opened a Poké Ball.
A flash of white light revealed a stunningly elegant Pokémon, its serpent-like form gliding gracefully onto the battlefield.
Wallace's ace—Milotic.
"So, we're really doing this, huh?"
Dylan's tone sounded a little helpless, but his face showed no trace of reluctance.
"If possible, I would rather not battle a Trainer like you, Aizen."
Wallace's gaze remained sharp.
His instincts told him—this Aizen was likely the strongest opponent he had faced since becoming Champion of Hoenn.
Damn it, Steven, you bastard.
If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have to deal with a Trainer this strong.
Wallace cursed his friend internally.
He had been perfectly happy as the Sootopolis Gym Leader, living a carefree life.
"And here I thought I was just going to take it easy today, but I guess I have to trouble you a bit, Champion Wallace."
Dylan opened another Poké Ball.
"Zoroark."
A shadowy, fox-like figure materialized in front of him, its eerie, crimson eyes locking onto Milotic and Ludicolo.
Annihilape and Zoroark?
Wallace frowned slightly as he stared at the two Pokémon before him.
Just by appearance alone, they looked like trouble.
What kind of world was this? Why was a Team Magma member this ridiculous?!
"Annihilape, Shadow Sneak."
"Zoroark, Dark Pulse."
Annihilape cocked its head to the side, then silently faded into an open rift in space.
Zoroark brought its claws together, a swirling black energy rapidly expanding between them.
With a flick of its arms, the pulsating mass of dark energy shot forward toward Ludicolo and Milotic.
A powerful Dark Pulse!
"Hydro Pump!"
Wallace didn't hesitate.
Milotic and Ludicolo immediately fired off two massive torrents of water, colliding head-on with Dark Pulse.
BOOM!
The three attacks clashed violently, energy rippling outward.
But—
Dark Pulse wasn't overpowered.
Wallace's eyes narrowed.
What?!
Milotic and Ludicolo's combined Hydro Pump failed to break through the attack?
How is this possible?!
A rift in space suddenly opened beside Milotic.
Emerging from the darkness—a terrifying, snarling Annihilape, fist glowing with eerie energy.
Simultaneously, Zoroark rushed forward at high speed toward Milotic.
"Milotic, Scald!"
Wallace reacted quickly, issuing an immediate command.
Milotic shot out a jet of steaming hot water toward Annihilape.
Annihilape swung its glowing fist downward—Shadow Sneak!
Scald and Shadow Sneak collided mid-air in a fierce exchange.
"Ludicolo, Energy Ball!"
Ludicolo hopped, forming a glowing green sphere in its hands before launching it toward Zoroark.
"Champion Wallace, did you know?"
Dylan's lips curved slightly.
"Your eyes can deceive you."
Wallace's heart skipped a beat.
What?
Before he could process Dylan's words—
Ludicolo's Energy Ball struck the oncoming Zoroark, but—
It passed right through.
Right through?!
Wallace's brows knitted together.
A Substitute?
No, that wasn't right. If it were a Substitute, it would dissipate into white mist upon impact.
This was something else.
An illusion.
Wallace's eyes widened in realization.
The Zoroark that had just attacked wasn't real at all.
It was a visual trick—an illusion crafted by Zoroark's Ability, Illusion!
Every Zoroark possessed the potential to become a master of illusions—this was their innate power.
According to records, a powerful Zoroark could trap hundreds of people in a massive hallucination at once, or even create entire false landscapes to make people believe they were lost in a never-ending maze.
And clearly, the Zoroark that had just "charged forward"—was nothing more than a fabricated image.
"So, Champion Wallace, now that you understand… where do you think the real Zoroark is?"
Dylan still wore a warm, polite smile.
But to Wallace, that smile now seemed… unnerving.
Thud. Thud.
Suddenly—Wallace heard several bodies hitting the ground.
His heart jumped.
Quickly turning around, he saw—
A black blur flashed behind Officer Jenny.
With a swift, precise movement, Zoroark's claw struck the back of her neck.
Officer Jenny let out a soft grunt—then collapsed.
Zoroark slowly raised its head, its eerie fox-like eyes locking onto Wallace.
That unsettling gaze sent chills down Wallace's spine.
"Jenny!"
Wallace instantly grabbed another Poké Ball, and Ludicolo leaped toward Zoroark.
BAM!
Meanwhile, Annihilape had shattered Milotic's Scald and slammed its fist directly into Milotic's face.
Milotic let out a cry of pain as it was sent crashing to the ground.
But Wallace didn't even have time to react to that.
"Aizen!!"
Wallace turned to Dylan, anger rising.
This guy just had Zoroark knock out Officer Jenny—what was he trying to do?!
"Relax, no need to get so worked up, Champion Wallace."
Dylan's voice remained as calm as ever.
"Zoroark was very precise—Jenny and the others aren't hurt. They're just… taking a nap."
Wallace clenched his fists.
"After all, they would definitely try to stop me from what I'm about to do next."
Wallace's stomach dropped.
A very bad feeling crept over him.
"What… exactly are you planning?"
Dylan smiled.
"It would be a shame if a face as pretty as yours wasn't properly photographed."
He reached into his bag and pulled out—
A camera.
Wallace: "???"
Dylan lifted the camera with a bright, almost innocent grin.
"Champion Wallace, I'm actually a huge fan of yours~"
Wallace: "…What. The. Hell?!"