Devon Corporation Headquarters
Aoki followed President Stone through the hallways of Devon Corporation, discussing various scientific advancements. While much of the conversation was beyond his expertise, he recalled bits from his studies and experiences. One particular project caught his interest—the Fossil Resurrection Machine. From what he knew, it would later become one of Devon's most successful innovations, bringing ancient Pokémon back to life.
As the discussion continued, a group of individuals passed by them. Aoki instinctively halted, his senses sharpening. Something about their movements felt off—too deliberate, too cautious, like operatives in a covert mission. His mind flashed to scenes from espionage films, and a thought struck him.
Could they be spies?
President Stone seemed to have reached the same conclusion. His sharp voice cut through the air.
"You there—stop!"
The moment his command rang out, the group bolted.
"Security! Intruders! Stop them and retrieve the stolen goods!"
Guards sprang into action, giving chase. Aoki didn't hesitate—this was a golden opportunity to gain favor with President Stone and test his Pokémon in a real-world crisis.
The Chase Begins
"Go, Mightyena! Use Hyper Beam on the wall!"
A Poké Ball burst open, revealing a sleek, muscular Mightyena. It opened its jaws and unleashed a powerful golden beam, blasting a gaping hole through the building's side.
The intruders fired grappling hooks, securing them to the ruined wall before swiftly rappelling down.
Aoki sprinted to the edge, grabbed a rope, and descended at full speed.
Several Devon combat operatives followed his lead.
"They're gaining on us! Scatter!"
The intruders split into separate directions. Aoki quickly assessed the situation and locked onto their leader.
How did he know? Easy. The woman giving commands, a striking figure with blue hair and sharp eyes, was unmistakably in charge.
Shelly.
A future Team Aqua Admin.
At this point, she likely wasn't an executive yet—probably just a field captain. But that didn't mean she wasn't dangerous.
Determined, Aoki increased his speed.
Confronting Shelly
Shelly cursed under her breath.
"That damn brat… If not for him, we'd have gotten away clean."
Realizing she wouldn't outrun Aoki, she skidded to a stop on a rocky hillside, turning to face him.
"You've got guts, kid. But I don't have time for pests like you."
"Pests?" Aoki smirked. "Funny. I was about to say the same about you."
Shelly's eyes narrowed.
"Go! Mightyena!"
Aoki was ready.
"Come on out—Relicanth, Combusken, Frogadier, Treecko!"
Poké Balls burst open, revealing his team.
Shelly scowled. "Are you serious? Three starters? Who the hell just casually carries three regional starters?"
Her frustration grew as she realized how well-raised Aoki's Pokémon were.
"Must be nice being rich…" she muttered. "Ludicolo! Crawdaunt! Walrein! You're up!"
One by one, her Pokémon appeared—two Quasi-Elite and one Gym-level battler.
Shelly's Team:
• Ludicolo (Gym-level, Elite potential)
• Crawdaunt (Gym-level, Quasi-Elite potential)
• Walrein (Quasi-Elite, Quasi-Elite potential)
Aoki noted the inconsistency—Ludicolo shouldn't have evolved this early. He wondered if Team Aqua had access to an early evolution method, or if Shelly simply forced an early evolution through rigorous training. Either way, he had no time to dwell on it.
The battle was on.
Battle Erupts
"Go, Boss Lairon!"
Shelly's expression soured. "Oh, come on! That's a Boss-tier Lairon? Are you kidding me?!"
She gritted her teeth.
"Fine. If you want to play rough—Walrein, Crawdaunt, Ludicolo, use Blizzard! Mightyena, Hyper Beam!"
A storm of frost and wind surged forward, mixed with a devastating golden beam.
Aoki remained unfazed.
"Boss Lairon, Hyper Beam! Relicanth, Hydro Pump on Mightyena!"
Boss Lairon stepped forward, releasing an even stronger Hyper Beam. The golden blast tore through the incoming blizzard, colliding head-on with Mightyena's attack.
A massive explosion followed.
BOOM!
Smoke billowed everywhere, obscuring the battlefield.
Shelly staggered back, coughing.
"This can't be real… How the hell is his Lairon this strong?! Is it already Elite-tier?"
As she reeled from the shock, Aoki capitalized on the moment.
"Relicanth—now!"
The prehistoric Pokémon launched a powerful Hydro Pump straight at Mightyena.
The attack hit dead-on. Mightyena yelped, skidding backward, struggling to stay upright.
Aoki smirked.
"Looks like you underestimated me."
Shelly clenched her fists.
This wasn't over yet.
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