Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

After understanding Aoki's intentions, Regice charged directly toward the Ampharos and Charizard beside Brownis without hesitation. The strength of these two Pokémon was not insignificant, but there remained a considerable gap compared to Regice. Moreover, they had already sustained heavy injuries earlier, leaving them with even less capacity to resist.

Without any hesitation, Aoki commanded his Pokémon to launch a fierce assault on Brownies' remaining forces. In truth, it was the Ampharos that concerned Aoki the most. Even against the Charizard, Aoki was confident he could whittle it down gradually.

Brownis and Rocks wore expressions of deep frustration. Yet Brownis refused to surrender, still barking orders for his Pokémon to mount a final offensive. Rocks, meanwhile, could only cling to the desperate hope that his brother might rescue him from this dire situation.

Aoki, accompanied by the Mismagius that had been shadowing him, slowly advanced toward Moltres while directing his team. The legendary bird remained unconscious, completely unaware of its surroundings. Earlier, when it had attacked the Ampharos, it had been prepared to fight to the death—such was the pride of a sacred beast. Even in defeat, it would not grovel.

Aoki studied the massive Moltres before him. The flames coating its body had dimmed in its unconscious state, and several grievous wounds still oozed golden blood.

"Tsk, as expected of a legendary beast. Its regenerative abilities are simply astounding," Aoki murmured, observing how some of the smaller injuries were visibly mending before his eyes. New tissue formed rapidly, weaving together into thin, pinkish layers of fresh skin.

"This can't go to waste. After all, this is the blood of a fully grown Moltres," Aoki thought to himself. He promptly retrieved an oversized glass jar from his storage space.

"Mismagius???" The Mismagius beside him blinked in shock and confusion. What was Aoki planning? That wasn't just a bottle—it was practically a vat! Surely he didn't intend to fill it with Moltres' blood?

Just as Mismagius had feared, Aoki pulled out an enormous syringe, slipping on gloves with practiced efficiency. Having anticipated the need to gather genetic material from the legendary birds, he had come fully prepared. The needle had been specially reinforced.

Pfft—

It plunged straight into Moltres' artery.

Mismagius clapped its spectral hands over its mouth, as if afraid the sound alone might rouse the beast. It failed to realize just how loud the ongoing battle nearby was—Moltres had been pushed beyond its limits, slipping into a deep restorative state. Its body was now converting all stored energy into blood and healing agents, meaning its blood was currently at its most potent.

"Shh—I'm doing this for its own good. Look at all this wasted blood—such a shame. Once it seeps into the ground, it's gone forever. I'll just collect it for now and brew some restorative tonics later," Aoki whispered conspiratorially to Mismagius.

"Mismagius?" The ghostly Pokémon pointed at the jar, then the syringe, its expression dubious.

"Worried it won't be enough? Look at its size—it could spare a whole tank," Aoki said, patting the jar.

A whole tank…

Mismagius stared blankly but held its tongue. Strangely, this act of exploitation gave it a mischievous thrill.

No, no—I mustn't be corrupted!

Aoki wasted no time. The distant battle seemed irrelevant now. With Regice present, those two Trainers stood no chance.

Boom—!

Boom—!

Regice showed no restraint, slamming the Ampharos into the ground repeatedly. Even the Charizard's attempts to intervene proved futile. Once the Ampharos lay motionless, Regice turned its icy gaze toward the fire-breathing lizard.

Gulp—

The Charizard swallowed hard.

Meanwhile, Slowking, Gengar, and the others made quick work of Bronnies' last three Pokémon, overwhelming them through sheer numbers. Soon, both Bronnies and Rocks were forced to their knees, restrained and seething with silent resentment. Their fate was sealed.

Back with Aoki, vial after vial of golden blood filled the jar. Yet the syringe remained embedded in Moltres' flesh. The flow had slowed considerably—the legendary bird's wounds had stopped regenerating, and its breathing grew shallow. Its brow furrowed as if trapped in a nightmare.

Mismagius watched with growing concern.

"Sigh… Fine, that's enough. Next time, I'll bring a bigger container. So much was lost during the battle earlier… What a waste," Aoki grumbled, withdrawing the syringe and emptying its contents into the now-full jar.

"It's fine, this should suffice. Ideally, I'd take more, but this is a naturally matured legendary beast. Who knows how many rare nutrients it's absorbed over the centuries? Besides, bloodletting can be healthy in moderation," Aoki explained, noticing Mismagius's expression.

Mismagius gave him a flat look.

Healthy?

It had nearly been drained dry.

"You don't understand. The blood itself isn't the point—it's the energy within. Processed into Pokéblocks, it'd be incredibly potent. Given how much you all eat, I need to stock up," Aoki said, straight-faced.

At the mention of Pokéblocks, Mismagius's eyes gleamed. It snatched the syringe and made a lunge for Moltres, as if determined to squeeze out every last drop.

Aoki hastily intercepted it, mortified.

"Stop! Any more and it'll die!"

His system had already calculated Moltres' limits. Further extraction would be fatal.

After calming the overzealous Mismagius, Aoki sealed the jar and retrieved high-quality Pokéblocks and a blood-replenishing tonic from his bag, carefully feeding them to Moltres. Gradually, color returned to the legendary bird's feathers, and its breathing steadied.

That was too close.

Aoki produced a new Poké Ball, weighing it in his palm.

Such a perfect opportunity… Should I take it?