Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

Aoki stood silently for a moment, weighing his options carefully before making a decisive move.

The Poké Ball left his hand in a smooth arc, striking Moltres with precision. The sphere opened instantly, releasing a red light that enveloped the legendary Pokémon, pulling it inside effortlessly.

Having been weakened and drained of a significant portion of its blood by Aoki's prior actions, Moltres had already fallen into a deep state of unconsciousness. This left no room for resistance during the capture process.

Click—

With a soft sound, the Poké Ball sealed shut, containing the mighty Moltres within.

Aoki picked up the captured Poké Ball, staring at it in disbelief.

Once, he had been presented with a Moltres from the Auction, but circumstances had prevented him from obtaining it. If given another chance, Aoki would say…

He still couldn't have afforded it.

What he had now was an adult Moltres—a fully evolved, high-tier Pokémon with formidable combat abilities. With proper training, it wouldn't be long before it reached God-level strength.

Aoki finally understood the exhilaration that Brownis and Rocks must have felt.

Witnessing their prized Moltres being captured right before their eyes, Brownis and Rocks could only kneel on the ground, their pride shattered, their expressions pleading for mercy.

Regice, standing motionless beside them like an icy monolith, had already demonstrated its overwhelming power in battle.

With their Pokémon defeated and only the two of them remaining, they stood no chance against Aoki's assembled team.

After a brief hesitation, Aoki released Moltres from its Poké Ball to assess its condition. He quickly administered medical treatment to stabilize its injuries.

Given Moltres' natural resilience, it should have recovered swiftly—had Aoki not drained nearly all of its stored energy and blood earlier.

Still, Moltres' blood was an invaluable resource, a material so rare that few in the world could claim to possess even a fraction of what Aoki now held.

Most trainers fortunate enough to own a Moltres would never consider harvesting its blood for research. Wild specimens were scarce, and those containing such potent energy even rarer.

Aoki's stockpile was unprecedented—an entire vat of Moltres' essence, where others might only manage a single vial.

Once Moltres' breathing steadied and its wounds were treated, Aoki turned his attention to Brownis and Rocks.

The two knelt defiantly, their pride still evident despite their predicament. The sight almost made Aoki laugh.

Kneeling, yet still so arrogant.

Then his gaze shifted to the Ampharos lying lifeless in a nearby crater—slain by Regice's overwhelming power.

Aoki's eye twitched.

Regice, usually so calm and unassuming, had struck with terrifying force.

The Charizard beside it still clung to life, but its breaths were shallow. Without immediate treatment, it wouldn't survive much longer.

Aoki's heart ached at the thought.

Brownis and Rocks opened their mouths to speak, but before they could utter a word, Aoki rushed toward the injured Charizard, muttering under his breath.

"Damn it… damn it…"

Ten minutes later, Aoki emerged from the crater, wiping sweat from his brow.

The Charizard had been stabilized—just in time.

Losing the Ampharos had been a heavy blow. Both it and the Charizard were among the most valuable assets Brownies and Rocks possessed.

Aoki still remembered the fortune he had earned auctioning off a Champion-level Banette. An Ampharos and Charizard of this caliber would have been worth even more.

With the Ampharos gone, he had lost nearly half of his potential gains.

What a waste.

At least the Charizard had been saved.

Now, he could finally deal with Brownies and Rocks.

The two nobles, unaccustomed to kneeling on hard ground for so long, were visibly uncomfortable. If not for Slowking's watchful gaze, they would have stood up long ago.

"Tsk tsk, you two still seem dissatisfied," Aoki remarked dryly as he approached, his tone mocking.

The loss of the Ampharos had put him in a foul mood.

"Name your price. Money? Pokémon? We can arrange anything. Our lives are valuable," Brownis declared, his voice haughty, as if certain that Aoki, a commoner, would be swayed by wealth.

He had seen Aoki's desperation when saving the Charizard.

"Oh? You think I'm that desperate for money?" Aoki replied, stepping closer.

His psychic powers surged outward, locking Brownis and Rocks in place. A subtle glance at Slowking ensured a secondary layer of control.

The two tried to protest, but their bodies refused to obey. Only muffled grunts escaped their lips.

"Ah, here we go," Aoki muttered, retrieving two badges from their persons—Team Rocket officer insignias.

"With these, my mission is complete. As for my identity… well, you'll keep it secret, won't you?" he said with a smirk.

He then relieved them of their remaining possessions—their storage devices and Poké Balls—lining them up neatly before the two captives.

As Aoki worked, Brownis' unease grew. Something was terribly wrong.

Just as he began to relax, thinking Aoki might spare them, he noticed something odd—

Why was he looking down at his own body?

That was his last thought.

"The best way to ensure secrecy," Aoki said coldly, "is for you to join Regis in the afterlife."

A spatial slash bisected both men cleanly.

Aoki then tore open a dimensional rift, disposing of the remains without a second glance.

"Done. That was smoother than expected," he mused. "Moltres' weakened state made things easier. Still, the real game-changer was Regice."

He walked over to the Ice Golem, patting its arm appreciatively.

Through Telepathy, he communicated:

"Don't worry. I've made progress in tracking Mew. As agreed, I'll locate it within five years."

Regice gave a slow, silent nod.

Just as Aoki thought the ordeal was over—

BOOM—

The skies darkened abruptly, thick storm clouds gathering at an unnatural speed.

The once-calm sea churned violently, waves crashing with terrifying force.