Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

The supercharged Salamence streaked through the sky like a fearsome fighter jet, ignoring all natural disasters as it surged toward the Seafoam Islands.

Inside a small wooden cabin on the island, a woman wearing a Pikachu mask sat silently. Slowly, she removed the mask and shed her tight-fitting outfit. "This kind of attire… but I forgot to change my shoes. Oh well, no matter—it fits perfectly with Munna's swaying dance."

Without the mask, her voice became deep and husky—distinctly masculine, stripped of its previous softness and delicacy. The air inside the room was thick with fragrance, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Beneath the mask, her face was an enigma—impossible to determine if it belonged to a man or a woman. As she opened an antique wooden makeup box, she narrowed her eyes and let out a flirtatious smile. "Seafoam Islands… tonight will be a night you'll never forget."

Picking up an eyebrow brush, she lightly stroked her face, leaving a streak of vivid red against her pale skin, as though her cheeks were flushed. "The Sandstorm Elite's strength was beyond my expectations… To think that a Kanto Elite Four member could be this powerful—it makes my heart race."

Caught in her own ambiguous fantasies, the woman—no, the man—giggled, but the sound was chilling.

Meanwhile, at the Seafoam Islands' main peak, a massive energy device hummed as shattered fragments of a golden gemstone transformed into a torrent of energy, surging into the sky above the islands.

A colossal black hole slowly emerged. The terrifying energy it generated distorted the atmosphere, tearing apart everything around it. Along the coast, countless island residents stared at the unfolding catastrophe, their faces filled with despair.

Just like Cinnabar Island, all communication and power facilities on the Seafoam Islands had been completely disabled. The raging waves and violent weather trapped them, leaving no means of escape. With the horrifying sight before them, it felt as if the end of the world had arrived.

Back in the wooden cabin, the mysterious figure meticulously applied makeup, each stroke crafting a pale geisha-like face. But the stark contrast of a deep male voice occasionally murmuring a tune made the scene even more unsettling.

Under the candlelight, his face revealed a disturbing split—one half delicate and feminine, the other sharp and masculine. Two conflicting personas fused onto a single visage, making the sight even more bizarre.

"This bathrobe… I bought it at a high price from the Celadon Gym. Erika once wore it to participate in a Super Contest."

He picked up a folding fan, twirling joyfully as he stepped out of the cabin in a dance-like motion. His gaze fell upon the growing vortex in the sky.

"There's more than just Mt. Coronet—Kanto, too, holds a gateway to the Distortion World."

Unlike the stable portal on Mt. Coronet, the one forming over the Seafoam Islands was highly unstable. The dark energy currents emitted a horrifying magnetic field, threatening to rip the entire island apart at any moment.

Suddenly, the black hole twisted violently, and the energy beam fueling it dimmed.

The androgynous figure's expression darkened instantly. Letting out a sharp, almost inhuman shriek, he trembled with rage, his bathrobe quivering from his agitation. "Who dares to interfere with my device?!"

On the slopes of the Seafoam Islands' main peak, an auburn-haired boy—Gary Oak—was braving the storm, climbing toward the source of the unnatural weather.

The Indigo League Conference hadn't even ended when Gary left for the Seafoam Islands to train. As Professor Oak's grandson, he had been here for some time, honing his skills.

In the past, he had been arrogant and complacent, failing to recognize the true strength of the world's top trainers. That was why he hadn't even made it to the top sixteen of the Indigo League. Determined to improve, he had come to the Seafoam Islands to train with his Eevee.

When the strange phenomenon appeared, Gary immediately set out to investigate, eventually stumbling upon the mysterious device.

"So that's the source!"

A massive machine stood at the peak, its shattered gemstone pieces releasing unstable energy fluctuations, disrupting the sky above. Lightning crackled through the air, adding to the terrifying atmosphere.

Gary didn't hesitate. He grabbed a Poké Ball and threw it forward. "Arcanine, use Fire Blast!"

Suddenly, a Greninja leapt into action. With swift precision, it hurled a Water Shuriken, intercepting Arcanine's Fire Blast mid-air. Several more Water Shurikens shot toward Arcanine's position.

But Arcanine wasn't where it had been. It had already used Extreme Speed, appearing right next to the machine and launching a second Fire Blast. Meanwhile, Greninja's Water Shurikens continued their relentless pursuit.

The fiery blast erupted, destroying the machine's protective barrier. Energy began to leak from the device, and the once-stable black hole started to warp and twist chaotically. Greninja's Water Shurikens missed Arcanine and instead struck several of the machine's backup energy systems, shattering the already damaged gemstones.

Despite missing its target, Greninja didn't waver—it swiftly launched another volley of Water Shurikens, this time directly at Arcanine.

"Arcanine, use Extreme Speed!"

With a flash, Arcanine reappeared at Gary's side. Unlike the naive Ash, Gary had a far more mature mindset. He knew that a machine like this wouldn't operate on its own—there had to be someone controlling it nearby. With Arcanine's attack landing successfully, he remained vigilant, ready for anything.

However, in mid-air, Greninja suddenly altered the trajectory of its Water Shurikens, sending them toward Gary from an unexpected angle.

At that critical moment, Eevee lunged forward, forcefully shoving its trainer aside. The redirected attack spared Gary from a fatal wound, but a deep gash still tore across his right arm.

Pain surged through him, his expression tightening. In the chaotic weather, a figure with a painted half-masculine, half-feminine face emerged from the shadows, grinning at Gary.

"What an impressive boy. A mere rookie trainer managed to ruin my plans."

His gaze flickered toward Greninja, who stood motionless, indifferent to the events.

Greninja… I hope that wasn't intentional.

As if sensing his trainer's thoughts, Greninja slightly furrowed its brows but showed no other reaction.

With the portal failing and the energy field weakening, the entire operation had been ruined—all because he had gotten too caught up in his makeup, combined with the interference of this auburn-haired boy. The thought made the masked man furious, yet he still wore a twisted smile.

"A beautiful face indeed… I can almost imagine peeling it off and adding it to my collection."

At some point, a Munna had appeared, swaying hypnotically as it unleashed its Sing attack. The strange rhythm and steps created an eerie, disorienting effect. Both Arcanine and Eevee immediately succumbed to dizziness, their eyes glazing over.

Gary gritted his teeth, refusing to fall. He knew that if he collapsed, everything would be over.

But his eyelids grew heavier, his body losing its strength. The half-male, half-female figure stepped closer, his grotesque grin widening.

"Goodbye, little boy."

"Salamence, use Boomburst!"

At that moment, a clear voice rang out from the sky.

A deafening roar followed—an ear-splitting shockwave that ripped through the air, aimed directly at Munna.

The devastating soundwave, amplified by Salamence's Aerilate ability, transformed into an overwhelming flying-type attack, its destructive force shattering the surrounding mountains and sending debris flying.

Under the sheer pressure of the attack, Munna shrieked in agony. Its body trembled violently, its poison spikes shattering, its internal organs shaken to the core. Blood oozed from its body as it staggered backward before collapsing unconscious.

The attack was so powerful that the storm clouds above were torn apart, revealing the first rays of the rising sun.

From the sky, a massive dragon plummeted toward the masked figure.

"You'll pay for what you've done!"

Klein, the Sandstorm Elite, roared in fury as Salamence gathered its immense energy, ready to strike.

(End of Chapter)