Ultimately, Feng Che decided to set his trap at the Rocket Arena.
He had done his homework: Lt. Surge was a notorious gambler who loved the high-stakes atmosphere of the arena. Whenever he was at Headquarters, the American General could almost always be found in the stands or placing bets at the counter.
The Rocket Arena was located in the northeast corner of the base—a massive open-air stadium where Rocket members gathered to watch duels. The house adjusted the odds based on a fighter's win streak, and any member could register to compete.
Feng Che, wearing his smiling-face mask and black cloak, walked into the service hall.
"I need to register as a competitor," he said, his voice modulated by an electronic scrambler.
"Codename and registered Pokémon, please?" the clerk asked politely.
"Codename: Alchemist. Registered Pokémon: this Magnezone."
Feng Che released the Magnezone. Sparks hissed from its steel hull, and a stray arc of electricity vaporized a small pebble on the floor, leaving only a wisp of blue smoke.
"Would you like to enter a match now? The system will auto-match you. Every ten consecutive wins earns a 'Mystery Reward'," the clerk explained.
"Start the match. I'm looking forward to it."
"Dammit, Koga and Sabrina didn't even say goodbye before heading back to their cities," Lt. Surge grumbled, walking toward the arena. "Whatever. Let's see if there are any decent fights today. I need some excitement."
As Surge approached the stands, he overheard a group of grunts talking.
"Did you hear? A dark horse named 'Alchemist' has won twenty rounds in a row with a Magnezone.""A Magnezone? Those are rare as hell.""He's up against 'Hellfire' next. Hellfire has a thirty-win streak. His Magmar is a beast—it's turned half its opponents into charcoal.""Tch. I heard the Arena masters called in Hellfire specifically because Magmar counters Magnezone's typing. They want to break that kid's streak."
Surge's ears perked up. "Magnezone? Interesting. That's exactly what I've been looking for." He hurried to the VIP section as the match was announced.
"Welcome, brothers of Rocket! I'm your host, Persian!" A chubby man in a mask shouted into the mic. "Today, we have a clash of titans! The dark horse, Alchemist, is on a 20-win streak! Facing him is the Hellfire, the 'Executioner of the Arena'! Let the battle begin!"
A lean man with flame-red hair walked out, waving to the cheering crowd. "I am Hellfire! Prepare to be reduced to ash, Alchemist!"
Feng Che stepped onto the sand, his expression hidden but his aura calm. Monologue all you want. The louder the bark, the harder the fall.
"Typing-wise, Magmar is the natural predator here," Feng Che mused. "But this is for Surge's eyes. Go, Magnezone!"
Magnezone floated into the center, arcs of golden electricity crackling across its frame.
Lt. Surge's eyes practically popped out of his head. "Whoa... look at that Magnezone. The luster on that hull, the raw output of those arcs... I've searched Mt. Coronet for a specimen like that, but those wild swarms are too territorial. Even bounty hunters I hired got blasted to bits. But this one... it's perfect. It's my Muse!"
Surge was obsessed with the Magnemite line. He had invented the "Electromagnetic Cage" using four Magneton, but a high-potential Magnezone was his ultimate holy grail.
"I have to have it," Surge muttered, his fingers twitching. "I don't care what it costs. I'll trade my Alolan Rowlet if I have to... wait, would he even want that? I need to see more."
"Magmar, Flamethrower!" Hellfire shouted.
The Magmar spat a roaring dragon of orange-red flame.
"Magnezone, ascend! Dodge and weave!"
Feng Che didn't counter-attack immediately. He wanted to show off Magnezone's incredible mobility—how it manipulated its own magnetic field to zip through the air like a UFO.
Surge leaned forward, mesmerized. "The control... he's not just using it as a battery; he's using the magnetic field for high-speed evasion. Beautiful."
"Magmar, hit the whole field! Fire Spin!"
The air grew stiflingly hot. Every breath felt like inhaling desert sand.
"Magnezone, Thunder Shock!"
Magnezone released a rain of fine, golden needles of electricity.
"Useless! Cover the arcs with Flamethrower!" Hellfire sneered. He believed fire conquered all. If one blast didn't work, use two.
Pity, Feng Che thought. His Magmar doesn't know any Rock-type moves. A simple Rock Tomb would have grounded me far more effectively than fire.
Magmar inhaled and released a 120-degree arc of flame, swallowing most of the electricity. But a few golden needles pierced through, striking Magmar's leg.
Magmar buckled to one knee, golden sparks dancing across its skin. Paralyzed.
"Magmar is paralyzed! Can Hellfire break the Alchemist's streak, or will the dark horse gallop to 21?!" the announcer screamed.
The crowd was in an uproar. Most had bet heavily on Hellfire.
"He's just paralyzed! Hellfire will find a way!" "I put a month's salary on that Magmar, don't you dare lose!"
Feng Che glanced toward the stands and saw a shock of spiky blonde hair. Surge was staring at Magnezone with a look of pure, unadulterated lust.
The bait is taken, Feng Che smiled under his mask. Now, time to make it look like a struggle so he thinks I'm desperate to win.
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