"Charizard, use Fire Blast!"
Blue intended to maintain the pressure, leaving Ninetales no room to breathe. A white-hot kanji-shaped flame erupted from Charizard's maw.
"Ninetales, don't take it head-on! Use Iron Tail to swat it into the sky!" Feng Che commanded.
Ninetales' nine tails turned a sleek metallic silver. With a powerful whip-like motion, it struck the Fire Blast, causing it to detonate prematurely. Though the explosion covered Ninetales in white embers, making it look a bit disheveled, it remained standing.
Charizard let out a mocking huff, a sneer crossing its draconic face. This blatant disrespect completely enraged Ninetales. White flames flickered at the tips of its tails, and a solar mark manifested on its forehead—it had entered its full combat state.
Ninetales lunged, its tails striking like silver pillars. Charizard parried with Dragon Claw, the impact sending a dull thud throughout the arena.
"Keep it up, Ninetales! Just last until the exhaustion of its moves kicks in!" Feng Che shouted.
"Charizard, fly high and use Draco Meteor!" Blue ordered.
Charizard ascended, its eyes glowing with golden draconic energy. Moments later, glowing meteors rained from the sky, homing in on Ninetales.
Impressive. To use Draco Meteor at this stage means this Charizard has an incredibly pure Dragon-type bloodline, Feng Che noted. Statistically, fewer than 5% of Charizard can naturally master such high-level draconic techniques.
"Ninetales, weave through them!"
Ninetales moved with supernatural agility, dancing between the falling meteors. But as it dodged, Charizard coated itself in white flames and golden energy, diving from the clouds—Dragon Rush.
It's locked on with draconic pressure. There's no dodging this. "Ninetales, use Flare Blitz!"
Wrapped in its own white-hot inferno, Ninetales slammed its tails into the ground, using the recoil to launch itself into the air like a fiery comet. The two collided mid-air with a deafening roar.
A massive shockwave of white fire expanded outward. The psychic Pokémon guarding the stands immediately erected Light Screens to protect the audience. When the smoke cleared, Charizard lay in a deep crater, one wing bent at an unnatural angle, blood seeping from its scales. Ninetales lay nearby, its fur charred and its nine tails limp and dusty.
The referee inspected both. "Both Ninetales and Charizard are unable to battle! The winner of this match is Feng Che!"
In the other bracket, Red defeated Leaf. The final match between Red and Feng Che would take place in three days at the Elite Arena on the Indigo Plateau.
"Currently, the seat of Kanto Champion is vacant," the host announced grandly. "Perhaps one of you will ascend to the throne!"
Feng Che turned and left without a word. The seat is vacant because the League is bankrupt and rotting from the inside. Whoever takes that title right now is just asking for a headache of debt and bureaucracy. I'll stick to my plan.
Back in his room, Feng Che received a coded message on his Pokedex.
Subject: Secret MissionRespectful Executive Feng Che,Per Lord Giovanni's orders, you are to infiltrate the League Headquarters tonight and steal their classified data.— Regards, Your 'Lovely' Head of the Secret Affairs.
Feng Che's eyes narrowed. "Someone in Team Rocket is playing a very low-level game. Every high-ranking member knows my priority is the Viridian Gym. Infiltrating the HQ now would expose me instantly."
"And 'Executive'? My promotion hasn't been officially announced yet. Whoever sent this reached into the Secret Affairs department just to set me up. They're asking for death."
Feng Che immediately forwarded the message to Giovanni.
Team Rocket HQ
Giovanni's face turned a shade of cold, iron gray as he read the forward. "Matori, fetch Ryan the 'Fire Wolf' immediately."
When Ryan arrived, the air in the office was freezing despite the lack of air conditioning. Giovanni slammed his hand on the desk. "Did you know Feng Che is on a priority mission for the Viridian Gym?"
"I... I heard, my Lord," Ryan stammered, sweating.
"Then why did the Secret Affairs department under your command send him an order to blow his cover at the League HQ?!" Giovanni roared.
Ryan looked at the message and turned pale. "This is a failure of my oversight. I will find the mole immediately."
"Do it. If you can't find the mastermind, I'll put Augustus in charge of the investigation—and your department."
Back at the hotel, a knock sounded at Feng Che's door. It was Red, Blue, and Leaf.
"Feng Che, we have something extremely important to discuss," Red said, his usual stoic face replaced by grim determination.
They entered, and Leaf (Blue/Green) set up a projector. "When I was young, I was kidnapped by a giant bird. My investigation confirms it was Lugia. I've also hacked into the League's database and found that Chairman Goodshow is secretly investigating this as well."
"We believe the Great Priest Shamyo of the Tin Tower in Johto is involved," Leaf continued. "We're forming a special investigation team to go to Johto after the tournament. We need a member who specializes in healing and support. Red and Blue said you're the best, so we're inviting you."
Feng Che stared at them. Shamyo isn't the one; it's Pryce (Masked Man). They're heading in the wrong direction, he thought. But... this is my chance to embed myself with the 'Main Characters.' If I'm with them, even if my Rocket identity is revealed later, they'll be my character witnesses.
"I'm in," Feng Che said. "After the finals, I'll go to Johto with you."
As they left, Feng Che smiled. Through his psychic link with Mewtwo, he had already copied every file on Leaf's laptop.
"Leaf really is the 'Evolver' (Innovator)," Feng Che murmured, picking up a microscopic listening device she had 'accidentally' left behind. "She's good... but I'm better."