Shortly after, Feng Che's gaze settled on a Crobat inside one of the stasis pods.
The creature was roughly the size of a grown man, but unlike any other of its species, this Crobat possessed eight pairs of wings. From a distance, its silhouette resembled that of a fallen angel.
"This Crobat has been excessively modified; it's nothing more than a living weapon now," Mewtwo observed. "Its lifespan is incredibly short. If exposed to the air, its genetic code will likely collapse into a puddle of bloody sludge within half an hour."
"However," Mewtwo continued with a suggestion, "this specimen is perfect material for your Ditto to consume. Ditto's genetic structure is uniquely capable of filtering out the unstable elements of this Crobat's DNA. A 'Crobat-form' Ditto would possess a flight speed far exceeding that of even a Pidgeot."
Taking the suggestion to heart, Feng Che stored the modified Crobat safely within his spatial ring.
Outside the laboratory, Ninetales was being swarmed by a literal tide of Muk. The sludge Pokémon closest to Ninetales had already been scorched into charred husks by the intense heat of its flames.
"Hahaha! I've bred countless Muk!" Elite A-Bo laughed boisterously. "With their numbers alone, I can grind this Ninetales down until it drops dead from exhaustion!"
However, when A-Bo turned to look for Sakaki Tsuna, he found that the man had completely vanished.
The Great Escape
"Master Tsuna, Elite A-Bo clearly has the upper hand. Why did you order an emergency retreat?" Eva asked, her voice laced with confusion.
"I've seen that Ninetales before. It isn't Feng Che's main Pokémon," Tsuna explained as they hurried away. "If a secondary Pokémon is already this formidable, A-Bo stands no chance once Feng Che deploys his actual starters."
"I have to disappear before Feng Che shows his face," Tsuna muttered, his eyes narrowing. "If he sees me, he'll likely drag me back to Team Rocket. I only just managed to escape that deserted island after a stroke of luck—I can't afford to be caged again. Even if my life wouldn't be in danger back at the base, I'd face permanent detention. I have to be careful."
"I understand, Master Tsuna. Please, stay close," Eva said. She placed a hand on his shoulder and used Teleport, whisking them both away from Gringey Base.
The Long Game
Feng Che, Sakaki Tsuna has fled the facility, Mewtwo's voice echoed in Feng Che's mind. As per your instructions, I've placed a psychic marker on him. I can track his every move, wherever he goes.
"Perfectly done, Mewtwo," Feng Che replied with a cold smile. "I'm casting a long line to catch a big fish. I want to know exactly what 'miracle' Tsuna encountered on that island. For him to escape so quickly and resurface with such confidence, he must have found something extraordinary. I intend to strip every treasure he's found right out of his hands."
As Tsuna reappeared outside Gringey Base, he realized the city was already surrounded by a massive contingent of League Investigators. Gunships patrolled the smoggy skies, and Gringey Base members were being rounded up and arrested in droves.
"Those insignias... that looks like the Global Pokémon Federation," Eva whispered, her expression grim.
"It is the Federation. This is bad!" Tsuna grabbed Eva's hand. "They are ruthless. If we get caught, we'll be rotting in an offshore prison for the rest of our lives. If the Federation gets me, it's game over."
"Hold tight, Master Tsuna!" Eva's psychic aura erupted with immense power, allowing them to vanish from Gringey City just before the Federation's net could close around them.
"Damn it... the contraband channels of Gringey City are finished," Tsuna cursed once they were safe. "I'll have to find a new source of goods. But Feng Che... the next time we meet, I'll have mastered the power the ruins granted me. That will be the day I seize control of Team Rocket. And once I am the Leader, I will expose your true identity. Neither the League nor Rocket will let you live!"
The Toxapex Ace
Back in the base, Feng Che received Mewtwo's report and fell into thought.
So, he really did find something in those ruins. What kind of power makes him bold enough to challenge Giovanni for leadership? No matter. I'll deal with that later. My primary enemy is still Damalanchi!
Feng Che used his psychic sense to observe the ongoing battle. Ninetales was surrounded by mounds of charred Muk, but the air was thick with a nauseating, toxic stench. A-Bo was using the very odor of the battlefield to poison Ninetales.
"Ninetales, use Will-O-Wisp Array," Feng Che commanded via telepathy.
Ninetales' nine tails stood erect as a torrent of white-hot ghost fires erupted. As the encroaching Grimer touched the drifting embers, they were instantly consumed by white flames. The "Muk Legion" was decimated in heartbeats.
"Go! Toxapex!" A-Bo shouted, his desperation mounting. He released his true ace.
Toxapex resembled a spiked dome tent—a posture it used to protect its purple core with its twelve powerful tentacles. To see its surroundings, it lifted two of its front tentacles, revealing yellow eyes and sharp fangs. Its dome acted as a fortress, shielding it from both freezing cold and crashing tides.
Its tentacles constantly seeped a lethal venom that hissed as it ate holes into the alloy floor.
This is bad, A-Bo thought, panic beginning to set in. This commotion is too big. If rival League Investigators arrive and find evidence of my illegal operations, I'll be rotting in a Federation cell for centuries.
Then, a thought struck him. Wait... this Ninetales is burning everything. Most of the contraband should be reduced to ash by now. Even if the Federation checks the ruins, they won't find sufficient evidence.
"Toxapex, use Poison Jab!"
Toxapex's twelve tentacles propelled it across the floor like a monstrous spider, its speed belying its heavy appearance as it lunged toward Ninetales.
Should Feng Che use this moment to reveal his identity and use his new Ancient Beedrill's piercing power to shatter Toxapex's dome, or should he let Mewtwo end the fight instantly so he can finish looting the lab before the Federation breaks down the door?