"Ninetales, use Substitute!"
Feng Che stared at the formidable Toxapex, deciding that a head-on collision was not the wisest course of action. Toxapex's tentacles secreted a potent neurotoxin; if Ninetales were pierced, it would suffer agonizing pain as if its entire body were being consumed by liquid fire.
Obeying the command, Ninetales created a decoy under the cover of the swirling inferno. In the chaos of the flames, Elite A-Bo failed to notice anything unusual. Meanwhile, Ninetales quietly deactivated its Flare state and retreated to Feng Che's side.
"You did well. You were a massive help," Feng Che said, stroking Ninetales' soft, elegant fur before recalling it into its Poké Ball.
"Feng Che, the Global Pokémon Federation has completely surrounded Gringey City. The Elite leading them is currently breaching the base," Mewtwo reported.
"Perfect. Super-Brain, deactivate all defense systems in Gringey Base," Feng Che commanded his communicator. He had already removed the Super-Brain's core intelligent chip and integrated it into his own device, effectively giving him total control over the base's automated defenses.
The Fall of the Local King
"Sir! Resistance was fierce when we first entered, but the base's defenses have suddenly gone cold," an investigator reported to Elite Cangya, the commander sent by the Federation.
"Excellent. Mass our forces and breach the inner sanctum immediately. Do not let the primary suspect, Elite A-Bo, escape. To think such a massive parasite was operating right under the League's nose, tarnishing our reputation and preying on the citizens of Gringey City," Cangya said sternly.
The Federation's advance was devastatingly efficient. A-Bo, still focused on his battle with the Ninetales "Substitute," only looked up when he heard a rush of heavy footsteps to find himself surrounded by a sea of League uniforms.
"Special Investigator A-Bo, I am arresting you on charges of professional misconduct and the illegal trafficking of high-grade contraband," Elite Cangya declared, stepping forward. "We have secured your warehouses and discovered overwhelming evidence. Here are the search and arrest warrants issued by the Global Federation."
"I am an official of the Kanto League! Under our regional statutes, the Federation has no jurisdiction to detain me!" A-Bo protested desperately. "This is illegal! I demand to speak with President Damalanchi!"
"Damalanchi has already been taken in for questioning by the Federation," Cangya replied coldly. "If you have any sense left, you'll surrender quietly."
"Toxapex—!"
Before A-Bo could issue an attack command, two dull thuds echoed through the room. His Toxapex and Roserade collapsed instantly, struck by the Zen Headbutt of Cangya's twin Meowstic. A-Bo felt his body go rigid before sinking into a forced unconsciousness.
Perfect, Feng Che thought from the shadows. Once A-Bo is in Federation custody, he'll surely spill evidence of Damalanchi's corruption to lighten his own sentence. With Damalanchi fighting for his own survival, he won't have time to come after me.
Feng Che triggered a Teleport and vanished.
"Hmm? I thought I felt the ripple of a Teleportation... was it just a shadow?" Cangya looked toward the empty corner where Feng Che had stood.
The New Evaluation: The Giant Onix
Next, I must begin the Rainbow Hero trial and awaken Ho-Oh. If Incineroar can inherit Ho-Oh's legacy, its strength will reach unimaginable heights, Feng Che mused as he traveled.
He ignored Damalanchi's original mission entirely—it was a blatant death trap. Predictably, a notification for a "Mission Amendment" arrived on his device shortly after:
To: Gym Leader Feng Che
Your current assignment has been updated. A super-giant Onix has appeared at Mt. Chamia, behaving with uncharacteristic territorial aggression. Please subdue this creature and restore peace to the region.
— Your Beloved League.
"The League moves fast," Feng Che noted. "They transition from one trap to another without missing a beat. MT. Chamia... well, a super-giant Onix sounds interesting. Let's see what makes it special."
The Despair of Mt. Chamia
Mt. Chamia lay in the far northeastern corner of Kanto, a range of desolate, rugged mountains reminiscent of a high loess plateau. It was famous for its high-quality Rock-type Pokémon and rich mineral veins, serving as a primary mining hub for the League. The appearance of the giant Onix had ground all mining operations to a halt for over a week.
Feng Che arrived at the mining camp on the back of his Flygon. He sought out the site foreman, a man named Uekawajima Yusuke, who looked utterly defeated.
"Mr. Uekawajima, I am the Gym Leader sent by the League. Do you have the specific location of this giant Onix?"
"It's a monster, sir. It has a distinctive cross-shaped scar on its face," Uekawajima replied gloomily. "It's only shown itself once, but every time it moves underground, the entire mountain shakes. The men are too terrified to go into the shafts; they're afraid of being buried alive."
Aside from the physical description, the foreman had little intelligence to offer.
Mt. Chamia stretches for hundreds of kilometers. Searching blindly with psychic power isn't efficient, Feng Che thought. The best way is to catch a local Onix and use it to track the scent of the giant.
As he spoke, Feng Che noticed wisps of black energy rising from the foreman's body, drifting into his backpack. It seems the Darkrai Egg is feeding on his despair and depression. I wonder how much negative emotion it needs before it finally hatches...
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to heave upward.
Should Feng Che release his newly trained Ancient Beedrill to scout the underground tunnels, or use his own Dragon Force to challenge the giant Onix's territorial dominance directly?