"There, your Vigoroth should be fine after a good sleep," Feng Che said, standing up. "Mr. Norman, you should recall it for now. I need to check on Elite Koga."
Feng Che and Norman hurried to the other side of the battlefield. There, they found the Pokémon of the remaining three ninjas—the Bee, Bat, and Frog specialists—lying defeated on the ground. A massive Muk had engulfed the three ninjas, holding them in a sludge-like grip as they struggled frantically.
"Mie, I will not kill you," Koga said, his face a mask of solemn duty. "I will take you back to the Koga Clan and force you to repent before Master Hattori's grave."
Suddenly, Koga's expression shifted. He clutched his throat, and a spurt of black blood erupted from his mouth.
"How... I should be immune to all toxins... when did I...?" Koga's pupils shrank as his legs gave way.
"Senior Brother Koga, you were always so proud of your 'immune' constitution," the Spider Ninja, Mie, laughed from within the Muk's sludge. "But my talent for toxins far surpasses yours. Even Master Hattori said my brewing was superior."
"The secret lies in my Spinarak's silk. I spent generations breeding the most venomous strain possible. Their toxins are hundreds of times more potent than a normal specimen. That's why I never let them evolve—if they became Ariados, the concentrated toxin would be so volatile it would dissolve the host itself into a puddle of black ink."
Koga's eyes, nose, and ears began to leak dark, fouled blood.
"Elite Koga, drink this!" Feng Che used Ally Switch to swap a high-potency antidote directly into Koga's hand. "It's a specialized broad-spectrum purge. It won't cure you instantly, but it will stall the necrosis."
Koga, feeling as if a mountain were pressing on his chest, downed the potion. His breathing stabilized slightly, and some color returned to his lips.
"Feng Che... you've ruined my perfect trap," Mie hissed, glaring at him.
"Thank you, Feng Che. I nearly fell for her endgame," Koga whispered, leaning against a tree. Feng Che simply waved his hand, and the three remaining ninjas were instantly encased in psychic "stone" restraints.
"The toxin is incredibly unique, Koga. I don't have the rare ingredients on hand to neutralize it completely," Feng Che said gravely. "I can only suppress it. You're going to feel dizzy and paralyzed."
"Haha... it's alright. In this state, I cannot face Hanzo Shura," Koga said with a regretful sigh. He gripped Feng Che's arm. "I'm entrusting this to you. Face Hanzo. Capture him. Do what I cannot."
As he spoke, the toxin flared again, and Koga slumped into unconsciousness.
"In this state, petrification is his best chance," Feng Che told Norman. He used his psychic power to coat Koga in a protective shell. "This will keep his internal organs frozen in time, preventing the venom from corroding them further."
"The Seven Ninjas are finished. Hanzo has lost his left and right hands. We strike the Fortress of Venom while his defenses are thin."
War Across the Island
While Feng Che and Norman prepared their assault, the rest of the island was a chaotic war zone:
The Valley of Flames: Steven Stone, Wallace, and Misty were assaulting the territory of General Nien. Nien had summoned an army of Pyroar to defend the pass.
"To think you'd walk into my trap so willingly," Nien sneered, his flame-red hair glowing. "My Pyroar exhale heat reaching 6,000 degrees. I'll turn you into ash."
The Mirror Castle: Sabrina and Caitlin were trapped in the territory of General Greya.
"Welcome, Psychics of the League," Greya's voice echoed through the halls. "I've rigged my castle with anti-psychic nets. Play with my dolls."
She snapped her fingers, and a horde of poachers—moving like mindless puppets—surrounded them. Even their Pokémon were being controlled by Greya's massive "Psychic Field."
"She's synchronized her mind with theirs... she's turned them into extensions of herself," Sabrina noted coldly. Her purple aura flared, and her hair began to drift upward. "Go, Alakazam!"
The Rose Fields: Bruno, Clemont, and Chuck—led by Elite Bruno—had entered the domain of the Grass General, Zorn.
The fields were filled with blooming roses and dancing Grass-type Pokémon. A beautiful man with light blue hair and a prominent beauty mark sat in the center, sipping red wine. "This moonlight is divine. It shall be your final resting place."
Suddenly, massive vines erupted from the soil, binding Bruno and his team. They were surrounded by a silent army of Grass-type specialists.