After passing through layer upon layer of whirlpools, they finally arrived at Team's Shadow Isle.
This time, what appeared before their eyes was no longer the shabby appearance of the island controlled by Raven.
Rows upon rows of two-story houses covered a full ten thousand square meters, along with various other disorderly buildings that were likely also highly useful. The most eye-catching one was still the vast ranch, where all kinds of Pokémon were being raised. These were all Shadow Team's wealth.
This was only the tip of the iceberg of the entire island. The boundless primeval forest behind it was the true appearance of this island.
After going ashore, the person they saw was precisely that same person from three years ago… Yamamoto.
The moment Raven and Kurusaki Sō saw Yamamoto, they both bowed respectfully.
"You. Come with me."
Yamamoto pointed at Tetsuya as he spoke.
Tetsuya followed Yamamoto into a room.
"Yahaha… I truly did not misjudge you. You did not become one of those miserable eliminated failures, ptooey! I hope you can become an official Shadow and fulfill the promise you made three years ago."
After Yamamoto finished speaking, Tetsuya's mind actually blanked out for an instant…
"…Have you already forgotten… the loyalty… you pledged to me… three years ago… so quickly!?" Yamamoto coldly said.
Only then did Tetsuya remember. Back then, in order to survive, he truly had pledged loyalty to Shadow Team and to Yamamoto. At that time, trapped in a situation with no path forward or backward, he had needed to rely on Shadow Team to avoid Kurokawa Ryosuke's pursuit, forcing Yamamoto to believe that he possessed value worth using.
'…'
"…I always keep it in mind. You saved my life. I will definitely follow your lead in all things!" Tetsuya said.
Yamamoto nodded. The reason he could trust so confidently that Tetsuya would not betray him was because of Tetsuya's situation. First, Tetsuya had no relatives and no attachments. Second, those "righteous heroes" had already hired Shadow Team to kill him. Tetsuya definitely would not be able to survive on the side of justice, so he could only rely upon Shadow Team and become one of its members.
Therefore, in Yamamoto's eyes, Tetsuya was already a qualified Shadow, because Tetsuya would not betray them.
Of course, this was only because Yamamoto believed he was judging a now eleven-year-old boy rather than an old Alakazam over sixty years old…
"When the time comes, we'll see your performance. I, Yamamoto, have no need insects!"
'…
Tehahaha!'
---◓---
After Yamamoto finished speaking, Tetsuya returned to where he had originally been standing. Right now, Tetsuya's feelings were still, mmm, complicated. Yamamoto's status within Shadow Team was definitely not low, and his strength was also unknown. People like Raven and Kurusaki Sō followed his lead completely.
The fact that Yamamoto he had sought him out showed that he clearly understood Tetsuya's performance on the island.
Tetsuya's current situation was not optimistic, so he absolutely had to maintain "loyalty" toward Yamamoto and let him see his value. Only then could he safely pass through this final year or so on Shadow Island.
If it were Team Rocket, Tetsuya actually might consider truly joining…
But for this organization that was on the verge of destruction, he would never even think about it. At that time, he might very well become a sacrificial victim in their total destruction.
In his previous life, aside from joining the" cooperative mutual-assistance organization Hunters Guild", he had fundamentally never joined any other organization.
No organization would raise an idler. Once you joined, you had to complete missions and be restricted by the organization. Many times, you might even openly oppose the League.
Not only would that leave no time for training Pokémon, but the resources obtained would also be limited, which fundamentally would not provide any benefit to improve the strength of the Pokémon.
Right now, Sō was organizing the food, lodging, and accommodations for these ten people along with some Shadow Team members.
Since Tetsuya's team was the first to arrive at the main Shadow Island, they needed to wait for the other four teams before the so-called trials could begin.
---◓---
For three consecutive days here, they all ate meals at designated locations, and Pokémon food could also be collected. Aside from that, they could only remain inside the dormitories, which resembled prison cells.
Three days later, Raven gathered the ten together at the central… plaza?
The other four teams all arrived one after another.
Upon seeing new people appear, many could not help looking them over, inwardly fantasizing about defeating everyone else.
However, there was only one person Tetsuya was waiting for…
She appeared!
The Sinnoh representative team. Leading the team was precisely a girl with a face as cold as Ice-types and eyes fixed ahead, as though everything around her had nothing to do with her.
This was precisely Catherine…
Exactly the same appearance as when Tetsuya had seen her in his previous life.
Catherine was also the only girl among these fifty mini-Shadows, and those standing at the front of the teams were all the strongest from their respective regions.
At this moment, the Island admin/master/lord, or whatever the position was called, of the Sinnoh team was already being mocked by Raven and the other four.
"You people from Sinnoh actually let a little girl lead the team after three years of training?"
"So you're preparing to surrender in advance, right? Hahaha..."
"Mmm, this little girl really is quite pretty. Such a good resource wasn't kept for your own use. Tcht, what a complete waste."
"Waaah~ What a pity, truly a pity..."
The Sinnoh Island admin could only bitterly laugh inwardly. 'In a moment, I'll let you all witness Catherine's superiority.'
As for Catherine, upon hearing these idle remarks, she acted as though she had heard nothing. Her eyes remained fixed ahead, while the people around her seemed like nothing but air.
Yamamoto's assistant announced the rules for this battle trials. In truth, it was an assessment for the five sub-island admins. The one who performed best this time would possibly remain here as the "Island admin of Shadow Isle", and subtle changes had already begun appearing in the minds of the five.
The five teams consisted, obviously, of ten people each. They would engage in one-on-one battles. The loser would be directly eliminated, while the winner's remaining Pokémon would continue battling until all Pokémon of one entire team had been eliminated.
Sinnoh vs Hoenn.
.•.•◓•.•.
Kanto vs Johto.
.•.•◓•.•.
Sinnoh vs Unova.
.•.•◓•.•.
Kanto vs Hoenn.
.•.•◓•.•.
Johto vs Unova.
.•.•◓•.•.
Sinnoh vs Kanto.
.•.•◓•.•.
Johto vs Hoenn.
.•.•◓•.•.
Kanto vs Unova.
.•.•◓•.•.
Hoenn vs Unova.
.•.•◓•.•.
Sinnoh vs Johto.
.•.•◓•.•.
A total of ten days would be used to conduct the matches. Teams not participating could rest, but these Island admins would definitely bring them along to observe the battles and study tactics and such.
The first day's match was Sinnoh versus Hoenn. Right now, the Hoenn Island admin could be said to be full of confidence. His top ten had completed a full year of focus training under his tutelage, having exceptional strength, unmatched among Trainers of their age.
Before the battle had even begun, the walkways on both sides of the battle arena were already filled with people. They were precisely the Island admins and members from the other three islands, and naturally Tetsuya was among them. What he needed to observe was precisely Catherine's performance.
According to the memories from his previous life, Catherine's level should only be second to his current self.
Catherine's Family possessed secret methods for training Flying-type Pokémon, and coupled with her extremely high talent, she was able to extend these "secret methods" to Pokémon of other types as well.
This match would very likely become Catherine's personal showcase, with her alone determining the victory or defeat of the entire battle.
The match began…
Everyone in the higher-ups was discussing the victories and defeats of each battle, and naturally Catherine had become the focus of everyone's attention. After all, she was the only girl.