High above the mountains, a massive Salamence cut cleanly through the sky.
Hunter J stood balanced on its back, issuing commands through her communicator, directing subordinates and repositioning her aircraft fleet.
Behind her—
Peter remained frozen mid-stride, trapped in stone, still posed as if attempting to escape.
It would have looked comical.
If it weren't deadly serious.
Because—
He was conscious.
The petrification beam worked by siphoning a target's own energy, forming a hardened stone membrane over the surface of the body. Unless one could unleash overwhelming power instantly—or use a specific anti-petrification device—the state was absolute.
In the anime timeline, J had once petrified even the Lake Guardians.
Peter understood exactly what he was dealing with.
Hunter J was no ordinary criminal. She was a professional bounty hunter—no target too dangerous if the price was right. She had captured Pikachu. Seized Meowth. Even directly confronted Brandon's Legendary Titans.
Her Salamence?
A monster that once repelled Regigigas itself.
Most so-called "Legendary Pokémon" weren't world-ending deities. They were simply rare beings wielding extraordinary power.
Still—
Peter wondered.
In this world… would the gods truly shake the heavens?
His thoughts wandered calmly.
Because despite appearances—
He wasn't worried.
One move remained lit in his skill panel:
Purify.
At any moment, he could cleanse the petrification, Flash away, Sprint, Teleport, and vanish.
But he didn't.
Not yet.
Because Paige was still here.
And Suicune.
According to canon events, Paige and her sister Marnie had befriended the guardian of the northern mountains—the legendary incarnation of the north wind.
Hunter J wasn't here randomly.
She was here to hunt Suicune.
And rare Pokémon were the only currency that mattered to someone like her.
Peter remained stone.
The sky darkened.
Ahead, a massive stealth aircraft shimmered into view—Hunter J's aerial fortress.
Brimming with heavy weaponry.
Equipped with optical cloaking.
It was both a warship and a prison.
Salamence dove cleanly into its hangar.
Far behind them—
A small silhouette cut fiercely through the wind.
A wounded Rufflet, flying with impossible determination.
-----
Inside the Airship
"Bring water. Wake the girl. Increase search radius."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Hunter J dragged Peter and Paige into the control room.
Only now did Peter get a clear scan of Salamence.
Salamence — Lv.66 (Elite Four Mid-Tier)
His heart thudded.
Good thing he hadn't tried running earlier.
One Dragon Breath and he'd be ash.
Moments later, a bucket of water splashed over Paige.
She gasped awake.
"What—what do you want?!"
Hunter J calmly adjusted her recording device.
"Amplify her scream. Loop it."
Then—
A precise chop to the neck.
Paige went limp again.
Peter inwardly exhaled.
Clever.
She already knew Paige's connection to Suicune.
The screams would echo through the mountains.
And Suicune—
Would come.
Sure enough, the recorded cries began reverberating across the cliffs.
Wild Pokémon scattered in terror.
Then—
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Metallic impacts shook the ship.
Hunter J frowned.
"What is that?"
"Ma'am—it's just a Rufflet. It's been attacking the hull."
Peter's stomach dropped.
Rufflet?!
…
Before J could respond—
A blinding beam of energy erupted from the mountainside.
BOOM!
The front of the airship rattled violently.
Steel plating cracked.
Smoke cleared.
And there—
Standing upon a wind-swept ridge—
Was a figure of flowing elegance.
Sapphire crest gleaming.
White ribbons trailing like northern winds.
Eyes calm.
Unyielding.
Suicune.
Hunter J's lips curled.
"Finally."
"Vice-captain stays behind to repair. The rest—prepare capture protocol."
"Yes, ma'am!"
...
The Counterstrike
Minutes later, only one man remained inside the control room—the vice-captain managing systems.
Outside—
The pounding continued.
"Damn bird," he muttered. "I'll blast it down."
He pulled up the laser cannon interface.
"Just press this button and—"
"Oh," came a casual voice beside him.
"So that's your laser control?"
"…What?"
He turned.
Peter stood beside him.
Very much not stone.
A split second of confusion.
Then—
BAM.
Vigoroth's fist connected cleanly.
The vice-captain collapsed instantly.
Peter tied him securely to the chair.
"Nighty night."
He opened the hatch.
Immediately, a small blue eagle burst inside, talons flailing wildly.
"Easy, Rufflet! It's okay!"
The little bird froze mid-swipe.
Then—
It flew straight into Peter's arms.
Rubbing.
Clinging.
Its wing bandages had torn open again.
Blood dotted its feathers.
Its talons were scraped raw from clawing at reinforced steel.
Peter gently held its wing.
The reopened wound.
The battered claws.
His throat tightened.
How could something so small hit straight at the heart?
Rufflet eventually hopped down.
It grabbed an empty Poké Ball from Peter's belt.
Held it up.
"Chee!"
Their eyes met.
Peter smiled.
"Alright. Rufflet… here we go."
He tossed the Luxury Ball.
It struck cleanly.
Click. Shake. Shake.
Ding.
It stopped.
Peter picked it up slowly.
Then—
Grinned.
"I caught Rufflet!"
…..
[Ding! Main Quest 'Perfect Lineup' Completed!]
Reward: Choose one battle system:
Mega Evolution (Key Stone & Mega Stone)Z-Moves (Z-Ring & Z-Crystal)Dynamax BandTera Orb
New Main Quest: 'Reserve Lineup' unlocked.
Peter's eyes lit up.
This was huge.
Each system had game-changing potential.
In an era where most Trainers didn't even know these mechanics existed—
Possessing one would mean absolute advantage.
He thought quickly.
"System. Dynamax and Terastallization require special energy sources—Eternatus particles in Galar, Tera Crystals in Paldea. How would I recharge them?"
[Ding. Upon selection, corresponding energy items will be added to the system shop for purchase.]
Peter exhaled.
Good.
Now the real question—
Which era-defining power would he claim?
Outside—
Suicune and Hunter J were about to clash.
Inside—
Peter stood at the turning point of his journey.
The wind howled.
And destiny waited for his choice.
--------------
T/N:
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