The Only Designated Boss of Team Rainbow Rocket—

Kanto region, Vermilion City Gym.

Today, the Fallen Leaf Gym is as peaceful as ever.

Lt. Surge was sprawled out on the office sofa, frantically playing Pokémon with his Pokédex.

But... that rugged face was now flushed with a suspicious blush.

"Fuck! I lost again! Why is this Vermilion Gym so hard to beat? And! Am I really that sneaky? Why am I just using my electric powers everywhere when I can't win?"

Angry roars and complaints echoed through the office.

In the game, his character repeatedly jumps in and out of the Vermilion City Gym, but just can't get that damn orange badge.

What's even more infuriating is that every time Lt. Surge in the game knocks him to the ground with his electric shock, he speaks to him in an extremely sarcastic tone.

Lt. Surge: Hahaha! Kid, you dare challenge me with this little skill? Go back and train for another ten years! Or... beg me? Maybe I'll reward you with a badge if I'm in a good mood?

Finally, after experiencing numerous crushing defeats.

In the game, Lt. Surge seemed to have finally gotten annoyed and casually tossed him a badge in a manner as if dismissing a beggar.

"March Struggles: Get out of here! Take your badge and get out of my way! Don't get in my way!"

This moment.

A man's blush speaks louder than any sweet words.

Enraged, he swung the picture book at it, ready to smash it!

hum-

The phone screen lit up at the right moment; it was a group chat invitation notification.

"A group created by Bai Zhouzi? A game chat group?"

Ma Zhishi narrowed his eyes, his anger subsided slightly, and a hint of smugness even appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Ha! This kid must be stuck at the Vermilion City Gym and wants to challenge me, the real master! He's got some sense!"

He opened the group chat, pondering how to start in a way that perfectly showcased the demeanor of a senior, his gaze sweeping over the group member list—

Fighters, nurturers...

Ma Zhishi's fingers froze in mid-air as he silently deleted the arrogant words from the input box, one by one.

boom!

The office door was rudely kicked open by a sailor.

"Boss! Something terrible has happened! A huge group of people have suddenly appeared outside the dojo! They're yelling that they want to have a no-rules battle with you!"

"?"

Without even looking up, Ma Xueshi roared angrily:

"Get them out of here! The League banned gym battles with no rules a long time ago! I don't have time to play house with them!"

"Boss! We already told them!"

The sailor looked helpless and anxious.

"But they said... they're not here for badges! They're here specifically to challenge you! They specifically asked to have a no-holds-barred Mortal Kombat match with you!"

"What?!"

Maszem sprang up from the sofa, grabbed his camouflage vest and haphazardly put it on, his eyes instantly igniting the anger that had been building up all morning!

"They've really gone this far? Looks like I have no choice but to fight! Fine! Very well!"

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking with a crisp sound, and then suddenly grinned.

"Let them all in, don't let a single one escape! And then—lock the gate shut!"

"Yes, boss!"

The sailor was startled and scrambled out to carry out the order.

Ma Zhishi walked to his desk, pulled out his brass knuckles which he hadn't worn in a long time, and strode out, his roar echoing throughout the dojo.

"Come on! You arrogant challengers!"

In short, the Vermilion Gym was surprisingly harmonious today.

The air was filled with the trainers' mournful screams.

"In a no-rules game, shouldn't the first player grab the ball? Why are you walking straight at me?! Don't come any closer!!!"

"Referee! He's cheating! Look at his hand! That's a brass knuckle! That's a foul!"

"Don't hit my face! I was wrong! I'll never come to the Vermilion Gym again! Please let me go!"

"..."

in the afternoon.

The usually quiet Pokémon Center in Vermilion City was unusually flooded with a large number of injured people.

Strangely, it wasn't the Pokémon that was injured, but the trainer himself.

Fist marks, footprints, electric shock burns... all sorts of injuries.

The experienced Miss Joey drew her conclusion with just a glance.

The injury was treated in a very "professional" way; apart from making the injured person grimace in pain and causing the bruises to fade very slowly, there was no serious harm.

Clearly, this person acted with great "measure."

……

At the same time.

The First Emperor's Mausoleum, an alternate dimension.

The ancient palace, which was once dimly lit, is now illuminated by artificial light sources as if it were daytime.

Those Ghost-type Pokémon that once slept here have now vanished without a trace.

Instead, figures in uniform and hurrying about are now seen.

They are continuously transporting various high-end instruments to the main room where the jade coffin is stored.

The bright, colorful "R" logo on each person's uniform was particularly glaring under the strong light.

Inside the main room, when the last data cable was connected to the jade coffin base, the monitoring screen next to it lit up instantly, and a waterfall of data flowed across the screen.

A researcher, carrying the newly generated analysis report, strode quickly toward the center of the main room.

There, a middle-aged man with a stern face stood with his hands behind his back.

Team Rainbow Rocket's only designated boss—

From the Victory timeline...Sakaki.

Beside him stood a strangely shaped humanoid Pokémon, dressed in specially made armor, emanating an unsettling aura.

"Report! Instrument connection complete! Energy scanning and replication process initiated, estimated completion time: one month!"

The researcher bowed respectfully, handed over the report, and his voice held a barely perceptible tension.

"The abnormal energy emission is spreading as planned, and the expected impact area will cover the entire city of Tai'an! All dormant Pokémon in this area have been successfully awakened and contained, and could trigger a riot at any time! Please provide instructions!"

Sakaki accepted the report indifferently, his gaze sweeping coldly over the data without uttering a word.

The deputy standing to the side immediately stepped forward and gave the order in a deep voice.

"Seal off all interdimensional portals! Deploy the highest level of defenses! Ensure the absolute safety of the energy replication process, while minimizing external perception of energy fluctuations! No mistakes allowed!"

"yes!"

The researcher, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, quickly withdrew.

Only then did Sakaki casually toss the report aside, his voice steady yet carrying an unquestionable, absolute authority.

"How is the control equipment provided by the Equipment Department being tested?"

"First batch of tests completed, performance stable."

The deputy bowed in response.

"Um."

Sakaki's deep gaze fell upon the jade coffin that emitted a faint, cold light.

"Distribute the first batch of tools and equip them with control devices."

He paused slightly, his tone flat and emotionless.

"Soon... we'll have guests coming, don't disappoint me."

"Yes, sir!"

The deputy bowed deeply and quickly retreated to carry out the order.

In the vast main room, only Giovanni and the silent armored Pokémon remained.

He gazed at the jade coffin as if admiring a masterpiece.

Suddenly, the space beside him distorted without warning, and blinding lightning crackled and exploded!

An ultimate void, radiating an ominous purple light, suddenly tore through the air!

Without the slightest hesitation, Giovanni and the armored Pokémon stepped into the deep purple vortex and vanished without a trace.

In the empty hall, only the cold hum of the instruments remained.