"That Moltres recovers way too fast..."
Standing over a hundred meters apart, Ryuuske and Blaine observed Sabrina's Moltres from atop Garchomp and Charizard, respectively.
Though "standing" wasn't quite accurate for Blaine—he was more like clinging to Charizard's neck. The size difference was stark. While Blaine's Charizard stood at a respectable four meters tall, its back wasn't suited for riding. In contrast, Garchomp's massive frame allowed Ryuuske to stand effortlessly mid-air.
To Ryuuske, clutching a Pokémon's neck mid-flight was just... embarrassing. Even if practicality mattered more than aesthetics in battle, he preferred his fights to carry an air of brutal elegance. Sometimes, he wondered if he'd do well in Contests—after all, he did have a taste for the theatrical.
After unleashing Inferno Overdrive, Moltres' flames had dimmed significantly—yet in just this short time, they were already rekindling.
"Most Pokémon lose their Fire typing temporarily after using Inferno Overdrive, but Moltres... As expected of a Mythical Pokémon, it retains its flames even after such a move."
Blaine adjusted his sunglasses—a habit born from living among Cinnabar's volcanoes, where the glare of magma was constant.
"You've studied Moltres well, Blaine."
"As the Fire-type Gym Leader of Kanto, how could I not be curious about the region's legendary Fire-type? I've always wanted to uncover its secrets."
"Hence the lab in the middle of a volcanic range?"
Ryuuske's tone was light. With Gabite's evolution into Garchomp, his strength had skyrocketed—and his mood along with it.
"I never believed the rumors about Moltres residing in Indigo Plateau. I was sure it lived here on Cinnabar. And now Team Rocket's proven me wrong."
Blaine chuckled wryly.
In this world, Pokémon evolution wasn't as rigid as in the games. A Pokémon could evolve naturally over time, even without training—but such evolutions wasted its potential, resulting in minimal power growth.
This was common among family pets—Pokémon that evolved simply from aging alongside their owners.
The alternative was Ryuuske's approach: unlocking a Pokémon's full potential through rigorous training, ensuring each evolution brought exponential growth. For Pokémon like Garchomp, which evolved twice, the first stage might not seem drastic—but the final evolution could mean the difference between earth and sky.
This was why trainers rarely caught fully evolved wild Pokémon. Only those raised from infancy could achieve their true strength.
And this was where trainers diverged—
First, battle intelligence and adaptability. Even weak Pokémon could triumph through strategy, quick thinking, and sheer determination. Ash excelled here.
Second, nurturing a Pokémon's growth. Maximizing potential at every evolution, eliminating flaws—Gary was the master of this.
Third, mastering moves. Every trainer trained their Pokémon's techniques, but results varied wildly.
As for Ryuuske?
He wasn't sure where he stood. He was good at everything—yet somehow, that meant he had no defining strength.
Upon reflection, he realized his true talent lay in pure power. No frills, no tricks—just raw, overwhelming force.
From the very beginning, he had grasped the essence of a Pokémon's strength, unlocking the method to transcend limits. It was like cultivating immortality with peak comprehension from day one—he already had the vessel; all he needed was time to fill it.
If Pokémon had a level cap of 100, Ryuuske believed he had found the key to breaking it.
This was the ultimate realm a trainer could reach—
Pokémon Master.
But that was a distant goal. For now, his immediate challenge was Sabrina and her still-combat-ready Moltres.
"Ryuuske, let's finish this together! We can't let Sabrina escape!"
With reinforcements at hand, Blaine's confidence surged. As a Fire-type specialist, being outmatched by another Fire user—even if it was Moltres—was humiliating. Now, with a chance at payback, he was fired up.
"Blaine, for someone who worked alongside Sabrina in Team Rocket, you don't seem to know her very well."
Ryuuske stood atop Garchomp, arms crossed—a posture eerily similar to Sabrina's, radiating cold dominance.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Sabrina's arrogant, but she's no fool. She hates direct confrontations with uncertain odds. Her strength lies in traps—luring opponents into inescapable schemes. The moment she saw me and had Moltres use Inferno Overdrive, she was already planning her exit."
Right on cue, the air rippled—psychic energy.
"Charizard!"
Blaine barked, and a searing flame shot toward Sabrina—only to crash against an invisible barrier two meters away, scattering into embers over the magma below.
"Should I be flattered, Ryuuske?"
Sabrina's voice dripped with icy venom. Most people would be delighted to meet someone who understood them so deeply—but not her. Because Ryuuske's insight came from the ultimate violation: piercing her mental barriers.
"Of course you should! Because I know you better than anyone—better than even your parents!"
Ryuuske smirked, making no move to stop her escape.
"...Instead of wasting time gloating, maybe check on Pallet Town. I'll see you in Saffron City."
With that, Sabrina prepared to teleport—but Ryuuske's next words shattered her composure.
"See, Blaine? Just as I said. Sabrina loves her schemes. Something must've happened in Pallet Town to force me to Saffron, where she's undoubtedly set a trap. This is her specialty!"
He turned to Blaine, repeating Sabrina's plan verbatim—before she could even say it herself.
"You—!"
Her flawless mask cracked, lips twisting in fury. But before she could retort, her teleportation activated, whisking her away.
Somewhere, Sabrina was fuming.
Blaine stifled a laugh. He didn't know Sabrina well, but he did know her as cold and untouchable. To see her reduced to sputtering rage? Their relationship was... complicated.
And Blaine wasn't stupid. Ryuuske had let her go on purpose.
He might not know the tale of "Seven Captures of Meng Huo", but he recognized psychological warfare when he saw it. Ryuuske was tightening the noose, cornering Sabrina step by step—waiting for her to taste victory before crushing her utterly.
That moment would break her.
What kind of grudge warrants this?
Blaine had wanted Sabrina dead. But Ryuuske? He wanted her shattered.
.
This wasn't just killing the body—it was annihilating the soul.
To be continued..
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