North of Eterna City, in front of the towering Team Galactic Eterna Building, a blue-haired man in a tailored suit stepped out of a modified luxury car.
His expression was emotionless.
His eyes seemed to look at nothing—
Yet every step he took felt like it pressed against the heartbeat of everyone nearby.
The onlookers gazed at him with fanatic reverence.
Four figures who had been waiting approached and bowed deeply.
"Boss Cyrus."
Yes.
The man was Cyrus, leader of Team Galactic.
To the public, he was a successful entrepreneur with properties across Sinnoh.
In truth, the Eterna Building concealed one of Galactic's primary headquarters.
Standing before him were his four commanders:
The fiery red-haired Mars
The composed purple-haired Jupiter
The cold blue-haired Saturn
And the scientist Charon
Cyrus nodded slightly.
"Report the progress."
Jupiter and Saturn stepped forward simultaneously.
"We have intercepted Professor Rowan's research manuscripts. No signs of Azelf at Lake Valor. The other two lakes are under monitoring."
"Continue," Cyrus replied flatly.
Then his gaze shifted to Mars and Charon.
"Your missions encountered… difficulties."
It was phrased as a question—
But sounded like a statement.
Mars stiffened.
"Boss, the energy collection task was interrupted. Completion stands at 85%. I will recover the remaining portion without affecting other operations."
Charon wiped sweat from his forehead.
"A young trainer interfered. Bomb assembly halted at raw material stage. We must reconstruct from scratch…"
He swallowed.
"And… I left Rotom's research notes at the scene."
Cyrus's expression flickered—barely.
"And?"
Charon forced himself to continue.
"He captured Rotom. And… filed a patent for Rotom-integrated appliance technology."
"And the one who interfered both times?" Cyrus asked.
"His name is Peter. Newly appointed Pokémon Professor."
Silence.
"Bring me his information," Cyrus said at last.
"Saturn, assist Charon with the bomb project. Expedite."
"Mars. Charon. With me."
He entered the building.
Behind him—
The machine continued to turn.
-----
South of Eterna City
Peter, blissfully unaware that his photo now sat on Cyrus's desk, walked south with Whitney.
"Ahhh~ Nature really does feel the best!" Whitney stretched her arms wide as sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.
Peter watched her with a soft smile.
Eterna City lay at the foot of Mount Coronet.
East led toward Celestic Town.
Since Celestic had no Gym, they chose to cross Mount Coronet from the southern pass instead.
Beyond it—
Hearthome City.
Whitney opened her map.
"Okayyy… three kilometers south and then—"
"Babe… you're heading east."
"…Ah."
She froze adorably.
Before she could recover—
"Hey, you two Trainers!"
Peter looked up.
A boy wearing a bug-catching net on his back and a Grass Cat hat stared at him enthusiastically.
"Battle me!"
Ah.
The universal travel rule.
If your eyes meet—
You battle.
Peter nodded.
"Sure."
Forest Clearing — 2v2 Battle
Whitney stepped into the referee position smoothly.
"Goldenrod's Peter versus Eterna's Shuhei! Two-on-two battle begins!"
"Go, my darling! Beautifly!"
A dark-gray butterfly with multicolored wings fluttered onto the field.
Beautifly — Lv.17 (Novice)
Peter crouched and released Teddiursa.
"Want to fight?"
"Bine?" It tilted its head.
"Win and you get Sweet Honey."
"BINE!✧"
It leapt into position instantly.
Honey was justice.
Honey was life.
That butterfly?
That was a jar of honey with wings.
…
"Beautifly! Use Gust!"
Wind blades sliced forward.
"Dig!"
Teddiursa plunged into the ground—
A visible dirt trail carving toward Beautifly.
Peter chuckled.
Still too lazy to dig deep.
"Gust! Aim downward!"
The wind struck—
But Teddiursa waited until the attack faded—
Then popped out, grinning.
It exhaled a small cloud.
"Yaaawn~"
Yawn.
"Bine~" It stuck out its tongue playfully.
Shuhei fumed.
"Beautifly! Attack!"
But sleep overtook the butterfly.
It fell.
"Finish it. Belly Drum—then Fire Punch."
Teddiursa beat its belly.
Energy surged.
Belly Drum — Sacrifice half HP to sharply raise Attack.
Its mastery wasn't complete yet—only +3 stages instead of +6.
But its Attack stat was already maxed at 100.
Fire Punch (75 power)
× 2 weakness
× 3-stage boost
Effective output?
Devastating.
BOOM—
Beautifly was knocked out instantly.
…
Shuhei gritted his teeth.
"Then it's your turn—Kricketune Hero!"
A red insect with a violin-like abdomen and curled mustache appeared.
Kricketune — Lv.20 (Intermediate)
Nickname: Kricketune Hero
Description: Dreams of becoming a righteous hero.
Peter froze.
"…What."
Kricketune.
Hero.
Memories flooded back.
"Thanks to Kricketune Hero for the 33 annual votes—I'm laughing just reading the name."
"If my opponent is Kricketune Hero, I permit Team Rocket to retreat."
"Team Aqua should be grateful Groudon used Precipice Blades instead of Kricketune Hero's Perish Song."
Peter inhaled slowly.
This was either comedy.
Or destiny.
Teddiursa blinked.
The "hero" posed dramatically—
Mustache gleaming.
The forest grew silent.
And somewhere deep in Peter's soul—
A battle far more profound had begun.
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T/N:
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