"So now that it is just us two, let me reintroduce myself. The name's Hikari Kai. I'm a rookie officer who joined about 2 months ago."
Kai broke the ice as the two of them carefully navigated the path ahead. This was the perfect time for a conversation.
"Eric. I'm an intermediate-level trainer and a beginner breeder."
"Wait, you are a breeder as well? I don't remember the article mentioning it."
"It probably didn't. I haven't read it fully, so I can't say for sure."
Kai gave him a sideways look as he continued, "Reaching this level so quickly, that too without backing... it must've been incredibly difficult. I'm curious, what made you push so hard?"
"Is that something you have to ask? This world runs on strength. I just... wanted to feel a little safe."
"A little safe, huh?" Kai said in a melancholic voice. "Ideally, it should be our job to make citizens feel safe. That's why I became an officer. But there is too much wrong with this world, making it nearly impossible to have everyone feel safe."
There was a trace of gloominess in his voice, but then he switched up.
"I won't give up, though. I don't know how long it will take, but I will climb the ranks and change how things work. That, I promise."
Eric didn't expect that kind of response from Kai, especially given his distrust of cops, but he ignored that for now.
"Even if you managed that, I still prefer personal strength. Nothing could replace that."
"Well, I can't refute that," Kai said, glancing meaningfully at Eric.
"Let me ask you something else then. What do you think of the league?'
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, in the way it functions. The way it treats citizens."
"...Why are you asking me that?"
"Just curious. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"You're a League Officer."
"You don't have to worry about that."
Eric gave him a sideways glance before continuing,
"The League exists to benefit a small group of people, nothing more, nothing less. It isn't any better than the likes of Team Rocket, is what I'd like to say. But the fact is, I don't know it enough. I'll have to observe more."
"I see. I'm quite curious about what opinion you'll have after you are done observing. Cause personally, I don't like it. The way it differentiates between classes, how it treats regular citizens, is just not right."
"...Are you sure you should be saying that? You work for the league."
"I work to make the citizens' lives better. And to do that, I need to change how the league functions from the inside. It feels like an impossible job, but there are others like me. Professor Oak, for example. And that gives me hope."
"Suit yourself."
They kept moving, keeping their senses sharp even as they talked. It was Kai who stopped first, as he placed his hand in front of Eric, telling him to stop.
"Something's coming at us."
"I know."
Haunter appeared from Eric's shadow in front of him, and Eric also released Poliwhirl.
Haunter Lvl 34
Poliwhirl Lvl 31
Kai threw out 2 pokeballs as well, releasing a Machoke, and a Growlithe.
Machoke Lvl 37 (Light Purple)
Growlithe Lvl 35 (Deep Blue)
Eric didn't have time to properly appraise Kai's Pokémon as a large boulder came rolling towards them. The two of them dodged sideways in different directions as the boulder missed them. But instead of continuing to roll forward, the boulder stopped and stood up. It was a Golem.
Golem (Anomalous State): Lvl 37
"This one is the same as that Nidoking," Eric commented, noticing its red eyes.
Kai frowned. "This is clearly the work of Team Rocket."
As the two turned to face the Golem, they heard the ground rumbling from behind them.
"It's not alone!"
They were surrounded in a short while, with Golem in front of them and 5 other Pokémon behind them.
Sandslash Lvl 35
Arbok Lvl 36
Nidoqueen Lvl 38
Nidoking Lvl 37
Scyther Lvl 35
All of them had deep red eyes.
"This isn't good." Kai said as he took out his phone to tell the others, but the phone rang even before he did anything.
"Hello, Kai? What's the situation on your end?" Officer Jenny spoke with urgency in her voice.
"We are surrounded by a bunch of berserk Pokémon."
"You too, huh. It's the same this side. But more importantly, we need to quickly make our way towards Brax's side. The situation there is dire. Two Team Rocket grunts are there alongside an army of berserk Pokémon. I'm heading there as well after wrapping this up. You do the same."
Jenny didn't wait for a reply as she cut the call.
"You heard her, we need to hurry," Kai said as he took out another Poké Ball.
Rapidash: Lvl 36 (Blue)
Eric did the same and released Fearow.
The situation instantly turned tense as the battle began. Poliwhirl used muddy water in the direction of the 5 Pokémon; meanwhile, Haunter used Shadow Ball on the Golem.
But while the shadow ball knocked the Golem away, the muddy water did little to stop their advance.
Scyther was the first to break through, flying furiously towards Kai. But Kai's Growlithe stood in front of him and spun rapidly, engulfing itself with fire and creating a wheel of fire.
The flaming wheel then rammed into the Scyther, knocking it back.
Kai then hopped onto his Rapidash's back. Rapidash's flames were unique. They didn't burn anyone they considered an ally, allowing Kai to ride Rapidash without issue.
"Eric! Hop on!"
Eric hesitated a little, seeing the fire on Rapidash's body. He first tested with his hand to see if it burned. He hopped on only after confirming it didn't.
Then the Rapidash started sprinting.
"Wait-- aren't we heading back?"
Eric said in surprise, as instead of returning where they came from, Rapidash was advancing forward.
"We can reach their location from both sides. This way, we can sandwich them and leave them no way to escape!"
"I know, but it will take longer."
"Don't worry. Miss Jenny will reach there before us."
Eric wasn't familiar with how they worked so he just agreed.
"We need to take down as many of them as we can. Otherwise, they'll become a nuisance later on."
He said, as he commanded his Pokémon to attack.
Haunter and Poliwhirl fired ranged attacks at the group, while Fearow engaged Scyther in aerial combat.
The opponents were too many, however, as Sandslash and Arbok slipped past and swiftly approached Rapidash, who was slowed because of the large chunks of rocks being thrown at it by the Golem in front of them.
Kai's Growlithe engaged the Arbok, while his Machoke attacked the Sandslash.
Dark-type energy appeared on its arms as it used Knock Off on the Sandslash, which Eric found weird. Why not use a fighting-type move? And the Machoke's movements felt slightly weird as well, but Eric couldn't figure out why.
Rapidash galloped towards the exit, dodging all of the attacks Golem threw at it. Ground-type energy accumulated around its body, peaking when it was only 1 meter away from the Golem.
The Rapidash then jumped and came down onto the Golem with its front legs, slamming it into the ground.
It had used the move High Horsepower.
Rapidash didn't stop to celebrate and continued its stride, sprinting towards the exit.