"Don't shoot! I'm Akimoto. I've captured a flock of Togekiss," Feng Che called out, perfectly mimicking the squad leader's tone and cadence. "I know Lord Jecal has been searching for these for a long time. I'm here to deposit them into the warehouse."
The guards lowered their weapons slightly. "Ah, Squad Leader Akimoto! To think you actually snagged something as rare as a Togekiss. Lord Jecal will be ecstatic. Just set the Poké Balls on the intake tray."
"Understood," Feng Che replied. He placed a row of specially prepared Poké Balls onto the designated spot and turned away without looking back.
As soon as he was out of sight, the poachers scanned the balls. Confirming the silhouettes of Togekiss inside, they placed them onto the conveyor belt.
Mewtwo, are you ready? Feng Che communicated telepathically. The Poké Balls containing your mental imprint are now moving through the pneumatic system. Use them to lock onto the spatial coordinates of the vault.
I'm ready, Mewtwo replied, a hint of excitement in his voice. The moment they come to rest, I'll pull us in.
A second later, the world blurred. Feng Che and Mewtwo appeared inside a cavernous warehouse lined with massive, ceiling-high industrial racks. Thousands of Poké Balls sat in neat, glowing rows, continuously replenished by the automated sorting system. This was a temporary holding facility; once the airship returned to headquarters, the organization would filter these Pokémon by potential and redistribute them.
Purple psychic energy erupted from Mewtwo, instantly looping the security camera feeds. "I've blinded their surveillance. We have about thirty minutes before the guards do a physical sweep. But picking through this many balls will take hours."
"Not if we use a little luck," Feng Che grinned. He tossed several Poké Balls. "Come out, Togekiss! Togetic!"
Two Togekiss and three Togetic materialized. Their Serene Grace and Super Luck abilities were exactly what he needed. "Listen up: use your intuition to find the highest-potential Pokémon in this room. Bring me the best of the best."
The Fairy-type birds chirped and took flight, weaving through the aisles like shoppers at a luxury boutique. It didn't take long. A Togekiss fluttered down, dropping a heavy Dark Ball into Feng Che's palm. He immediately triggered his system's appraisal.
Pokémon: Hisuian Braviary Gender: Male Potential: Epic (Cyan) Ability: Sheer Force Level: 58 Type: Flying + Psychic Status: Severely Injured Evaluation: A leader of the Hisuian Braviary flock on the Aero Plateau. Captured after a fierce struggle against the poachers.
"Incredible. The 'Super Luck' is no joke," Feng Che muttered.
The birds continued their work. Within twenty minutes, a small mountain of high-tier Poké Balls sat at Feng Che's feet. Among them were a Level 53 Mandibuzz (Green potential) and a Level 55 standard Braviary (Green potential). Every single ball the Togekiss clan picked was at least Yellow-tier or higher.
"Time's up," Mewtwo warned.
Feng Che swept the "mountain" into his storage ring with a satisfied nod. With another flash of Teleport, they were gone.
Reappearing in a quiet patch of forest, Feng Che took a deep breath of the fresh, damp air. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in peaceful streaks.
"Getting something for nothing really is the best feeling," he mused. "I should thank those industrious poachers. They did all the hard labor, and I got a Gym's worth of elite Flying-types in half an hour. Now, all that's left is the Wind God Ruins."
He pushed through a thicket, only to stop dead. Standing in a small clearing was the blonde youth with the dark, misty eyes.
"Gym Leader Feng Che. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Kimbo," the youth sneered. "One of the Three Ninjas of the Jingten Cult. And you... have just walked into my trap."
Black mist suddenly erupted from the ground, staining the sky a sickly, bruised purple. The vibrant trees withered instantly, their leaves turning brittle and brown before falling like ash. Kimbo laughed like a madman as he released his primary Pokémon: a Pseudo-King Tier Obstagoon.
Thick Demonic Qi surged into the Obstagoon's body, causing it to swell in size. Its muscles bulged unnaturally as it let out a roar that shook the earth.
"That traitorous Maki refused to help me," Kimbo hissed, his eyes bleeding dark smoke. "I've spent years culturing this Obstagoon to the Pseudo-King level. Injecting this much Demonic Qi will kill it within the hour... but if it takes you with it, the sacrifice is worth it!"
The Obstagoon's eyes turned a rabid crimson. It crossed its arms, its fur bristling with dark energy.
"Go, Alolan Ninetales and Sirfetch'd!"
Feng Che released his two Gym-level combatants.
"Gym-level?" Kimbo mocked. "Two Gym-level Pokémon against a Pseudo-King peaked with Demonic Qi? Do you despise me that much, or are you just suicidal?"
In this era, the Fairy-type had yet to be officially discovered by mainstream researchers. No one—except Feng Che—knew that the elegant, icy fox before them possessed a type that was the absolute bane of Dark-types.
The moment Alolan Ninetales touched the ground, the Obstagoon flinched. It felt a terrifying, pure energy radiating from the fox that made its dark blood run cold.