The middle-aged man stumbled out of the underground passage, his breathing ragged. As he looked at the colpsed ruins of the research facility, now a massive crater in the forest, he took an instinctive step back.

  A mix of hatred and sorrow filled his eyes as he gred at the pletely buried entrance.

  Clutg the only remaining Poké Ball in his hand, an indescribable sense of desotio into his heart. He had once been just an ordinary trainer.

  In his youth, he had also dreamed of being ae Four member, even a Champion.

  For three long years, he had struggled through tless hardships alongside his first Pokémon, a Teddiursa, earning Gym Badges one by oually, he had barely mao qualify for the Silver ference of the Johto League.

  It was only then that he truly realized…

  In a world full ies, where some trainers had deep family legacies and unparalleled talent, he was nothing more than a weak, ignorant fool.

  Then, a "kied person" had pointed something out to him—the Pokémon he had cherished, those he had fought beside with all his heart, were ultimately limited by their potential.

  "It's not that I'm weak… it's that my Pokémooo weak!"

  And so, he had given them away. Some were sold, others were simply discarded.

  With the money he gathered, and with the help of his new "es," he purchased Pokémon that had high potential—Pokémon with power that could be bought.

  The only one he never repced was his Teddiursa, who had been born with Elite-level potential. But every other Pokémon by his side had been exged multiple times.

  When he saw his Pokémon's strength growing with every ge, he became obsessed.

  And this time… after years of building the right es, he had finally beerusted with the highly lucrative task of guarding this secret underground facility.

  As part of his reward, he had obtained his first Pokémon with Pseudo-Elite Four potential!

  "As long as I fully train this Quagsire, my strength will keep growing, just like before!"

  "Nothing else matters!"

  Pushing aside the st traces of hesitation in his heart, the middle-aged man forcibly erased any lingering affe for his Ursaring. He turned his ba the ruined b, his mind already set oure.

  "Nothing else matters!"

  "Does that include your own life?"

  A tired voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

  Startled, the man snapped his head up—Sato leaned against a tree nearby, exhaustion evident in his posture. But beside him stood a rare and powerful Psychic-type Pokémon.

  Akazam.

  "You—"

  The man's posure shattered. Every ounental preparation, every rationalization for his as—gone in an instant.

  The monster he thought had been buried alive… was standing right in front of him.

  Despite the cuts and bruises c his body, despite his torn and tattered clothes, Sato stood there with an almost casual ease.

  To the middle-aged man, it felt as if Sato was pletely unscathed.

  "Haunter. Kill him."

  Sato didn't waste another word.

  From the man's own shadow, Haunter silently emerged—its eerie grin stretg wider as it licked its lips. One of its ghostly cws plunged directly into the man's chest.

  "N-No… wait…"

  The man's eyes widened in horror, his lips trembling. But his body…

  It wouldn't move. His voice died in his throat as his ans were shredded from the inside.

  No visible wounds. No blood. Yet the life drained from his body in mere seds.

  His lifeless corpse crumpled to the ground.

  Haunter let out a delighted giggle. The man's soul… all it had to do was extend its tongue, and it could savor the lingering fear and despair.

  But one g Sato made it stop. It hesitated—theantly withdrew its tongue.

  "Hu!"

  Akazam didn't rea the slightest. With an intelligence surpassing 5,000 IQ, it had no illusions about the world.

  It had saved Sato onot because of kindness, but because Sato had freed it—allowed it to return to its children.

  "The area won't be safe for a while," Sato said simply. "Find a secure pce to live."

  "Akazam."

  Akazam nodded in uanding. And with that, the matter was settled.

  As for following him voluntarily? A Dark-type Pokémon might, but a Psychic-type like Akazam—especially one as powerful as this—would avoid someone like Sato at all costs.

  With the immense Dark Energy emanating from his body, Akazam had no reason to stick around.

  "Swish!"

  With a flicker of light, Akazam vanished using Teleport.

  Sato wasted no time. He quickly searched the middle-aged man's body, taking anything of value—cash, Poké Balls, and any useful items.

  Once finished, he skillfully buried the corpse a without a trace.

  -------------------

  By the time Sato returo the petition grounds of the Bug-Catg test, he looked no different from when he had first left.

  But the situation underground was bound to be discovered soon. If that happehe lohe Rocket agent failed to report back, the more suspi it would raise.

  To avoid drawing attention to himself, Sato had no choice but to endure his injuries and py along.

  That meant catg at least one seemingly valuable Bug-type Pokémon to divert any potential suspi.

  As the evening approached, Sato—just like the other partits—walked out of the test area, appearied as he handed over his captured Beautifly.

  As he waited for the results, Sato felt a pair of scrutinizing eyes on him.

  Pretending not to notice, he waited patiently. Only when the gaze moved away did he casually turn, blending into a versation with other trainers while subtly gng toward the source.

  "As expected… League officials?"

  Two individuals in Pokémon League Iigator uniforms were sing the testants with sharp, probing eyes. Their presence was anything but subtle.

  "What did you say?"

  "Oh, nothing. Just w if the League sponsors these tests."

  "Ha! Of course! I've ehese tests so many times—I know how this works!"

  A local Bug Catcher, thrilled to share his knowledge, began passionately expining the rumors he had heard. His animated storytelling quickly attracted the attention of those nearby.

  Sato kept listening, nodding along with an ied expression. All the while, he ighe two iigators, who were essentially searg for a needle in a haystack.

  Then, to his mild surprise.

  Sato was decred the winner of the test.

  Apparently, his Beautifly had earned him first pce, surpassing even trainers who had caught Scyther.

  He almost ughed.

  It was obvious—the test anizers wao hype up the event, making it seem like any Pokémon could win.

  Even if he hadn't caught a Beautifly, they probably would have awarded first peone who had captured a Kakuna.

  The grand prize for this Bug-Catg test was a Dusk Stone, along with the captured Beautifly.

  There was no reason for Sato to refuse.

  That night, he remained silent. The m, he left the National Park early, traveling to a small nearby town to y low.

  After log the only (stingy) town doctor, Sato went through the grueling process of having his fractured bones rebroken a properly. The pain was excruciating, but he e.

  Returning to the home where he had arraemporary lodging, he finally took stock of his ret gains.

  A rare Beautifly (on in Hoenn but unusual in Johto).

  A Pseudo-Elite Four potential Wooper.

  A Dusk Stone.

  Several thousand in cash.

  A handful of miseous items, such as Repels.

  After a moment of ption, Sato decided against keeping Wooper.

  While its evolved form, Quagsire, had stroances, its naturally sluggish nature made it pletely inpatible with Sato's style.

  Not to mention—its Water-type potential seudo-Elite Four, but its Ground-type potential was only Ordinary.

  For someoh high standards like Sato, that simply wasn't worth it.

  Lastly, sidering that the Rocket agent had been w for the League, it was likely that Wooper's existence was already on record. Using it iure could expose him.

  With his thoughts settled, Sato prepared for his move.