In the entertainment district of Mauville City, inside a sprawling high-rise where neon lights never slept and the hum of technology filled every corridor, a private arena catered to the wealthy. Nearly a thousand spectators filled it, their cheers and shouts echoing off the walls.
The floor of the pit itself was simple gravel, designed to be suitable for most Pokémon types. Holographic projectors cast bright overlays across the arena, tracking every move, every strike, and every Pokémon's stats for the crowd to devour. Neon advertisements and betting odds pulsed along the inner walls, keeping the energy electric.
High above it all, in a VIP balcony behind reinforced glass, Lucien Veyron watched with absolute control. Every movement on the floor passed beneath his gaze, every outcome subject to his psychic scrutiny. From this vantage, he was untouchable, a silent master of the chaos below, his presence a reminder that in this arena, every battle, every wager, and every breath belonged to him.
The current match was between an Expert ranked Machamp and Houndoom. Both Pokémon had been released to fight without their trainers' instructions. The point of the battles was to see who could win the most fights before falling, and Houndoom was currently leading the night with a significant score of three victories. If he managed to win this fight, he would be one step away from becoming the night's overall champion
Houndoom attacked from a distance with Flamethrower, sending a steady stream of fire toward the advancing Machamp. When Machamp got too close, Houndoom would retreat and circle the arena, keeping its distance until it was safe to strike again. Houndoom relied on a simple hit-and-run tactic, retreating when the enemy got too close and unleashing flames whenever they tried to keep their distance.
So far, he had managed to win all three of his previous fights with relative ease. The lack of trainers guiding the Pokémon ensured that only straightforward, repeatable tactics were used, regardless of the opponent.
Normally, it would have been a dull fight to watch, but there was a caveat that kept the crowd roaring. Every so often, humans were thrown into the matches as combatants, adding blood and shock value to the spectacle. On rare nights, an Elite ranked fighter may even emerge victorious, a near-mythic outcome that kept the audience clinging to the hope of witnessing an unforgettable event.
This was no ordinary competition. It was an illegal fight where human lives were snuffed out for entertainment, a far cry from sanctioned battles.
Lucien might have run a legitimate arena in public, hosting regular matches for the masses, but tonight's show was reserved for his bloodthirsty patrons, the ones who paid millions for the privilege of watching from up close.
Machamp wasn't as much of a pushover as he would normally be against a faster opponent that specialized in long-ranged attacks. He set up a Light Screen before unleashing a devastating Earthquake that shook the ground and left Houndoom with nowhere to run.
"Look at this comeback! Most fighters crumble against Houndoom's speed and firepower, but Machamp's holding his ground. That Light Screen's keeping him in the game, and now Earthquake! Houndoom's got no escape route!"
In a desperate attempt to deal as much damage as possible, Houndoom stopped retreating and met Machamp head-on with an up-close Fire Blast. The fireball struck Machamp square in the chest, dealing heavy damage, but with Light Screen in effect he barely managed to survive and retaliated with a final Earthquake.
"Houndoom's not backing down! He lets loose a Fire Blast straight to the chest! That's a direct hit! Machamp staggers, but he's still standing!"
The ground quaked as Machamp slammed his four fists into the gravel, sending shockwaves racing up Houndoom's legs. The impact dealt crushing damage, and the leader of the night finally collapsed.
"He's down! Houndoom's down! Machamp claims the victory!"
The crowd erupted as the favorite went down after just three wins. The loss opened the door for Machamp to overtake the lead, but with the damage he had taken, the odds were stacked against him.
"Human! Human! Human!" the crowd chanted.
From the reinforced balcony above, Lucien watched with a faint smile. He let the chant build until it was at its peak, then raised a hand in indulgence.
"Release a human next," he commanded smoothly.
From the side of the arena, a human was tossed in. He looked beaten up, wearing nothing but ripped pants. He had wounds all over his body, signs that he had been beaten up prior to the fight.
The crowd knew this was to give Machamp a chance to rest, so they accepted it as a break rather than a true fight.
Machamp, seeing that his next opponent was just as injured as he was, decided to take advantage of the situation and heal. Humans were notoriously weak, so even if he used Rest, he would be safe from any real harm.
He lowered himself into a meditative pose, legs crossed and hands pressed together, before activating the move. Psychic energy shimmered around his body as he dozed off, his head tilting slightly to the side.
"What's this? Machamp is using Rest to regain his health! He knows his opponent is as good as dead, so he's taking this chance to heal up for the next fight!"
The human tossed into the arena struggled to stand, but once he did, it became clear he wasn't finished yet. Step by step, he closed in on the sleeping Machamp, its body glowing faintly with the soft pink aura of Rest.
The announcer's tone shifted, disbelief dripping from every word. "Wait a second… this guy isn't backing down. Look at him, he's walking straight for Machamp! What does he think he's going to do against a powerhouse like that?"
The crowd jeered and laughed, throwing insults, already convinced the man was marching to his death.
When he reached the Pokémon, the man bent down, gripped its head, and twisted violently. A sickening crack echoed through the arena, silencing the crowd.
All eyes shot to the holograms, which confirmed the unthinkable. Machamp had fainted from a single attack. The human was no ordinary victim. He had claimed his first victory without even breaking a sweat.
The crowd's focus shifted to the man himself, giving him their first proper inspection. He stood tall at 5'10" (1.78 m), short blond hair gleaming under the arena lights. His deep black eyes carried an unsettling intensity, the kind that silenced jeers and demanded attention.
Every scar on his body spoke of brutal survival, his defined muscles carved into a physique built for violence. He radiated both strength and control, a fighter who looked ready to take on whatever challenge came next.
The announcer's voice cracked with disbelief. "Unbelievable! Machamp is down! One twist, one move, and this beaten up human just crushed the fully healed Machamp! Ladies and gentlemen, we might be looking at the most dangerous human to ever step into this pit!"
The crowd roared at the sight of such a powerful fighter being sent into the arena. It was their chance to witness a human win tonight's battles. Rarely did they get to see a human fight and actually win against Pokémon, which made the energy in the stands electric.
Lucien's eyes went wide at the sudden end of the match. He had not anticipated the planned winner of the night's battles to fall without a proper fight. This was a variable that defied his control.
"Find out who that is, now!" he barked.
His guard swiped through his tablet before finding the identity of the sudden victor.
"His name is Alex Wattson, a bounty hunter who's after your head. It says here Umbraline sends their regards."
"Umbraline?"
"Yes, sir."
Lucien considered it and decided Umbraline must have finally come to their senses. Their recent clash had been over his sudden support for Team Dominion, but now it seemed they had acknowledged their mistake and sent a peace offering.
The conflict between the League and Team Dominion had the established Elites scrambling to choose sides. Champions were rarely drawn in, since their involvement could lead to catastrophic losses, leaving it to Elites like him to wage the battles instead.
Umbraline had initially pushed back against his decision after watching Team Dominion seize their territory in Johto, so their hostility toward him made sense. But with this peace offering, it was clear they still wanted his human trafficking business to thrive.
Lucien wasn't buying it though. It might just be a trick so he activated his psychic abilities and tried to take a glimpse of Alex's mind.
'Fucking Umbraline, stabbing me in the back. I swear to Arceus, if I get my hands on that asshole, I'll wring his neck.'
Having read Alex's mind, Lucien was convinced. This was certainly a peace offering from Umbraline.
He let out a sigh of relief at the chance to mend ties with them. In truth, their influence terrified him, and he would never have dared to push back under normal circumstances. But his new boss was just as fearsome, and unlike Umbraline, brutally violent.
"A bounty hunter, huh? Interesting… Let's put him to the test. Send in Hariyama. I want to see if this so-called hunter can actually fight."
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