Staring at the Poké Ball that had fallen onto the ground, Vicious' pupils trembled uncontrollably. He even felt a suffocating pressure building up in his chest.
No matter how many possible scenarios he had calculated, no matter how many contingencies he had prepared for—he had never expected this!
Yes, the Dark Ball might indeed have an almost perfect capture success rate… but that was only if the damn thing actually hit the target first!
That damned Suicune—how could it have dodged his Dark Ball?!
And worse still… after dodging, it actually had the audacity to look at him with such disdain!
Damn it! Damn it all! Bastard!
He, a high-ranking executive of Team Rocket, an ambitious man who had dreamed of ruling the world, was being openly looked down on by… a dog!
Goddammit!
"No surprise it's you, Vicious. That performance was really quite… 'astonishing'…"
Lucas was momentarily stunned for two seconds, but quickly snapped out of it, clapping his hands in mock admiration and giving Vicious a sarcastic thumbs-up.
Yet while his tone carried the air of a sigh, his expression was pure ridicule.
"Pfft~"
Green couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Marnie, too, looked at Vicious with an expression that was caught somewhere between amusement and disbelief.
Hearing their laughter, Vicious' face turned so dark and twisted it looked as though it had been steeped in ink. Humiliation! This was, without a doubt, the greatest humiliation he had ever suffered in his entire life!
"Damn it! Suicune!"
Clenching his teeth so hard it seemed they might shatter, Vicious pulled out two more Dark Balls and hurled them at Suicune with all his might.
Unforgivable! He would capture Suicune—! And then he would properly teach that Lucas a lesson about his place in this world!
But Suicune, upon seeing the two incoming Poké Balls streaking through the air, simply gave a heavy backward leap without even thinking.
Once again, the Dark Balls missed!
Vicious' eyes grew so dark they looked like they were about to drip blood.
"Should I call you stupid… or just plain stupid?"
Lucas sneered coldly at the scene before him. Vicious was even more of an idiot than he had imagined.
"Although Suicune's strength is far from the top among the legends, it is still a legendary nonetheless. You think you can capture it without even a proper battle, just by throwing a Poké Ball directly at it? Do you think this is some sort of game? Vicious, I truly didn't expect it—once upon a time you were at least a high-ranking executive of Team Rocket. And yet here you are, such useless trash?"
Lucas's words were merciless. While the Dark Ball was indeed an abnormal, sinister device, no matter how strong or broken a Poké Ball might be, it had one fundamental condition: it had to hit the Pokémon first.
Even in the Mewtwo Strikes Back movie, those bizarre bugged Poké Balls that could swallow Trainers' Pokémon—and even other Poké Balls—still needed to make physical contact before activating.
And yet this Vicious, like some brainless fool, had the gall to just chuck a Dark Ball straight at a Suicune in full fighting form…
If this wasn't stupidity, what else could it be?
Did he truly think Suicune would just stand there motionless, waiting for his Poké Ball to hit it like in a video game?
"Shut up! You've no right to lecture me!"
Vicious roared hoarsely at Lucas, his pride screaming in agony at the mockery.
His ego, his dignity—would never allow him to accept being insulted like this.
"A stray dog still dares to bark?"
Lucas's lips curled into a cold smirk as he casually flipped a Poké Ball from his hand.
"It seems you don't intend to come back with me. That's fine. After all, a traitor is a traitor. In that case… I'll just deal with you right here."
"Screee!"
The Poké Ball burst open midair, and with a piercing, high-pitched cry, a massive, black-and-red malevolent bird spread its wings and emerged.
Its shadow loomed over Vicious, its aura surging outward in terrifying waves. The burning, flame-like aura of wrathful malice spread endlessly, suffocating everything in its presence.
"What do you think you're doing?! The League's decree forbids it—you cannot harm another person's life!"
Feeling the crushing pressure of the Galarian Moltres descending upon him, Vicious' face turned deathly pale. Panic flooded him.
Because he could feel it—Lucas was not joking.
"Are you brain-dead? We're Team Rocket. Since when have we ever needed to give a damn about the League's decrees?" Lucas said mockingly.
"Fiery Wrath."
"Screee!"
With Lucas's calm order, the Galarian Moltres' eyes flashed with a savage glint. Its screech rang out once again—ear-piercing, jagged, filled with unbridled malice.
Its mighty wings beat furiously, sending waves of twisted energy rippling outward.
Below, the vast blue sea beneath Vicious began to churn unnaturally, crimson-black lines glowing across the surface like demonic fire.
"No… no, stop!"
Noticing the ominous change beneath him, Vicious scrambled to pull out a Poké Ball.
"Sciz—"
BOOM!
A terrifying explosion of black-and-red, corrupt energy erupted, staining the entire sky in darkness. Vicious, along with the machine beneath him, was completely consumed by the devastating attack.
Fiery Wrath!
"Arghhhhhh!"
Vicious' form was utterly swallowed, yet his agonized screams echoed unceasingly through the air.
It was only after a long, long moment that the assault finally ceased. The sea gradually calmed once more.
But the difference was clear—the shattered remnants of Vicious' machine floated aimlessly upon the surface. As for Vicious himself, his body had long since been dragged to the bottom of the ocean.
"Of all the things you could've done, you just had to covet something far beyond your station."
Lucas's voice was laced with quiet mockery, as though the matter hadn't even scratched the surface of his concern.
A man like Vicious was nothing but a waste of air. Neither the Pokémon League nor the underworld had any room for such a cruel, treacherous, ungrateful man.
Whether he died sooner or later, death was inevitable. Better to send him off early and put him out of his misery.
Green frowned as she gazed toward the spot where Vicious had vanished. Marnie, however, tilted her head calmly, her face untroubled.
Neither of the two women spoke a word. Marnie had followed Lucas long enough to know his methods. And Green—she had long ago become fully aware of the darkness hidden in this world.
"Well then, with the insect dealt with, next is…"
Lucas turned his gaze toward Suicune, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
"!!!"
The instant Suicune felt Lucas's eyes lock onto it, its fur bristled instinctively. A crushing wave of invisible malice descended upon it like a suffocating storm.
Without a moment's hesitation, Suicune turned and bolted.
There was no way—absolutely no way—it would stay!
To remain was unthinkable; in this lifetime, never!
It absolutely refused to be captured by Lucas. Not only was it carrying the heavy responsibility entrusted to it by Ho-Oh, but following a Trainer like Lucas would mean a future filled with endless acts against its own conscience.
It was Suicune—the embodiment of nobility and justice!
"Still trying to run, are you? Moltres."
Lucas chuckled lightly. Since he had already stumbled upon a legendary, there was no reason at all to let it slip through his grasp.
"Dark Pulse."
"Screee!"
The Galarian Moltres shrieked again. Its cry was nothing like that of an ordinary bird. It was jagged, malicious, unbearably sharp to the ears—painful, grating, dripping with venom.
But it was a bird born of malice and darkness. How could one expect its call to sound pleasing?
A wave of swirling purple-black energy shot forth, streaking toward Suicune at blinding speed.
With agile reflexes, Suicune leapt gracefully aside, narrowly avoiding it.
But that attack had been aimed at its retreat path. If it continued fleeing in a straight line, the Dark Pulse would have surely struck it down.
"Human, I have no desire to quarrel with you."
Suicune's eyes flickered uncertainly as it turned its head back toward Lucas, speaking solemnly.
It truly did not want to battle him, because deep down it knew—this was a human who commanded Reshiram. It was not an opponent it could overcome…
"Of course, I don't mean it that way either. I only intend to capture you." Lucas shrugged casually.
"But I do not like you!" Suicune said helplessly, almost exasperated. Did this human not understand the simple truth—that a melon forced off the vine never tastes sweet?
"My liking you is enough." Lucas replied indifferently. "In this era, who still clings to the idea of mutual affection? If you truly cannot accept it, there is another solution…"
"Speak." Suicune's eyes lit up with faint hope.
"Summon Entei and Raikou. Do that, and I will let you leave." Lucas smiled gently.
Suicune froze on the spot.
Ah… this…
"They are… my kin…"
Suicune was torn apart inside. With its wisdom, it instantly understood Lucas's meaning. In short—he was asking it to ransom itself with Entei and Raikou.
And with Lucas's strength, if the two of them were lured here, then there was no doubt they too would be unable to escape.
But Entei and Raikou were its brethren! Brought to life together by Ho-Oh, they were as close as family, as brothers. For it to betray them like this…
"If you refuse, then enter the Poké Ball obediently." Lucas pulled out an empty Poké Ball, speaking calmly.
No matter what choice Suicune made, it was still a win for him.
If Suicune truly betrayed its brethren, he would indeed keep his word and release it.
After all, if there was one redeeming quality he possessed, it was that he always kept his promises.
But he had never said that releasing Suicune meant he wouldn't come after it again later.
Once Entei and Raikou were captured, with Mew's ability to sense Suicune's aura, chasing it down later would be child's play.
"This…"
Suicune trembled in hesitation, fighting an endless inner battle. Its paws itched to rake across its own fur in frustration.
It did not want to be captured by Lucas—not when it still bore the responsibility of loyalty to Ho-Oh, who had resurrected it and granted it new life and strength.
But to hand over Entei and Raikou…
After a long, painful hesitation, Suicune's eyes finally hardened with resolve. It lowered itself into a battle stance, glaring at Lucas.
Clearly, it would rather fight than betray its kin.
"Though this was the result I expected, it still disappoints me." Lucas sighed in mock regret.
A pity. He had lost the chance to capture all three beasts in one net.
But that was only natural. A noble and just legendary like Suicune would never sell out its brethren.
Unless, of course, Lucas had offered a better deal.
"Well then—Moltres, welcome our soon-to-be new companion properly." Lucas cast aside his musings and gave the order.
For dealing with Suicune, his Galarian Moltres was more than enough.
Thus began the battle for capture.
After about ten minutes of fierce fighting—
"Suicune, captured."
Lucas rotated the Poké Ball lightly in his hand.
In the end, it was only a wild Suicune. Were it not for its exceptional agility and evasive skills, the battle would have ended even sooner.
As for Suicune's stubbornness… Lucas had plenty of Poké Balls. No matter how defiant it was, resistance was meaningless.
"With Suicune captured too, are we heading to Red Rock Isle next? The Whirl Islands Tournament finals are today," Green asked lazily, stifling a yawn.
Though she had watched the battle, her heart felt nothing.
Compared to Reshiram and Rayquaza, Suicune was still a few tiers below.
"Of course. Let's set off."
Lucas recalled his Galarian Moltres. It was time to head for Red Rock Isle, to meet that mysterious priestess—and perhaps discover the whereabouts of the Lugia family.
He wondered if that Lugia mother and her little Lugia even existed in this world…
(End of Chapter)