Chapter 444: Mr. Lu’s Grandmaster Strategy
This was clearly a handsome young man so striking, it was impossible to look away.
The woman wearing tactical goggles felt a tightness in her chest. A wave of intense fear surged through her.
Why is Mr. Lu here of all places!?
Is he working with the Psychic-type Elite Four member Wusong!?
“No... no way.”
Hunter J’s pupils shrank. Her lips were dry as she rasped out:
“I know you... you're a mentor from Team Rocket! How could you be mixed up with a Sinnoh Elite Four!?”
Suddenly, Hunter J seemed to realize something. Her breath caught.
Could it be… his real target is both me and Wusong!?
“You sure know a lot.” The extraordinarily handsome, dark-haired young man raised a brow and murmured:
“That means I definitely can’t let you go…”
Hunter J trembled all over. Her hair stood on end.
So this was his plan—
He wanted me and Wusong to wear each other down, and then take us both out in one go!
“Wusong probably has no clue, does he, mentor?” Hunter J sneered.
Lu Ye pulled out a Poké Ball and replied flatly:
“When it comes to dealing with the likes of you, there’s no need to play fair.”
Repay kindness with kindness—what then do we use to repay betrayal?
Still, Wusong really let this woman get away again.
Lu Ye frowned slightly. That guy’s probably slacking off on the job again.
He’d have to ask Cynthia to get a supervisor to keep a close eye on Wusong.
Cynthia slacking? Fine. Wusong slacking? Not acceptable!
“So it’s true…” Hunter J’s eyes narrowed.
Team Rocket cooperating with the League… was all to gain the trust of the Sinnoh Elite Four.
Then the mentor would lie in wait to ambush and eliminate both the Elite and the Pokémon Hunter!
“What a terrifying man…”
Hunter J muttered under her breath and suddenly looked up.
White light flared—all of Mr. Lu’s Poké Balls opened at once.
Hunter J’s expression twisted.
Sending out all his Pokémon at once—was this some kind of Team Rocket tradition!?
Even Giovanni would throw his Poké Balls one by one!
Suddenly, as if something occurred to her, Hunter J asked:
“Is the head of Sinnoh’s Rocket branch Giovanni?”
“You talk too much.”
Lu Ye stood at the cliff’s edge, hands in pockets, overlooking the scene below. “Gengarrr, Shadow Ball!”
“Gengaarrr! (ૢ˃ꌂ˂⁎)”
A violent, jet-black energy swirled in Gengarrr’s hands, pulling rocks into its orbit as it blasted toward Salamence with a roar!
“Dodge it!”
BOOM!!
The Shadow Ball exploded against the cliff wall, sending debris flying.
Hunter J, kneeling on Salamence’s back, flapped its wings to ascend toward the cliff top.
Looking at the calm youth above, Hunter J’s face turned grim.
So the leader of Sinnoh’s Rocket branch… wasn’t Giovanni…
That means the one who laid this lethal trap from the start was—
“D*mn you, Mentor!!”
Hunter J’s eyes burned with fury, veins bulging in her neck, teeth gritted.
“Salamence, Fire Blast!!”
At the edge of the cliff, Salamence opened its maw toward Lu Ye, blazing fire gathering into a crimson inferno.
Lu Ye felt the searing heat intensify in front of him.
“Karmeh!ヾ(⌐■_■)” Beside him, Blastoise aimed its dark cannons.
At this range, the barrels might as well have been shoved into Salamence’s stomach.
The raging aura forced Hunter J to swallow hard.
That pressure…
Even worse than when she’d fought Wusong earlier!
But even faster than Blastoise was a graceful white figure—
“Bui!! (艹皿艹)”
Before the Fire Blast could erupt, a lightning-fast dash streaked through the air. Wrapped in fierce winds, Sylveon slammed straight into Salamence.
THUMP!!
“Raargh—!!” Salamence reeled from the impact, flapping its wings in agony. Hunter J staggered, her expression shaken.
A gang-up was one thing… but Mr. Lu even brought a Fairy-type!?
Falling from above, Sylveon looped a ribbon around Salamence’s wings. Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with contempt and sharpness.
“Bui!!”
A piercing cry turned into a tangible shockwave, enveloping Salamence. Hunter J clutched her ears, groaning hoarsely:
“You’re attacking me too!?”
Lu Ye nodded, pausing for a beat.
“If Salamence could take it, fine… but you withstood it too?”
D*mn, that physique—no wonder she’s a Pokémon Hunter!
Sweat poured off Hunter J. If not for her protective gear, she’d have been seriously injured with Salamence just now!
This man wasn't like those uptight League Trainers.
He was the mastermind of Rocket—hardened in blood-soaked battlefields, ruthless and cunning!
A beam of red light engulfed Sylveon.
The small figure fell through the air, recalled into her Poké Ball by Lu Ye.
The Poké Ball shook violently. The little one inside scratched furiously at its walls.
“Bui!! (｀皿´)ﾉ”
How could you steal my kill!? I was about to solo that guy and you sent me home!?
“Raargh—!!”
Salamence, covered in wounds, roared in rage. Fire Blast erupted like a burning sun, threatening to engulf Lu Ye.
The fireball surged closer, like a blazing sun crashing toward him.
Lu Ye’s coat fluttered in the wind. He sidestepped, one hand in his pocket, and smirked.
“Rotom, Light Screen.”
“Maximum Light Screen, roto!!”
Rotom (Microwave Form) zipped in front of Lu Ye, flashing erratically. With a buzz, a transparent barrier enclosed him.
Then, Lu Ye’s smirk deepened.
“Blastoise, Hydro Cannon!”
“Karmeh—!!”
Blastoise instantly locked its cannons on the incoming fireball. A roaring torrent of water, like a raging dragon, slammed into the Fire Blast.
It streaked like a comet trailing blue light, splitting the sun and barreling on toward Salamence!
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion shook the canyon, shrouding everything in mist. Ears rang from the shockwave.
In the blast’s heart, Lu Ye stood behind the shimmering Light Screen, face calm—
Mr. Lu secretly wiped away a cold sweat.
Holy sh*t, good thing the barrier held!
As the smoke cleared…
Hydro Cannon slammed into Salamence’s crossed wings. The pale green Protect barrier cracked.
“Elite Four-level? No… he’s just toying with me…”
This guy—just like the reports—might actually be Champion-level!
Hunter J’s teeth chattered. Her legs refused to stand. She rasped, “Salamence, get out of here!”
“Raargh!!” Salamence, nearly unconscious, flapped its wings out of sheer survival instinct.
Just you wait—next time I’ll bring my whole squad back for revenge! (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
Lu Ye muttered coldly, “No flights allowed here.”
If it flies, it dies.
“Gengarrr, Gravity!”
“Gengarr~! (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ” Gengarrr, who’d been crouched at the cliff bottom, gleefully waved at Lu Ye.
“Gravity!?”
Hunter J’s face twisted in horror.
“Gengar can learn that!? Quit the tricks—Salamence, move!”
Gengarrr thrust both arms skyward.
CRACK!
A heavy force slammed down, warping the ground. Salamence’s eyes bulged. Its wings faltered.
And then, like a meteor, it plummeted to the canyon floor.
THUD!!!
Dust blasted upward, sending flocks of startled birds fleeing the forest.
A massive crater cracked the canyon floor. The crushing force knocked Salamence into unconsciousness!
Lu Ye looked down into the crater and muttered:
“To be honest… this move probably is illegal.”
“But then again, this is Gengarrr the Outlaw…”
Lu Ye turned slowly.
He tossed a Poké Ball and recalled Blastoise. The ball bounced off the ground and snapped back into his palm.
Gripping it tightly, he clipped it to his belt with casual flair.
“Rotom, go check things out,” Lu Ye said. “Get Thunder Wave ready.”
“Keh keh keh, got it, roto!”
Rotom zipped back into the Pokédex, cackling oddly…
…
At the bottom of the canyon, Salamence lay unconscious in the pit.
Hunter J’s lips were bloody. She staggered to her feet and raised another Poké Ball.
“D-d*mn it… I haven’t lost yet…”
A white light revealed Drapion, fangs bared, claws gleaming with venom, tail stinger glowing ominously.
Hunter J glared at her enemy and growled:
“Drapion, take out that d*mn duck first!”
“Quack?”
The snowy-white Sirfetch’d looked around, a question mark hovering above his head.
“Ka-chak!” Drapion’s pincers came slamming down.
Sirfetch’d jumped, quickly raising his shield. “Quack!?”
Wait a minute… were you talking about me just now? (´థ౪థ)σ
A knight may fall, but he shall never be insulted!
“Quack!” Sirfetch’d brandished his leek blade, clashing with Drapion’s claws.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. Drapion narrowed its eyes cunningly, tail stinger lashing toward Sirfetch’d.
Sirfetch’d countered with a piercing gaze, blocked with his shield, then slammed it down hard on Drapion’s head!
“No Trainer giving commands… and still reacting like that?”
Hunter J’s eyes widened—then darted behind Sirfetch’d.
“Gengarrr!” The ghost nodded thoughtfully, like it was plotting.
Wait—my opponent’s Trainer… is a Gengar!?
Mentor, this is just insulting!
Hunter J barked, “Drapion, Cross Poison!”
“Ka-chak!” Drapion crossed its claws, the blades glowing with toxic light, and swung hard at Sirfetch’d.
Sirfetch’d sensed it coming. He took half a step back, closed his eyes, and raised his leek vertically.
Gengarrr: “Gengarr! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧”
Sirfetch’d: “Quack! (☆_☆)”
Sirfetch’d opened his eyes, fierce and focused. Red light flared across his body.
A knight must fight… for those who cannot!
…