"No, this isn't a volcanic eruption. It's a collective Earthquake being triggered by powerful Ground-type Pokémon," Elite Blaze judged keenly, his eyes narrowing as he felt the rhythmic tremors.
He immediately barked orders to the panicked League investigators. "It's night. Some of the most dangerous Pokémon on this island are nocturnal and their power peaks in the dark. Combined with this rain, charging in now is suicide. We move at dawn to investigate the source."
On the other side of the ridge, Gyarados opened its massive maw, unleashing a barrage of Hydro Pumps. Every Hippopotas struck by the pressurized blasts was instantly incapacitated.
Greninja, the ports on their backs are their weakness. Use precision strikes and take down the leader, Feng Che sent a telepathic command.
Greninja nodded. Extending its hands, it manipulated the falling rainwater, shaping it into hundreds of liquid needles. With a flick of its wrists, the needles shot with unerring accuracy into the openings on the Hippowdon's backs. The colony collapsed as if their power had been switched off.
"Perfect. Great job, Greninja."
Feng Che used his psychic power to launch several Poké Balls at the high-potential Hippowdon and Dwebble. The Hippowdon Leader glared at the spinning ball as it approached.
[Hippowdon Leader: Human, even if you win my body, you will never have my heart.]
That was the last thought Feng Che heard before the ball clicked.
"Whatever, buddy. I just need to sell you or use you as a tank. I didn't ask for your hand in marriage," Feng Che muttered, rolling his eyes at the melodramatic hippo. "The Hippowdon colony was a defensive line for the pirates who wrecked here. They were waiting for a token to let anyone through. Oh well, strength is the only token I need."
Within the League encampment, a short, unassuming young man named Aomatsu clutched a silver medallion engraved with the character for 'Sand.'
"Ten years... it took ten long years, but I've finally found it," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with unbridled ambition. "With this token, I inherit the Pokémon legion and the untold riches of the Sand Pirates. My ancestor risked his life to steal this from the crew so his descendants could become the wealthiest people in the world. Blaze thinks this island is his playground, but once I claim the treasure, I'll be the most powerful man in Kanto."
Feng Che continued his advance. He had already cleared through a colony of Crustle and a pack of Camerupt. Now, he was surrounded by a ring of Excadrill and Krookodile.
Man, at this rate, my Breeding House is going to be Ground-type central, Feng Che thought. If I become a Gym Leader, will I have to stick to Ground types like Giovanni? Will the League realize the connection?
Excadrill is a deep brown Pokémon with steel-like claws and a drill-shaped head capable of piercing iron plates. Krookodile, the "Bully of the Sands," possesses eyes like telescopes that can spot prey through a sandstorm from fifty kilometers away. Its jaws are powerful enough to crush a car chassis like a soda can.
"Greninja, Gyarados—it's on you. The Excadrill are excellent diggers; I'll bring them back to help expand the Breeding House's facilities. As for the Krookodile, they'll make perfect security guards."
The Krookodile moved through the sand with the speed of Sharpedo in water. Feng Che sat on Gyarados's back, hovering safely in the air as he watched the "hunt" begin.
If there are Krookodile here, there has to be a Flygon, Feng Che deduced. The murals he saw on the shipwreck depicted Flygon as the lords of the desert.
Suddenly, a massive Krookodile lunged from the sand, its maw wide as it aimed for Greninja's throat. Greninja didn't dodge. Instead, it manifested a massive Water Pulse—a spinning sphere of water—and rammed it directly into the crocodile's open mouth.
The Krookodile's belly swelled visibly as it was forcibly pumped full of water. It slammed into the sand, coughing up clear liquid, completely neutralized.
"Nice. The 'Water Balloon' method. 10/10," Feng Che cheered.
The other Krookodile, seeing their comrade fall, grew cautious. They lunged together, their claws glowing with the lethal light of Dragon Claw. Greninja blurred, creating dozens of Double Team clones. The crocodiles struck only air and were met with a counter-kick to the face from the real Greninja.
Then, the Excadrill struck. A dozen of them tucked into their drill forms, becoming spinning tops of silver steel that tore toward Greninja. Greninja lashed out with twin water whips, snaring two drills and swinging them like flails into their own kin.
"Greninja, finish this! Surf!"
A three-meter wall of rushing water erupted from Greninja, roaring toward the remaining Ground-types.
But before the wave could hit, the sand beneath them exploded. A creature soared out, flapping its wings to raise massive walls of rock from the earth, blocking the flood.
"Finally," Feng Che said, his gaze turning sharp. "The Flygon."
Pokémon: Flygon Potential: Epic (Cyan) Level: 65 Type: Ground / Dragon Unique Status: Battle-scarred; Final Guardian of the Sand Pirate Hoard. Evaluation: A powerful leader. Capturing it is the key to the treasure.
The Flygon was covered in crisscrossing scars, giving it a rugged, veteran appearance.
[Flygon: Another fool seeks the gold? You think a frog can best the King of the Desert? Delusional!]
Flygon beat its wings, whipping up a colossal Sandstorm. The world turned a gritty, blinding grey, obscuring everything. Under the cover of the howling winds, the Krookodile and Excadrill prepared for a second assault.
"Greninja, push through! Defeat them all and step into the Pseudo-Elite realm!" Feng Che shouted over the wind.
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