As an agent of Shadow Ops, Ophelia had undergone extensive secret training, sharpening her keen perception. With just one glance, she could tell that this girl exuded a certain "world-worn" aura. However, that wasn't the main point. More importantly, there was something peculiar about her presence—something that made Ophelia feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
She was always acutely aware of her own thoughts, yet at this first encounter, why did this girl feel so familiar? This sensation... she had felt it before.
"Hello, I'll have the same black coffee as her," the girl called out, then turned to Ophelia. "I forgot to introduce myself—my name is Flora, secretary to the leader of Hive."
As expected. In an instant, Ophelia was certain that this girl, who called herself Flora, gave her the same feeling as Scott.
"The leader of Hive doesn't have a secretary," Ophelia replied coolly. She didn't know who the leader of Hive was, nor could she explain why she was certain that he had no secretary—but she just knew.
Flora's expression shifted slightly, confirming Ophelia's statement.
"Haha, just a joke." Flora showed no embarrassment at being exposed; she merely smiled sweetly. "The leader said you would give me an offer."
Ophelia remained silent, but at that moment, a directive surfaced in her mind: arrange for Flora to enter Silph Co.
It felt like a command—like something she not only wanted to do but had to do.
No... was she being hypnotized?
For a split second, Ophelia's mind buzzed, and she nearly dropped the spoon in her hand. However, her rigorous training kept her outward composure flawless.
She was absolutely certain that this thought was not her own. It had been implanted externally. But how? Just like how she used telepathy to give commands to Scott—was someone doing the same to her?
"Alright, we'll complete the paperwork at the company this afternoon," Ophelia nodded.
She hadn't fully grasped the situation yet, but this was something she had to do. There was no reasoning—just an undeniable compulsion.
Observing Flora closely, Ophelia's confusion only deepened. It was their first meeting, yet the familiarity was undeniable. Just like with Scott, there was an intangible connection. Was this Hive's doing?
In truth, Lucius had long since sent her a pheromone-based directive. The moment Flora met her, it would activate. Regardless of how they met, Ophelia would inevitably bring her into Silph Co.
With her position as the Vice President's secretary, issuing an order for HR to hire an ordinary employee posed no challenge. Besides, Lucius had made no specific demands regarding her role.
Yet Flora's direct approach only intensified Ophelia's suspicions.
"Tell me, what exactly is Hive?" Ophelia hesitated for a moment before speaking. Whether for herself or for Shadow Ops, she needed to understand this mysterious organization that had suddenly surfaced.
...
Against the levitating, swaying Celebi, Gardevoir did not launch a direct attack. Instead, she extended her hand and released a pulse of energy.
Electric-type move: Thunder Wave.
The blue-hued electromagnetic wave radiated outward from Gardevoir, sweeping across the battlefield like a wave, leaving no hidden corners untouched.
Celebi reacted swiftly, conjuring a barrier of radiant, multi-colored leaves in front of it to block the Thunder Wave.
The air temperature dropped sharply. The leaf barrier shattered into countless razor-sharp ice shards, forming a storm of ice blades that surged toward Gardevoir. Each ice blade retained its leaf-like structure.
It was a combination move—Magical Leaf from the Grass-type and Blizzard from the Ice-type. If Gardevoir couldn't counter it, she would be shredded into frozen slivers.
Gardevoir merely smiled faintly and, instead of dodging, used the very same move Celebi had just employed.
Psychic-type move: Ally Switch.
In an instant, a mysterious force swapped Celebi and Gardevoir's positions. The raging ice storm now hurtled toward Celebi instead.
Celebi vanished, using Teleport to escape the deadly barrage of ice blades.
But the moment Celebi reappeared, its body tensed up, unable to move. A blue electric current surged around it.
Gardevoir's Psychic move, Imprison, combined with a second Thunder Wave.
Though Celebi was ensnared by the electric currents, its expression remained blank—like a puppet devoid of pain.
Seizing the moment, Lucius commanded Gardevoir to release a viral technique: Mental Parasite.
The thought imbued in the Mental Parasite was clear—"paralyzed for one minute." As the parasitic influence infiltrated Celebi's consciousness, Lucius also established a mental link with the Time Travel Pokémon.
Compared to the Crystal Onix or Steelix from before, Celebi's mental domain was vastly larger. Yet, what shocked Lucius was that despite its immense psychic presence, there was barely any disturbance—a vast, tranquil ocean of thought. Only when Vicious spoke did Celebi show the slightest reaction. Otherwise, its mind was eerily blank.
When Mental Parasite took hold, it was as if a stone had been dropped into a still lake—ripples spread outward, unobstructed.
To the spectators, Celebi had suddenly gone stiff, convulsed briefly under the effects of Thunder Wave, then collapsed motionless on the ground—as if dead.
Had it been paralyzed by Thunder Wave?
Gardevoir remained still. She knew that Celebi was currently being invaded by the virus and was now fully under the influence of Mental Parasite—immobilized for the next minute.
Five seconds…
Ten seconds…
Twenty seconds…
"Did Vicious just lose?" Ariana's doubtful voice broke the silence.
Celebi had been down for over ten seconds—more than enough time for a King-tier Pokémon like Gardevoir to strike a finishing blow multiple times over.
"Is it really over?" Even the usually composed Pierce found it hard to believe.
A Legendary Pokémon, one that had been demonstrating extraordinary power and mastery, defeated by a mere Thunder Wave?
"Celebi, what are you doing?!" Vicious shouted. "Get up!"
Despite his cries, Celebi remained unresponsive.
"Damn it." Vicious clenched his teeth and retrieved a Dark Ball, emitting a beam of black light to recall Celebi.
This move was equivalent to admitting defeat. He didn't wait for Vulture to announce the result, fearing that Archer would take the opportunity to land a finishing blow. Even though this Celebi was an imperfect creation, it still held King-tier strength—an asset he couldn't afford to lose.
"Archer wins," Vulture declared as Vicious withdrew his Pokémon, signaling the match's end.
"So much for a Legendary Pokémon." Lucius smiled faintly as he looked at Vicious.
Vicious let out a cold snort. Though his expression was dark and stormy, he didn't retaliate with words. There were far more pressing concerns in his mind than losing a mere battle.
Damn it… This Celebi wasn't a successful specimen either. The Progenitor Gene of Celebi has already been depleted—using defective samples would make it even more impossible to create a viable final product.
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