Expanding the Hive to 100 members?
Ophelia, Scott, and the others had all received this directive.
Earlier, after Archer had left, Ophelia had immediately questioned Flora. She knew that despite Flora's outward intelligence, she was actually quite gullible. With just a few words, Ophelia managed to extract everything she knew.
Although Flora had little knowledge of the Hive and the mutation incidents, Ophelia was still able to analyze a wealth of information from what she said.
It seemed that the true mastermind behind the Sunburst Island incident was the Hive...
To prevent mass panic, the League had only vaguely described the event as an invasion by unknown lifeforms, deliberately guiding public perception toward the idea of unidentified Pokémon.
However, as a member of the Shadow Ops, Ophelia knew better. And with the information she had just gathered from Flora, she quickly pieced together the truth—the Hive possessed the ability to induce mutations in both humans and Pokémon. It was clear that she herself had also been infected by this phenomenon.
But even though I've deduced the truth, I have no way of refusing these orders.
What should I do?
Ophelia realized that, just as Scott couldn't disobey her, she was also unable to defy Archer.
The highest directive of the Shadow Ops was to maintain societal stability and preserve harmony between humans and Pokémon from the shadows.
Years of rigorous training had ingrained this belief deep within her. Yet now, the Hive's actions directly challenged that creed.
Expanding to 100 members…
That's it. Suddenly, Ophelia realized she had fallen into a mental trap—she had been thinking within the confines of the Hive's operational model.
Since Archer hadn't specified how to expand, she could simply treat the Hive as an ordinary organization.
That's right—there was no need to control these people through infectious agents. They could be recruited through normal means. Perhaps this approach would save the Shadow Ops and the League from future complications…
In the following days, Ophelia met with Zeyan, Yumi, and Maeva, who had rushed over from Cerulean City. She also received intelligence from the League's Shadow Ops regarding the "People of the Future and the Virus." At the same time, she conducted extensive experiments and explorations of her own abilities.
For instance, Toxic Flame. Through repeated trials, she discovered that this technique functioned by triggering a reaction between virus-altered blood and the surrounding air.
She also uncovered the correlation between viral genetic integration and higher-tier control capabilities.
Lucius could have transmitted this knowledge to her directly through consciousness-sharing, but he didn't. Instead, he allowed her to uncover these mysteries on her own.
Because Ophelia was not just an operative—she was a prodigy researcher. At just sixteen, she had independently authored a thesis on genetic changes during Pokémon evolution, earning an invitation from Goodshow Pokémon University.
For someone like her, the more she explored the wonders of this power, the more she would become enthralled. The deeper she delved into its intricacies, the stronger her desire to unravel its secrets.
Lucius's strategy was undeniably effective. As Ophelia continued her research into the virus, she became increasingly fascinated by its enigmatic nature.
This was a common trait among brilliant scientists—and precisely why the League had chosen her to infiltrate X-Lab. Unlike regular operatives, she possessed the qualities and expertise of a true researcher.
...
It was almost time.
Lucius sensed the approaching bio-signature and silently calculated the remaining distance.
He was not at Team Rocket's base but deep within a forest, quietly awaiting the return of the prey he had captured days ago.
A small, pale green figure soared toward him, tracing a graceful arc through the air.
Heh. Right on schedule.
This diminutive figure was none other than the cloned Celebi he had infected at Team Rocket's base a few days prior. Unlike Dragonite, which had its infection progression suppressed by extreme cold, this Celebi had succumbed to Lucius's control in just a few days.
That morning, he had received a system notification:
[Celebi's 'Natural Cure' ability successfully analyzed. Virus Evolution Rate +2%. New Evolution Pathway Unlocked.]
As expected of a Legendary Pokémon—even a cloned one yielded incredible results.
Not only did Lucius gain another King-tier combatant, but he also unlocked a new virus evolution pathway: the Veronica Virus.
Without hesitation, he invested his remaining evolution points.
Once the evolution was complete, his system interface updated:
Host: Lucius
Virus Type: Veronica Virus
Hosts Infected: 1/1
Level: Lv1
Vitality: 9,325 (Base: 9,012 | Host Bonus: 313)
Adaptability: Level 5 (Capable of permanent survival in most environments; can endure extreme cold; can sustain long-term existence within a host)
Evolution Progress: 1%
Abilities:
Can enhance an infected target's attributes by 341% (Exceeding the host's biological tolerance will result in catastrophic failure or unpredictable mutations).
Accelerates metabolism and increases self-healing by 500% (Overuse may lead to accelerated decay of the host).
Grants hosts the ability to generate hardened biological armor.
Enables infection through bodily fluids; infected hosts remain active via bioelectric currents even after death.
Hosts with over 99% genetic compatibility are immune to all negative side effects.
Active Skills:
Venomous Plague: Deals 10-50 HP damage per second to infected targets based on infection severity. The Emperor Strain can override this effect at will.
Mental Corruption: Causes varying degrees of psychological infection based on infection severity.
Paralysis: Induces full or partial paralysis lasting 1 second to infinity based on infection severity. The Emperor Strain can override this effect at will.
Heart of the Emperor: Grants control over infected hosts with lower compatibility rates.
Toxic Flame: Ignites airborne particles using virus-laced blood, triggering a toxic combustion explosion.
Shared Vision…
Iron Eater…
Mission: Destroy or replace any of the following organizations: Team Magma, Team Aqua, Team Galactic, or Team Flare.
Available Evolution Paths: None
Evolution Points Remaining: 0
In Resident Evil lore, the Veronica Virus was an experiment conducted by Alexia Ashford, combining the Progenitor Virus with ancient queen ant DNA and a neutralizing plant strain.
Although this Celebi was a clone, its genetic material originated from a genuine Mythical Pokémon. The fusion of the virus with Celebi's Grass-type energy finally met the conditions necessary for evolving the Veronica Virus.
Lucius immediately sensed the changes—abilities that had previously required Emperor Strain-hosted infection could now be activated remotely. His perception of biological signals had also grown more refined.
It seemed that the true extent of these newfound abilities could only be uncovered through further experimentation…
Once the upgrade was complete, Lucius remotely commanded Celebi to shatter the Dark Ball that contained it. The instant it broke free, it released Sleep Powder laced with the virus, rendering Vicious and his subordinates unconscious.
Hmm? What's that behind it?
Lucius noticed that following behind the approaching Celebi was none other than a Salamence.
So, one of Vicious's Pokémon wasn't affected by the Sleep Powder.
Lucius quickly pieced it together—Celebi must have suddenly taken off, prompting Vicious's Salamence to leap out of its Poké Ball in pursuit.
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