A young researcher from the Westwood Research Institute took out a device resembling a smartphone and spoke seriously to the doctor. "From now on, please use this device to test every patient you receive. If it emits a red light, you must notify us immediately."
"What is this?" the doctor asked.
"This is a Pokémon Virus Detector, jointly developed by ten world-class A-rank research institutes. It can detect a virus that is slowly spreading. As long as the virus exists within a certain range, this device will pick it up." As he spoke, the young researcher activated the device.
The screen displayed ripple-like patterns, resembling a radar scan. As the waves spread out, a piercing red light began flashing rapidly.
"Huh?" The young researcher was taken aback, his expression immediately turning serious.
"Does this mean there is an infected Pokémon here?" The doctor, having seen the device's reaction, glanced at the researcher, waiting to see how he would respond.
The researcher swept the device around, carefully observing the intensity of the red glow. His gaze locked onto a Chansey tending to an infected Pokémon patient nearby.
...
The plane had smoothly ascended into the stratosphere. Lucius and Silver sat comfortably in the luxurious cabin, enjoying a gourmet meal while discussing Pokémon training techniques.
This was a private jet exclusively used by the upper echelons of Team Rocket, equipped with the finest amenities and top-tier services.
Their destination was Castelia City, one of the most developed cities in the world and home to the largest division of Team Plasma.
Whoosh... whoosh...
As the aircraft cruised through the sky, an unexpected turbulence caused it to shake violently.
"What's happening?" Silver grabbed onto the armrest of the plush sofa, his expression tense.
"It's nothing, probably just strong air currents," Lucius replied casually, glancing out the window.
The once-clear sky was now covered in thick storm clouds, and lightning crackled through the clouds below the plane.
Crackle... crackle...
A never-ending thunderstorm illuminated the sky outside, brewing a tempest.
"Excuse me, Mr. Archer, we seem to have encountered an electromagnetic storm," the flight attendant quickly explained.
As she spoke, the turbulence intensified, rocking the plane violently.
Lucius peered through the window and saw bursts of lightning flashing like a forest of electric serpents—majestic yet terrifying.
Something wasn't right. At this altitude, thunderclouds should be far below the aircraft. Why were they appearing at the same level as the plane?
Lucius immediately dismissed the idea of this being a natural storm. Without hesitation, he released Celebi.
"Use Future Sight," he commanded while linking his mind with Celebi.
A strange, colorful aura rippled across Celebi's body. The sensation of the world shifting into probabilities returned—countless potential futures unfolding before Lucius' eyes.
This is what Future Sight reveals?
Not good.
"Celebi, use Teleport!" Lucius grabbed Silver with one hand and Celebi with the other. Space twisted around them, and in an instant, the three of them vanished from the aircraft.
The moment they teleported away, a colossal bolt of golden lightning struck the plane.
BOOM!
The jet was split in half, flames engulfing the rupture as the two sections plummeted toward the earth.
Lucius, Silver, and Celebi materialized midair. Though they had evaded the lightning strike, they were now free-falling.
"Come out, Magneton!" Lucius released his Magneton, which immediately used its electromagnetic field to stabilize their descent, keeping them afloat.
"That was close... but why did the plane—?" Silver, still shaken, struggled to compose himself. He was just a kid, after all. This was his first time experiencing something so terrifying.
Had they hesitated for even a second longer, they would have been incinerated in the explosion.
"Hah. Someone wants us dead," Lucius remarked, his gaze shifting upward.
At the spot where the plane had been struck, a blue figure darted through the stormy sky.
A Pokémon capable of wielding such immense power could not be ordinary.
"Come out, Gyarados!" Lucius released his Gyarados, instructing it and Celebi to protect them as they descended toward the ocean below.
Despite the flight's short duration, they had already left Kanto airspace. Below them was the vast, endless sea, with only a few scattered rocky islets piercing the water's surface.
As Lucius landed on the largest rock formation, he saw a lone figure standing there.
She was tall, dressed in a black suit, with long violet hair tied into a ponytail. Her stunning beauty was matched only by her cold, emotionless expression.
"Anabel?" Lucius murmured. He had never seen her in person, but he recognized her from Team Rocket's intelligence files.
She was even more beautiful than the photographs suggested.
"I've been waiting for you," Anabel said casually, watching Lucius descend from the sky.
"Waiting for me?" Lucius scanned the surroundings. There was nothing but the endless ocean—how was she so sure he would land here?
"Didn't you use Future Sight? I simply saw more than you did," Anabel said with a faint smile.
"Battle Tower's Frontier Brain sure is bold, taking down an entire plane," Lucius chuckled, shaking his head.
"It was a Team Rocket aircraft," Anabel said indifferently. "The League should have realized by now—there aren't many organizations capable of engineering a virus like this."
"Engineering a virus?" Lucius narrowed his eyes.
Taking advantage of his resemblance to Archer, he realized Anabel mistakenly believed Team Rocket was behind the virus.
"Isn't it? I can sense the aura on you," Anabel said before shifting her gaze to Silver. "And this boy—another one of your test subjects?"
A metallic clanging echoed through the air as a blue figure streaked across the sky, stopping abruptly behind Lucius.
A Metagross—a King-level Pokémon.
Simultaneously, a bolt of lightning struck the island. As the smoke cleared, a golden beast stood in its place.
Raikou—the Legendary Pokémon.
One in the air, one on the ground. Together, they encircled Lucius, trapping him on the rocky island.
Their sheer presence alone sent tremors through Magneton, nearly disrupting its electromagnetic field.
Lucius burst into laughter. "As expected of the Frontier Brain."
He released Gardevoir, who, alongside Celebi, countered the crushing pressure exuded by the two Legendary Pokémon.
It seemed that the attack on the plane...
It seemed that the one responsible for shooting down the aircraft just moments ago was none other than this massive Metagross.
The moment Lucius's Gardevoir appeared, the levitating Metagross unleashed an immense surge of energy.
A vast golden electromagnetic net descended from the sky, enveloping the cluster of rocky islets below and sealing off the entire area. It resembled Doflamingo's Birdcage from One Piece, trapping everyone within its boundaries. At the same time, countless metallic particles, crackling with electricity, scattered throughout the enclosed space.
-----
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635