Pokemon: Behold the Father of All Pokemons

Ethan froze where he stood, half turning away from the gruesome scene. Moments ago, he had been about to leave the Shangguan International Convention and Exhibition Center, only to see Secretary Sloan fall from a shattered third-floor window, shards of glass raining down along with the man's limp body.

Under normal circumstances, Secretary Sloan's fate would have meant little to Ethan; in fact, he felt some relief that Charles Sullivan's ruthless right-hand man might now be out of the picture. But the manner of death was too sudden, too suspicious for him to simply shrug and walk away. As shock coursed through the onlookers, Ethan's gaze drifted upward, where he saw more shadows moving through the broken window.

"No way..." he muttered. A shudder of alarm ran through him.

Another body fell, this time a genetic creature, and landed on the pavement with a pitiful yelp. Jerry's spirit dog, battered but still breathing, twitched weakly. Its legs splayed, its chest heaving for air, but at least it hadn't suffered the fatal injuries that had claimed Secretary Sloan's life.

Ethan urged Pikachu, Squirtle and Charmander to take a few steps back. Nearby, a cab driver fumbled with his phone, filming the chaotic aftermath. Passersby had begun to crowd around, some dialing emergency services, others drawn by morbid curiosity.

Secretary Elijah had gone upstairs only minutes earlier; Ethan had seen him off, believing that nothing worse than boardroom politics would ensue. Now there was chaos above, complete with shattering glass and the terrifying howls of unknown genetic beasts.

Should I go up there? Or wait it out? Ethan's thoughts raced. The instincts that had guided him so well in business faltered at the prospect of such a violent attack. It might be a targeted assassination. If it was aimed at Charles Sullivan or his people, then... maybe the rest of them were in danger, too.

A shuddering suspicion gnawed at him: First Secretary Sloan, then Jerry's spirit dog, both close associates of Charles Sullivan's circle. Something about the pattern suggested an attack specifically targeting those around the head of the Panex Group.

Meanwhile, on the third floor:

Charles Sullivan had been presiding over a Biolife Alliance meeting, flanked by Jerry Fowler and other confidants. Everything had been going normally until two masked intruders, a man and a woman, each wearing colorful wigs (blue for the man, red for the woman) and V-shaped masks, forced their way in. Without warning, they released two aggressive genetic creatures: a small kangaroo that quickly swelled into a hulking boxer, and a serpentine python bristling with razor-sharp bone spurs.

Surprised, Charles Sullivan had nearly died in the first chaotic seconds, saved only by Secretary Sloan's quick reflexes; the man had thrown himself in front of the deadly python. The results had been deadly. The area was thrown into chaos as chairs overturned and frightened onlookers scrambled for cover.

Jerry's spirit dog lunged bravely, only to be pummeled by the kangaroo's devastating fists and finally hurled through the window. Other participants unleashed their own genetic companions, but the invaders' creatures were frighteningly efficient. The python spewed a purple toxin into the air; an unfortunate lizard-like biotech creation inhaled it and went berserk, turning on its own master in a frenzy.

"Get away from me!" Charles Sullivan barked, elbowing his way past the cowering participants in a desperate attempt to reach the elevator. But the muscular kangaroo leapt across the corridor and slammed a punch into the elevator door, rendering it useless.

Charles cursed under his breath. " Dammit!"

Without many options, he whipped out a Poké Ball-like capsule (It never said it was a pokeball), actually a special containment sphere, and released his prized Golden Sword Bird, a slender bird whose sharpened beak could slice through metal. Typically, Charles only called upon the bird in dire circumstances. Even then, he hated to risk losing it. But with the masked assassins closing in, there was no choice.

The golden bird soared up, its talons scraping the ceiling, then swooped down on the kangaroo with ferocious precision. The creature narrowly dodged, but still received a deep slash across its arm.

"Python, finish that bird!" The redhead's voice sounded eerily calm. As the python slithered in the background, it suddenly leaped forward, its mouth gaping to reveal needle-like teeth and venom glands. With a swift lunge, it caught the Golden Sword Bird in mid-flight, severing its graceful wing in a shower of feathers.

Charles watched in horror. One last chance for survival: If he could slip through a side corridor...

"Boxing Kangaroo, don't let him escape!" the blue-haired man commanded, his every word brimming with sadistic glee.

The kangaroo turned and swung a massive fist. Secretary Sloan was already dead, Jerry's spirit dog had been thrown out the window, and the rest of the genetic creatures lay injured or incapacitated. Now there was nothing between the savage blow and Charles Sullivan.

Charles raised an arm in a vain attempt to shield himself. The blow would crush him.

---

Outside, the shock of the second fall had robbed the crowd of the last vestiges of confusion. People screamed or gasped, pointing at the mangled spirit dog. Ethan exhaled sharply, his heart pounding. He couldn't just stand there. Despite his personal grievances with Charles, Ethan wasn't about to let a bloodbath continue if there was a chance he could help.

"Mr. Grave!" The cabbie's voice rose in alarm. "What's going on in there?"

Ethan ignored the question and slipped his phone into his pocket. He looked down at Pikachu, Squirtle and Charmander. "All right, you three. We're going back inside."

Pikachu's tail twitched in anticipation, while Squirtle and Charmander nodded in unison. Secretary Elijah might be up there in the thick of it, and so might Jerry, if he hadn't escaped in some other way.

The situation was dangerous. Ethan suspected that the masked assassins were carrying out a high-level hit, possibly orchestrated by one of Charles Sullivan's many enemies. But I have my own reasons for going upstairs, Elijah, Jerry Fowler... besides, I may owe Charles Sullivan just enough not to let him die on my watch.

He steeled himself. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, fueling an impulse he rarely felt so strongly: to intervene.

A crowd of onlookers dispersed as Ethan marched toward the entrance, his Pokémon trotting close behind. He took the stairs two at a time, ignoring calls to stay back. The third floor was only moments away. There was no telling what he might find when he got there, but at least he wouldn't have to face it empty-handed.

Near the door to the next level, he peered through a glass panel and saw a corridor littered with debris: overturned tables, shattered monitors, moaning victims, and a large imprint in the floor where the kangaroo must have landed a powerful blow. The thick smell of something chemical or metallic lingered in the air.

"This is crazy," Ethan muttered. Then he pushed open the door and stepped onto the third floor, ready, whether he liked it or not, to meet the chaos head on.

...

If you wanna read 35 chapters ahead of the free release hit up my

(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)

patreon.com/chibi_mon_mon