Pokemon: Ghostbound

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"Is this really the only way?"

Bell muttered softly as he stood beside Azumarill, his voice heavy with despair.

Around them, all of Bell's companions and their Pokémon had been defeated. Only Bell and his battered Azumarill remained standing. The cuts and bruises on both their bodies spoke volumes about the brutality of the battle they had endured.

Now, both trainer and Pokémon were on the verge of collapse, their strength nearly gone. Bell glanced at the frightened expressions of their pursuers, who seemed hesitant to press their advantage. He realized that his ferocious counterattacks had unnerved them, but it wasn't enough. The most important goal—the safety of their charge, Masae Kuroda—had already failed.

With Masae dead, Bell knew their momentary respite would end soon. When the attackers recovered their composure, both he and Azumarill would surely fall.

Bell looked up at the bare treetops, his face a mix of anger and regret. Was it fury at himself for failing? Or frustration at the futility of their struggle?

The answer no longer mattered. A sudden surge of searing flames enveloped both Bell and Azumarill, consuming them in an instant.

As Bell's charred form crumbled to ash, the tension in the air broke, and the pursuers exhaled in relief.

"That was too close," one of them muttered, his voice trembling.

Bell's relentless attacks had been terrifying—like a rabid Houndoom lunging for its prey. He had fought so fiercely that, out of their original group of a dozen, only a handful remained. Even their elite-level Pokémon had been gravely injured, leaving the remaining Advanced and Excellent -level Pokémon barely able to stand.

Before they could regroup and decide on their next steps, another sudden disappearance left them stunned. One of their elite trainers vanished into thin air.

Then, just as swiftly, Kadabra teleported away with the second elite trainer.

Panic swept through the group. The remaining trainers hastily closed ranks, scanning the area with wide eyes, their fear palpable.

But this was merely the beginning of the end.

High above the battlefield, Kadabra reappeared, accompanied by Charizard and the lifeless bodies of the two elite trainers. At Tyson's command, Charizard dived toward the remaining enemies.

"Charizard, Dragon Rush—then follow up with Flamethrower!"

"Sylveon , stay ready to support with Shadow Ball. Aim for precise targets!"

Tyson's telepathic orders echoed clearly in his Pokémon's minds.

Charizard executed the commands with flawless precision. As it charged, flames rippling off its massive body, the trainers on the ground froze in fear.

Seeing the flaming dragon descending upon them, the trainers scrambled to command their weakened Pokémon to counterattack. A few managed to evade the initial impact of Dragon Rush, but Sylveon was ready.

One by one, Sylveon launched Shadow Balls with pinpoint accuracy, targeting the disoriented trainers. Against such attacks, their physical endurance was meaningless.

Amidst the chaos, Charizard continued to unleash waves of fire. The blazing inferno spread quickly, transforming the battlefield into a hellscape. The surviving trainers and their Pokémon, unable to withstand the relentless assault, fell one by one.

By the time the flames died down, only Tyson remained.

Charizard, Kadabra, and Sylveon stood by his side, their expressions calm despite the carnage. The enemy Pokémon that were still alive were quickly returned to their Poké Balls. Tyson planned to hand them over to Team Rocket's Shadow Division to trade for valuable resources.

As the last of the enemies turned to ash, Tyson instructed Kadabra to teleport him to a new location.

After the battle, Tyson didn't retreat far. He found a secluded treetop where Masae Kuroda lay motionless.

In truth, Masae wasn't dead. Tyson had ordered Kadabra to render her unconscious, creating the illusion of her death. The deception had fooled Bell and their enemies alike, as they were unfamiliar with the subtleties of Psychic Pokémon's abilities.

Tyson's choice to spare Masae had nothing to do with her beauty—though she was undeniably attractive. His decision was purely strategic.

Despite his well-developed physique, Tyson was only ten years old, his youthful appearance making his actions seem even more audacious.

His true motive lay in the potential advantage Masae represented. While returning her to the Kuroda family might earn him some resources or gratitude, it would also put him in conflict with Kuroda Goichi, the family head.

Instead, Tyson planned to hand Masae over to Team Rocket's Shadow Division. With their influence and power, they could exploit her connections to dismantle or even absorb the Kuroda family entirely.

After ensuring Masae was safe, Tyson contacted Shadow to report the situation.

"Are you sure no one else knows about this?" Shadow's voice was cold and direct.

"I can't guarantee it," Tyson admitted. "I left the battlefield for a time to create a diversion. It's unlikely they had the chance to send any messages, given the intensity of the fighting, but I can't be certain."

Shadow remained silent for a moment before replying, "Understood. Here's what you'll do: take good care of her and bring her to Saffron City. I'll handle the rest."

"Why not send someone else to retrieve her?" Tyson asked, frowning.

"This is an opportunity for you," Shadow replied sharply. "If you can earn her trust, it could save us significant resources in the future. Besides, I don't want too many people involved in this operation."

Shadow added, "Considering Kuroda Goichi is still alive, they won't be able to organize another attack right away. Focus on delivering her safely. Once you arrive, I'll have a surprise waiting for you. That's all."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Tyson no room for argument.

After clearing the call records, Tyson turned to Masae, still unconscious. He sighed, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes.

"I should have just finished her off earlier," he muttered, shaking his head.

But deep down, he knew this was the better path—for now.

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