Hoenn Region's Mt. Pyre
Mt. Pyre was shrouded in mist all year round. This was the aura of the spirit world. Legend had it that any living person who reached Mt. Pyre would be drawn in by that aura and, in a daze, lose their life.
Suddenly, the sounds of a fierce battle came from the summit of Mt. Pyre.
Heavy rain poured down as lightning flashed and thunder boomed. At the summit, countless bolts of lightning descended from the sky like swords being brandished.
At that moment, a handsome black-haired young man was awkwardly riding a Pelipper, dodging the attacks of an Electivire whose body was colored black and yellow.
The Electivire swung its electric whips, which crackled against the ground as sparks flew in every direction. Thunder echoed all around them.
Countless arcs of electricity coiled around its body. Thunder Shock, Thunderbolt, Thunder, and other Electric-type moves came one after another.
But Pelipper, with its Swift Swim ability, dodged every one of those attacks.
There was also a two-meter-tall Aggron on the battlefield. It was being attacked by a Volcarona wreathed in flames and two red-and-black Arcanine.
"I didn't expect to be careless after all. The League actually set an ambush here with three Elite Four members." Qing Wu regretted accepting this mission to seize Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Qing Wu had arrived at Mt. Pyre and, relying on his high Elite Four-level strength, had easily obtained the two gems. Then, all of a sudden, the three Elite Four members had launched their attack.
Qing Wu's Swampert had reacted the fastest. Although it had defeated the Elite Four-level Sceptile and Meganium one after another, it had ultimately been unable to overcome four opponents alone. The Grass-type Elite Four member's other Pokémon, Serperior, had then knocked it to the ground with Leaf Storm.
After that, Qing Wu's Charizard, Whimsicott, and Alakazam had each taken down one or two of the enemy's Pokémon before being overwhelmed and defeated by the others.
Now, only Aggron and Pelipper still had any strength left at Qing Wu's side.
"How did those League bastards find out about my Pokémon lineup? They even sent the Fire-type, Grass-type, and Dark-type Elite Four members specifically to counter me. I've never seen these three in the League before. Are they Elite Four members hidden in the League's shadows?"
Qing Wu admitted that he had been careless.
Qing Wu held two gems in his hand. One was a ruby as red as fire, with a faint radiance flowing across its surface and a "w"-shaped pattern carved into it.
The other was a sapphire, crystal-clear like starlight reflected across the ocean. It radiated a chilling sharpness, and an "a"-shaped pattern was carved into it.
The silver metal armor covering Aggron's entire body had been burned a blazing red. It was panting heavily, relying on its powerful will to keep going. Its sky-blue eyes were filled with intense pain.
But Aggron still kept its eyes fixed on the Volcarona before it. It endured the scorching flames so its Trainer could fight a path out.
Aggron used all its strength and unleashed Flash Cannon. Taking advantage of a moment of carelessness from the Volcarona, it tore through one of its wings. The Volcarona streaked across the sky like a blazing fireball before crashing to the ground.
Aggron glanced at its Trainer before collapsing with a boom, kicking up countless clouds of dust.
Qing Wu took advantage of the opportunity to recall Aggron into its Poké Ball, then fled frantically toward Team Aqua's position.
"Almost there. I'm almost there. Team Aqua's submarine is right over there. As long as I reach it, I'll be safe." Qing Wu furrowed his sword-like brows and muttered through the agony wracking his body. Beads of sweat dripped from his smooth, broad forehead.
Qing Wu's body was covered in wounds, and his entire body was stained crimson with blood. The blood flowed down and unknowingly dripped onto the two gems, causing the Omega and Alpha patterns on them to become increasingly distinct.
Just then, Qing Wu suddenly saw a gigantic wave. The young man had no time to dodge and was swept into it together with Pelipper.
At that moment, the two gems emitted a dazzling light and melted into Qing Wu's body like liquid.
After the wave passed, Qing Wu discovered that the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in his hand had vanished.
Qing Wu instantly felt all strength leave his body. He was about to reach the submarine and complete his mission, yet something like this had happened.
The black-haired young man no longer had the strength to dive into the sea and search for the two gems.
Just then, countless enormous meteors wreathed in flames fell from the sky.
It was like a scene from the apocalypse.
Qing Wu saw that the three Elite Four members still refused to give up. They had sent out a Dragonite to use its ultimate move, Draco Meteor.
Pelipper nimbly dodged the flaming meteors, but part of its wings was still scorched by the flames.
"Pelipper, can you keep going?" the black-haired young man asked.
Pelipper nodded. Its wings had grown sore and swollen from flying for so long, and it no longer had the strength to speak.
Seeing this, Qing Wu laboriously took a small handful of yellow, jelly-like items from his Storage Bracelet and stuffed them into Pelipper's mouth.
"Pelipper, hold on. We'll be there soon," the black-haired young man encouraged it.
"As long as I reach the submarine, I'll be safe with their help," Qing Wu reassured himself.
Qing Wu dodged Dragonite's attacks and finally reached the submarine that had surfaced.
When Dragonite saw Qing Wu land on the submarine, it let out an unwilling roar before flapping its wings and flying back toward Mt. Pyre.
"I'm saved." Qing Wu let out a sigh of relief, but then he saw Izumi's anxious gaze. Many Team Aqua members were watching coldly, as though he were a stranger. Mightyena growled softly, their eyes vicious and bloodthirsty.
Qing Wu took a step back. Pelipper moved in front of him, and Qing Wu felt the extreme malice radiating from them.
"Qing Wu—no, Team Rocket's mole. You never expected this, did you? We've joined forces with the League. We were the ones who leaked your whereabouts to them. Mightyena, kill him!" Archie snarled viciously at Qing Wu.
"How did the people from Team Aqua find out?" Qing Wu was startled. He believed he had disguised himself perfectly, without revealing the slightest flaw.
"Pelipper—" Just as Qing Wu was about to flee, Archie's Seaking struck Pelipper with Ice Beam, sending it plunging into the sea.
Pelipper struggled as a wave swept it into the ocean.
Qing Wu watched as a Hyper Beam surged toward him. His eyes widened, filled with unwillingness.
Qing Wu suddenly felt a tearing pain in his chest and crashed heavily onto the submarine.
Blood mixed with rainwater and rapidly spread across the deck.
"Qing Wu, Qing Wu!" Izumi could no longer hold herself back. She ran over and lifted Qing Wu into her arms.
"Qing Wu, stay with me. Stay with me!" Seeing Qing Wu covered in blood and barely clinging to life, crystal-clear tears spilled from Izumi's eyes. Mixed with the rain, they fell into Qing Wu's mouth. They tasted salty.
Qing Wu had countless things he wanted to say to Izumi, but he no longer had the strength in his final moments.
The moment Qing Wu opened his mouth, he spat out a large mouthful of blood, and his breathing grew faint.
Qing Wu had too many regrets. After enduring so many hardships and pouring in countless hours of effort, he had finally... He refused to accept that he would end up defeated like this.
But at that moment, he felt as though he had fallen into an endless black hole. His consciousness grew increasingly blurred, and everything before his eyes gradually darkened.
Qing Wu watched helplessly as the clear, bright light in Izumi's eyes dimmed. Then he, too, sank completely into darkness.
In a valley surrounded by mountains.
A handsome young man lay on a rock. Sunlight fell across his fair face, accentuating his sharply defined features.
Qing Wu slowly opened his eyes after an unknown period of unconsciousness and discovered that his entire body was sore.
"Could Izumi have saved me?" Qing Wu scratched his hair, then suddenly felt that something was wrong. He was surrounded by rocks, and the sounds of battle came from outside.
"Hmph, just surrender. You still want to protect your Trial Participant? Don't overestimate yourself," someone jeered.
"Aron, Aron!" A familiar voice came from beyond the rocks. Qing Wu hurriedly struggled to his feet, then suddenly realized something was wrong. Why were his hands so much smaller?
Qing Wu looked at his tattered clothes. They were completely different from what he had been wearing before he fell into darkness.
Qing Wu did not think too much about it. He immediately climbed over the rocks and saw a silver creature battling a jellyfish-like creature.
The creature was entirely silver, with four short, thick legs and a large, round head. Its pair of enormous light-blue eyes resembled two blue gems embedded in its head. Parts of its head, legs, and back were covered in steel armor, and a horn protruded from its back.
"This is Aron. Why does this scene seem so familiar?" Qing Wu asked in confusion.
When Aron heard Qing Wu's voice, it became extremely excited. It lost focus for a moment and nearly failed to dodge the Water Gun fired by the jellyfish Pokémon.
"Who would have thought that you'd survive Tentacruel's Poison Sting?" the Tentacruel's Trainer said furiously when he saw Qing Wu awaken.
Tentacruel's Trainer was a blond boy with a face full of freckles.
"Tentacruel, don't hold back. Use Water Gun and completely defeat that Pokémon. Once it can no longer battle, I can kill the Trial Participant in front of me. Then this Pokémon will naturally submit to me," the freckled boy shouted.
"Aron, use Rock Tomb beneath Tentacruel!" Qing Wu shouted his command.
Sure enough, under the boy's command, Aron successfully used Rock Tomb beneath Tentacruel. Rocks burst from the ground and slammed into Tentacruel, knocking it unconscious.
"Damn it, just you wait!" The freckled boy recalled Tentacruel and hurried away.
"Aron, don't chase him." Qing Wu knew the principle of not pursuing a cornered enemy. Besides, Aron had been injured while protecting him.
Now, Qing Wu had something even more important to do.
Qing Wu looked over the surroundings. He was in a small valley, with lush trees all around and a stream flowing gently nearby, making a splashing sound.
Qing Wu ran to the stream. Looking at the immature face reflected before him and his ragged clothes, he estimated that he was around fourteen or fifteen years old.
"So I've been reborn." Qing Wu muttered, his face filled with disbelief.
Just then, Qing Wu heard a thud. He turned and saw Aron collapse directly to the ground, unconscious.
Seeing Aron unconscious, Qing Wu hurried over to examine its condition. He discovered that it had been hit by Tentacruel's Water Gun and was seriously injured.
"Rumble, rumble." In an instant, dark clouds covered the sky. The clouds collided, brewing flashes of lightning. A dazzling streak of white light tore across the sky, and jagged lightning struck a towering tree near Qing Wu.
The towering tree instantly turned to charcoal and burst into roaring flames.
"No, I need to find somewhere to shelter from the rain immediately. If Aron gets drenched in its current condition, its potential could be seriously affected." Qing Wu looked around and spotted a small cave on the mountainside.
Qing Wu hurriedly gathered some branches and tree bark, then carried Aron and ran toward the cave, stumbling through the uneven ground.
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