Team Rocket Trial Base

At the Team Rocket Trial Base, Coach Frostwolf watched Cang sitting in the seat of honor.

Although Cang sat calmly in the seat of honor, the bulging veins on his hands revealed the turmoil in his heart.

The assembly signal had already sounded, and most people had arrived, but Qing Wu was still nowhere to be seen.

"Nothing's happened to the leader, has it?" Lei Ming said worriedly. Ailian comforted him from the side.

"Don't worry. The leader is so powerful that even the two of us together wouldn't be his match. Nothing will happen to him."

"But why hasn't the leader shown up even after the assembly began?" Lei Ming was getting anxious.

"He may have been delayed by something. Don't worry." Ailian could only say something reassuring.

Her own heart was in turmoil as well. She was terrified that something had happened to Qing Wu. After finally finding such a powerful backer, could he really die halfway through?

"This really is good news. Qing Wu isn't going to show up." Seeing that Qing Wu still had not appeared at this hour, Lan Ling finally relaxed. This time, she could settle things with Kuraki once and for all.

"What a pity. Qing Wu was still an opponent worthy of respect." Kuraki was quite open-minded about it. Fate truly toyed with people.

Kuraki, who had originally thought he would become enemies with Qing Wu, had instead developed a mutual appreciation with him. Lan Ling, who should have become his ally, had secretly struck to put Qing Wu to death.

After waiting a while longer and confirming that no one else would enter,

Cang ordered the gates to the plaza closed. He suddenly seemed to have aged more than a decade, as though all the strength had left his body.

"You host this competition, Qiong. I want to be alone for a while." Cang slowly stood up.

Just then, as the plaza gates were about to close, a Black Robe carrying a Golbat barged through the gap.

Who was that?

"Bold! He actually barged in at the very last moment!"

Many Trial Participants began discussing it among themselves.

The Black Robe removed his hood, revealing a smiling face. It was Qing Wu.

"It's the leader! The leader is alive!" Lei Ming cried with joy, restraining the urge to look Qing Wu directly in the face.

He was afraid Qing Wu would see the huge tears welling in his eyes and laugh at him.

"Yes, the leader is back." Ailian's eyes reddened as well.

Kuraki made a welcoming gesture toward Qing Wu.

Lan Ling glared fiercely at Lian Ji, then turned and flashed Qing Wu a brilliant smile.

"That brat really knows how to worry people." Cang had originally intended to leave, but he immediately dropped back into his seat and shouted into the microphone before him, "Now that everyone is here, this evaluation officially begins!"

A Team Rocket Grunt then brought over a lottery box and had each Trial Participant draw out a ping-pong ball.

Various numbers were written on the ping-pong balls.

"The rules for this trial are very simple: straightforward battles to determine the winner. Number one fights number two, number three fights number four, and so on. Of course, benevolent Team Rocket will also give you one chance—a chance to save your life."

"As long as you forfeit during the competition, you will receive this chance to live. However, anyone who forfeits will lose the opportunity to become an official member of Team Rocket. Their Pokémon will be confiscated, and they will become a servant."

"During the battles, you may use any Nasty Plot or other trick you like. Team Rocket only cares about victory and defeat. Even if you kill your opponent, we will not hold you accountable."

"In addition, I'm sure everyone knows that we can also hold a death match. As long as both sides agree, a death match may be held. With that, the final trial officially begins!"

"Please hand the number you drew to the staff. Once the number has been registered, you may apply for a death match." After saying this, Cang closed his eyes and rested in his seat.

Qing Wu drew a number from the lottery box: number thirty-eight. What a lucky number.

After the Team Rocket Grunt registered it, the large screen that was only switched on once a year in the plaza lit up. It displayed the names of only a few people. Apparently, only a few people had survived this trial so far.

"Instructor, I want to have a death match!" The Fatty immediately raised his hand and signaled to Coach Frostwolf that he wanted to challenge someone to a death match.

"Who is your opponent?" Coach Frostwolf asked him. The Fatty glared resentfully at Lei Ming for a long while. Feeling his gaze, Lei Ming opened his huge, bell-like eyes without hesitation and glared back.

Just as everyone thought the Fatty was going to challenge Lei Ming, he shifted his gaze to Qing Wu.

"Reporting to the instructor, I want to challenge Qing Wu to a death match!" The Fatty had always believed that everything was Qing Wu's fault.

If Qing Wu had not appeared, he would not have lost Spinarak or ended up in such a sorry state. Even his subordinate had been swallowed by Arbok.

The Fatty remembered the Death Makeup Technique he had used to train Arbok and immediately calmed down.

"This idiot. Who told him to challenge Qing Wu? Even I'm not confident I could beat him." Kuraki's face darkened, and a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

Anger showed on Kuraki's pale face. This would make Qing Wu think the Fatty had provoked him on Kuraki's orders.

"Forget it. Things have already come to this. The Fatty is rushing to his death anyway, so let him go." Kuraki waved his hand, completely abandoning the Fatty.

"Are you really going to have a death match?" Frostwolf asked the Fatty. The Fatty firmly nodded.

"What about you, Qing Wu? Do you agree?" Coach Frostwolf turned toward Qing Wu, who also nodded in agreement.

"Good. The death match is approved!" Coach Frostwolf shouted.

"Is there anyone else who wants to have a death match?" Coach Frostwolf asked once, but no one answered.

"The death match begins!" Coach Frostwolf pressed a button. With a series of rumbling sounds, four large battle arenas rose from the floor of the plaza.

The Fatty gripped his Poké Ball and walked toward one of the arenas, with Qing Wu following close behind.

There were no judges for this death match. The rule was simple: once they stepped onto the arena, the Pokémon could remain alive, but one of the Trainers had to die.

The Fatty stood on the arena, wearing a sinister smile.

"Qing Wu, you have no idea how hard I've trained. Ever since you defeated me, you've been the person I resented most every day. Thank you for becoming the motivation behind my growth. I'll give you a dignified death." The Fatty spoke shamelessly.

"Your abilities haven't improved much, but your bragging certainly has. When you abandoned Spinarak and ran away, did you have any other thoughts? You were simply too weak." Qing Wu sneered at the Fatty's words.

"Hmph! You can brag all you want, but Trainers rely on strength. I'll show you what I can really do!" The Fatty threw out his Poké Ball. A gigantic Arbok appeared, flicking its tongue at Qing Wu with a ferocious expression.

"Go, Golbat!" Qing Wu directly sent out Golbat.

Everyone in the arena saw a Golbat several times larger than an ordinary Golbat flap its wings and appear in the air.