The space at the bottom of the passage was exceptionally cramped. The air was foul, filled with the mingled smells of dust and blood. Lorelei's gaze settled on the deeply unconscious young man before her, an indescribably complicated look surfacing in her eyes.
Just days ago, this man had used almost deranged tactics, heedless of the consequences, to drive her, the Ice-type Elite Four member, into an unprecedented predicament and make her taste defeat for the first time in years. Yet now, he lay quietly here like a doll discarded after being played with until it broke, so fragile that the slightest touch seemed enough to shatter him completely.
Beside him, a pitch-black Bayleef lay curled up, likewise covered in wounds. The elegant yellow ring patterns on its body were dull and lightless, and one foreleg was twisted unnaturally. Yet even unconscious, its body still instinctively shielded its master, maintaining its final protective stance.
Lorelei did not act immediately. As an experienced Pokémon League agent, her first instinct was always to ascertain the target's condition. She put away her Poké Ball, knelt on one knee, and extended two slender, pale fingers, gently pressing them against the artery in Ye Li's dust-covered neck.
A faint yet tenacious, strong pulse beat beneath her fingertips. Once, twice... steady and persistent.
He was still alive.
Having confirmed that, Lorelei felt the weight lift from her heart. The purpose of her journey was to bring this living "trophy" back.
Just then, hurried, disorderly footsteps sounded directly above the passage, followed by Apollo's roar, barely containing his immense fury, like the bellow of a wounded lion:
"Lorelei! Let Lord Ye Li go!"
As it turned out, just as Lorelei had leaped down the passage, Team Rocket's rapid-response reinforcements, personally led by Apollo, had also rushed to