Chapter 138. Breaking News

By the afternoon, it was decided that Lyra and Mika would stay for a month to undergo combat and gun training with Alex. They were even granted special permission to eat Elite rank meat to bolster their personal strength. This way, they would not be physically weaker than men of the same rank. It was not enough that they were given personalized guns and gear. They were also provided with the latest camping equipment, similar to what Alex had purchased when he first made his fortune. All of it was to be modified by Rhea to exceed current industry standards. Rather than being overwhelmed by requests, Rhea was energized to dive into a new set of projects. It was a welcome change from the faltering artificial intelligence software she and Nyx had been developing. She hated the idea of giving up, but what choice did she have when her boss insisted she focus on other projects? Or so she told herself. Meanwhile, Nyx kept a sharp eye out for new bounties, assassination targets, or Pokémon nests that Alex might profit from. Adding Pokémon nests to her watch list had only increased her workload. The other girls were excited to have Lyra staying with them for the next month, eagerly taking it upon themselves to care for her and Mika's Pokémon. Even Alex's own team welcomed the newcomers, quickly taking them under their wing for specialized training. Absol led the pair of Mightyena and Liepard, using their shared traits and familiarity to drill them in territorial defense and perimeter scouting. Corviknight received Body Press training from Forretress and joined Pidgeot in flying lessons taught by Togekiss. Poliwhirl was finally allowed to evolve into Poliwrath after years of service. He joined the Nido royalty and trained alongside Kommo-o to learn real close range brawling techniques instead of relying solely on Pokemon moves. To maintain appearances, Lyra and Mika each purchased a new rare Pokémon using the credits they earned through the League Market. They made sure to choose Pokemon that were difficult to raise, unlike the easier Liepard and Poliwhirl they had originally selected. Lyra chose an Axew with Rivalry. It was rare but relatively affordable compared to those with the Mold Breaker ability, which were far more expensive. Mika chose a Trapinch with Arena Trap to help with capturing fugitives and Pokémon. While uncommon in the region, Trapinch was widely available in other desert areas, keeping its cost low despite its potential. As a bonus, both Pokémon were small, adorable, and easy to carry, perfect starters to show off and draw attention with. Their diet now consisted of Novice rank meat as they continued developing their move proficiency. Given the moderate quality of the food, the girls would have around five years of reliable bait before the new additions reached Expert rank. That evening, as Alex and the girls enjoyed a lively dinner at the farm, Nyx suddenly gasped and rushed to turn on the holographic projector in the dining area, revealing breaking news from Celadon City. The projector flickered to life with shaky drone footage, accompanied by the urgent voice of a reporter narrating the chaos in the city's outskirts.  "We interrupt your program for breaking coverage. A high-level Pokémon battle has erupted in Celadon's commercial district. Authorities are urging citizens to remain indoors." The camera panned to a wide angle shot of the ruined city streets, where crumbling infrastructure spanned multiple blocks of the commercial district. Smoke drifted through the air, curling around shattered storefronts and scorched signage like the last breath of a dying city. Amid the debris, two unidentified figures stood atop opposing buildings, overlooking the escalating battle below. Their teams clashed fiercely across the rubble strewn streets, the conflict spreading block by block. Near each trainer, Umbreon and Alakazam stood watch on one side, while Bisharp and Obstagoon mirrored them on the other, silent sentinels amid the devastation. One side moved like shadows through the smoke, Pokémon built for precision and subtlety. A Hisuian Zoroark cloaked its allies in illusions, while Gengar emerged and vanished through walls, sowing confusion. Glimmora floated above it all, scattering Toxic Spikes, while Dragapult weaved disruption into the chaos with eerie calm. Their opponent, however, favored brute strength and relentless force. Hydreigon roared through the skies, blasting buildings with draconic fury. Tyranitar created shockwaves that ruptured the pavement and toppled buildings, while Ursaluna stampeded through the wreckage with raw earth-shaking power. The battle was broadcasted raw and unfiltered, no commentator, no editing. Just the sound of destruction, the flash of attacks, and the stunned silence of onlookers. Each side fought with elite coordination and deadly intent. At first glance, it appeared the side relying on brute strength was dominating, judging by the sheer scale of destruction left in their wake. But despite their power, they were outmaneuvered and steadily overwhelmed by superior numbers. The outcome seemed inevitable. Then came the turning point. The final Pokémon emerged on the brute's side, leveling the playing field. From the shadows behind the power-based team emerged a massive figure, silent, slow, but imposing. Snorlax. The city held its breath as it lumbered into the fray. At first, it seemed unremarkable, barely reacting as Dragapult launched its children with Dragon Darts directly through its gut. Then, with a single Giga Impact of its massive paw, the air cracked. The illusions dispersed. Glimmora's defenses shattered. Gengar was driven into the ground with a shockwave that cratered the surrounding area. The surprise came moments later when an emergency League scan identified the Snorlax as Champion-ranked. Even the cameras struggled to keep up with what followed. In a shocking display of speed and overwhelming power, Snorlax tore through the opposing team with brutal precision. Hisuian Zoroark, Dragapult, and Gengar were torn apart with a single brutal Crunch each. Glimmora barely had time to react before a thunderous Earthquake shattered the pavement, toppled walls, and brought down no fewer than four buildings, burying Glimmora beneath the rubble. One of the mysterious trainers disappeared into a veil of smoke, withdrawing with Umbreon, Alakazam, and the rest of his defeated team before the final blow could land. As Snorlax stood triumphant in the cratered ruin of a city block, a new figure appeared through the smoke, calm, composed, and radiant in her floral kimono. Erika. Without a word, her Leafeon and Bellossom materialized, both Champion-ranked and radiating immense power. They surrounded Snorlax in a circle of shimmering light and fragrant scent, their auras clashing in the air with such force that the atmosphere seemed to vibrate.  Though no battle erupted, tension rippled across the projection as Snorlax's trainer calmly returned the behemoth with a click of his Poké Ball, fading into the ruins without a word. The broadcast ended with a static-filled shot of Erika standing alone, her gaze calm but furious as she surveyed the wreckage. The room at the farm fell into silence. Nyx slowly sank into her seat, eyes still fixed on the screen. "That was Gravik Drayne," she said quietly. "Leader of Kanto's human supremacist faction." "What do you think?" Lyra asked, glancing at Alex, who wore a thoughtful expression. "I could take him," Alex said without hesitation. "Are you insane? That Snorlax was Champion rank! They leveled half the city," Vera snapped, her voice rising with disbelief. "It's not as bad as it looks." "Not as bad as it looks? Thousands of people must have died in that battle, and you think it's not as bad as it looks?" she shouted, eyes blazing with concern. Alex didn't respond. He understood her fear. Vera may have been a Senior breeder, but she had never fought a battle on that level. Still, he could see it, victory was possible, as long as the conditions stayed exactly the same. But even if he won, one thing was certain, he would also have to deal with the wrath of Celadon's gym leader for flattening half her city. "I wonder what the League's going to do," Rhea asked. "Probably nothing, like always," Nyx replied flatly, her eyes still glued to her phone. "That battle leveled half the city. If one side had no problem using that kind of force, the League might have no choice but to retaliate just as brutally. Damage like this is well below the League's bottom line," Rhea said, her tone cool and analytical. "Um… why did Erika just let him go?" Mika asked, confused. "It seemed like the perfect time to take him down." "The damage to the commercial district was done by a battle between Elites," Alex answered. "The resulting Champion ranked battle would have done the same to the entire city. She wanted to avoid further collateral damage." "Either way, Alex will have quite the bounty to chase. Check this out," Nyx said, displaying her screen onto the projector. BOUNTY DOSSIER Target: Gravik Drayne Rank: Champion Contract ID: #3374-KS Payout: 130 million Pokedollars or 10 million credits and 30 million Pokedollars Order: Wanted Dead or Alive Known Pokémon Team: Snorlax (Champion), Tyranitar, Obstagoon, Bisharp, Ursaluna, Hydreigon Gravik Drayne is a highly aggressive combatant who specializes in brute-force confrontations and urban warfare tactics. His battles often cause massive civilian and structural casualties, using overwhelming power to instill fear and establish dominance. He is a muscular, scarred male around 34 years old, standing 6'2" (1.88 m) tall. He has dark grey eyes, shaved sides with coarse black hair on top, a large back tattoo bearing an unknown insignia, a heavy black armored coat, and a noticeable burn on his left cheek. As the leader of the Kanto Human Supremacist Faction, Gravik commands decentralized cells across multiple cities in the region. He is connected to high-level black market trades, anti-League militancy, and Pokemon abuse. His confirmed atrocities include the partial leveling of Celadon City's commercial district, suspected involvement in three Gym assassinations, and the execution of multiple League agents and bounty hunters. The girls read through the dossier before finally turning to Alex, who wore a mischievous grin.  "If he was only worth his stockpile of guns to me before," he said, "then he's definitely worth being hunted down now." ----- Support me on Patreon patreon/babywrath