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"Have you investigated the identity of the other person accompanying him?"

"Not yet... There are too many people with similar facial features. However, I've compared his appearance against all trainers in the World Pokémon Championship. No one in the Master Ball division matches this person's appearance. I believe he's just some unknown nobody," the middle-aged man with the goatee explained.

Jack nodded slightly in acknowledgment. The world contained countless people with similar features, and this individual possessed such a "common face" that identification proved difficult.

As long as they could confirm that the opponent lacked significant strength, his specific identity didn't matter!

After eliminating the targets, they would dispose of the bodies in the wilderness—identity became irrelevant at that point!

As for Chris, he was merely a trainer from China's emerging gym system. While Chinese Gym Trainers were admittedly stronger than their counterparts in other countries, their advantage remained limited. Furthermore, Chris had only recently achieved Gym Trainer status.

Jack, on the other hand, was a veteran Elite Four member from the Kingdom of Thousand Castles!

Veteran Elite Four versus newly-promoted Gym Trainer? The advantage clearly belonged to him!

"Execute the plan!" Jack's eyes flashed with cold determination.

He gestured subtly toward the backs of Chris and Professor Vladimir as they continued their journey through the forest.

Sableye's form instantly shifted from invisibility to physical reality.

Simultaneously, two razor-sharp black spikes erupted from the shadows beneath Chris and Professor Vladimir's feet, aimed directly at their hearts!

This was Shadow Sneak—a devastating ambush technique.

Since they had committed to attacking, Boss Jack intended to kill immediately! He had never been known for showing mercy to his victims!

The Shadow Sneak targeted Chris and Professor Vladimir's vital organs with lethal precision!

However, just one second before the black spikes could penetrate their chests from behind, two small, round hands suddenly emerged from the shadows and grasped the deadly projectiles, preventing them from advancing further!

These were the respective Gengar hiding within Chris and Professor Vladimir's shadows, providing protection.

"The ambush failed?!" Jack's eyelids twitched, though he remained calm and collected.

Sableye wasn't his only prepared assault!

In front of Chris and Professor Vladimir, a Dusknoir spread its arms wide, conjuring an enormous black shadow that rose behind it, blocking out the sun and plunging the entire sky into endless darkness!

Night Shade!

The essence of Night Shade involved creating phantoms using the power of "terror" to intimidate and psychologically overwhelm opponents. As a mental attack, it was virtually impossible to defend against using conventional methods!

However, Chris had anticipated this exact strategy.

Wobbuffet automatically emerged from its Poké Ball without being summoned.

"Wobbuffet!"

The blue Pokémon offered a polite salute while activating Mirror Coat.

A protective barrier centered on Wobbuffet spread outward in all directions, intercepting and absorbing Night Shade's intimidating psychological effects.

In the next instant, a black shadow appeared on the mirror-like surface, and an even larger, more terrifying Night Shade materialized!

Dusknoir spun around in shock and genuine fear. It had become frightened by its own reflected Night Shade attack!

Clearly, this Pokémon didn't spend much time looking in mirrors, or it would have been prepared for such a terrifying reflection.

"BOOM!"

A massive thunder strike suddenly pierced through the darkness, striking directly at Chris and Professor Vladimir's position from the sky above.

However, when the lightning arrived, Chris and Professor Vladimir were no longer there—they had teleported ten meters away from the impact zone.

"Using Dusknoir and Night Shade to create a dark environment while simultaneously concealing rainy weather conditions—that's quite clever!" Chris observed, looking up at the sky with genuine appreciation for the tactical sophistication.

Beyond the darkness torn apart by the lightning strike, thick storm clouds covered what should have been a sunny sky, and sparse raindrops began falling.

They had narrowly avoided being struck by Thunder in rainy weather conditions, which would have been devastating.

Fortunately, Gardevoir had sensed the incoming Thunder attack using "Future Sight" and employed Teleport to avoid it. Otherwise, no one's reflexes could have reacted to the attack speed of Electric-type moves enhanced by rain.

The only result would have been serious injury to Wobbuffet despite its activated "Mirror Coat" protection.

"How did they counter everything?" Jack felt increasingly uneasy about the situation.

His ambush tactics involved three interconnected phases that had successfully defeated many powerful opponents. He hadn't expected Chris to neutralize them so effortlessly.

Chris's strength was absolutely not as simple as that of an ordinary Chinese Gym Trainer.

This opponent far exceeded his initial expectations.

The survival instincts that had kept Jack alive through years of dangerous encounters naturally urged him to retreat immediately.

However, from the moment he had launched his attack, this battle was no longer something he could simply choose to abandon!

"Is that all?" Chris waited several seconds without detecting any follow-up attacks, then turned toward Jack's hiding position. "Then it's my turn to attack."

"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"

Chris released a Poké Ball with determined authority.

Garchomp burst forth surrounded by brilliant multicolored light and flowing dark green energy. It was not only executing Dragon Rush but also completing its Mega Evolution transformation during the charge.

"Damn it!" Jack's pupils contracted suddenly as countless questions flashed through his mind.

How did Chris know his exact location?

How could this person achieve Mega Evolution so seamlessly?

The situation didn't allow time for extended analysis. Jack hurriedly threw a Poké Ball in desperate response.

"Teleport!"

An Alakazam materialized, holding two silver spoons crossed in front of its chest. Psychic energy spread outward as mental power fluctuated, and it immediately attempted to disappear along with Jack.

The middle-aged man with the goatee was completely ignored—who had time to worry about accomplices during life-or-death situations?

However, Alakazam and Jack barely moved less than two meters before being forcibly ejected from their teleportation attempt!

Trying to teleport away from Gardevoir, enhanced by the Lustrous Orb with mastery over spatial forces?

The idea was somewhat laughable.

Jack, who had been expelled from the Teleport technique, stood unsteadily with his head spinning from disorientation.

What... what had just happened?

Could Teleport actually be interrupted?

This development exceeded Jack's understanding of Pokémon battle mechanics.

He raised his head and looked directly at Chris, who was observing him with the predatory gaze of a cat studying its captured prey.

"Now isn't the time to think about these complications!" Jack took a deep breath, staring intensely at Chris with renewed focus.

His remaining Pokémon returned one by one to stand beside him: Sableye, Alakazam, and Electivire. Dusknoir hadn't made it back—it had been severely wounded by Wobbuffet's Mirror Coat and subsequently finished off by Gengar's "Shadow Ball."

This was the first time Jack had encountered such a precarious situation.

His ambush had been easily countered. Now it appeared that his actions had been anticipated in advance, and when he attempted to flee, his opponent could even intercept teleportation techniques.

A newly-promoted Gym Trainer?

Impossible!

Did China's newly-promoted Gym Trainers really possess this level of strength?

Who exactly was this person?!