Although he had channeled Kroxus's power into Metagross, it wasn't considered particularly powerful for a Pokémon at the Elite level.
At least, when faced with the overwhelming presence suddenly descending from the sky, even Elite-level strength seemed no better than cannon fodder!
"A Champion...?"
Half-squinting as he gazed at the figure in the sky, Nathan couldn't help but mutter.
Above them, a man in a blood-red coat stood atop a Honchkrow.
Despite not being a particularly rare Pokémon, the aura it emanated was more terrifying than any pseudo-legendary!
There was no doubt about it.
This man was definitely a high-ranking member of the dark organization Chiyou.
At that moment, he overlooked the entire area, though most of his focus was clearly directed at Nathan.
"You didn't go insane? Impressive willpower. That was pure, unfiltered malice—humanity's most primal evil."
Seeing Nathan still in control instead of losing it alongside his Pokémon, the man in red chuckled softly.
As a high-ranking membeer from the Dark Organization, Chiyou, wielding both a fragment of Kroxus and a near-dead Mewtwo, the ambush on Nathan wasn't random.
What had just attacked him was a byproduct of the Kroxus fragment's power-collecting process—
Specifically, the negative emotions derived from human malice toward Pokémon!
For ordinary people, even immediate treatment wouldn't stop them from falling into a near-catatonic state.
It was more effective than any form of torture.
But Nathan was clearly different.
Though mentally drained, he still had some strength left.
This greatly surprised the man in red.
"Hey, kid, how about joining Chiyou? I could make you my successor."
The blood-coated man suddenly offered, having Honchkrow fly down in front of Nathan.
Although the goal this time was the object in Nathan's possession rather than Nathan himself,
The man in red was clearly intrigued by him.
To be able to endure that level of negative emotion—
Maybe he was an excellent experimental subject… or a promising specimen.
"Who... are you?"
Nathan neither accepted nor declined, asking weakly.
By now, the full security force of the Skyrend Arena Tournament had surrounded the area.
Pokémon and technology alike were being deployed.
Yet this man could still move freely and unbothered.
That Honchkrow... was definitely suspicious.
Feeling the faint dissonance of psychic resonance in his mind, Nathan's eyes shimmered with an ominous red light.
The blood-coated man, unaware of this, continued smiling:
"You can call me The Tiger, the sharpest blade in the organization."
"How about it?
Join us, and the world will be at your feet. Everything you desire—now or in the future—will be yours."
The Tiger's voice was magnetic, seemingly sincere.
But Nathan couldn't help but sneer coldly.
Putting aside the idea of crawling into the sewers with a bunch of rats—
Chiyou operated without morality, law, or even basic rules!
The strong preyed on the weak. That was the harsh, unvarnished reality of the organization.
"Grand Flame Ring…"
Nathan muttered under his breath—so softly even The Tiger didn't hear him.
"What was that?"
Before The Tiger could ask again—
"Flame Emperor!!"
With a sudden roar, a pure-white fireball formed and hurled straight at The Tiger!
There was no time to react, not for The Tiger nor his Honchkrow.
The searing fireball slammed into them at close range—
Followed by a roaring explosion!
"Beautifully done!"
Seeing this, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up.
He knew it!
That mysterious Pokémon Nathan had been hiding wasn't ordinary at all!
And the Poké Ball didn't place any restrictions on it either.
That level of trust between trainer and Pokémon would even make the old lady beside him pause in admiration.
Even during the darkest days of the past, only a few people had formed such deep bonds with their Pokémon—
Trusting them enough to entrust their very lives.
Let alone in this era.
A trainer like Nathan, willing to remove all restrictions?
Rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Not that everyone else was foolish or unaware of the benefits—
But because of a fundamental question: Are they really "trustworthy"?
Without clarity on that issue, few dared fully open their hearts to Pokémon.
After all, Pokémon were far more dangerous than any zoo animal.
Factor in Pokémon riots, and other risks—
Why not err on the side of caution when it cost nothing?
"Minister Joseph, should we...?"
At this moment, a fully armed squad captain approached the middle-aged man and asked.
The man called Joseph waved his hand, his expression still serious.
"Don't be careless. There's no way The Tiger lost combat effectiveness just like that."
"If we rush in now, the risk to the audience would be unacceptable, regardless of what happens to you."
That was exactly why The Tiger could act so brazenly.
The world was cruel.
Good people were constantly restrained—
Even their smallest mistakes magnified and attacked.
But villains?
They could discard all bottom lines without shame.
Do a single good deed, and people would start feeling sorry for them!
"Until the Elites arrive, all we can do is wait."
The old lady sighed and shook her head.
The audience was already being discreetly evacuated.
As those in charge, they had to prioritize the majority.
Nathan had already anticipated this.
Even with the situation spiraling beyond expectation, he quickly calmed down and began thinking.
"If my senses aren't wrong... that Honchkrow is far more than it seems."
His crimson eyes, like a monster's, glinted with danger as he plotted his next move.
He didn't believe for a second that The Tiger would go down from just one sneak attack!
…
As it turns out, villains always come with "cockroach-tier" durability.
Some famous antagonists are even tougher than the protagonists themselves!
Even after taking a point-blank Flame Emperor to the face from Volcarona—
The Tiger was still alive!
"Cough… cough… Now that was a hell of a surprise…"
With a raspy cough, The Tiger emerged from the white flames, looking utterly disheveled.
His blood-red coat had become ragged, almost blackened into tatters.
Honchkrow was even worse off.
Not a single feather was intact.
Once elegant and darkly beautiful, its plumage was now a patchwork of singed and bald spots.
No wonder The Tiger's gaze was so terrifying.
"To survive Volcarona's attack… no wonder they call you the sharpest blade of Chiyou,"
Nathan said calmly, unfazed by The Tiger's death-glare.
Though Nathan hadn't yet reached the Elite level, he knew better than to underestimate an Elite.
And not just in terms of Pokémon—trainers themselves were terrifying.
In all his life, Nathan had never heard of an Elite being assassinated with something like a sniper rifle.
Likewise, The Tiger—being a top member of Chiyou—wasn't going to be killed so easily.
"If it happened again, I might really die next time…"
"Which begs the question—want to try again?"
Wearing a twisted smile, The Tiger stared at Nathan with eyes terrifying enough to make children cry.
For some reason, Nathan felt like the guy was gritting his teeth as he said it.
The man wasn't dead, and Honchkrow hadn't even lost much of its aura.
Yet still...
"That's the first time anyone's asked me something so ridiculous."
Another white fireball flew toward The Tiger as Nathan responded in a tone that could only be described as resigned.
To give The Tiger the full villain treatment, Volcarona even came out of its Poké Ball—
Just to add a little extra kick to the flavor of the fireball.
"Why do I feel like this kid has zero fear?"
Watching the scene unfold, Joseph muttered to himself.
Even he would feel immense pressure going up against The Tiger—
A ruthless, unhinged lunatic with a flair for chaos.
But Nathan?
No fear, no pressure, not even a hint of nervousness?
"These days, who doesn't have a few secrets?"
The old lady wasn't the least bit surprised.
She had lived a long life and seen every kind of monster and demon there was.
Back when Valar Islands foolishly provoked a Legendary Pokémon, she had witnessed it all.
After that event—
Every country began treating Legendary Pokémon with extreme caution.
If there was even a rumor of one nearby, people stayed far away—unless absolutely necessary.
And what counts as necessary?
Well, those who understand… understand.
Who knows—maybe in the future, some humans would get bold enough to try capturing a Legendary for experiments again.
Just like Valar did back then.
"Honchkrow—Shadow Ball!"
Seeing Nathan casually fire off a second Flame Emperor, The Tiger remained completely unfazed this time.
(End of Chapter)