Chapter 279: Trainer Type, Team Rocket Boss!

“You—you damn thing, what the hell are you?! How can you be this strong!”

The Trainers lay sprawled on the ground; the veteran Trainer who had boasted earlier trembled violently, kneeling half-dead, his Pokémon, Nutsy, slumped sideways on the floor, eyes spiraling into circles, utterly incapacitated.

The Shieldon’s Holy Sword swept across the battlefield—its newly awakened Steel Holy Sword nearly unstoppable, amplified further by Guang Tai’s power, leaving every Trainer here utterly defeated!

“.Huh, huh. Uphold your justice, yes—you won. I lost. Weakness is the original sin. Strength is the rule.”

“Wait—you—you’re going to do what?!”

The veteran Trainer watched Guang Tai reach out, his face tense with suspicion—but the next instant, his eyes went vacant, his mind utterly blank!

He too entered the “Personality Restart” state.

Guang Tai flicked his hand lightly, scanning the surroundings.

A vast crowd had been felled in a radiating ring!

Every defeated Trainer had undergone Mind Shatter.

The giggling Rotom, like a clown actor, danced absurdly in midair, zapping sparks while convulsing, hauling all the cages over and darting wildly inside them, simultaneously disabling every camera here.

Destroy the evidence before causing chaos—that’s the premise of a prank!

“.You—you really are who?”

A Psychic grabbed by Guang Tai struggled to break free, but couldn’t—his Pokémon fell instantly, and he felt as if he hadn’t woken from a dream.

What was that massive blade, like a door? A blinding silver light instantly defeated a whole crowd of Pokémon—that move was definitely not Cannon Shot!

And why does his Pokémon always act first? So strange. So incredibly strange, isn’t it!

Even this strange young man’s Psychic ability—

His whole body was trembling!

The Psychic felt himself shaking.

This power is “Danger Prediction”—a Pokémon trait that detects an opponent’s dangerous moves.

When the opponent possesses a move devastating to it, the Pokémon with this trait grows fearful and issues a warning.

It also warns when the opponent uses one-hit-KO moves, Self-Destruct, or Explosion.

Remember this well.

Some Psychics possess the same ability—detecting the strength or weakness of an opponent’s power to avoid danger and seek fortune.

So this young man before me is—

“I shouldn’t have challenged you. I was already trembling, yet still thought I could defeat you and climb higher.”

“I can’t win. You’re a… monster!”

Then he took a Mind Shatter and collapsed, his eyes losing all luster, his desires and darkness extinguished.

Crack! The sound of a shattered psyche rang out!

“Thank you.” Guang Tai’s palm emitted psychic waves; the blue-and-yellow crystal on his chest glowed faintly, his expression strange.

When had I become a “monster”?

Isn’t it just that my Psychic ability is slightly stronger than yours? Why are you losing your temper and calling me names?

“Is it over?”

“Let’s fight again next time!”

Guang Tai looked around and realized the “First Action” power granted by the Tree of Entry was truly formidable.

Combined with his powerful Solar Spirit and Psychic Force, he could firmly control the battle—always acting first, while the opponent’s Pokémon grew exhausted rapidly, often unable to use moves or even move at all.

Meanwhile, his own side grew stronger with every battle!

The intermediary had vanished somewhere along the way.

Countless eyes watched Guang Tai, and many more stared greedily and curiously at the Pokémon he carried.

Undoubtedly, rare and powerful Pokémon had become targets for some—but they knew they could not obtain them by “illegal” means, so their greed turned only to regret.

Added to that, so many Trainers had just been defeated, making them shake their heads even more.

“A Psychic, huh? Impressive.”

“Someone like this must be at least Level 5 in the Skyscraper District. Of course they couldn’t win.”

Spectators whispered among themselves, envious of Guang Tai’s strength—he was not only a Psychic but also carried powerful Pokémon!

No one dared block Guang Tai’s path anymore; even some gentlemen in the mall removed their hats, gesturing “after you.”

“Don’t worry—you’ve shown your strength.”

An old gentleman chuckled softly: “I am the owner here. But the strong set the rules here—because of people like you, our presence is so negligible.”

“Since the Black Skyscraper rose, more and more strong ones have flooded into this city. Our desires are endless—that’s exactly why this city was built!”

“Though that skyscraper has little to do with us—”

“Good! As long as you exist, you’ll uncover the Black Skyscraper’s secrets! Keep fighting those vibrant bastards!”

Shieldon smashed open the cages; the Pokémon sensed Guang Tai’s thoughts and emotions, gathering under Shieldon’s soothing presence, then being led out. The reformed Hunters thanked Guang Tai—this scene was deeply strange.

Yet some refused to give up.

“Damn it! What ‘owner’ of Black City? Just a powerless gentleman!”

“Hey, kid! You’ve cut off my livelihood—you won’t leave easily!”

The intermediary returned, startled to see Guang Tai walk out of the mall unharmed—but remembering he’d brought a van full of Breadmen, his confidence surged!

He’d brought plenty of experts himself. Psychics? So what!

Psychic Force can’t beat technology! We’ve got stun guns!

And we’ve got our own Psychics too!

“Breaking rules isn’t allowed.”

“The organization exists precisely because it has rules.”

A deep voice suddenly echoed—a middle-aged man in a black coat and black hat appeared not far off.

That was the standard attire of a veteran Trainer.

But unlike other veteran Trainers, this man radiated overwhelming pressure the moment he entered.

Then he looked at Guang Tai, lips curling upward in praise:

“Hmph. You defeated all those fools inside… You truly have the qualification to challenge the Black Skyscraper.”

The black-hatted Trainer’s voice deepened:

“But I’m disappointed. Black City is only this weak? Crushed effortlessly by a kid.”

“What! Who the hell are you?!”

The intermediary and his Trainers grew tense and furious!

Though they sensed this black-clad man radiated a completely different aura and pressure, the Psychic the intermediary had brought suddenly began trembling:

“No—this man’s energy is incredibly strong!”

“He’s been inside the Black Skyscraper! He carries its strange energy—and his own power is immense too! Combat power… incalculable. At least Level 6!”

“Level 6?!”

The Trainers gasped—but the middle-aged man chuckled lowly:

“Combining many powers creates great strength—that’s an organization. That’s its power. Black City is the same!”

“Weak individuals, relying on numbers to show off—they can’t do anything alone. Without a group, power means nothing.”

The intermediary exploded in rage: “What did you say?!”

The black-clad Trainer said nothing—only pulled out a Poké Ball. As it opened, a monstrous Pokémon appeared on the mall’s battlefield!

A rock-like body, orange armor, ferocious eyes—when it landed, the entire Black City trembled!

The black-clad man pressed down his hat:

“I love powerful strength—it has no good or evil!”

“The strong always win, regardless of justice or evil—that’s the truth of this world. In this city, the strong set the rules! And I am one of those who sets them!”

Then the middle-aged man raised his head, his smile turning solemn as he spoke to Guang Tai:

“But let me be clear! Even the strongest can be utterly defeated! Refusing to accept failure means you cannot advance! Only those who understand this are true strong ones! Remember this!”

“Those fools lingering here—the ones you defeated!”

“Their potential was never fully unlocked. Neither were their Pokémon. That’s why they lost—lost in desire!”

“All of them are weaklings! No need to feel concern or fear. When the strong face the weak, it’s the weak who should fear!”

As the familiar words were spoken, the hard features beneath the black hat grew clearer, more recognizable.

Familiar memories rose, becoming startlingly real.

The man removed his black hat.

A face filled with malevolence and hardness appeared, radiating a faint yet unmistakable Grand Master aura…!

That face was…!

The identity of the black-clad Trainer was now obvious.

Trainer Type, Team Rocket Boss!

Battle was imminent!

Sakaki snorted:

“Rhyperior! Use ‘Earthquake’!”

“Clear out all the trash!”

Violent tremors shook the street as if the whole block would collapse!

On the timeline of HeartGold and SoulSilver, after being repeatedly beaten by the protagonists of Kanto and Johto, Sakuji’s spirit shattered, and he embarked alone on a path of cultivation. He vanished entirely during the Sinnoh era, only reappearing at the Unova World Championship in Black 2 and White 2!

The true expert in Ground-type Pokémon, once the most powerful villain in the Kanto region!

No one knows what Sakaki endured over these past years, or where he trained—he vanished from both Kanto and Johto, then disappeared without a trace from Sinnoh and Hoenn, and now even the Unova region has no sign of him.

Thus, the only region left he could reach seemed to be one.

The Black City of Unova—this place was perfect for Sakaki to train, and sufficient to help him reclaim his former feeling!

The battle ended almost instantly.

Not only did the Pokémon get attacked, but the Trainer was caught in the crossfire too—Earthquake was exactly such a move!

Sakaki’s strike was swift and decisive; the Earthquake wave shook the entire street!

Though the nearby merchants and gentlemen were terrified, their eyes burned with fervor as they stared at that Gigalith!

What an incredibly powerful Pokémon! The stronger the Pokémon, the more it drew their interest—some gentlemen even began pondering whether they could persuade Sakaki to transfer Gigalith to them!

And such thoughts seemed not to escape the notice of the leader of Team Rocket below.

Sakaki narrowed his eyes, sensing those burning gazes; he let out a cold snort and revealed a long-absent wicked smile.

In the past, he always seized Pokémon and treated them as tools for making money—but he also cherished the Pokémon in his possession, for he could not afford to lose or damage vital tools!

The defeated Trainers lay scattered on the ground; the middleman was snatched up by Gigalith, hurled into the air, then smashed down with an Arm Thrust!

The middleman flew away and collapsed on the street, unconscious.

“Those who break the rules have no right to live here—this is the battlefield of the strong!”

Sakaki coldly surveyed the trembling Trainers around him, and the Psychic Trainer was especially terrified:

“What level are you? I’m already a Level 5 Trainer—your power is just one level higher! I don’t believe the gap could be this huge!”

“Level 5?”

Sakaki looked down at the Psychic Trainer with indifference: “I am the Region 8 Gym Leader! That lowly Level 5 doesn’t even have the right to draw a breath before me!”

Watching the Psychic Trainer angrily pound the ground, Sakaki no longer glanced at the defeated fighters—until Guang Tai’s movements caught his attention.

Is this talented young man using Psychic to finish them off?

“I’ve been watching since the beginning—what are you doing?”

Guang Tai replied simply: “Just using Psychic to leave them a lasting impression.”

“Oh? Deceiving me? So you think I’m dangerous? You won’t tell the truth, then.”

Sakaki chuckled, his question unanswered—but he was not angry.

“Deception is an essential survival tactic, but I’ve met plenty of incompetent Psychics. Let me guess—your ability is probably tied to mental power. Rare, yes, but not unheard of.”

“From your earlier battle, I already observed… hmm, a very interesting power. How about trying it on me once?”

Sakaki issued a strange invitation, and Guang Tai naturally did not accept.

This man is truly Sakaki!

A powerful aura and energy surged from him; Guang Tai could perceive through Psychic the unique power flowing within Sakaki—this pressure was no illusion. Just as strong Trainers can awaken their Pokémon’s strength through will and determination, Sakaki possesses the same ability!

Unless he was born with extraordinary talent, only years of relentless battle could grant such power. Though Sakaki treats Pokémon as tools, he treats his own with great care.

If this were the anime’s Sakaki, he’d be no threat.

But if this is the Special or game version of Sakaki—he’s dangerous!

Especially now, after three years of renewed training!

He is a true Master-level Trainer!

Master-level Trainer… though not an official title, his strength is at least… above the Elite Four!

Guang Tai’s expression grew serious as he pondered.

Though he had mastered many illegal methods, facing wild Pokémon and a Master-level Trainer were two entirely different matters.

But if it came to raw strength, he wouldn’t lose.

Perhaps he should consider a real-life PK!

But first, he’d need to restrain all of Sakaki’s Pokémon.

“Forget it. You seem wary—now doesn’t seem the time for a full battle.”

Sakaki suddenly smiled.

“Save the battle for later. I have a feeling someone as strong and talented as you will come to the Black Tower. Many arrive here drawn by that building—I was the same.”

“Take those Pokémon and leave. Go east through Black City—you’ll reach White Forest.”

The Pokémon sold as commodities gathered together, clustering around Guang Tai and Shieldon.

“Oh, incredible.”

Sakaki stared at Shieldon—such a Pokémon, capable of calming and even commanding others, he had never seen before.

If Team Rocket were still as powerful as before, he would have definitely targeted this Pokémon.

But now, he is still in training. Ordinary Pokémon no longer interest him—only powerful ones can capture his attention!

Of course!

More valuable than such a unique Pokémon is the Trainer who can make such a Pokémon willingly follow him!

Undoubtedly, the King of Pokémon is fascinating—but the one whom the King serves is even more worth recruiting, isn’t he?

If he wants Team Rocket to rise again, recruiting such a lieutenant is essential.

Strong individuals have their own beliefs and won’t easily submit to others—gathering such a group of strong ones is extremely difficult.

How to properly harness each person’s strength and guide their potential—this is Sakaki’s current training goal.

Thus, before coming to the Black Tower, Sakaki had already visited White Forest—the forest carried the same nostalgic aura as his homeland.

After seeing the Pokémon gather, Sakaki did not linger long. He looked forward to meeting Guang Tai again—and it would surely be somewhere unexpected.

“Hmph. A talented individual—I have high hopes for you. How high will you climb?”

“If your strength can serve me, that’s best. If not, you’d make a fine opponent.”

“Money means nothing to me now. I only wish to battle stronger Trainers—strong ones naturally attract each other! And you possess that talent!”

“Use it well, interesting young man. I’ll be waiting for you at the peak of Unova. We will meet again.”

Sakaki turned and waved, walking toward the towering tower, yet in his eyes flickered faint blue and yellow lights.

(End of Chapter)