Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

Xia Chen said casually, "It's nothing, just a few bad guys. Don't stray too far from me later."

Bad guy!

Upon hearing this word, Higana's first reaction was not fear, but excitement.

Living in this secluded paradise year after year, there's nothing interesting to do except play and explore with the elves. For her, "bad guys" are something that only exists in novels, so they are nothing new.

"Uh-huh!"

She obediently nodded, moved closer to Xia Chen, but gripped the Salamence's Poké Ball tightly in her hand.

…………

The stone cracked, and the ground trembled slightly.

This wasn't because Gullington had completed the underground construction, but rather because the Lava Team guys suddenly appeared from a hidden cave entrance near Meteor Falls.

Crimson uniforms, crimson hoods—Xia Chen recognized them at a glance: Team Magma, the infamous dark force of the Hoenn region.

The organization whose goal is to awaken and control Groudon, and use its abilities to expand the land area, thereby creating a new world more conducive to human development... The Stupid Organization.

The latter is Xia Chen's evaluation.

According to the game's storyline, their purpose in coming to Meteor Falls to find the meteorite was to use its strange energy to reactivate the dormant volcano, Chimney Mountain, and then awaken Groudon.

Xia Chen narrowed his eyes, quickly sizing up the group of criminals. There were thirteen of them. The one who was clearly being coerced appeared to be Dr. Solans, who researched meteorites. The leader of the team was one of the three executives...

Hmm, not the three executives of Team Magma?

Xia Chen was slightly startled; he hadn't seen Huo Cun, Huo Ying, or Huo Yan.

However, it's also possible that the three executives in this generation aren't the same as those seen in the anime. After all, it's just a code name, and the people associated with that code name may have changed over time...

No, that purple-haired woman looks like Huo Yan!

Xia Chen suddenly spotted a familiar figure among the crowd of people riding various flying-type Pokémon.

With its short purple hair, king swallow, and beautiful face, it is most likely a flamingo goose.

Xia Chen was deeply impressed by this Lava Team executive because in the special episode, this beautiful woman with a complicated background and a complex moral compass played a significant role, and as a villain, her ending was somewhat tragic.

She must be the leader of this operation.

Hiding among a group of low-level henchmen without revealing one's identity... Is that really necessary?

Xia Chen glanced at her and then stopped paying attention, lest Huo Yan notice anything unusual.

He didn't immediately call Gu Leton up. Since these people weren't planning a sneak attack, they certainly wouldn't start a fight over a disagreement. Mining the keystone was the priority.

…………

Before long, the Lava Team landed not far in front of Xia Chen.

Among them, a man in his thirties, who was in the leading position, stepped forward with a somber expression.

"Who are you? And why are you trying to steal our meteorite?"

Xia Chen was speechless. When did Team Lava become so polite...?

Even Xiao Xi tugged at Xia Chen's sleeve and whispered, "Are they really bad people?"

Without answering the idiotic question, Xia Chen calmly said, "You're just an ordinary dragon tamer. You're currently in the territory of our Meteor Clan. Please leave immediately, or I'll call the patrol team."

If it weren't for Higanbana's presence, he wouldn't have bothered with all that talking to these people. He would have simply transformed into Deoxys, tied them up, erased their memories, and handed them over to the Hoenn League.

Unfortunately, with Higana present, it wasn't convenient to do this.

The leading man said in a serious tone, "I am the director of the Natural Science Research Institute of Kanaz City. There is a very important meteorite buried here, so please cooperate."

Xia Chen frowned deeply. What on earth are these guys up to?

It feels like they're... stalling for time?

With this thought in mind, he released his Aura to probe the surroundings and then discovered that an Aggron was digging a hole and approaching him from the ground in the distance, followed by several Team Magma members.

The target was Gulchrist, where excavation work was underway underground.

Xia Chen: "......"

Trying to pull a fast one while feigning an attack, huh? Too bad you've picked the wrong opponent...

Xia Chen clicked his tongue inwardly. You dare to mess with me? You've got guts!

Ignoring these suicidal guys, Xia Chen said, "This meteorite has been the property of us Meteor People since ancient times. Forget about it, go away."

The Lava Team is stalling for time, but Xia Chen is also waiting for Guleton to dig out the keystone before focusing on dealing with these idiots.

Both sides were playing the role of virtuous gentlemen, so naturally, the "director of the Institute of Natural Sciences" suggested, "In that case, let's settle this with a battle between elves!"

Why make it so awkward? Why not just decide the winner by dancing?

Xia Chen felt a layer of goosebumps rise on his arm from the embarrassment.

Too lazy to bother with them, Xia Chen patted Xijiana on the shoulder, "Then that's settled, Xiao Xi, you can come now."

"Ah—I...I'll do it?"

While the naive young girl, Xijiana, was still confused about whether these guys were really the bad people Xia Chen had described, she suddenly found herself burdened with a heavy responsibility.

"What if...what if I lose?"

The little girl took the bet of stalling for time seriously and asked in a very silly way.

"It's okay, I believe you."

Xia Chen patted Xijiana's head and smiled, "Haven't you always longed for a battle like this?"

Perhaps it was Xia Chen's encouragement that gave her great courage, Xiao Xi nodded vigorously, "I understand, Brother Xia Chen, I will definitely win!"

And so, a bizarre battle between Pokémon began in front of Meteor Falls.

…………

Although it was a seemingly childish Pokémon battle, Team Magma prepared quite seriously.

They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that it wasn't Xia Chen who was going to fight, but the little girl next to him who was obviously only thirteen or fourteen years old.

Then, when a roaring Salamence appeared from the Poké Ball, the Team Magma minions behind Blaziken were a little out of breath.

Is this guy thirteen?!

He stared blankly and subconsciously turned to look at Huoyan, who gave him a sharp look, everything understood without a word.

The Lava Team was strictly hierarchical, leaving him no room for resistance; he could only turn around and face the bleak reality.

Then... he, a young man in his early twenties, was mercilessly and brutally beaten by a thirteen-year-old girl, to the point that he began to doubt the meaning of life.

"Brother Xia Chen, I won! Are people in the outside world all this weak?"

Lies don't hurt, truth is the knife.

Higana's declaration of victory left the Lava Team henchman somewhat dazed, while his colleagues wore expressions of shared sorrow.

Because they realized that even if they were the ones who took the bait, the outcome wouldn't be much better...

"I won, so you'd better get out of here!"

Ignoring what her defeated opponent and his colleagues thought, Higana shooed them away.

This silly girl still thinks the lava team really are the researchers they claim to be.

The Lava Team members, who had been verbally expelled, looked at each other in bewilderment, and then instinctively looked at Fire Goose.

Huo Yan, hidden in the crowd, slightly raised her head, her pretty face icy cold.

"Trap them! Don't kill them, don't make a blood feud with the Meteor Clan, hold them off, and then retreat when Bosscodora and the others succeed!"

As soon as Fire Goose finished speaking, the pit that Guleton had dug earlier trembled, and the Lava Team members' faces lit up with joy.

Success!

Then, the trembling sound continued to intensify and got closer and closer to the ground, even the steady Fire Goose couldn't help but smile with delight.

Boom—

A colossal, silvery-white steel behemoth burst from the earth, soaring high into the sky, its silvery-white luster gleaming in the sunlight...

Wait, fly high?

The Lava Team members suddenly realized that something was wrong.

Why does Bosscoro's movement look so awkward...?

…………

Not only it, but also several Lava Team members and their spirits, who were fighting together, took flight in the same manner.

Fire Goose's pupils shrank sharply. These people were all elites from Team Magma that she had brought with her, and two of them even had Gym Leader-level Pokémon brought from headquarters.

It was blasted apart almost instantly. What kind of strength is that?

Is there a legendary spirit down there?!

Wait... a legendary spirit?

Fire Goose suddenly remembered something: Sylveon... the girl had just called out "Brother Xia Chen"...

This guy, is he Xia Chen, the legendary one who captured a legendary Pokémon?!

When did he come to the Hoenn region?

Huoyan only belatedly realized the seriousness of the situation, the word "retreat" still on her lips but not yet uttered.

An orange-red shooting star flashed through the crater and blocked everyone's view.

His imposing appearance, his aura that seemed to freeze the air, his calm yet dignified gaze...

This is the legendary spirit, Guleton, that gives people a sense of towering grandeur, as if it were insurmountable and invincible!

"Great King Yan, retreat immediately!"

The words were right on Huoyan's throat, but she just couldn't bring herself to say them.

Her body was as if it were stuck in a deep swamp, unable to move an inch.

The area centered on Guleton seemed to fall into eternal silence and stagnation.

Here, Leighton is a king whose words become law.