The next day.
Riku went to Citrus Island early in the morning.
May was already waiting for him at the pier. When she saw Riku arrive on time, she greeted him with a smile and handed him a bank card.
Riku was taken aback.
"May, what's the meaning of this?"
"What are you thinking? Don't tell me you thought I'd give you money to spend," May pouted.
"Only a rich woman like Lorelei would do that. This is the activity fund the League gave you. Take it."
Riku looked a little excited.
"How much is in the card?"
May smiled.
"One hundred thousand. I didn't expect the League to be so generous. We've made a big profit this time."
Riku nodded. This mission was indeed worth it. They had just joined and already received one hundred thousand as an activity fund. He believed that the reward for completing the mission wouldn't be small either.
"By the way," May suddenly remembered something,
"The issue of your unregistered status is quite difficult to resolve. It might take some time."
"The main reason is that our Orange League doesn't have a Pokémon Professor right now, so don't be anxious, Riku. We'll talk about other things later. They're here."
At that moment, three men and two women were walking toward the pier.
Everyone nodded slightly. After all, they would be colleagues soon. Even if the Seafoam Islands Gym Leaders thought Riku had gotten lucky, they were adults and wouldn't show it openly. They still gave him a lukewarm greeting.
Drake looked around and, as the leader, spoke first.
"Everyone knows the general situation. I won't waste words. Our Orange Archipelago isn't small, so we must split up to carry out the mission."
"Atsumi and Lulu, you're one team."
"Dan and Ayi, you're one team."
"May and Riku, you're one team."
"I'll be on my own!"
"Patrol the southeast and northwest directions in the order I just assigned."
"If you spot the Elite Four, you must immediately contact the other teammates by phone. Now, everyone exchange numbers."
---
Everyone concerned about the Orange Archipelago began to carry out their mission.
Someone like Drake, who had a large flying Pokémon, chose to patrol the skies without hesitation, while Riku and May opted for the sea route.
Flying in the sky was too conspicuous. Riku didn't know whether Drake was being arrogant or just hadn't learned his lesson. Had Lance's display yesterday not been enough to humble him?
Still, Drake was now the so-called captain. For the mission's sake, Riku said nothing.
May suddenly asked,
"Riku, is Miss Lorelei still staying at your house?"
"Yeah," Riku nodded.
"She won't leave, and I can't force her. After all, she's an Elite Four member. Besides, Lorelei's relationship with the other Elite Four members is quite ordinary. If we run into trouble, maybe we can ask for her help."
"Is that so…"
After receiving Riku's answer, May fell silent.
Twenty minutes later, just as Riku was beginning to notice how strange her silence was, they spotted an island ahead shrouded in black mist while sitting on Lapras.
"May, what's that island up ahead? I don't think I've ever heard of it."
"I... let me think," May frowned slightly.
"I passed by here before. The old folks said this uninhabited island is a habitat for Ghost-type and Dark-type Pokémon. Almost no one from the Orange Archipelago ever comes here."
"However... I've observed this island before. There was definitely some black mist, but I can guarantee it wasn't this exaggerated."
"Riku, should we call Drake and the others?"
Riku pondered for a moment.
"Let's not, for now. It'd be awkward if it turns out to be a false alarm. Let's go ashore and take a look first."
May had no objections to Riku's decision.
Arriving at a strange, uninhabited island that was a known habitat for Ghost-type and Dark-type Pokémon, Riku didn't dare to be careless. He kept Lapras close behind him. May also released her strongest Blaziken, and the two walked forward cautiously.
"It's a bit eerie... and why are all the trees on the island dead?"
Riku found the surroundings unsettling. Even for a Ghost-type habitat, this was excessive. Moreover, although it was broad daylight, they had barely walked a hundred meters when it started to darken.
As a girl, May couldn't help but grab Riku's hand in fear.
"Waa…"
Suddenly, Lapras turned toward a certain direction and let out a warning cry.
"Ha-shaa... ha-shaa…"
Perhaps sensing it had been discovered, a Ghost-type Pokémon emerged from the small forest.
May immediately took out her Pokédex.
Haunter, a Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon and the evolved form of Gastly.
Haunter is stronger than Gastly. Because of its newly evolved hands, it can perform more physical attacks, such as Poison Jab.
It lurks in the dark, seeking to take the life of the next living being that comes near. It slips silently toward its prey.
Haunter can pass through solid walls, leading many to believe it comes from another dimension. It's also famously fond of playing pranks on people.
Note: Haunter paralyzes opponents by licking them with its tongue and then drains their life energy. It can also invade dreams and scare victims to death. According to research, it also consumes other foods, such as Berries and Pokémon food.
---
"Haunter, huh? Looks like a demon," Riku muttered. He rarely encountered Ghost-types, and his first impression of Haunter was discomfort.
"It's okay, as long as it's not Gengar," May breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let my Blaziken handle it."
Without waiting for Riku's response, May pointed at Haunter.
"Blaziken, don't be polite with them. Use a type-effective attack—Fire Punch!"
Blaziken had already been itching for a fight. Upon May's command, it immediately clenched its claws into a fist, igniting a ball of flame.
Boom—
Unsurprisingly, Haunter looked scary but was weak in reality. With just one Fire Punch, Blaziken took it down easily.
Just as Riku was feeling a bit disappointed at not earning any points, footsteps echoed from the darkness ahead—accompanied by the sound of a cane tapping the ground.
He quickly looked up.
What they saw made their skin crawl. The newcomer was Agatha of the Elite Four.
And even more terrifying—six Champion-level Pokémon followed behind her.
Riku instantly stepped in front of May.
"May, run!"
"No!" May said firmly.
"I can't leave you here alone."
"Besides... this Elite Four member is acting strange. Look at her eyes—they look like she's being controlled!"
Indeed, as May said, Agatha's eyes lacked any trace of humanity. Any experienced Pokémon Trainer could tell something was very wrong.
"No matter what's wrong with her, you have to leave now," Riku said urgently.
"If you don't, we'll both die here. I'll hold her off. You go and call Drake and the others!"
"Go now!"
It was the first time Riku had spoken so harshly to May.
May froze, tears welling in her eyes, then turned abruptly and ran.
She knew Riku was right. If they delayed any longer, both of them would die.
If she was fast enough... there should still be a sliver of hope.
"Lapras, hold them off!"
Perhaps noticing May was escaping, Agatha's Pokémon immediately gave chase.
Lapras, though only a beginner Champion-level Pokémon, stood firm. Facing six powerful enemies, it might once have surrendered in fear.
But not now. Not with its master, Riku, behind it.
"Damn it!"
Seeing Lapras preparing to take on all six opponents alone, Riku cursed aloud.
"If anything happens to Lapras, none of you will get away!"
"Even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I, Riku, will make you pay!"
Riku's fury caused the very wind and clouds to shift.
A beam of white light broke through the black mist covering the island. Everything seemed to freeze—
Until...
A legless Ghost-type Pokémon appeared, floating silently in the air.
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter