Razor Leaf!
With just a glance, Ryuuske recognized the incoming attack.
Before the sharp blades even reached him, the sheer sharpness of the air alone stung his skin. The green streaks were nothing more than ordinary leaves—yet Ryuuske knew these leaves could achieve what only legendary martial artists in wuxia novels could: using petals and foliage as lethal weapons.
The sound of air being sliced was agonizing to the eardrums. The leaves flew so fast that there was no time to think. What shocked Ryuuske even more was that these leaves weren't just aimed at him—many were targeting the injured Eevee in his arms.
Team Rocket?!
In that split second, Ryuuske's mind raced ahead of everything else, temporarily landing on this conclusion. He assumed this was Team Rocket's attempt to eliminate their research subject before it could fall into someone else's hands.
But in the time it took for a single breath, Ryuuske's thoughts flashed through countless possibilities—and he made a decision.
Though these leaves had terrifying cutting power, their small size meant they couldn't stab deep like knives. In other words, while the attack was dangerous, it wouldn't be fatal—at least not to him. But if these leaves struck the already severely wounded Eevee in his arms, it could be catastrophic.
In that instant, Ryuuske considered many things. He could try dodging, but he couldn't guarantee Eevee's safety. So, there was only one thing he could do—
He raised his right arm to shield his face (lest he get disfigured) while turning his body to protect Eevee with his back!
In the blink of an eye, the leaves slashed across Ryuuske's right arm. He let out a pained grunt—the wounds burned like paper cuts, shallow but excruciating.
"Shhhk—!"
His sleeve tore open, deep gashes splitting his skin as blood instantly stained his entire arm. But Ryuuske was no stranger to pain. Though the injuries looked gruesome, they weren't serious. With just a slight frown, he prepared to counterattack.
Passive defense was never Ryuuske's style.
Nearby, Gabite erupted in fury upon seeing its trainer injured. It roared, its draconic cry shaking the air as it brutally tore through the four vines binding it. At the same time, Ryuuske hurled another Poké Ball, releasing a sleek, serpentine dragon.
"Gabite! Dragonair! Use Flamethrower!"
Though he hadn't seen the attacker, Ryuuske immediately ordered both dragons to unleash scorching flames toward the origin of the Razor Leaf attack. Given that the previous moves were Grass-type, fire would be devastatingly effective.
After barking the command, he quickly shoved the Pokéblock he'd prepared earlier into Eevee's mouth, stabilizing its injuries before recalling it into its Poké Ball. Right now, Eevee was no fighter—it was a liability.
Gabite and Dragonair's flames exceeded a thousand degrees. The grassy field and nearby trees were instantly reduced to ash. But then—
Flowers.
Countless blossoms, each of a different species, burst into the air in a dazzling display of colors. Their delicate fragrance permeated the battlefield as they swirled around the twin infernos like dancing sprites. Though the flames incinerated the petals, their fire energy was completely neutralized in the process.
"Impressive!"
Ryuuske couldn't help but admire the technique. Regardless of who the enemy was, this "Petal Dance" maneuver was masterful. Despite the type disadvantage, they had effortlessly extinguished the flames.
But then—
The scent.
It was intoxicating. Even from dozens of meters away, the fragrance was unmistakable.
Just as Ryuuske registered this thought, his head suddenly spun. His body jerked as realization struck.
"Dragonair! Use Safeguard, now!"
A faint, multicolored barrier enveloped Ryuuske and his Pokémon. The dizziness vanished instantly, clearing his mind.
It wasn't just a fragrance—it was poison!
Ryuuske cursed inwardly. This unseen opponent wasn't necessarily underhanded, but their fighting style was insidious—like a silent infiltration, an attack masked by beauty.
Unlike Agatha's eerie, ominous methods, this person's approach was elegant yet unpredictable.
They had laced the floral scent with Sleep Powder. Anyone who inhaled too deeply would be drugged into unconsciousness.
[Mewtwo, why didn't you detect the ambush?]
[Their Pokémon were perfectly harmonized with nature. I mistook them for wild Pokémon passing by—I didn't expect an attack.]
Mewtwo's voice was grim.
Now that the immediate danger had passed, Ryuuske's fear faded. That sudden combo had caught him off guard, and protecting Eevee had cost him his right arm's mobility. Had he dodged, he wouldn't be this injured—but the alternative was unacceptable.
He couldn't let Eevee die, not after finally finding it.
"Show yourself. With such mastery over flowers and grass, there's only one person in Kanto who fits—the Celadon City Gym Leader. Unless… you're also with Team Rocket?"
Ryuuske's voice was icy. Gabite stood protectively in front of him, while Dragonair layered Light Screen over Safeguard, making another sneak attack impossible.
"…Sigh."
A soft, melancholic sigh drifted through the air—the voice of a girl not yet twenty, serene and natural, as if woven from the seasons themselves.
It was a voice that evoked images of traditional maidens, of plum blossoms and chrysanthemums—refined, understated, timeless.
And then, Ryuuske saw her.
His lips parted slightly in shock.
Not because of her beauty. He had seen too many stunning women—Sabrina's cold allure, Gary's playful charm, Caitlin's regal elegance. Mere looks couldn't faze him anymore.
No, what stunned him was—
Her outfit.
A JK uniform.
A high school girl's uniform.
He was seeing a real-life JK in this world?!
Admittedly, this world's culture was a bizarre patchwork—not divided by region, but by city. European aesthetics, East Asian traditions, minimalist designs, rustic themes—everything existed side by side.
But this girl before him?
She was pure traditional Japanese elegance.
A true Yamato Nadeshiko.
To be continued…
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