Mt. Pyre, Hoenn Region.
Mt. Pyre is perpetually shrouded in mist, the aura of the spirit world. Legend has it that living beings who reach Mt. Pyre are drawn in by this spiritual aura, losing their lives in a daze.
Suddenly, violent sounds of battle echoed from the peak of Mt. Pyre.
Rain poured down, thunder roared, and on the mountaintop, countless bolts of lightning descended from the sky like wielded swords.
At this moment, a black-haired young man with a handsome appearance and a dignified bearing rode frantically on a Pelipper, dodging attacks from an Electivire whose skin was a mix of black and yellow.
The Electivire wielded an electric whip, crackling on the ground, sparks flying, and thunder reverberating all around.
Countless electric arcs encircled its body, as Electro Ball, Thunderbolt, Thunder, and various other Electric-type moves came relentlessly.
But these attacks were all avoided one by one by the Pelipper, which possessed the Keen Eye ability.
On the field, there was also a two-meter-tall Aggron, being attacked by a Volcarona engulfed in flames and two red-and-black Arcanine.
"I was still careless. I didn't expect the Alliance to ambush three Elite Four members here." Qing Wu somewhat regretted proactively accepting this mission to retrieve the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Qing Wu arrived at Mt. Pyre. Relying on his High-tier Elite Four strength, he easily obtained the two gems. Suddenly, these three ambushing Elite Four members launched their attack.
The Swampert in Qing Wu's hand reacted fastest. Although it knocked down Elite Four-level Sceptile and Bellossom one after another, it ultimately couldn't fight off four hands with two fists, and was knocked to the ground by the Grass-type Elite Four's other Pokémon, Serperior, with a Leaf Storm.
Immediately after, Qing Wu's Pokémon, Charizard, Lilligant, and Alakazam, after eliminating one to two of the opponent's Pokémon, were surrounded and knocked to the ground by other Pokémon.
Now, Qing Wu only had Aggron and Pelipper left with stamina.
"How did those treacherous dogs in the Alliance know my Pokémon's lineup? And they even specifically dispatched Fire-type, Grass-type, and Dark-type Elite Four members. I haven't seen these three individuals in the Alliance before. Are these Elite Four members hidden in the Alliance's covert ops?"
Qing Wu admitted he had been careless.
In Qing Wu's hand were two gems: one a fiery red Ruby, with a faint halo flowing on its surface, etched with an "Ω" shaped pattern.
The other was a Sapphire, crystal clear, like starlight refracted into the ocean, revealing a cold sharpness, etched with an "α" shaped pattern.
Aggron's entire silver metal armor was burning scorching red. At this moment, Aggron was panting heavily. It was now desperately holding on through its powerful will, its azure eyes revealing an extremely pained expression.
But Aggron still stared intently at the Volcarona before it. It endured the scorching flames, all to allow its Trainer to carve a path of escape.
Aggron used all its strength to unleash Flash Cannon. Only then, catching Volcarona slightly off guard, did it manage to slash Volcarona's wing. Volcarona, like a blazing fireball, streaked across the sky and fell to the ground.
Aggron glanced at its Trainer, then collapsed to the ground with a thud, raising countless dust clouds.
Qing Wu seized this opportunity, recalled Aggron into its Poké Ball, and frantically fled towards the Aqua Gang's location.
"Almost there, almost there. The Aqua Gang's submarine is right there. Once I reach it, I'll be safe." Qing Wu's sword-like brows were tightly furrowed, and he muttered, enduring the severe pain in his body. Beads of sweat trickled down his smooth, full forehead.
Qing Wu's body was covered in wounds, completely stained with crimson blood. The blood flowed, unknowingly dripping onto the two gems. The Omega and Alpha patterns on the gems became increasingly distinct.
Just then, Qing Wu suddenly saw a gigantic wave. The young man was already too late to dodge and was swept into the wave along with Pelipper.
The two gems also emitted a blazing light at this moment, merging into Qing Wu's body like liquid.
After the wave passed, Qing Wu realized that the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in his hand had vanished.
Qing Wu instantly lost all strength. He was so close to reaching the submarine and completing his mission, yet something like this happened.
The black-haired young man was now too weak to dive into the sea to search for the whereabouts of the two gems.
Just then, countless massive, flaming meteorites suddenly fell from the sky.
This was like a scene from the apocalypse.
Qing Wu saw that the three Elite Four members were still unyielding, sending out a Salamence to unleash Dragon Meteor.
Pelipper flexibly dodged the flaming meteorites' attacks, but a part of its wings was still scorched by the flames.
"Pelipper, can you still hold on?" The black-haired young man asked Pelipper.
Pelipper nodded. Although its wings were sore and swollen from prolonged flying, Pelipper was now too weak to speak.
Seeing this, Qing Wu laboriously took out a small handful of yellow, jelly-like items from his storage bracelet and stuffed them into Pelipper's mouth.
"Pelipper, hold on, we're almost there." The black-haired young man comforted it.
"As long as I reach the submarine, I'll be safe with their support." Qing Wu self-comforted.
Qing Wu dodged Salamence's attacks and finally reached the submarine that had surfaced.
Salamence saw Qing Wu land on the submarine and let out an unwilling roar, flapping its wings and flying back towards Mt. Pyre.
"I'm saved," Qing Wu relaxed, but then he saw Izumi's anxious eyes, and the cold, indifferent gazes of many Aqua Gang members, as if they were strangers. Mightyena growled softly, their eyes fierce and bloodthirsty.
Qing Wu took a step back. Pelipper blocked Qing Wu's front. Qing Wu felt the extreme malice emanating from them.
"Qing Wu, no, Team Rocket's spy, you didn't expect this, did you? We've teamed up with the Alliance. It was us who leaked your whereabouts to the Alliance. Mightyena, kill him!" Archie said fiercely to Qing Wu.
"How did the Aqua Gang discover me?" Qing Wu's heart jolted. He had believed his disguise was flawless, without the slightest flaw.
"Pelipper!" Just as Qing Wu was about to escape, Pelipper was struck down into the sea by Archie's Walrein with an Ice Beam.
Pelipper struggled as it was swept into the sea by a wave.
Qing Wu watched a Hyper Beam charging towards him. Qing Wu's eyes widened, filled with unwillingness.
Qing Wu suddenly felt a tearing pain in his chest and fell heavily onto the submarine.
Immediately, blood mixed with rainwater rapidly spread.
"Qing Wu, Qing Wu." Izumi couldn't hold back any longer and ran over, hugging Qing Wu.
"Qing Wu, pull yourself together, pull yourself together." Looking at the bleeding, dying Qing Wu, drops of crystalline tears overflowed from Izumi's eyes, mixing with the rainwater and falling into Qing Wu's mouth. They were salty.
Qing Wu had countless words he wanted to say to Izumi, but in his dying moments, he had no strength left.
Qing Wu opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood, his breathing becoming weak.
Qing Wu had too much unfulfilled desire in his heart. After enduring so many difficulties, he had poured countless efforts into this, yet… He was unwilling to just fall here.
But at this moment, he felt like he was falling into a boundless black hole. His consciousness grew increasingly blurry, and everything before his eyes gradually darkened.
Qing Wu watched helplessly as Izumi's clear, bright eyes dimmed, and he himself completely fell into darkness.
In a valley surrounded by mountains.
A handsome young man lay on a rock. Sunlight shone on his fair face, making his well-defined features even more pronounced.
After an unknown period of unconsciousness, Qing Wu slowly opened his eyes, finding his whole body aching.
"Did Izumi save me?" Qing Wu scratched his hair, suddenly feeling something was very wrong. He was surrounded by rocks, and sounds of battle came from outside.
"Hmph, just surrender. You still want to protect your trialist? Don't overestimate yourself." Someone yelled provocatively.
"Koko, Koko." A familiar voice came from outside the rocks. Qing Wu quickly struggled to stand up. Qing Wu suddenly noticed something was off; why were his hands so much smaller?
Qing Wu looked at his tattered clothes. These were completely different from the clothes he wore before he fell into darkness.
Qing Wu didn't think much for a moment and directly climbed over the rocks, seeing a silver-bright creature battling a jellyfish-like creature.
This entirely silver-bright creature had four stout, short legs and a large, round head. Its two large, light blue eyes were like two sapphires embedded in its head. Parts of its steel helmet covered its head, feet, and back, and it also had a horn on its back.
"This is an Aron. Why does this scene feel so familiar?" Qing Wu said with a puzzled expression.
This Aron, upon hearing Qing Wu's voice, became exceptionally excited. It was distracted for a moment and almost failed to dodge the Water Gun sprayed by the jellyfish Pokémon.
"I didn't expect you to still be alive after being poisoned by Tentacruel's Poison Jab." Tentacruel's Trainer said furiously upon seeing the awakened Qing Wu.
Tentacruel's Trainer was a blond kid with a face full of freckles.
"Tentacruel, don't be polite, use Water Gun, and completely defeat that Pokémon. As long as it loses its ability to battle, I can kill this trialist, and this Pokémon will naturally obediently submit to me." The freckled boy shouted.
"Aron, use Rock Tomb on Tentacruel." Qing Wu commanded loudly.
Indeed, under the young man's command, Aron successfully used Rock Tomb beneath Tentacruel. Rocks burst from the ground, heavily striking Tentacruel and directly knocking it unconscious.
"Damn it, you just wait for me." The freckled boy recalled Tentacruel and hurried away.
"Aron, don't chase." Qing Wu knew the principle of not pursuing a cornered foe. Moreover, Aron was also injured from protecting him.
Now, Qing Wu had an even more important matter to attend to.
Qing Wu looked at the surrounding environment. It was a small valley with lush trees. A small stream flowed, making gurgling sounds.
Qing Wu ran to the stream, looking at his tender face reflection and his tattered clothes. He appeared to be around fourteen to fifteen years old.
"So I've been reborn." Qing Wu murmured, an incredulous expression on his face.
Just then, Qing Wu heard a thud, only to see Aron directly fall to the ground, unconscious.
Qing Wu saw Aron unconscious and quickly went to check its condition. He found that Aron had been hit by Tentacruel's Water Gun move and was severely injured.
"Rumble rumble." Suddenly, the sky became overcast with dark clouds. Masses of clouds collided, and lightning was brewing. A dazzling white light streaked across the sky, and a jagged lightning bolt struck a towering tree near Qing Wu.
The towering tree immediately turned into charcoal, burning with raging flames.
"This won't do. I need to find a place to shelter from the rain immediately. If the current Aron gets caught in the rain, its foundation might be severely affected." Qing Wu looked around and saw a small cave in the valley.
Qing Wu quickly gathered some branches and bark, then carried Aron, stumbling through the shallow and deep parts of the ground, running into the cave.