Pokémon: Virus Evolution

"What nonsense are you talking about..." Ophelia shook her head with a wry smile. "I'm just assisting with some company matters. I was about to contact you once I wrapped things up."

"Hmph, at least you still have some conscience." The voice on the other end of the call snorted twice before continuing, "Tomorrow at ten, same place."

After hanging up, Ophelia stepped harder on the gas pedal.

Back at the hotel, after a refreshing shower, Ophelia released all her Pokémon.

Since it was a luxury suite, the spacious room was large enough for her Arcanine, a nearly two-meter-tall, three-hundred-pound behemoth, to roll around comfortably.

However, Lucius had no interest in admiring these obviously well-trained Pokémon.

His gaze, through the mirror, reflected onto the perfectly proportioned and graceful figure.

Her freshly washed hair clung damply to her shoulders, her usually stern and capable expression softened, revealing a pure beauty that matched her age, her mind completely at ease…

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Ophelia—without work, without tasks—felt that this bare, unadorned version of herself was her truest self.

Perhaps, living as an ordinary person wouldn't be so bad…

Lucius could sense that his host's spirit was relaxing and hesitating, albeit briefly. But he had no time to praise her discipline.

Because…

Lucius realized that, using Ophelia's eyes to look at her own naked body, it felt as though he had become a woman himself…

Jeez—what a figure!

Fortunately, Ophelia quickly wrapped herself in a towel and refocused on work, blocking Lucius's appreciative gaze.

Alright, he had admired a beauty, and the infection at the police station was nearly complete. It was time to finish the mission.

...

Cerulean City Gym.

The current Cerulean City had transformed into a metropolis driven by tourism and service industries. Even its landmark, the Cerulean Gym, had become a true luxury water ballet theater and aquarium.

Inside, not only were there thousands of Water-type Pokémon, but several large performance pools capable of hosting shows for thousands of spectators at once.

Since it was already midnight, apart from patrolling security personnel and a few nocturnal Pokémon occasionally causing ripples in the water, the place was silent.

Suddenly, in the air above one of the pools, a series of transparent ripples appeared.

The ripples rapidly expanded and twisted, forming a spinning, inward-collapsing sphere, resembling a wormhole linked to an unknown dimension.

A small green figure emerged from the portal, growing larger as it flew through.

"Bii~" The tiny, less-than-half-a-meter-tall green Pokémon looked around, its large eyes shimmering with an emerald glow.

The wormhole began spinning faster, and two more figures emerged.

This time, they were humans.

"Cerulean Gym…" The orange-haired, green-eyed woman looked at the pool and the empty spectator seats, a complex expression appearing on her face. She murmured, "The Cerulean Gym, still intact… We really made it back."

"Did it work?" The black-haired man was first astonished, then quickly turned serious. Looking at the woman and the bright yellow Pokémon on her shoulder, he said, "Misty, Pikachu, it looks like we really returned to seven years ago."

"Pika Pika…"

"If our intel is correct, tonight is the beginning of the Great Cataclysm." Misty glanced at the enormous electronic billboard outside the arena. The displayed date marked what would later be known as Year One of the Disaster Era.

"Celebi, thank you for bringing us here." The black-haired man clenched his fists, his chiseled features growing even more determined. "Tonight, we must stop the apocalypse from happening."

"Let's go, Ash. We're heading to the Cerulean City Police Department." Familiar with the Cerulean Gym, Misty quickly found her sister's red sports car.

The two trainers, along with their Pokémon, jumped in, the car roaring as it sped toward the police station.

Thanks to the opportunity to interact with an Elite Four-level expert, Gold and Lyra bombarded Oliver Doyle with all sorts of bizarre questions, stretching dinner until 9 PM.

Perhaps due to protagonist-level luck, Oliver showed no impatience. In fact, he seemed to grow increasingly fond of the two young trainers.

During this time, the other half of Lucius had returned to the police station, taking over the viral transmission from what Ophelia had already started.

It must be said—this was an excellent place for spreading infection.

So far, he had successfully infected over two hundred people. Practically everyone who had passed through the station today had already succumbed to the virus.

By delving into fragments of their memories, Lucius had identified over fifty individuals with deeply rooted evil within their hearts. Now, all that remained was to activate the Venomous Plague.

However, a direct mass poisoning would be too conspicuous. He needed to manufacture some "accidents" to cover it up.

According to Pokémon League regulations, when a suspect is arrested, their Poké Balls are confiscated and stored in a designated room at the station.

This room housed a machine designed to attach mechanical locks to Poké Balls, preventing Pokémon from escaping and causing trouble.

"Hmm, another three Poké Balls… Jeez, even this late at night, things don't slow down." The officer on duty grumbled as he accepted the freshly confiscated Poké Balls, skillfully attaching the mechanical locks before returning to his post and dozing off.

He didn't realize that, as he was securing the last Poké Ball, his mind momentarily blanked. Without touching it, a voice in his head whispered: Finally done, so tired… I need a nap.

Moments later, the soft sounds of snoring filled the room.

Behind him, one of the unsealed Poké Balls trembled slightly before opening on its own.

A flash of white light revealed a large, twin-orbed, purple Pokémon that resembled an enlarged Koffing.

"Weezing~ Weezing~" Despite its fierce appearance, the Pokémon's eyes gleamed with an intelligence uncommon to Pokémon.

Weezing let out a sly smile. Its round, balloon-like body contracted, and from the dozens of vents covering its body, it simultaneously released thick, dark purple toxic smoke.

Not enough—more…

Within Weezing's body, Lucius guided it to continuously use Smog and Sludge Wave.

Thick, noxious gas quickly filled the entire storage room, spreading outward…

"We're here." Ash and Misty jumped out of the car.

The Cerulean City Police Department appeared calm under the midnight sky, showing no signs of the impending world-ending catastrophe.

Ash pulled out a device the size of a smartphone and aimed it at the police station. The red lights on the screen flickered, and his brow furrowed. "We're too late. The virus has already begun spreading."

"No…" Misty's expression changed, her lips trembling. "Does that mean…"

"There's only one thing we can do." Ash took a deep breath. "Celebi, use Natural Gift."

"Bii~" Floating in the air, Celebi let out a soft cry, its entire body radiating a brilliant green light.

In an instant, waves of mystical energy spread outward.

The wind, the leaves, the air, the water—even the steel and concrete seemed to come alive, responding to a mysterious call…

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