Rise of Dark Pokemons

Not long after, the noisy square fell silent as a fierce middle-aged man, nearly two meters tall, wearing a military cap, entered the square. A red "R" was prominently displayed on the left side of his chest. He was followed by ten Rockets dressed in their usual black uniforms, their faces cold and unreadable, with a large wolf dog trailing behind them.

However, the focus quickly shifted to the middle-aged man's companion—a black dog exuding an aura of pure malice. With two crooked white bone horns on its head and a tail resembling that of a devil, it was an imposing sight.

Aoki, who had been slowly opening his eyes as the square quieted down, felt his gaze narrow when he saw the middle-aged man. It was him! His eyes shifted to the black dog beside him—a sudden flash of recognition flickered within him.

Pokémon: Black Lugar (Green)

Gender: Male

Level: 28

Attributes: Evil, Fire

Characteristics: Ignition

Carrying Props: None

Genetic Moves: Flame Tooth, Flame Vortex

Basic Moves: Purgatory, Rogue, Lightning Tooth, Gaze, Spark, Long Cormorant, Mist, Roar, Bite, Smell Detection, Siege

Tutor Skills: Fraud

Learner Moves: Awakening Power · Rock, Shadow Ball, Spitfire

Seeing the skills and level of the Black Lugar, Aoki couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle—it was a bit too much. This wasn't even the middle-aged man's top-tier pokemon; it likely wouldn't even rank in the second tier. A single second-tier could easily handle everyone in the square, including all the Rockets.

"There are 156 of you left," the middle-aged man's voice cut through the silence, firm but not loud. His words, though casual, carried an air of detachment. "The quality this time seems quite good." He glanced over the crowd, eyes scanning them with practiced ease.

"My name is Poisonous Snake, and I am responsible for overseeing Purgatory Island," he continued. "From this moment on, none of you will have control over your own fate." His lips curled into a small, wry smile as he observed the crowd's reactions, savoring the moment of intimidation.

"The Purgatory Trial will last three months. We will meet here every week. If anyone misses two consecutive sessions, consider your trial failed. And I'm sure you understand the consequences of failing," he said, almost to himself, as if the idea of failure was already familiar to him.

With a sweeping gesture, he pointed to the large stone in the middle of the square. "This is the Trial Stone. It will test the strength of your pokemon's attacks. You will take turns and based on the results, a ranking will be determined. The top ten will earn 100 points, and the points will increase progressively."

Aoki knew all too well what the points meant. Rocket points. They were not just a currency on the island, but a coveted system that could be exchanged for nearly anything in the world, especially after the trial. Even if someone had wealth, they couldn't easily buy certain resources without this unique currency.

"The top fifty will pass the trial. The top ten will receive 10,000 points. The top three will receive a Rocket-forged alliance ID card, and the first-place winner will be allowed to choose one of the three elite pokemon from the Imperial Family's vault," Poisonous Snake continued, his voice a little more enthusiastic as he shared the rewards. "And the most important rule? There are no rules."

The crowd fell into stunned silence as they digested the significance of what was said. No rules? That was both a blessing and a curse.

"The first ranking begins now!" With that command, Poisonous Snake took his seat, signaling his subordinates to begin recording the results.

As the first challenger stepped forward, the atmosphere became tense. "Abo Snake, bite!" The boy called, and a purple Abo Snake darted forward, sinking its sharp fangs into the stone with a loud crash. "Bang!" The stone remained unscathed, but the result appeared: Attack value: 56!

"Number 34, attack value 56, currently ranked first! Next!" A Rocket soldier announced, his tone indifferent. The boy, number 34, walked away with a scowl, clearly not satisfied with his performance.

One by one, challengers stepped forward, each pokemon attempting their attack on the Trial Stone. Some succeeded, some failed miserably, and the rankings shifted rapidly. Aoki watched with quiet interest, noticing how those with higher scores looked down on those below them, their disdain palpable.

"Attack value: 98!" A shout interrupted his thoughts. The current top score had been set by a slender boy with flawless white skin and clean clothes that seemed to have never seen a day of hardship. His Aber Snake stood proudly by his side, exuding arrogance as it glared at the others.

"It's him," Aoki's eyes narrowed. This was the same boy from his past life, the one who had claimed the top spot in the trial, obtained the coveted Frog Seed, and catapulted to the top of the rankings. His name was Guga.

After several more tests, it was finally Aoki's turn. The crowd looked at him with a mix of curiosity and mockery, particularly those who had already tested their elves.

"Another guy with a special pokemon," someone whispered. Aoki's Dark Crow perched calmly on his shoulder, its black feathers shimmering under the light. "What's so special about a Dark Crow? The one before this didn't do too well, and he looks scrawnier than the rest. The results probably won't be that impressive," another voice sneered.

Aoki remained unfazed, ignoring the whispers. His expression was calm as he stepped forward, giving a small nod to his Dark Crow. "Follow the wind, peck!"

With a soft rustle, the Dark Crow took off, a pale white air swirling around its body. The winds had helped it regain some of its strength over the past few days, and now, the bird circled high in the air. With a sudden dive, it shot towards the stone, hitting it with a sharp force. It landed gracefully back on Aoki's shoulder.

Aoki's smile was barely noticeable as he walked away.

Attack value: 97! The words on the stone caused a ripple of surprise to spread through the crowd. Aoki's score was second only to Guga's, leaving everyone else behind. The boy who had mocked Aoki earlier now looked visibly shaken.

"Number 234, attack value 97, currently ranked second!" The Rocket soldier recorded the result, his gaze lingering on Aoki with a hint of respect.

Aoki's mind worked quickly—though the Dark Crow hadn't quite reached that level of power on its own, he had cleverly used the downwind's inertia and the pull of gravity to enhance its attack. The results spoke for themselves.

As the test wrapped up, Aoki noticed some of the more crafty competitors deep in thought. They had begun to understand the trick behind his performance, and it made them realize how resourceful he truly was.

Poisonous Snake, having observed the test closely, stayed fixated on Aoki for a moment longer, a glint of intrigue flashing in his eyes. "Interesting little guy," he muttered to himself.

---

---