Fifth Elite of the Pokemon World

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When Oleander returned again by car, her extra-large travel bag was stuffed to the brim, clanking with the sound of metal as she lifted it.

At Luther's request, Diantha had all the free-roaming Pokémon in the villa district brought back into her villa. They were being coordinated and kept in line by Gardevoir and Gourgeist, no mischief was allowed.

Diantha had arranged a barbecue feast at her own villa and invited neighbors from the area to join the party.

Even though it was already late, store owners who should have been off work hurried over with full equipment, lured by the extra pay from the Pokémon League and driven by Diantha's fame.

And so, a hastily organized social dinner began.

The calorie-overloaded Diantha mingled through the crowd, constantly pushing the atmosphere to a climax. The appearance of Cynthia and Lance made the guests feel even more honored and excited.

The sound of toasts, cheers, and laughter filled the air.

Luther and Oleander squatted by the back door. To kill time, Luther passed the time by telling stories.

"Sometimes I wonder… Are you even from this world?" Oleander's words made Luther freeze for a moment.

"The stories you tell are so self-contained and diverse. They sound like fictional tales, but they have the clarity and structure of real history. You speak those names without the slightest pause or hesitation, like you're deeply familiar with them… Coming up with names is the hardest part of making up stories, yet you do it so effortlessly…"

Luther chuckled. "Sounds like you were really taken in by the curse-and-witchcraft story I just told."

"Maybe I was… or maybe it's just that I can't see through you. I tried looking it up just now, nothing you mentioned could be found anywhere."

Luther smiled slightly and said nothing. Oleander sighed, realizing Luther didn't want to continue the conversation.

At 11 p.m., Luther stepped out the back door and began jogging along a tree-lined path.

The dense trees made the path somewhat dim. The streetlights were spaced far apart, always leaving patches of darkness between them.

Shizukumo was hiding in the thick branches above. He had already watched Luther pass by beneath him twice. Hidden in the unlit shadows, it was nearly impossible to spot him even with a careful glance upward.

Shizukumo had been summoned back suddenly in the afternoon. The Rabble had completely withdrawn from Lumiose City, and he had already been far from it. But a communication from his direct superior had stirred his blood, someone very famous in the organization, Evergreen, had personally assigned him a mission.

"Go to the area near Diantha's suburban villa. Wait for an opportunity. Cripple Luther. Remember, if one strike fails, retreat immediately."

Evergreen had been very serious in the video call.

Shizukumo was a young member of the Rabble, secretly cultivated and on the verge of infiltrating the Kalos Pokémon League. He was only 21 years old and considered a rising star, a future pillar of the organization.

Forging a legitimate identity was no easy task. There weren't many in the Rabble who had the qualifications to infiltrate like this. Being assigned to the Pokémon League was a huge vote of trust.

Shizukumo saw this final mission before joining the League as a golden opportunity to make a name for himself. The fanatical admiration for Evergreen within the organization stemmed from the fact that Evergreen had risen by stepping over the Safety Department's Deputy Minister, Oleander.

If he could succeed, it would be like proving himself by stepping over Diantha.

If Evergreen can do it, so can I!

The challenge of this ambush lay in how to bypass Diantha's powerful Pokémon and get close to Luther.

As for Luther himself, Shizukumo had reviewed his profile several times and concluded that he was nothing more than a waste of space. Even if his Mismagius was exceptional, so what? Shizukumo never intended to confront Luther head-on.

Upon reaching the designated spot, he found the plan wasn't going as smoothly as expected. Diantha was apparently hosting a banquet at her villa, and most of her Pokémon had been called back. Sneaking in now was just wishful thinking.

As Shizukumo considered his options, Luther walked out the back door and began his nighttime jog along the path.

Shizukumo remembered the details from the files, Luther did have a habit of morning and evening runs.

Which presented a golden opportunity for him.

He wasn't in a hurry. His Gengar hadn't returned yet, and he himself was patiently monitoring the area. When Luther passed by below for the third time, Gengar emerged from the shadows and silently returned to Shizukumo's side, shaking its head.

No one was around. Shizukumo could feel it. Luther, on his third pass, was already showing signs of exhaustion, his pace had noticeably slowed. He'd probably only manage one more lap before needing to rest.

He would strike on the fourth lap.

Luther, breathing heavily, turned around in the distance. His steps were already unsteady, clear signs of fatigue.

All hesitation vanished. Two Pokémon were quietly released.

As Luther stepped into the shadowy patch below Shizukumo, Gengar rose silently from the ground and blocked his path. Luther froze in surprise, and in that instant, Shedinja floated out from the shadows and delivered a fierce blow from behind using an unknown move.

Before Luther could even react to shield himself, he collapsed limply to the ground.

Shizukumo leapt down from the tree. He had only ordered Shedinja to knock Luther out, he had decided it would be safest to finish the job himself. Thinking of Evergreen's stern tone and the order to cripple Luther, Shizukumo couldn't help but want to laugh.

Why bother? Why not just make him disappear from the world entirely?

He twirled his knife as he pondered how to dispose of Luther. As he approached, he suddenly kicked Luther in the stomach. Luther's body reacted instinctively, curling up from the pain, but he still appeared unconscious.

Feeling completely assured, Shizukumo crouched down with the knife and turned Luther's body over.

But then, a pair of wolf-like, ferocious eyes locked onto him.

Luther clenched his teeth, suppressing the pain in his abdomen, and lightly tapped a Poké Ball.

Mismagius burst out first, a powerful Dark Pulse instantly blasted the stunned Gengar and Shedinja away.

Instinctively reaching for the Poké Ball in his coat, Shizukumo was grabbed by Luther, who caught his wrist in a firm grip. The knife in Shizukumo's hand suddenly thrust toward Luther's neck, but Luther twisted his body, narrowly dodging the fatal strike. The blade sliced a deep gash across Luther's arm, blood spurting everywhere.

Yet Luther didn't let go. With his bleeding arm, he whipped a brutal strike at Shizukumo's throat. The blow left Shizukumo gasping and his vision blurred.

Is this guy insane? He took a knife and is still fighting like this!

Shizukumo's shock didn't last long. Luther kicked him hard behind the knee, making him buckle and fall, just as a dark shadow rapidly grew larger in his vision.

Luther slammed his knee into Shizukumo's nose, sending him crashing to the ground with blood gushing.

Luther quickly took care of the knife, then turned to check on Mismagius, who was still locked in battle with Gengar and Shedinja.

Oleander finally arrived on the scene. Her Gastly and Beedrill dove at the enemy Pokémon.

But the enraged Mismagius, seeing Luther's blood, was relentless in her assault. Gastly and Beedrill could barely get a hit in, Gengar and Shedinja were already on their last legs.

Luther stepped on Shizukumo's wrist and pried two Poké Balls from his hand, recalling the now-unconscious Gengar and Shedinja.

Seeing Luther soaked in blood down one side of his body, Oleander involuntarily shivered.

Luther's eyes were chillingly cold.

She had only told him to retreat and stall for time if attacked, and wait for backup. But Luther had directly engaged and won.

This was a life-or-death fight, not a child's game.

"You don't value your life at all, do you?! I told you to run, why didn't you run!" Oleander scolded, still shaken.

Seeing Shizukumo trying to get up, Luther kicked him viciously in the groin. Shizukumo instantly curled up like a shrimp.

"You talk too much." Luther's eyes were bloodshot, sending a chill down Oleander's spine.

Mismagius flew over in a panic, licking the wound on Luther's arm and whimpering softly.

Breathing heavily, Luther pushed down the rising pain and irritability, and gently stroked Mismagius. "I'm okay. Don't worry. Can you help me lift this guy with Psychic?"

Mismagius obeyed immediately. She could tell Luther wasn't doing well, she just wanted to help him get things done so he could be treated.

"Sorry, I lost control," Luther said, wiping blood from his eyes and apologizing to Oleander.

Oleander sighed. "Forget it, I'm used to it. Anyway, compared to what we're about to do, this is nothing."

They took Shizukumo to a Pokémon raising and breeding pasture near Diantha's villa. In the shed where feed was stored, they found a basement. Shizukumo was roughly thrown into a chair inside, and the entrance sealed.

"Mismagius, back in the ball for now."

Mismagius shook her head violently and nuzzled Luther's face.

"I'll get treated. Be good."

Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Luther recalled her into the ball.

Shizukumo slowly awoke from unconsciousness, the pain between his legs throbbing as he took in his surroundings.

Luther, his side soaked in blood, leaned against a pillar to rest. A woman he didn't recognize rummaged through a large travel bag big enough to fit a person.

"You're awake? Evergreen sent you?"

Bound tightly, Shizukumo gave up struggling and scoffed at Luther's question.

"Didn't expect to fall to a waste like you. Fine, I admit it. Hit me if you want. Once I'm in prison, you won't be able to touch me anyway."

He laughed aloud as he spoke.

"That's true. Once we capture you guys, we can at most rough you up a little, then you go enjoy life in prison. So you don't care."

"You're this badly hurt, can you even fight? And that woman over there, how strong can a woman even be?"

His mocking laughter didn't earn him angry looks, just a strange look of pity from Luther.

That pity unsettled Shizukumo. When he noticed what Oleander was pulling from the travel bag, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. His pulse raced, cold sweat broke out.

"What… what are you doing?"

When a long, sharp blade was tossed onto the table, Shizukumo's fear peaked.

"You… you're going to kill me?!"

Luther shook his head. "No. I'll let you go. Because I need you to deliver a gift to Evergreen."

Shizukumo breathed a huge sigh of relief, as if escaping death.

"But it's not an easy gift to find. I'd like to borrow something from you."

"Borrow what?"

Just as the words left his mouth, pain shot through his arm. Luther had pulled a black sack over his head. A wave of dizziness followed.

The last thing Shizukumo saw was the woman walking away with a syringe.

Several hours later, Diantha's banquet had long ended. The guests, satisfied with autographs from several Champions, were fast asleep.

In the quiet, dark wooded path, Luther dragged a large travel bag back to the spot where he was attacked.

He threw the bag under a tree, attached a tracking device, the insignia of the Shadow Organization and patted the bag's side where the word "Gift" was stuck.

Then, he disappeared into the darkness.

Just before dawn, a shadowy figure carefully approached, holding a tracking device. Seeing the word "Gift" on the bag and a sticker reading "For Evergreen's eyes only," he hesitated briefly.

Then had his Alakazam lift the bag into a vehicle, and they sped away from Lumiose City.

(End of Chapter)