Master Craftsman of the Pokémon World

Castelia City was a bustling metropolis. Every inch of available land was used for new facilities, and at the heart of this vast city was a large, circular park. All roads and alleys eventually led to this central plaza.

In the plaza, members of Team Plasma—dressed in a mix of medieval knight attire and modern touches—were distributing flyers everywhere.

Unlike their speeches in Accumula Town in the games, here in the big city, Team Plasma had fully grasped the importance of staging. In fact, they'd always cared about appearances—it was only in the countryside that they'd stand by the roadside to "connect with the people."

"Geh!"

Seeing those men and women, smiling in their knightly uniforms, Aegislash's lone eye gleamed with unease.

Aegislash could influence the minds of others. Its strong psychic power was closely linked to emotions, and it wasn't impossible for it to read into people's hearts directly. Right now, it sensed that these people were… different from the ones it had met before.

Their minds felt… broken.

From their bodies emanated aura—though it seemed benevolent, it carried a sense of extremism and hidden darkness.

Aegislash transmitted this to Hikaru and shared its insights.

Though their outward appearance was well-disguised, the twisted nature of their minds revealed itself. They were fanatical and extreme—one could feel it from their aura, a fundamental force. This must have been what Entei once referred to as "the aura of malice."

According to the Johto legend, Ho-Oh could sense the aura of happiness. Those with a happy aura would amplify Ho-Oh's power, while those with an evil aura would weaken it.

"Dear friends! We are so glad you could come and listen to our speech..."

A large crowd had gathered at the plaza. Besides the corporate workers, even trainers and residents with some free time had shown up. Among the residents, some even whispered strange things:

"Hey, you're still keeping your Pokémon in Poké Balls? That's wrong! You should release your partners!"

Because Team Plasma had held many speeches, plenty of locals now believed in their ideals and were spreading the message like multi-level marketers, approaching passing trainers with their second-hand sales pitches.

Naturally, the trainers wouldn't abandon their partners, so these encounters often escalated into: "What the hell are you saying, you bastard? Want to fight?!"

Ah, classic Unova—this felt like an extreme animal rights group mixed with veganism, attack helicopters, and R9 department store shopping bags—perfect chaos.

As the tension between trainers and locals rose, Team Plasma members would step in to "mediate," apologizing for their ideals, guiding trainers with gentle persuasion. Once the trainers calmed down, thinking "it doesn't hurt to listen," they'd stay in place, and the Team Plasma members would smile from the heart.

Hmm, those locals… looked like classic plants.

Hikaru's presence emitted a faint aura—an aura that gave people an uneasy feeling, making them instinctively keep their distance.

Thus, the frenzied residents didn't approach him, though Aegislash's imposing form and unfamiliar appearance in Unova did attract some glances. But soon enough, their attention would shift elsewhere.

The speaker on stage wasn't Ghetsis. Someone nearby asked: "Where's Lord Ghetsis? He's usually the one giving speeches—his words always touch people deeply."

"Ghetsis-sama is engaged in a more important mission of liberating Pokémon. Today's speech will be delivered by the Sage Rood. Don't worry—Rood is respected in other regions too and is beloved by the locals. The Seven Sages have all gathered for a noble cause. Each of them has a heart full of love for Pokémon."

"Rood specializes in understanding the relationship between humans and Pokémon—he's an expert in the field. That's the point of today's speech."

Team Plasma members kindly explained to the passersby, as a white-bearded old man in a deep red robe and cap stepped onto the stage.

"Today's speech is titled Liberation and Redemption: The Pokémon Freedom Manifesto."

With a gentle, benevolent demeanor, the white-bearded elder addressed the crowd:

The stage lights brightened, and behind him, images of chained Pokémon were projected.

"Dear comrades… Have you ever heard a faint sigh from within a Poké Ball in the quiet of the night? That sigh is not born from pain, but from a Pokémon's yearning for true love."

"Today, we gather here to confront a truth that has been concealed by lies for millennia. Humanity's so-called love for Pokémon… is merely a sugar-coated expression of selfish desire."

"Look at your partners beside you. Friends, please answer me honestly: Do you treat your Pokémon as family… or as mere tools of convenience?"

"When the flames of Fire-type Pokémon are tamed into hearth fires… when Water-types' torrents are reduced to irrigation pipes… when the children of the skies are trapped within tiny spheres…"

"What kind of expression do your Pokémon wear as they obey your commands and follow your orders? Think back—Pokémon may be unfortunate in the hands of humans. We call them our partners, yet we cram their wildness, dignity, and freedom into a cage called training."

"What is the true nature of the relationship between humans and Pokémon?"

"As the saying goes, 'Across the world, a friend is a neighbor.' If it's so hard to understand another human, how can we claim to understand the Pokémon who live by our side?"

"We presume to understand their needs, yet Pokémon are controlled by Poké Balls, forced to obey our commands, and made to cater to our whims. This mutual dependence is fragile and wrong. Have we ever truly listened to their voices or understood their desires?"

"We are the awakened—the chosen ones who resonate with fate. That is the reason Team Plasma was founded: to become the bridge between two worlds! To be the messengers of destiny, connecting humans and Pokémon."

"True understanding is letting them soar in the skies, roam the land, and swim the seas where they belong… Yet some fools twist freedom into abandonment, unable to hear the Pokémon's cries. No—it is the righteous heart that sets Pokémon free and returns them to where they truly belong. That is true liberation and freedom!"

Rood's speech was filled with powerful rhetoric. The crowd listened, many visibly moved, though some muttered, "What a fool…" or "Guess some people really think like that." But more and more, the audience's hearts wavered.

"Today, many have come to understand the true relationship between humans and Pokémon, and thus have joined Team Plasma." Rood pointed to a Team Plasma member, who stepped forward, eyes filled with passion and fervor:

"I was once an elite trainer, dreaming of becoming the Champion of the Unova League. I trained my Pokémon relentlessly, believing that was our shared dream."

"But after hearing Team Plasma's speeches, I realized… I had been enslaving my Pokémon all along. We were never truly friends. They endured that harsh training to fulfill my dreams, and I never noticed. I forced my obsession and dreams upon them!"

"They suffered so much pain because of me. When I realized that, I broke out in a cold sweat. What kind of monster had I been? I loved Pokémon so much, yet I treated them as tools to achieve victory!"

"Capturing, training, evolving, trading… all just to become stronger. That delusion has been shattered. I now clearly see the world I live in. Friends, let go of your Pokémon. Give them back their freedom!"

"Geh…" Aegislash's gaze grew darker. It sensed the surrounding minds twisting, an aura of despair and gloom seeping out.

Wait… there was also a psychic power dispersing!

Aegislash's eyes flashed with an aura glow. Deep in the crowd, a Beheeyem's beady eyes were radiating a strange psychic force.

Beheeyem—an alien-looking Pokémon resembling a classic UFO alien, seemingly a product of the retro sci-fi era.

Bang!

A shadow darted across the ground, moving through the crowd's shadows, and manifested as a sword blade under Beheeyem's feet!

Shadow Sneak! The knight's greeting!

The Beheeyem was struck down in an instant. A cloaked figure nearby, whose face was hidden, was startled. They scanned the crowd, locking eyes with the tall, imposing Aegislash …

But there was no proof.

The cloaked figure hadn't seen Aegislash make a move. They briefly made eye contact with Hikaru, then abruptly lowered their head and vanished from view!

"Beheeyem… Teleport!"

Aegislash had secretly struck the Pokémon, and Hikaru had seen it all. Though the Beheeyem was hiding deep in the crowd, its psychic aura was detectable.

This species was said to manipulate opponents' brains and overwrite their memories. Ash had once been a victim of such a trick, though he also discovered the counter—such memory rewrites were useless against idiots.

"They ran off. Psychic Pokémon are slippery like that."

But in those few minutes of distraction, the Team Plasma Sage on stage had already started encouraging the crowd to take action. Many were moved to tears, heads hanging in thought, and one by one, they began opening their Poké Balls.

An elderly man sighed dejectedly: "What should I do… I've lived with dozens of Pokémon all my life, but now I realize I imposed that on them…"

He opened his Poké Ball and released a Ferroseed: "Go on, live a good life out there."

A white-collar worker, stroking the battle medal on their Espeon's collar, suddenly snapped the clasp: "Go bask in the real sun, my dear…"

A backpacker sighed: "Twenty years of adventure… Turns out I was the shackle holding them back." Then released his Growlithe and Unfezant right there.

The released Pokémon looked around in confusion, unsure why their trainers were acting so strangely. They chased after their trainers, trying to stop them, but the humans, crying and screaming in self-righteous fervor, ran even further away.

"Releasing them in the city, huh? If you really cared for the Pokémon, you'd at least take them back to their habitats. How are they supposed to survive in an urban jungle?"

Hikaru frowned at the scene. Team Plasma's speech was manipulative and deceptive. That Beheeyem may have played a part too.

"Those without confidence in their bonds with Pokémon… are the ones who get swayed by psychic influence."

More and more people were releasing their Pokémon, and some of the more zealous locals were urging others to join in. But there were also trainers who thought the whole thing was idiotic—they angrily shoved aside those trying to "persuade" them and left.

Of course, this angered some of the brainwashed residents, who chased after them, demanding they release their Pokémon. Team Plasma members "gently intervened," but some people, unable to withstand the pressure and criticism, reluctantly gave up a few Pokémon.

The released Pokémon wandered the city in panic, unsure where to go. The Team Plasma members kindly gathered them, radiating goodwill, promising to take the Pokémon to where they belonged.

The Pokémon, confused and helpless, didn't know what to do. The uniformed "knights" didn't seem like bad people, so they hesitated, ready to follow their lead into the space behind the stage…

[Stop! These humans are lying to you! Their aura is filled with malicious intent!]

Aegislash's mental voice resonated in every Pokémon's heart, halting them in their tracks. All the Pokémon turned, their gazes locking onto the towering Aegislash !

Incredible—all the Pokémon had the same thought:

Though Aegislash was an unfamiliar Pokémon, they felt an innate sense of closeness—as if this mysterious, sword-shaped Pokémon was born to be their leader.

The King of Pokémon.

This strange Pokémon once again drew Team Plasma's attention. As Aegislash retracted its aura effect, the crowd's daze faded, and they began to realize… this Pokémon stood out far too much.

"Psychic powers and aura are useful for concealing oneself."

Naturally, Hikaru—standing with Aegislash —was noticed as well.

"Hey, what Pokémon is that?!"

"That person's its trainer! You… you should release your Pokémon too!"

"Stop exploiting Pokémon—give them freedom, like you're supposed to!"

The residents who had been chasing other trainers now focused on Hikaru and Aegislash . In an instant, they became the new targets of scorn.

"He's carrying Poké Balls!"

"He must be controlling Pokémon with them too!"

"Let's just take them! For the sake of Pokémon's freedom!"

"Do you hear it? That's the sound of Pokémon's freedom, laughing…"

The only sound truly echoing in the twilight was the hollow rattle of hundreds of empty Poké Balls rolling in the wind.

Seeing some people attempt to use force to snatch the Poké Balls, Hikaru couldn't help but sigh—classic Unova.

Doesn't this count as robbery? If that's legal, then Team Rocket must be a legitimate organization here.

Hikaru raised a hand toward the few aggressive people approaching him, spreading his fingers. In an instant, a surge of powerful psychic energy blasted into their minds!

Crack!

A different use of psychic amplification—Purification!

Hmm, this technique felt similar to a certain Pharaoh's "Mind Crush"! Combined with aura impact, it directly affected their souls!

Seriously… In a world where psychics are everywhere, you dare try robbery? Even if the guy in front of you looks like a three-meter-tall homeless man, how do you know he's not King AZ?

"Ugh!"

The residents stumbled, collapsing to the ground like falling dumplings. This sudden mass KO made the nearby Team Plasma members tense up.

On stage, Rood, who had been watching from a distance and planned to make an appearance after the conflict to boost his image, frowned deeply.

Ah… This won't do!

The speech part was over, but the Pokémon release segment hadn't finished yet—why did someone have to interfere now?

As he pondered ending the event, the Team Plasma members took the initiative—jumping into action before he could even speak!

Hey! Why are you moving ahead of me? Shouldn't you wait for the Sage's command?!

Rood frowned. But then he thought, if taking down the troublemaker boosted Team Plasma's credibility, maybe it wasn't so bad. After all, "street battles" weren't regulated under city laws. Which city didn't operate like this anyway?

"Go, Liepard!"

A female Team Plasma knight took the lead. Under her command, several other Team Plasma members released their Pokémon—clearly, she was a squad leader-level figure.

A sleek, feline Pokémon covered in purple fur, adorned with triangular yellow markings, landed gracefully. Its crescent-moon eyes gleamed with a hint of menace—this was the hunting instinct of a cat. As described in the Pokédex, it was a Pokémon whose beautiful fur and appearance could deceive, but it was actually fickle and ferocious.

"Night Slash!"

The knight launched an attack. Liepard's front claws gleamed with sharp, purple energy as it lunged at Aegislash at high speed.

Then—

Sacred Sword!

Super effective against Dark-types!

Aegislash swung its Sacred Sword, cutting down the Liepard at even greater speed. The resulting shockwave blew back several other opposing Pokémon, and the Liepard was sent flying, crashing into the female knight. Both human and Pokémon were knocked out in one blow, spinning through the air before collapsing in a heap.

Pokémon and trainer—simultaneously out of commission!

"Lady Ange!"

"One hit?! Really?!"

The surrounding Team Plasma members' expressions shifted from tense to fearful. Aegislash's massive form, resembling a towering greatsword, exuded immense pressure!

Pressure from Aegislash ?

"No, don't be afraid! That thing is an enemy of Pokémon's freedom!"

"That's right, comrades—let's unite our strength! We're fighting for justice!"

"For Pokémon's happiness, we mustn't lose!"

The Team Plasma members shouted their slogans. Of course, some genuinely believed they were serving a righteous cause—these were the ones who would later form the Purist White Team Plasma.

For now, though, both the hypocrites and the sincere were mixed together, striving for an absurd, unattainable dream.

"Go, Scolipede!"

"Work up, Gurdurr!"

"Foongus, paralyze it!"

King's Shield. Hikaru commanded silently.

Even if these Pokémon attacked, they wouldn't be able to hurt Aegislash anyway.

The sturdy King's Shield was raised. Not only did the three Pokémon's attacks fail to inflict any damage, but their stats were also lowered!

Fury Cutter!

Aegislash swung its body horizontally—despite its massive form, the blade moved with astonishing agility. The three Pokémon didn't even see what happened—by the time the shockwave hit, they were already sent flying back into the Team Plasma members!

"So pitiful… Look at the damage inflicted on these Pokémon! Open your eyes! This is the cruelty of Pokémon battles and training!"

The elite trainer who had been invited on stage earlier now wore a compassionate expression as he glared fiercely at Hikaru.

"Pokémon battles must be abolished!"

Hikaru pondered, readying a psychic blast to snap him out of it.

Still, he felt Team Plasma's actions and their words didn't match at all.

"...You talk about not battling Pokémon, yet the first thing you do is send them to attack others. What's wrong? So little confidence in your own beliefs that you have to act first and shout louder to convince yourselves?"

"Anyone who disagrees with you must be eliminated?"

"Showing your fangs so soon… at least pretend a little longer."

"No!" the elite trainer snapped. "Team Plasma's Pokémon are companions! They join us willingly to liberate more Pokémon. That's not the same as forcing them! We've discarded cruel training and slavery—our strength comes from love and understanding!"

"Let me show you the power of my new companions!"

He threw six Poké Balls at once.

And Hikaru thought... that speech sounded oddly familiar.

Ah, right—it was just like Team Rocket's Pokémon Gacha Machine for borrowing Pokémon.

The only difference was that Team Plasma had dressed up their theft in a "moral" costume. It was clever—most people bought into it.

If joining Team Rocket was about making money, then joining Team Plasma was about a spiritual pursuit. For those who saw themselves as "strong," Team Plasma's ideals

were more appealing.

Hikaru's Poké Balls on either side of his bag opened automatically. Lilligant and Grotle landed on the ground.

Three versus six.

Advantage: me.

"Let's see your bonds… Or so I'd like to say."

Hikaru stared at the opposing Pokémon. They looked ready to fight, but as they faced him, they hesitated.

This person… felt different. There was an indescribable feeling.

And the same went for Hikaru's Pokémon.

Aegislash's voice echoed in their minds:

[Don't let those people fool you. They're just using ideals as a facade to make you do things that go against your hearts!]

In the crowd, a man with green hair and a lowered cap watched Aegislash with empty eyes.

(End of Chapter)

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