March 7, Sunday.
Snowpoint City, Snowpoint Temple.

Snow blanketed the vast glacier, icy crystals drifting down around the stone pillars of the ancient temple.
Snow had piled thick atop the grand entrance slab.

A man in a forest-green explorer’s outfit with a firm, resolute face swept snow from the stone tablet, frowning.

“…Someone’s been tampering here too.”

“Who’s there!?”

With a shout, Brandon spun around, crossing his arms and brandishing two Poké Balls in one hand and one in the other.

Shhfff—

A tall, slender man wearing a gentleman’s hat emerged from the deep snow, accompanied by a stern-looking Lucario.

“I mean no harm.”

He approached Brandon, removing his hat and placing it over his chest, revealing his gray hair and steely gaze.

“My name is Aogen. I sensed a disturbance in the aura near the Snowpoint Temple and came to investigate.”

Brandon narrowed his eyes, then slowly set down the three Poké Balls that housed the legendary titans.

“An Aura Guardian?”

“Precisely,” Aogen nodded slightly. “I can sense a powerful energy within you… May I ask what brings you here?”

“Pyramid King Brandon.”

With arms crossed, Brandon turned to face the ancient monument of Snowpoint Temple.

“I received word from the temple maiden—Pokémon hunters have been sighted nearby. I came to deal with them.”

“Only… what exactly are they after?” Brandon frowned. “The temple hasn’t been breached, and the local Pokémon haven’t been harmed…”

“I’m here for the same reason,” Aogen said, placing his hat back on and exchanging a look with his Lucario.

“Luca!” Lucario extended a palm, casting a wave of blue aura outward.

But as the aura reached the towering temple, it recoiled violently as if repelled by some forbidden force.

Lucario’s crimson eyes widened in shock as he was flung back, crashing into the snow.

Aogen helped Lucario up and turned to Brandon, brow furrowed.

“It seems… Snowpoint City is in serious danger.”

Someone must have broken Regigigas’ seal...

Brandon’s expression darkened as he gazed toward the looming temple.

“Aogen… Do you know what lies dormant within?”

Aogen shook his head.

“The giant that moves continents—Regigigas,” Brandon said, voice solemn.

“Some say it’s a god, the bringer of ancient civilization.”

“Others call it a god of calamity, sealed away by ancient people in fear of its power.”

He turned to Aogen. “Which do you believe?”

“I don’t know much beyond aura,” Aogen replied, tilting his hat brim lower and closing his eyes.

“But the aura tells me… Regigigas is a being of pure simplicity.”

“It grieves for the fallen, grows uneasy when its temple is disturbed—”

Opening his eyes, Aogen finished, “—and is filled with rage when its slumber is broken.”

Almost in response, a low rumble echoed across the glacier.

“What the h*ll are those Pokémon hunters thinking?” Brandon barked.
“Trying to capture a god? Stuff a Legendary into a net!?”

“Idiots. Utter fools!”

The mountain trembled once more.

Brandon grit his teeth and threw down three Poké Balls.

The three legendary titans marched toward the temple, unmoving once in place. Snow settled on their forms, making them look like solemn statues.

“Is there anything I can do?” Aogen asked softly.

Brandon glanced at him.
“Even the titans can’t fully quell Regigigas’ fury.”

“You need to contact Gym Leader Candice. Organize a full evacuation of Snowpoint City. If anything else goes wrong…”

Brandon said hoarsely,
“I don’t know if we’ll be able to avoid a battle with Regigigas…”

Snow fell quietly onto Brandon’s shoulders, almost burying him like a statue.

Aogen nodded, eyes filled with iron resolve.

“If it comes to that… I’ll use my aura to protect Snowpoint.”

Brandon was surprised. “Your aura can cover the entire city?”

Aogen looked at his palm and then clenched it tightly.

“Each Aura Guardian has their own specialty.”

“My ancestor, Aaron, once saved the Tree of Beginning by channeling his aura.”

“My specialty… is creating barriers.”

Brandon was silent for a long while, then said:

“But if you do that, even you will—”

Aogen smiled faintly, eyes deep and unwavering.

“Whether it’s Iron Island or Snowpoint City…”

“As an Aura Guardian, there are always things I must protect. That is… our destiny.”

“Luca!”

Lucario stood beside Aogen, eyes burning with loyal resolve.

Snow swirled around them as Brandon gazed toward the temple, sighing.

“If only there were more Aura Guardians like you.”

Aogen chuckled. “What, you think we grow on trees? Just shake a berry tree and out we drop?”

“…You’ve got a sense of humor.”

Brandon coughed, arms still crossed, eyes sharpening.

“But as for those idiotic poachers…”

“They’ll pay dearly!”

Outskirts of Snowpoint City – Lake Acuity

Ash sat on the train, gazing out at the shimmering lake.
“Wow, it’s beautiful!”

“Pika~!” Pikachu swished its tail happily.

Wusong sat across from him, legs crossed.

“That lake is home to Uxie, the guardian of wisdom.”

“Amazing!” Ash lit up. “Can I challenge it!?”

Wusong chuckled. “Uxie only appears to Trainers it deems worthy…”

A reckless kid like you… and wisdom? Please.

Wusong smugly pushed up his glasses.

Only a true intellectual like myself could earn Uxie’s approval!

Suddenly, Wusong’s Pokédex began to beep.

Path analysis indicated that Hunter J was likely in the area.

“Ash, we’re getting off here.”

He adjusted his glasses, face turning serious.
“Be on high alert.”

“If it comes to a battle… I can’t promise I’ll be able to protect you.”

“Don’t worry, leave it to me!”

Ash rolled up his sleeves and licked his lips.
“I’ll show that b*tch what’s up!”

“Pika—PIKA!” Pikachu echoed fiercely.

Wusong eyed Ash’s biceps and flinched.

…This kid’s built like a tank!?

“Next stop, Lake Acuity. Please allow passengers to disembark first.”

“Let’s go.”

Wusong patted Ash’s shoulder and adjusted his glasses with determination.

D*mn Hunter J.
Ruining my day off…

I’ll make you pay in full—with interest!

Lake Acuity Forest

Thick conifer woods blanketed in snow.
A Snover strolled peacefully through the underbrush. All was quiet.

A woman in a black coat and tactical goggles moved slowly through the woods, her boots crunching the snow beneath her.

“Can’t catch Regigigas, huh…”

Hunter J smirked cruelly. “Guess I’ll make Snowpoint pay the price.”

With the temple guards pulled away to deal with poacher squads, J had rigged the entire perimeter with magnet bombs from her Magnezone.

Success didn’t matter.

She just wanted to see the prosecutors scrambling and the explosion light up the sky.

“Tch.”

J clicked her tongue, thinking back to her last failed operation.

Then, she sneered and muttered to herself:

“Giovanni, Cyrus, Professor Lu…”

“I’m just following in the footsteps of my idols.”

Leaving the forest, she arrived at the sparkling Lake Acuity.

She unscrewed her canteen, moistened her dry lips, and muttered:

“No way those idiots chased me this far…”

Nearby, a Gastrodon calmly sipped water from the clear lake.

J licked her lips and bent down.

Clap—

A book closed loudly.

Instantly alarmed, J’s eyes shot up.

Sunlight bathed the lakefront—an ideal battlefield.

“Wusong, Elite Four of Sinnoh.”

A man with lavender hair in a wine-red suit stood, holding a hardcover book.

He smiled coldly.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

J leapt back and threw out a Poké Ball. “Salamence!”

A crimson-winged beast roared into view.

“ROAR!” Salamence readied to flee with J aboard.

“One bad move… checkmate.”

Wusong pushed his glasses with a hand still holding the book, pointing dramatically:

“Bronzong, use Trick Room!”

BOOM—!!

Bronzong slammed down, its bell-shaped body humming with ancient glyphs as blue energy spread out, forming a glowing dome over the lake.

“ROOOAR!!”

Inside the warped space, Salamence’s wings felt unbearably heavy.

“Ash! In Trick Room, faster Pokémon are actually slower!”

“And my Bronzong… is faster than hers!”

A blast of psychic power lashed across the lake’s surface, slamming into Salamence’s wings.

BOOM!

Salamence howled in pain. J nearly fell from its back.

“So strong…”

Ash was stunned. “So this… this is Wusong’s true strength…”

Then—Ash sensed danger.

He turned—Weavile’s gleaming claw was already swinging toward his neck—

“Aridos, use Sucker Punch!”

Hunter J coldly issued orders from Salamence’s back.

“Drapion, Crunch!”

Two Poison-types leapt from the forest. Drapion lunged at Wusong’s exposed back, while Ariados swung through the trees toward Bronzong.

“So, you had a backup plan,” Wusong smirked.
“I figured you wouldn’t fetch water yourself without backup.”

“A good hunter… uses themselves as bait,” J laughed.
“Tell me, who’s the prey now?”

“I may not specialize in Dark-types—”

With Drapion behind him, Wusong pushed his glasses coolly.

“But I am a Psychic Elite Four.”

FLASH!

Gallade teleported in.

With twin blade-like arms, Gallade blocked Drapion’s attack, then delivered a brutal Close Combat!

“Gallaaaade! ٩(◣д◢)=3”

BAM!!

Drapion went flying, battered and bruised.

“A Psychic user… using Close Combat!?”

Hunter J cursed aloud, turning to Ariados.

But Bronzong had transformed into a spinning disc, body-slamming Ariados out of the air before pinning it to the ground!

“Things don’t look good for you, Miss J,” Wusong said casually, hand in his pocket.

Next second—J fired her petrifying beam at him!

CLANG!

Bronzong took the hit and began to turn to stone.

“Stone Pulse?” Wusong frowned.

Troublesome… but manageable.

His eyes narrowed—he’d have to finish this now.

“I suggest… you let me go,” J said icily.

“Otherwise… that boy might die.”

Wusong blinked and looked back—

“Ash!”

Ash waved cheerfully. A gleaming claw hovered inches from his throat!

“Maaaaa!” Weavile snickered.

“Tch… a draw, huh.”

Wusong waved his hand, ending Trick Room.

But then—

“OH S**T!!!”

Ash grabbed Weavile’s wrist and flipped it clean over his shoulder!

“M-Ma!?”

Weavile broke into a cold sweat—its strength… was no match!?

BAM! Weavile hit the ground hard.

“Pikachu! Thunderbolt!!”

“Pika—CHU!!”

BZZZZZT!!

Wusong stared, stunned.

A human… just body-slammed a Pokémon!?

Are you even human!?

“Just… what the h*ll…”

J’s lips quivered.
“Salamence, we’re out of here!”

“ROARRR!!” Even Salamence looked horrified, flapping frantically as it fled.

Silence fell.

Wusong still hadn’t recovered.

Ash scratched his head. “Why’d you go easy on her, Mr. Wusong?”

“…Weren’t you asking for help?”

“Nope, I was just waving at you,” Ash grinned. “Wanted you to see my moves!”

Wusong: “…”

…I was wrong. You’re the real Battle Master.

Ash gazed toward the fleeing J.

“What do we do about her?”

“Don’t worry,” Wusong sighed.
“Letting her go… was part of the plan.”

“Eh?”

“Only in hope does one find true despair.”

Wusong pushed up his glasses darkly.
“And what awaits her… is worse than death.”

That’s Professor Lu.

Just thinking about it made Wusong shiver. He turned quickly:

“Let’s head back to Snowpoint City—time to prepare his victory feast.”

“Aren’t we gonna help him?”

“Have you ever seen him need help against low-levels?”

“Well… he always gives it 100%.”

“…As expected of Professor Lu.”

In a canyon, Salamence flew in retreat.

Another escape from death.

Hunter J slumped over on its back, exhausted—then burst out laughing.

Salamence looked at her, confused. “Rooar?”

“I laugh at the Sinnoh Elite’s foolishness!”

Despite heavy losses, she’d survived.

“If he’d had one more ambush up his sleeve… we would’ve been doomed. Hahaha!”

“Roaaar… Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”

Salamence’s eyes widened.

“What is it?” J turned—and froze.

From the bushes, a creepy grin peeked out like a Viet Cong ambush.

“Gengaaaar! (ૢ˃ꌂ˂⁎)” Gengar grinned wickedly.

J went pale.

“Hunter J.”

Sunlight filtered through the dust above.

J squinted up.

At the cliff top stood a striking Trainer, smirking down.

“Lu Ye, at your service. Been waiting a long time.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read