The battle-scarred streets of Goldenrod City lay silent as the remnants of the Void organization's forces were decisively crushed under Aoki's command. His calculated assault left no room for resistance, and now, only the stunned faces of Kenan and Robert remained, their Pokémon sprawled across the battlefield—some barely conscious, others utterly defeated.
Sometimes, one can anticipate an outcome, yet when it unfolds, the reality still leaves them paralyzed.
Such was the case for Kenan and Robert.
They had sensed this possibility long before Aoki's arrival—ever since the true leader of the Void vanished without a trace. Yet, they clung to foolish hope, convincing themselves that once they seized control, they would rebuild the organization into something greater. Instead, they wasted their time squabbling for power, neglecting the very foundation of what made a criminal syndicate formidable: strength.
Raw, unrelenting power.
That was the only language the underworld respected.
Had even one of them devoted their resources to training their Pokémon rather than indulging in petty power struggles, they might have stood a chance. But none did. And now, they faced the consequences.
The heavy thud of boots echoed through the Void's headquarters as Skye and his team stormed in, having raced through the night upon receiving Aoki's signal. Behind them stood the full might of the Sky Hunters, poised for war.
Yet, the sight before them was staggering.
Aoki had dismantled the Void single-handedly.
Even without their leader, the Void still housed several Elite-tier trainers. Yet now, their Pokémon lay broken—some barely breathing, others already fainted.
Kenan and Robert stood frozen, their expressions hollow.
"Capture the tall one," Aoki ordered, his voice muffled by the hard mask covering his face. "Then deal with the short one."
Skye and his team recognized the voice instantly.
Aoki.
"Understood!" Alec responded sharply, snapping into action.
Kenan had pieced together enough to guess Aoki's identity, making him too dangerous to leave alive. Robert, however, might still hold useful information—particularly about the Void's missing leader.
What happened next wasn't Aoki's concern.
"Skye, Miyamoto," Aoki continued, "you two will oversee the Void's remaining territories. Establish our presence there."
The two nodded. "Yes, sir!"
"Recruit if necessary, but maintain our standards. Quality over quantity."
"Understood!"
Aoki then produced a cluster of Poké Balls from his cloak—those belonging to the Void's remaining forces, including some from their higher-ranked members.
Elite-level Pokémon.
Though weakened, with proper training, they could still fight.
The Sky Hunters needed every advantage they could get. Taking over the Void's vast network in one sweep was ambitious, and Skye's team wasn't yet strong enough to hold it alone. These Pokémon would serve as their first line of defense.
Only Kaitou remained unassigned, leaving the thief shifting uneasily.
Aoki glanced at her.
"Come. We're meeting the other faction leaders."
Without another word, he strode out, Slowking and Drapion flanking him. Behind them, only the three defeated Pokémon remained.
None of them would reveal his identity.
Outside, the streets were lined with onlookers—spies from rival factions who had scrambled to alert their superiors the moment Aoki breached the Void's stronghold. Now, the leaders of Goldenrod's five remaining underworld factions stood waiting.
Five trainers, each barely at Champion-tier.
The weakest of the Champion rank, but Champion-level nonetheless.
Goldenrod was a major city in Johto, overseen by one of the region's Elite Four—yet six criminal syndicates thrived beneath the surface. That their leaders had reached this level spoke volumes about the League's incompetence.
No wonder the higher-ups sought replacements.
The term "Elite Four" was just a title—it didn't guarantee true mastery.
Pokémon that broke past Level 60 entered the Champion tier, but only at its lowest threshold—what many called the Junior Champion stage. Until Level 65, they remained novices in the grand scheme.
Aoki's Mismagius and Altaria had only just crossed that line.
At Level 70, a Pokémon reached Senior Champion status—veterans of their rank, like Aoki's mentor, Matsuda.
Beyond Level 75 lay the Quasi-king tier, where the gap between each level widened exponentially. Reaching this stage demanded flawless genetics, rigorous training, and vast resources.
The five faction bosses before him?
Junior Champions at best.
And Aoki was no weaker.
Each leader stood with their most trusted subordinates, their expressions dark. They had waited too long to claim the Void's territory, held back by mutual distrust and the fear that its leader might still be lurking in the shadows.
Now, Aoki had taken everything.
Their faces twisted in frustration.
Aoki stepped forward, his black cloak flaring, the white mask obscuring his features. Behind him, Kaitou followed silently.
His first words were absolute.
"From this moment forward, the Void's assets belong to the Sky Hunters—including their seat in the battle arena."
He didn't flinch.
He didn't hesitate.
Five Champion-level trainers glared back.
And Aoki met their gazes without fear.