Before you come after me for whatever reason.... I spun a wheel. The item rewards are 100% random unless if I don't mention that it is a random item.
| May POV |
The next morning is too bright, too early, and too full of responsibility.
I stumble into the Pokémon Center's lobby like a zombie, clutching a cup of hot chocolate and praying it magically turns into coffee. Combusken—because apparently Torchic evolved last night while we were asleep, somehow—walks beside me, dazed and bleary-eyed, still bumping into furniture like nothing's changed. Can't believe I missed that. Just one glow-up while I was passed out? Rude.
And Ralts, as always, is floating. Of course she is.
Roxanne's already there, seated with posture so perfect I feel personally attacked. She's reading a book titled "Advanced Seismic Calculations: A Love Story," and sipping tea like she hasn't been through a Gym-destroying explosion in the last 24 hours.
I groan. Loudly. "How are you real?"
She looks up, smiles sweetly. "Discipline, darling. And ten hours of uninterrupted beauty sleep."
"Rub it in, why don't you."
"You did challenge me to a Gym Battle yesterday."
"You exploded."
"You won. You're welcome."
I drop into the chair across from her, nearly missing it, and sigh into my drink. "Okay, so… Why are you here exactly?"
She closes her book with a soft thud. "Mostly to help out with your little organized crime problem. Wouldn't want this cutie to get hurt!"
"Could you get your hands off my Riolu…"
Roxanne blinks innocently, her hand still on Rio's head, ruffling his fur like he's a plushie instead of a martial arts gremlin.
"But he's so fluffy," she coos.
Rio growls low in his throat. He doesn't swat her away—probably because Ralts is watching and he's trying to act cool—but his eye twitches like he's counting down to a suplex.
"I mean it," I deadpan. "You're going to lose that hand."
"Don't be dramatic. If I can survive a Torchic-induced building fire, I can handle one grumpy Riolu."
Combusken pecks at her knee with a squawk of protest.
"Two grumpy Pokémon," Roxanne amends, scooting her chair in just enough to put some distance between her and the angry chicken. "Honestly, your whole team is like a therapy group run by a sleep-deprived gremlin."
I sip my drink. "I am the sleep-deprived gremlin."
"No arguments here."
We sit in companionable silence for a moment. Well, mostly silence—Combusken is still glaring at Roxanne, Ralts is humming a spooky little tune under her breath, and Rio has that faraway look that means he's either meditating or planning his next roundhouse kick.
"So," I finally say, "what's the plan, professor?"
Roxanne gives me a sly smile. "We're meeting them head on, obviously."
"…Excuse me, what?"
She sips her tea dramatically. "You heard me."
I stare. "Roxanne. I doubt we can stand up to Team Rocket of all people."
"Did you forget that I'm an experienced Gym Leader?"
"Combusken—no, a Torchic—swept your whole team."
"I was going easy on you!"
Before I can clap back, Rio suddenly turns his head and speaks in our heads—but with that weird, smooth tone he always uses when relaying Ralts conveying his thoughts.
"I could have destroyed your ace team solo."
Roxanne freezes. She slowly turns to Rio, who's still sitting there with his arms crossed, trying way too hard to look stoic and mysterious.
He blinks once. Dramatically.
Roxanne sets her tea down with exaggerated care. "Okay, gremlin. That's it. You, me, sparring mat, ten minutes."
Rio's tail flicks like he's very interested in this idea.
"...Do I get popcorn for this?" I mutter, already reaching into my bag.
Ralts floats a little higher. "I'll start heating the butter."
Rio POV
Was it a good idea to taunt her like this?Probably not.Was I going to back down?Absolutely not.
I mean, who am I to reject System-sama's divine will?
[New Quest Unlocked: My Turn]
Objective:
Solo Roxanne's ace team
Optional Objective:
Look cool while doing it (You've become somewhat proficient at this. Impressive.)
Rewards:+300 EXP+2 IV Points+1 Rare Item
Alright. Time to cheat—strategically.I mentally scroll through the menu and hit the Item Redeem. I my spare IV point into Speed again because obviously, duh.
Speed IV: 4 → 5Speed: 100 → 109
Good. That should let me outspeed even her Nosepass on rollerblades.
Then the random item pops in. I brace myself. Please be a Focus Sash. Please be Leftovers. Please be a sensible—
[Item Acquired: Sukuna's Finger]One of Sukuna's twenty fingers, sealing one twentieth of his soul. Consumption grants access to his innate technique: Shrine.[Purified to protect you from getting taken over. You're welcome.]
...
I blink.
I look at the gnarled, cursed-looking finger now floating in my paws like this is something normal.I turn slowly and make eye contact with Ralts, who gives me the psychic equivalent of a shudder.May is still sipping her hot coco as if she is done with life.Combusken's already cracking her knuckles, guess she enjoys having arms huh?And Roxanne looks far too smug for someone about to be emotionally wrecked.
I look back at the finger.
Fine.
Hesitating just for a second, I open my mouth and swallow it whole, The finger dissolving just as my teeth clamp shut.
For a brief moment, the world goes completely silent. Like the wind forgot how to blow.
Then—BOOM.
Power floods through me like I've mainlined rage, chaos, and a thousand years of ancient spite. My aura flares violently, black and red, with crackling lines of cursed energy spiraling around my fists like tattooed lightning. A phantom echo of laughter rings out, but it's faint—distant, like a ghost locked away behind twenty steel doors.
[Innate Cursed Technique Unlocked: Shrine]
Cursed Technique Dismantle: A slashing technique that can cut through both objects and energy.
Cursed Technique Cleave: A slashing technique that adjusts its power to fit the target's energy level and toughness, ensuring critical hit super effective hit.
Cursed Technique Divine Flame: locked
Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine: locked
I exhale.I look up at Roxanne.
I feel pity. Not much. Just enough to count as sportsmanship.
This is going to hurt—Her team, physically.Her ego, emotionally.
I grin "Roxanne's about to learn why we don't give gremlins divine power."
This is going to be fun, and I. Can't. Wait.
Word Count: 1066
I know I added the op tag, but like... I didn't want this either, and falsifying the wheel's outcome doesn't sit well with me either, so.... Yep. Budget Sukuna in the pokemon world. Your welcome.
MC: Could I also get Gojo's eyes?
No
MC: What about a Sharingan?
Fuck no.