shuffle of footsteps. At the very front walked Blue-Rank Killer Carlo, exuding an aura of unshakable authority. Half a step behind him, the Red-Rank Killer followed silently, his eyes sharp and unreadable. Behind them were the twenty new recruits who had survived the previous trials—no more, no less—each carrying a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
Lucas Kaige's Dark Power still flowed subtly through him. Zorua's body was weak from the previous trials, so the earlier use of his "Blood Feed" technique had focused on internal nourishment. Now, Lucas directed his energy outward, accelerating Zorua's physical recovery and helping it regain combat strength.
Despite appearing calm, Lucas remained vigilant. The Red-Rank Killer in front could, without hesitation, eliminate him if given the chance.
"zorua…" Zorua whimpered softly. The pain was part of the process. Dark Power hastened cell growth, forcing the body to recover quickly rather than heal gradually. Without trust in Lucas, it would have been unbearable—but Zorua had no doubt about him.
After only a few minutes, the group arrived in a spacious, sterile room. Bright white lights reflected off the hard gray walls, and the air smelled faintly of ozone. Rows of high-tech workbenches lined the room, each covered with neatly stacked Poké Balls.
The recruits' eyes shone with excitement. Some of them barely contained their envy when they noticed Lucas holding Zorua in his arms.
"New recruits," Carlo's deep voice finally broke the silence, "congratulations on passing the second trial. You may now choose your Pokémon. Remember, your selection depends entirely on luck—you cannot open the Poké Balls beforehand."
The Red-Rank Killer stood silently to the side. His previous harshness seemed temporarily restrained by Carlo's presence.
Eager hands reached for the Poké Balls. All nineteen recruits—Lucas excluded—now held a single ball, eyes wide with anticipation.
Lucas Kaige moved confidently to the pile, Zorua secured in his left arm. With his right hand, he selected a Poké Ball with perfect precision, returning to the group without hesitation. Some recruits wanted to question why Lucas, already with a Pokémon, could take another, but Carlo's presence and the Red-Rank Killer's silence quelled their courage.
Next," Carlo announced, "I will explain the third-round assessment. Over the next three months, you will undergo five types of training: physical conditioning, combat skills, disguise, reconnaissance, and Pokémon battles. At the end, an assessment will determine your rank. Failure in any category…"
The Red-Rank Killer's chilling smile left the recruits shivering. No one dared to imagine what would follow.
Before the newcomers could absorb the information, the two killers departed, leaving them in the care of the organization's support staff. Each recruit was assigned a White-Rank attendant to manage supplies, accommodations, and other non-training matters. Lucas's attendant, a girl around his age named Elise, had a familiar presence that made his heart ache with memories. In his previous life, he had loved her deeply. Now, in this new chance at life, he vowed to protect her—and eventually escape with her.
"Elise," Lucas greeted quietly. She handed him a small packet containing daily necessities, her nervousness barely hidden.
"This is your identity tag," she explained. "Until you officially complete the third trial, your codename is HL20."
Lucas didn't need the explanation. He had seen similar devices before. They served as both identification and a discreet way to access the organization's systems, including booking training rooms and communicating internally.
After Elise left, Lucas settled into his small residence. Less than twenty square meters, but free of surveillance, it was perfect for private training. Zorua eagerly explored the room, now stronger and more agile thanks to the infusion of Dark Power.
"Zorua, meet your new companion," Lucas said, holding the red-and-white Poké Ball.
The ball opened with a bang, revealing a Gastly. Purple gas swirled around a floating black sphere with large eyes and a mischievous grin.
"Jie jie~" Gastly laughed chillingly, floating toward Lucas with a playful expression. Before it could act further, Lucas's slender hand gently captured its gaseous form. Gastly struggled briefly, shocked that its intangible body had been held, then darted behind Zorua, warily watching Lucas.
Lucas smiled. Gastly had not been chosen randomly. Using Dark Power, he could detect emotional feedback and potential in Pokémon. Just like Zorua, Gastly's response indicated exceptional talent.
From his prior life, Lucas had divided Pokémon potential into six levels: Normal, Superior, Gym, Elite, Elite Four, Champion. Zorua's aptitude corresponded to Elite Four, while Gastly's Ghost-type potential reached Elite—a one-in-ten-thousand Pokémon.
Potential, however, was useless without proper training, strong resolve, sufficient resources, and a bit of luck. Lucas planned to maximize both Pokémon's strengths while carefully hiding their capabilities from the organization.
"Let's begin training," he said, calling Zorua and Gastly.
Gastly, impressed and cautious after being caught, obediently floated beside Zorua. Lucas booked a small training room and instructed them to unleash all their current moves. Zorua used Scratch, Glare, Pursuit, and Fake Tears, still unrefined. Gastly surprised him with Hypnosis, Lick, Grudge, Black Gaze, Shadow Ball, and Shadow Sneak, demonstrating remarkable talent for a newly captured Pokémon.
Lucas designed their training meticulously. Zorua would focus on stamina, speed, and move development, with special emphasis on learning Dark Pulse, its latent move. Gastly's training emphasized Special Attack and speed, mastering Shadow Ball and Hypnosis, while avoiding direct confrontation due to its frail stamina.
Half an hour later, Elise returned with meals for Lucas and his Pokémon. He quietly assigned her an additional task: monitor the material exchange platform for Poison Gas, a substance essential for Gastly's cultivation. Elise nodded seriously, unaware how dangerous her mission can ultimately become. Lucas's memories of his previous life reminded him that every moment spent with her strengthened his resolve to protect her—and to help her,once his goals were achieved.
By the end of the day, Zorua and Gastly had grown stronger, both physically and emotionally. The foundation was laid not only for future battles but also for Lucas's plan to reclaim the life and companions he had cherished in the past.