Little Lei Poisoned, a Race Against Death!!**
The five intruders came from the Great Cold Alliance.
But unlike ordinary Trainers, they weren't registered professionals.
They were Pokémon Hunters.
Pokémon Hunters were a profession condemned and brutally suppressed by the International Union—
an outright criminal trade that profited by capturing and trafficking Pokémon.
Despite presenting itself as a "developed alliance" under Western propaganda—
even boasting the title of Asia's Four Little Dragons—
the Great Cold Alliance's true strength was pitifully weak.
Its economy might have been decent, but its Trainer system was fragile.
And to survive—
To resist the neighboring peninsula power that constantly dreamed of wiping them out and unifying the region—
The Great Cold Alliance launched a so-called Revitalization Plan.
Revitalization meant Trainers.
Trainers meant Pokémon.
But the problem was simple—
The Great Cold Alliance barely had any wild Pokémon of its own.
And the few that existed were mostly mediocre.
So on the surface, they spent vast sums purchasing high-quality Pokémon.
In secret?
They raised Pokémon Hunters, sending them into other nations to abduct rare species.
These five were one such hunter squad.
When word reached them of a forbidden zone in the northwest of the Donghuang Alliance—
Falling Thunder Valley—
They came sniffing like bloodhounds.
"Stay alert."
"We've entered the perimeter of Falling Thunder Valley."
"There are many Pokémon here… and they've formed a dedicated guard force."
"Move carefully. Don't alert them."
The squad leader finally spoke as his watch confirmed their location.
The other four instantly dropped their joking expressions and grew cautious.
Slowly, the team advanced, scanning their surroundings.
What they didn't know—
From the shadows, a pair of eyes glowing faint blue had already locked onto them.
Lei, the Luxray guarding the valley, had seen them long ago.
"Luxray…"
Instead of attacking immediately, Lei turned to the figures beside him—
Noibat
and Emolga.
Noibat—entrusted to Ethan by his father—was a nocturnal flier.
Ethan had left it here specifically to assist Lei.
Emolga, meanwhile, was a reserve member of the Thunder Valley Guard.
At Lei's signal, Emolga spread her wings and shot toward the valley.
Noibat blinked—then veered toward Qin Family Village.
A messenger had been dispatched.
As for Lei?
A grin crept across his face.
The combat techniques he'd learned from Entei…
Today, he'd finally put them to use.
"Shit! Boss—we've been spotted!"
"That Luxray's insane! My Hypno can't hold at all!"
"And that Electivire—my Mightyena's getting crushed!"
Outside the valley, the five hunters had already been surrounded.
Over thirty Pokémon formed the Thunder Valley Guard.
Though the hunters weren't weak, they were completely outnumbered.
Still—
The squad leader showed no panic.
With sharp gestures, he released his Pokémon.
A Scolipede (early Overlord).
An Arbok (early Overlord).
And a Seviper (mid Overlord).
"You four support my Pokémon and hold the line."
"The guard's core forces are all out here now."
"The inner valley will be weak."
"Hold for ten minutes. I'll be back."
As he finished speaking, the leader's Malamar flashed its eyes—
And both of them vanished.
The remaining four hunters immediately coordinated their defense.
With the Overlord Pokémon anchoring them, they barely managed to hold on—
Though the Thunder Guard fought ruthlessly, aiming straight for the Trainers.
Inside the valley—
Light rippled.
The squad leader reappeared.
Most Pokémon inside were asleep.
His eyes gleamed with delight.
Sleeping Pokémon were the easiest prey.
In the Great Cold Alliance, Electric-types were priceless.
Even a simple Pichu sold for nearly 20 million won.
Converted to Donghuang currency—that was 100,000 credits.
And stronger Electric-types?
They were gold mines.
"I knew it," the man laughed.
"One trip here and I'm set for life!"
He hurled Poké Balls into the air.
"Malamar—capture them!"
Blue psychic light flared.
The Poké Balls streaked out like guided missiles.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sleeping Pokémon were struck and captured before they could react.
Not far away, Lucario jolted awake.
Since he'd begun dating the Shiny Shinx, Ethan had allowed Lucario to stay in the valley.
The capture sounds triggered his Aura senses instantly.
He felt the Poké Balls flying toward him—and toward Shinx.
Lucario didn't hesitate.
BOOM!
A single Aura-enhanced punch shattered the Poké Ball midair.
"Lucario!!"
His roar echoed through the valley.
Pokémon snapped awake everywhere.
Those not yet captured dodged frantically.
"What?" the hunter leader frowned.
"A defender?"
Then he saw Lucario—
And his grin turned greedy.
"Lucario… and a shiny Shinx?"
"This trip just keeps paying, ssi-bal."
"Malamar—Psycho Cut!"
Psychic blades tore through the air.
Lucario grabbed Shinx and vanished in a blur, retreating several meters before setting her down safely.
Only then did he turn back, fury blazing.
Without hesitation, Lucario charged.
In seconds, the valley shook with violent clashes.
In less than half a minute, Lucario had exchanged over ten blows with Malamar.
Malamar was stronger—
But its combat instincts were pitiful.
It couldn't keep up.
"Such a strong Lucario…" the hunter muttered.
"If I catch it, my rank will skyrocket."
"Toxicroak—assist Malamar!"
A shadow flashed.
Toxicroak appeared—Overlord Peak.
In a single step, it closed the distance.
Lucario reacted instantly—
But his body wasn't strong enough.
A purple venomous claw pierced his back.
"Lucario!!"
Pain exploded.
Lucario collapsed as toxins surged through his body.
Steel-type resistance helped—but Lucario wasn't a machine.
Poison still worked.
Shinx rushed forward in panic—
And was knocked aside effortlessly.
"I hit the jackpot," the hunter laughed.
Then—
A furious cry rang out.
"Rui—GONG!!"
Little Lei had arrived.
Seeing Lucario and Shinx fallen, she unleashed Thunderbolt in rage.
Malamar barely managed to block it.
The hunter stared.
He had traveled the world.
Read countless Pokédex records.
Yet he had never seen this Pokémon.
Unknown species.
His breath caught.
"If I catch this one…"
"Even my grandchildren won't need to work!"
"Toxicroak—subdue her!"
The poison claw struck again.
Little Lei screamed.
She collapsed instantly.
The sky split open.
"RUI—GONG!!!"
Heavenly lightning descended.
Toxicroak vanished—erased.
The hunter and Malamar didn't even have time to react before the next bolt fell.
Both were annihilated.
At the valley's edge, Ethan—having rushed back after Noibat's warning—saw the lightning.
"That thunder…"
"That's Big Lei."
"And he's furious."
Something had gone terribly wrong.
He wasted no time.
"Metagross—go!"
In seconds, Ethan arrived.
The valley lay in ruins.
Lucario.
Shinx.
Little Lei.
All down.
Big Lei stood over his sister, frantic.
"Lucario, are you okay?"
Lucario struggled upright, nodding weakly.
Shinx was quickly healed by Hatterene.
But Little Lei—
Ethan's face darkened.
Her body was already turning purple.
"Hatterene… can you cure this?"
She tried.
Then shook her head.
Too strong.
The poison could only be suppressed, not removed.
Big Lei trembled.
Little Lei was his only family.
Ethan inhaled deeply.
"There is a way."
"We take her to the human world."
"Advanced medicine. Specialists."
"If I fail—hunt me to the ends of the earth."
Time was running out.
Big Lei locked eyes with Ethan.
Then nodded.
"Metagross—now!"
Little Lei was lifted.
And with a thunderous boom—
They vanished into the night.
Big Lei stood alone, staring at the sky.
Praying—
That his sister would survive.
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