Under these circumstances, how could Nathan possibly push his Pokémon into high-intensity training?
Alright, to be fair—only Volcarona wasn't training.
After all, with Steelix as his trump card, Nathan wasn't afraid of any sneak attacks.
Because for any dark organization, sending a Champion-level figure was practically impossible.
If any of these organizations actually had Champion-tier powerhouses, the Pokémon League would have eradicated them long ago.
After all, the dark organizations weren't just heartless terrorist groups.
Just last year, a member of the League had formally proposed designating all dark organizations as anti-social groups!
In simple terms, it was the idea of "using heavy punishments in times of chaos."
Anyone deeply involved with dark organizations would be sentenced to life imprisonment at minimum!
Though the matter ultimately fizzled out, it still dominated the trending headlines for a time, satisfying countless gossip-hungry onlookers.
Thinking of the news involving dark organizations, Nathan's gaze gradually turned cold and indifferent.
"Volcarona, take care of these Pokémon. Let these scum from the dark organizations witness what a real hell looks like."
His voice, void of any emotion, came from his lips. Volcarona's eyes grew just as cold.
Their bond had been forged since childhood—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Nathan and Volcarona were of one mind and one heart.
Other than the warmth that surrounded Nathan alone, the temperature throughout the entire restaurant suddenly soared!
"Vool!!"
The usually gentle and adorable voice now sounded like the low wail of a reaper.
Volcarona flapped its wings, forming a fierce whirlwind around itself.
The temperature continued to climb higher and higher!
The whirlwind surrounding Volcarona gradually turned crimson red—
as if a deity of flame had descended to unleash its domain.
And this domain, to all living beings and material objects alike, was pure purgatory!
"You lot still planning to just stand around and watch? If we let this kid escape, none of us are getting out of this clean!"
Feeling the intense threat from the hellish storm, Raymond roared angrily.
He had brought Nathan here precisely to avoid causing a commotion.
After all, this was a restaurant where people regularly came and went!
If the Pokémon and trainers of Spring City were alerted, Raymond knew he'd be screwed.
…
"Tch, Raymond, for all your arrogance, you're still relying on us at the end of the day!"
Accompanied by a mocking voice, three seemingly inconspicuous waiters suddenly stepped forward.
Only now did Nathan realize—these three people were no strangers.
It was Lira Woodsong from the airplane, his first opponent in Spring City, Fian, and the hot big sister, Lucy Liu!
(TN: Don't really remember her, Lucy Liu (Liu Xi) if you guys know I'll edit it)!
"No wonder the League finds your organization such a headache. You've managed to infiltrate this deeply."
"No, wait... you must've paid a heavy price to achieve this, right?"
"Are the Pokéblocks really that important to you?"
Looking at the three familiar faces, Nathan couldn't help but ask curiously.
After all, Pokéblocks were just Pokémon food.
Even if the profit behind them was enormous, it hardly seemed worth mobilizing this much effort from a dark organization!
It's like asking: what mafia would abandon its shady business and switch to selling smartphones openly?
Hearing Nathan's words, Volcarona didn't immediately attack.
Instead, the hellish storm around its body grew denser, while the ambient temperature actually dropped!
Such effortless control over fire and temperature was precisely why Volcarona was known as a divine pokemon in this world!
"Telling you isn't impossible," Lucy said, her tone unusually gentle and flirtatious compared to her usual fiery temper. "But if I tell you, would you be willing to join us?"
"Whether it's me personally or the organization, we have absolutely no resistance to a talented hottie like you~"
If not for her ties to the Dark Spirit Organization, Lucy might have genuinely tried to pursue Nathan.
A genius paired with a pretty face—it was a combination she found irresistible.
"You idiot, don't make decisions on your own!" Raymond snorted coldly, angrily snapping his Pokéball off his belt.
"Our leader said clearly: once we get the formula for the Pokéblocks, both him and his Pokémon belong to me!"
With a flash of light, an Arbok appeared, its eyes filled with bloodlust and cruelty.
What shocked Nathan most was the aura it emanated—it had actually reached the Elite level!
Though it was only newly at that tier, and its potential seemed exhausted,
an Elite-level Pokémon was still a true powerhouse!
Seeing Raymond bring out his only real ace, Lira shook his head and commented,
"You're really at your limit, huh."
"That Arbok could've gone even higher, but now it's stuck, unable to progress."
"Because of your own poor talent, even the other Pokémon you train can't break through to the Elite level."
"Shut up, do you want a fight?!"
Lira's words stabbed into Raymond's heart like sharp needles, making him roar in rage.
Watching these people almost break into a civil war before the real fight even started, Nathan couldn't help but feel a bit amused.
But thinking deeper—it made sense.
Those who joined dark organizations after abandoning all moral lines were, aside from a few born evil,
mostly lazy scum who treated Pokémon as tools—
not just tools for battle, but even as outlets for their frustrations.
They crushed their Pokémon's potential through their own abuse,
then blamed the world for their failures.
After suffering at the hands of society, they finally turned to dark organizations.
Don't think it's anything glamorous.
At the end of the day, they were just sewer rats.
Only more disgusting because some even worse people needed rats like them.
…
"Looks like you won't be giving me the answers I want voluntarily. In that case... I'll have to use other methods!"
"Volcarona, don't hold back—unleash the storm!"
Adjusting his emotions, Nathan spoke with a blank expression.
He had completely lost the will to even spar with these pieces of trash!
"Vool!"
Upon receiving Nathan's command, Volcarona flapped its magnificent wings.
The crimson storm now looked like a demon opening its bloody maw, ready to swallow everything!
The grass-type Pokémon that had attacked earlier shrieked as they were swept up by the storm,
before being slammed into the walls, their fate unknown!
Nathan was always kind to humans and Pokémon alike—
but that kindness was reserved for friends, or at least those without ill intent.
When it came to enemies—he had already understood what to do since he was ten years old!
…
"You damn brat, don't get cocky!"
Seeing the storm sweep away the grass-types without slowing down, Raymond roared,
"The leader brought you here to help me! Fight together, or Arbok alone won't be enough!"
Under the threat of the crimson hurricane, even Lucy Liu and the others didn't dare argue.
"Come out, Starmie! Use Hydro Pump!"
"Blastoise, you too!"
"Fearow, use Gust—fire and wind need to be combined!"
Three peak Gym-level Pokémon, all above level 48!
Though Nathan had expected this, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
He thought dark organizations would be like Team Rocket in the anime—
maybe bringing out legendaries, or having leaders as terrifyingly strong figures.
At the very least, he hoped for a few more Elite-level Pokémon for Volcarona to farm experience!
Unfortunately, if they had four Elite members, they wouldn't have to work so hard!
Watching the three peak Gym-level Pokémon barely hold back the fire tornado,
and seeing Arbok fix its poisonous fangs on him and Volcarona,
Nathan let out a sigh.
"Enough playing with them. Let's show these guys what true Elite-level power looks like."
"Volcarona, Fire Dance!"
…
Fire Dance might have sounded intimidating, but the power output proved otherwise.
It could actually be resisted by three Gym-level Pokémon?
Well, to be fair, Volcarona hadn't been fighting seriously at first.
But once it got serious—
The crimson tornado vanished, replaced by pure flames swirling around Volcarona's body!
Fire Dance—a simplified form of Volcarona's signature move, Fiery Dance.
In the previous world's games, Fiery Dance required a Pokémon to reach level 100 to learn.
While this world didn't have that restriction, learning it was still extremely difficult!
…
"Vool!"
Accompanied by Volcarona's cry, pure, blazing flames blasted toward the enemies!
"Quick, dodge! Use Hydro Pump to block it!!"
Sensing the fatal threat, Raymond shouted instinctively without even thinking.
But it was already too late.
Fire Storm might have disappointed a little,
but Volcarona's true battle form had just begun.
Only by truly combining the attributes of flight and fire could it unleash its full destructive might!
…
(TN: Hello, I don't if you guys noticed but my translation quality around here drop since I started losing my drive translating. I like reading like you guys but editing them is mind numbingly boring and it takes me 5-10 mins editing them since I read, edit them and also compared it to the google translate at the same time, so I would like to apologize for the drop of quality.)