Pokémon: The Renegade Trainer

"Rotom, [Shadow ball]!"

"Ursaring, use [Feint attack] on Rotom!"

Taking advantage of his enemies' clear inexperience, Scout exploited the weakness with his Pokémon's superior coordination.

But he didn't expect what happened next.

As [Shadow ball] was dissipated by the Normal-type, Gabite was already in front of Ursaring and ready to strike.

"[Poison Jab]!"

"[Shock wave]!"

The young trainers were extremely responsive, seemingly immersed in battle as if they were the Pokémon.

'These two fight like a wild Pokémon group. Tsk. Fucking battle geniuses.'

However, Scout wasn't entirely helpless.

"[Will-o-wisp] on Gabite!"

Seeing his Ursaring getting hit by a combo, the eye patched man took the opportunity to inflict a burn on his foe.

Maguro and Cynthia glanced at each other, and each one knew what to do next.

"Rotom, take one for the team."

"Gabite, [Brick break] on the bear!"

Both Pokémon were quick, especially Rotom who immediately hovered to take the brunt of [Will-o-wisp], ready to face off with Gastly.

Meanwhile, Gabite continued it's merciless assault on Ursaring.

"Gastly [Shadow ball]! Ursaring, [Thrash]!"

Scout had no choice but to fight against both trainers at the matchup they forced upon him.

The fact that he wasn't much of a talented trainer frustrated him to no end, most especially since he was up against two of the best rookies of their generation.

Still, Scout wasn't one for playing fair.

"Surround the intruders!"

A masculine voice roared. It was boss Bin, and he was with his top grunts. But even then, the mere resence of his elite level Drapion was enough for Maguro and Cynthia to tense up.

"Prepare to run in my signal." The boy leaned in to whisper at the blonde trainer beside him.

He sensed no less than 20 Pokémon around them. Still, Maguro will have to work with what he got. And he knew this was a high-risk play.

Ursaring was already KOed by Gabite, and the eye patched bandit had already withdrawn his Pokémon.

"That's checkmate, kid." Scout smirked.

"Don't try an--" as the grunts try to warn him, Maguro sent out Mareanie.

"Smoke!"

Out of Maguro's roster, Mareanie wasn't particularly the best. It didn't have a high potential, nor did it have a ton of moves to work with.

But there were two talents that set Mareanie above average – its freakish mastery over poison of all forms and team coordination.

And after absorbing the Poison Gem, Mareanie had improved its already insane control over poison by leaps and bounds.

Cynthia withdrew her Gabite, and Mareanie used [Sludge wave], a move it learned by consuming the gem.

"Open fire!"

The boss commanded to his lackeys, but was a few seconds too late as Rotom ignited the purple sludge with [Shock wave].

The reaction caused [Sludge wave] to pop into a thick purple cloud.

This would poison Maguro under normal circumstances, but there was a reason why he always brought stacks of antidotes and gas masks with him at all times.

They ran past their enemies when Maguro withdrew Mareanie and Rotom.

However, there was one Pokémon that was naturally unaffected by the smoke.

"Drrrr...." (Where do you think you're going?)

A low growl escaped the large Drapion's mouth as it stood between the final room and Maguro.

"That's none of your business."

"Drapion!" (You invaded our hideout.)

"The rangers will be here soon. You better pack your stuff and get lost instead of messing with me."

A loud screech almost tore Maguro's ear apart.

"Drapion!! Drapion..." (Then I will kill you! As well as the rangers that will come...)

It wasn't impossible, being that Drapion was crazy strong and packing a deadly load of poison.

"Your gang will be wiped out. This cloud is poisonous."

The Drapion shrugged, "Drapion." (I don't need those losers.)

The large scorpion lunged itself forward, attacking Maguro and Cynthia. In response, the duo took out their poison types.

"Mareanie, [Protect]!"

"Roselia, [Stun spore]!"

Drapion bashed itself to the green barrier, causing it to crack. And while it inhaled the spores, it didn't hinder Drapion that much.

But that small window was enough for Maguro and Cynthia to run in opposite directions and launch their next attack.

"[Bulldoze]!"

A Gligar and Grotle took the field and launched the Ground type move from both directions. The latter returned to its Pokéball after a few seconds in order to stay safe from poison while the former had Immunity as an ability.

Drapion tried to react, but was too late as the earth around it trembled. The shaking dealt damage, but was bearable thanks to its Battle Armor.

"[Sandstorm]!"

Cynthia commanded, and Gligar lowered the field's visibility even more.

Particles of dust swirled around the Flying scorpion before enveloping the field. Drapion had finally recovered, and used it's next move, [Hone claws].

Despite the visibility drop, its eyes were peeled and clearer than ever. The ogre Scorpion Pokémon then did the unexpected by slapping its trainer awake.

However, this was just the opening Cynthia and Maguro took as they returned their Pokémon and fled to the next room.

"What's the big idea, oi?!" Roared boss Bin.

Drapion communicated with hand signs. And thanks to their decades of being comrades, Bin understood what it meant.

"Heh. If they're really going to my room, then it'll just be another hell for them. Don't worry too much, they won't find the kid there."

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Inside Bin's chamber...

"Murkrow!"

Maguro immediately jumped to embrace his Pokémon the moment he entered the room as Gyarados took initiative to block the [Flamethrower] coming his way.

"Don't kill it." He turned to the Houndoom who was woken up by the scent of intruders.

And despite it's best efforts, the guard dog didn't stand a chance against Maguro's strongest offensive Pokémon.

All the while, Cynthia and Gabite were going around, saving the captured Pokémon.

"This is just cruel." She commented at the sight of Pokémon trafficking.

"I've seen worse. But I'll never forgive this lot for what they did to Murkrow."

Maguro replied as he healed Murkrow's wings with Full restores.

"Your voice sounded different just now."

"I wish I was calmer, Cynthia. But I can't, just the thought of Murkrow getting punished because of my mishap is the worst."

The girl was unable to reply, silence ensued between them for a few moments.

'I can only imagine how much it hurts him.' Cynthia took a look at Maguro, then all the Pokémon whom she freed from captivity.

Most of them were hungry, scared, and injured. Her eyes moisted at the sight, it was straight up unbearable to think that there are situations even worse than this all over the world.

"Once you become a trainer, you just can't help but feel like your Pokémon are children you have to care for..."

"I know," replied Maguro as he looked up to the sky.

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[TO BE CONTINUED]