Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

"You did well this time. Thank you for your hard work."

Inside the Pokémon Center in Old Shore Wharf, Klein handed over the compiled reports to Councilor Wakaba. The outcome of this Johto mission had far exceeded the Kanto League's expectations, making Wakaba increasingly view Klein as a valuable asset—someone who could bring fortune to the Kanto League.

Several Kanto Gym Leaders, along with the caretakers of the Ilex Forest temple, worked together to return Celebi to the shrine, marking the conclusion of this incident.

"The Kamiyama family crumbled far too easily. So much for their so-called Ghost-type combat corps."

"That wasn't their true strength."

Klein's words made Wakaba pause. "But they practically went all out this time and still couldn't handle you."

"That's because Team Malice was eliminated."

Klein knew full well that the Kamiyama family was not weak. In terms of Ghost-type Pokémon mastery and combat ability, Kamiyama Sakaki and his father were formidable—but not as terrifying as his older brother, once the most powerful trainer of the Kamiyama lineage.

Four years ago, during the battle in Hoenn, Klein, Lucas, Rosa, and the others barely survived. Only through countless sacrifices were they able to seal Team Malice. Without that, the battle at the Shinto Ruins today might have ended very differently.

"So, this concludes your mission in Johto."

Before Wakaba could finish, Klein cut in, "I still need to deal with the Pikachu Mask Killer."

At the mention of that name, Wakaba's expression darkened. "The Pikachu Mask Killer has assassinated members of the Johto League. The entire region is seething with rage. This is out of your hands now—return to Kanto immediately."

Klein remained silent, causing Wakaba to raise an eyebrow. "It looks like… you already know who they are, don't you?"

"I want to personally capture them and bring them back to Kanto."

Wakaba let out a furious, almost amused laugh. "Are you deaf? Sandstorm Elite Klein, I am ordering you to return to Cinnabar Island and rest. The new academic term is about to start, and you still have classes to teach!"

Despite Wakaba's stern command, Klein remained firm. "This is my duty. I won't let external factors interfere. The original authorization from the Supreme League was based on capturing the Pikachu Mask Killer as the primary objective."

Do you even consider me your superior?

Wakaba opened his mouth to argue but found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Before he could recover, Klein had already ended the call.

"That little—! Does he even respect my authority?!" Wakaba roared in frustration.

Bruno, who had been silent until now, chuckled at a different thought. "Pryce has a notoriously bad temper. If he finds out Klein is trying to take the killer back to Kanto, won't our dear young Elite be torn apart?"

"He's too old to rip anyone apart."

Agatha, sipping tea like a kindly grandmother, added, "Still, we should be cautious. Pryce's domain of ice and snow is far deadlier than his words."

Deep within the Ruins of Alph, Johto League investigators were examining a massive phantom pillar and a uniquely shaped triangular slab embedded within it.

"This slab appeared in Hoenn four years ago. It generated an immense destructive force—enough to obliterate an entire city."

An elderly investigator, flipping through archived reports, studied the colossal pillar with a grave expression.

The legends of Shinto… So they were real after all.

Just as the officers carefully examined the relic, the triangular slab at the center of the pillar's keyhole emitted a sudden, unfamiliar energy pulse.

A faint, sweet fragrance filled the air.

The old investigator's face paled. "Sleep Powder—!"

Before they could react, exhaustion overwhelmed them, and one by one, they collapsed into unconsciousness.

From the shadows, the leader of Team Dim Sun, Blake, reemerged beside the pillar. His gaze shifted to the key, which had now aligned with a different direction. A knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

In an instant, the key rotated. Time-energy surged forth, activating the phantom pillar and unlocking a sealed dimension.

Four years ago, all of Team Malice had been sealed within a temporal void in Hoenn, their bodies and Pokémon frozen in the dark rift of time itself, as if placed in stasis.

Now, as the triangular slab gleamed with brilliant light and the key turned, the terrifying faction that once struck fear across Hoenn…

Had been set free.

Countless shadowy figures surged from the void, filling the Ruins of Alph with an overwhelming presence—an eerie procession of ghosts, a scene straight out of a hundred-spirit nightmare.

Within the oppressive darkness, a massive energy totem emerged. Moments later, the totem shattered.

The sealed warriors had awakened.

A pale-faced young man stood amidst the chaos, his eyes filled with a sharp, ruthless glint. Compared to Kamiyama Sakaki, this Kamiyama heir radiated a far wilder, more unpredictable aura—like a beast with no master.

Brutal in combat, completely unrestrained.

Even his father and younger brother had struggled to control him.

After founding Team Malice, he had led an invasion into Hoenn, only to be abandoned by his own family—a discarded pawn of the Kamiyama clan.

Yet as the Kamiyama family's downfall accelerated, their desperate patriarch had secretly entrusted Blake with a task: unseal his eldest son at a crucial moment to turn the tides.

Compared to the Ghost Pokémon encountered at the Shinto Ruins, the presence of these creatures was far more violent and bloodthirsty. The very same terror that had once loomed over Hoenn…

Had finally returned.

"It felt like just a moment had passed… but it seems a long time has gone by in the outside world."

The young man's voice was unexpectedly soft, devoid of the savagery one might expect. Yet Blake instinctively felt his hair stand on end.

"It has been four years. You are now at the Ruins of Alph in Johto."

Blake gave a brief explanation. Yet even upon hearing that an Elite had defeated his younger brother Sakaki, the young man remained indifferent, as if listening to a story about someone else.

"Johto, huh? It's been a long time… my homeland."

Stepping forward, he reached out and retrieved the triangular slab and key, his gaze lingering for a long moment.

"That Sandstorm Elite… it has to be him. What an interesting coincidence."

Suddenly, a shadowy figure darted past, leaving a set of large, ominous characters etched across the ruins.

Murderous intent erupted from the young man, suffocating in its sheer ferocity. The entire Ruins of Alph trembled under the weight of his presence.

"Sandstorm Elite Klein… I'm back."

In Stagthorn Town, the battlefield was engulfed in relentless cold.

The very earth seemed to crack under the freezing force, steam rising as saltwater solidified into a corrosive frost.

Mega Blastoise, after several rounds of fierce combat, was finally struggling to hold its ground.

Two Delibird took turns striking, unleashing a powerful ice breath—a deadly, pale-blue blizzard of death.

Seeing this, Mega Blastoise fired a surging Water Pulse, spinning it at high velocity in midair. But before it could reach the Delibird, the attack froze and shattered into ice fragments.

Seizing the moment as the masked assassin was distracted, a Weavile appeared behind him, its claws glowing intensely as it slashed with blinding speed.

A flash of cold light.

Blood sprayed into the air.

New wounds slashed across the masked assassin's body. Weavile's dual blades followed up in rapid succession—

But suddenly, countless grains of sand surged forth, forming a barrier between them.

Boom!

A sandstorm descended from above!

A raging sea of sand instantly transformed part of the battlefield into a swirling desert.

A Tyranitar, empowered by six Dragon Dances, hovered in midair, manipulating the enormous sandstorm into a protective domain.

Weavile retreated several steps, while Cloyster quickly responded, launching twelve massive icicles that formed an encircling ice formation.

Icicle Crash!

The battlefield became a frozen wasteland.

"Sandstorm Elite Klein, are you planning to interfere?"

"Yes."

The clash of sand and ice raged on.

(End of Chapter)