"Then... what do you think, sir?" Cain said with obvious mockery. If Marcus truly did not want to help, Cain did not mind keeping Brad and Catherine by his side; he still had other ways to send them back, although they would be more troublesome.
Moreover, Cain had missions to assign to both of them once they returned to the Pokémon world, so being able to send them back now was the best option.
Faced with that question laden with ridicule, Marcus felt somewhat uncomfortable. But seen this way, sending them out was clearly the best option for him.
After thinking it over, Marcus unwillingly threw an object that looked like an iron plate in Cain's direction.
"I see," murmured Cain, observing the object made of special material in his hand, with the exit method engraved on it.
If Cain had wanted to leave himself, it would not have been too difficult; the complicated part was locating the position of the Pokémon world within infinite space. But with that object, everything became much simpler. He did not even need Marcus to intervene to send Brad and Catherine back.
"Boss, we should stay to help you..." Brad said, stepping forward.
Cain slowly shook his head and said to them, "You still have tasks in the Pokémon world. Do not forget what I entrusted to you."
Recalling what Cain had ordered them not long ago, Brad and Catherine said nothing more.
Cain forcibly opened a spatial rift with his psychic powers and placed the iron plate in Brad's hand. Both of them were swallowed by the spatial rift; with the help of that special object, their return to the Pokémon world would be guaranteed and without danger.
Clap, clap, clap—
Marcus applauded softly.
"I must say, you are someone worth following. But... is it really a good idea to let your two subordinates leave at this moment?"
Cain turned to look at him.
"If I didn't, would you be at ease?"
"Now... we should be able to calmly talk about how to break the barrier on the mountain, and also about what to do if someone else interferes, right?"
A smile appeared on Marcus's face.
"Tsk... why do I now feel that you no longer have the strength necessary to speak with me on equal terms?"
Seeing that Cain had been left alone, Marcus naturally thought that he no longer had the ability to deal with him as an equal, at least until he saw clear proof of his strength.
"Ay, ay, ay, Lord Marcus, how quickly one crosses the river and burns the bridge. But I suppose that fits your status," Cain said lightly. However, inside, he no longer felt like continuing to play king and knight; his interest in that game had run out.
"Then I'll show you a little!" he added, his tone turning cold.
Gengar emerged from Cain's shadow. This time he no longer concealed his strength and fully released his aura.
Feeling Gengar's presence steadily increase, Marcus was stunned.
Gengar had been Cain's first Pokémon to surpass the first barrier of the Champion level. Moreover, ten days earlier, when Cain helped Darkrai improve its strength, he had also strengthened all of his other Pokémon.
The current Gengar had nothing to do with that of the former Number Three.
"Next... show your true strength, Gengar!"
With Cain's words, a large amount of multicolored light burst out around Gengar. The energy of Mega Evolution enveloped him, and without the slightest hesitation, he began to Mega Evolve.
When the energy dissipated, Mega Gengar appeared before Marcus. That imposing aura that struck him head-on made Marcus lose his breath for an instant.
Narrowing his eyes, Marcus felt a pressure completely different from that produced by Brad and Catherine's Pokémon.
Pokémon: Gengar (Purple) — Mega Form
Gender: Male
Level: 86 (88)
Types: Ghost + Poison
Ability: Shadow Tag
Held Item: Toxic Orb, Gengarite
Egg Moves: Fire Punch, Scary Face, Haze
Basic Moves: Hypnosis, Lick, Spite, Mean Look, Curse, Night Shade, Confuse Ray, Sucker Punch, Payback, Shadow Punch, Dream Eater, Dark Pulse, Destiny Bond, Hex, Nightmare
Learned Moves: Rest, Shadow Ball, Psychic, Skill Swap, Snore, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Perish Song, Role Play
TM Moves: Protect, Hidden Power (Grass), Sleep Talk, Toxic, Taunt, Poison Jab, Thunderbolt, Venoshock
The theoretical level of Mega Gengar reached level 88, placing it among the strongest Pokémon just below the second barrier of the Champion level.
Marcus had lost his powerful Houndoom and his Malamar; at that moment, his strongest Pokémon did not surpass that level.
Therefore, upon discovering that Number Three was still hiding such strength, the feeling of defeat in Marcus grew even stronger.
"Now I have the strength to speak to you as an equal, right, Marcus?" Cain said in a deep voice.
"Damn it!" Marcus cursed inwardly, though outwardly he showed not the slightest reaction.
"Let's go," Marcus finally said, turning around and disappearing from the place with an instant teleport.
Cain formed a faintly mocking smile. Even if he did not say it openly, that meant the other had accepted.
With a simple gesture, Cain also disappeared from the place.
...
When the two of them reappeared, they were already at the summit of the central mountain of the continent.
Before, since the church had settled there, the place had been spotless. But after the appearance of Dialga and Palkia, who mercilessly eliminated the two most powerful Pokémon, added to the destruction caused by the church's internal struggle, the site had been completely devastated, filled with rubble.
Upon returning to that place, scenes of the past resurfaced in Marcus's mind. Remembering the loss of his two strongest Pokémon was still the hardest blow for him.
However, now none of that was the most important. What mattered was how to finally break the barrier that had tormented him for so long.
At that moment, Cain was accompanied by Gengar, while beside Marcus stood his current strongest Pokémon: a Greninja.
Pokémon: Greninja (Light Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 88
Types: Water + Dark
Ability: Torrent
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Mind Reader, Mud Sport, Water Sport, Power-Up Punch
Basic Moves: Water Shuriken, Night Slash, Haze, Role Play, Mat Block, Pound, Growl, Bubble, Quick Attack, Lick, Smokescreen, Shadow Sneak, Spikes, Feint Attack, Substitute, Extrasensory, Double Team, Hydro Pump
Learned Moves: Hydro Cannon, Water Pledge, Snatch, Low Kick, Gunk Shot, Ice Punch, Water Pulse, Icy Wind, Bounce, Spite, Snore
TM Moves: Toxic, Protect, Ice Beam, Smack Down, Rock Tomb, Aerial Ace, Acrobatics, Giga Impact, U-turn, Waterfall
It should be Marcus's starter Pokémon, and its strength was truly overwhelming. That terrifying aura charging straight at him made Cain look at it with renewed attention.
