While Ace and his group rested in a Pokémon Center before resuming their journey to Celadon City, something terrifying unfolded in Vermilion City, unbeknownst to anyone until the morning.
Inside the Vermilion Gym, chaos had erupted. The once-lively staff, known for their abrasive attitudes and gangster-like demeanor meant to test trainers' resolve before facing Lt. Surge, now lay lifeless on the floor. Their Pokéballs were missing, stolen by a grinning Sableye whose gleaming gem-like eyes reflected the carnage.
The battlefield that Surge used for training and battles was in ruins, bearing deep cracks and damage far beyond what Ace's battle with the Gym Leader had inflicted.
Lt. Surge himself was in a dire state. His trusted Raichu, battered and gravely injured, dangled limply in the crushing grip of a Drapion. Surge, pale and weak, pressed a trembling hand against the stump where his arm had once been, glaring defiantly at the figure responsible for the devastation-Sin.
The masked assassin stood there with an unsettling grin, his katana gleaming as he casually wiped the blood from its blade with a flick. "Well, well, Surge," Sin drawled mockingly, his voice as cold as the air in the gym. "I never understood why you left Team Rocket. You had power, influence, and Giovanni's trust. And yet, here you are, a pathetic excuse of a man clinging to some foolish notion of redemption."
Surge spat blood onto the floor, his voice a strained growl. "I had enough of that life... Enough of the destruction... Enough of the bloodshed... I wanted out! But Giovanni..." He coughed violently before continuing. "Why... Why send someone like you to kill me? I was no longer a threat to him."
Sin chuckled darkly, his red eyes glinting behind the mask. "Loose ends, Surge. Giovanni doesn't tolerate loose ends. Your pathetic attempts at peace meant nothing to him."
With a snap of his fingers, Sin signaled Drapion. The crushing sound of bones echoed as Raichu went limp, its lifeless body falling from Drapion's claws. Surge let out a guttural scream, his anguish filling the gym.
"You monster!" Surge roared, his fury overcoming his pain as he charged at Sin.
His bloodied figure barely made it two steps before thick vines from a Tangrowth shot out, coiling tightly around him and holding him immobile.
Sin sauntered forward, his katana resting casually on his shoulder. "You always had the habit of calling your challengers 'baby,' didn't you?" He leaned in, his tone mocking yet laced with venom. "Then let's make sure you die with the same title."
Raising his blade, Sin whispered menacingly, "Hasta la vista, baby."
The katana swung down in a swift arc, and the gym went eerily silent, save for Sin's sinister laughter that echoed through the ruined battlefield. Lt. Surge was no more.
The next morning, the entire Kanto region was in chaos. The news spread like wildfire: Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion City, had been brutally assassinated. His trusted Raichu and all the gym staff had met the same tragic fate, while every Electric-type Pokémon housed in the gym was stolen.
The authorities confirmed the worst—the infamous assassin, Sin, was behind the massacre. The symbol of an 'S' alongside a Darkrai mask card had been found on the blood-stained floor near Lt. Surge's lifeless body, a signature left as if to mock any efforts to stop him.
The revelation sent shockwaves through Kanto. Police forces swarmed the region, scouring every corner for any trace of Sin. This was no longer an ordinary investigation; it was a full-scale manhunt. Even the Elite Four—Lance, Lorelei, Agatha, and Bruno—alongside the Champion of the Kanto region, Blue, were mobilized. Each of them vowed to bring justice for Lt. Surge, his Raichu, and the others who had fallen victim to Sin's merciless blade.
In a small Pokémon Center along the route to Celadon City, Ace and his group sat frozen as they watched the news broadcast. The anchor's voice trembled with the weight of the report.
"This morning, the Kanto region woke up to tragedy. Lt. Surge of Vermilion City, a hero and protector of the region, was killed in a brutal attack. This act of terror has been attributed to Sin, the world's most feared assassin. Police and League officials are working tirelessly to track him down..."
Serena gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Lt. Surge... He was such a strong Gym Leader. I can't believe something like this could happen to him."
May's fists clenched as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "That monster didn't even spare Raichu or the staff... How could someone do this?"
Dawn looked visibly shaken, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sin...He was likely going easy on us when he attacked the professors."
Ace remained silent, his expression darkening with every word of the report. His fists were tightly clenched, his knuckles white with tension. His mind raced as he processed the horrifying news.
'Sin...' Ace snarled inwardly, the name echoing in his thoughts like a curse. His rage boiled over, his breath heavy as he thought of that Fucker.
Unbeknownst to him, his eyes briefly glowed with a strange, intense light—a deep, ominous combination of dark blue and dark pink. The glow flickered for a moment before fading away, leaving Ace unaware of the fleeting phenomenon.
Serena reached out hesitantly. "Ace? Are you okay?"
He snapped out of his thoughts, his fists slowly relaxing as he exhaled deeply. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice carried a sharp edge.
The girls exchanged uneasy glances but nodded, each silently hoping that Kanto's leaders could stop this assassin before he struck again.
While Kanto was plunged into turmoil, far from the chaos, Sin lounged casually on a luxurious sofa in a dimly lit room. Sin's dark chuckle echoed through the room as he reclined, spinning a sleek luxury ball between his fingers.
"So, Giovanni," Sin drawled lazily, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, "any more errands for your favorite assassin? You know I'm a busy man. Killing people takes a lot out of me."
Across the room, the high-backed chair slowly swiveled to reveal the infamous leader of Team Rocket, and the Gym leader of Veridian City, Giovanni. His eyes gleamed as he stroked the fur of his ever-present Persian, which purred contentedly on his lap.
"Sin," Giovanni began, "there is another task I have in mind for you. However..." He paused, a slight smirk forming on his face. "That will have to wait. For now, consider it your time to rest. In the meantime, feel free to make use of our facilities to train your new... gift."
Sin's grin widened, his eyes glinting with satisfaction behind his mask. He twirled the luxury ball in his hand, its polished surface catching the light. "The gift, huh?" he mused, his voice dripping with mock reverence. "You sure know how to keep me entertained, Giovanni. I'll make good use of it. You can count on that."
Giovanni's smirk deepened, and he leaned back in his chair, his Persian letting out a low, pleased rumble. "Good. Don't disappoint me, Sin."
Sin chuckled darkly, the sound sending chills through the room as he eyed the luxury ball in his hand, already imagining the havoc he could wreak with the Pokemon he had earned.
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Pokemon:Ace's Adventures!)