18: Chapter 17: The Domain of the Gods!
18: Chapter 17: The Domain of the Gods!
Chapter 17: The Domain of the Gods!
15 meters beneath the primitive forest.
Team Rocket Base 04.
Professor Elm was bound securely to a metal chair.
Standing before him was a man who looked completely different from the vicious Team Rocket grunts.
He wore a tailored black suit and a beret.
His aura resembled that of a corporate elite rather than a member of an evil organization.
Team Rocket Executive—Proton.
A polite smile played on Proton’s face as he slowly reached out.
His movements were incredibly gentle, peeling the tape off Professor Elm’s mouth millimeter by millimeter, as if terrified of accidentally pulling out a single strand of facial hair.
It took him several minutes just to remove the tape entirely.
“My deepest apologies, Professor Elm.” Proton’s tone was filled with contrition.
“My subordinates are far too crude.
I shall have them all thrown to the Houndoom immediately as an apology.” Professor Elm glared furiously at this hypocritical character, remaining tight-lipped.
“Oh, right.
Look at my memory, I haven’t even formally introduced myself~” Proton elegantly removed his beret, pressing it against his chest.
His flowing green hair cascaded down as he offered Professor Elm a flawless bow.
“I am Proton, one of the Executives of Team Rocket.” He raised his head, his smile unchanged.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance~” “Save the act!” Losing his patience, Professor Elm roared angrily, “What on earth do you want with me?!” “Please, calm your anger first.
We have plenty of time to talk~” The smile remained fixed on Proton’s face.
Then, acting as if he were entertaining an honored guest, he gave a light wave of his hand.
A subordinate immediately brought over an exquisite tea set.
The subordinate respectfully held a cup of warm black tea right to Professor Elm’s lips.
Professor Elm turned his head away, rejecting the gesture entirely.
Proton’s politeness was far more chilling than any crude threat.
Seeing that he had no desire to drink, Proton waved his hand to dismiss the subordinate.
“Then I shall get straight to the point.
We require your brilliance to help us realize our grand ideal~” Proton’s tone was exceptionally gentle, as though he were inviting Professor Elm to participate in a noble scientific project.
“I am far from capable.
I am afraid I cannot help you realize any ideals!” Professor Elm’s tone was still laced with fury.
Proton’s expression shifted ever so slightly.
He turned his head and whispered a few words to a nearby subordinate.
The Team Rocket member nodded immediately and quickly jogged out of the room.
Inside the room.
Proton crossed his legs, the smile completely gone from his face as he held his cup, sipping the warm black tea.
A short while later.
From beyond the heavy metal doors came a low, hair-raising growl resembling a massive canine.
Immediately after, the door slid open automatically.
The Team Rocket member from before stepped back into the room, leading a “monstrosity” on a leash.
This monstrosity’s eyes were exactly like the chimera Gengar had encountered—milky, lifeless, and resembling a dead fish.
Its coat was blue on top and black on the bottom.
Its skeletal structure and horns bore a striking resemblance to a Houndoom, yet its surface was covered in irregular tufts of the fluffy yellow fur unique to Arcanine.
Its build was also closer to an Arcanine—tall, robust, and overflowing with an oppressive presence.
The appearance of this creature caused Professor Elm’s eyes to widen!
Staring at him, the chimera grew ecstatic, as if looking at a fresh meal.
A column of blazing fire unique to a Typhlosion suddenly erupted from its back!
Dripping thick, viscous drool, it advanced toward Professor Elm step by step.
As it drew closer, Professor Elm’s sharp eyes noticed that fragments of black cloth unique to a Team Rocket uniform were still caught in its terrifying fangs!
Terror instantly gripped Professor Elm’s heart.
He instinctively held his breath, his intuition screaming at him: *This is exactly the “Houndoom” Proton had mentioned so casually earlier!* Just as the “Houndoom” chimera bared its bloody maw and lunged toward Professor Elm— “Tsk, tsk, tsk~” Proton made a sound as if coaxing a pet.
The next second.
The terrifying chimera halted its advance.
It turned around without a shred of hesitation, leaning submissively against Proton like a loyal dog.
Its vicious head nudged back and forth against Proton’s body.
Smiling, Proton gently stroked its cheek, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather: “Professor Elm, what kind of miracle do you think is born when one utilizes genetic technology to fuse three Pokémon of equal potential, all around level 50?~~” Professor Elm furrowed his brows, offering no reply.
But as a top-tier scholar, his intuition provided the answer, and his complexion turned incredibly grim.
As if reading his mind, the corners of Proton’s mouth ticked upward as he answered his own question: “Exactly.
It is precisely as you think.
It is no simple addition—one plus one plus one is far greater than three!” Proton’s voice carried an unmaskable fanaticism!
“They are no mere transplants or patchworks; this is genetic fusion!
A leap in life itself!
Hahahaha~~” Proton excitedly hugged the chimera, declaring: “It possesses the brutality and cunning of a Houndoom, the speed and power of an Arcanine, and the raging flames of a Typhlosion!
Its raw strength is practically on par with that illustrious Dragonite belonging to the Kanto Champion, Lance!!!” The Professor took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he pointed out the core issue: “You expend such colossal resources to conduct these absurd experiments…
is your ultimate goal to rule the world?” As if hearing an incredibly amusing word, Proton couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“Rule the world?
Heh, I suppose we’ve thought about it.
However…
What a thoroughly, thoroughly boring objective~ Our goal is far nobler, far grander…” Proton’s tone carried absolute disdain for worldly desires.
“What we want is a power that surpasses legendary Pokémon!
What we pursue is the stairway leading to the domain of the gods!” “However…” His tone shifted, a trace of frustration bleeding through: “Our current fusion technology is still immature.
It only allows for a crude combination.
Due to the rejection reactions between energy and genes, we remain completely unable to breach the fusion limit of five Pokémon.
Therefore…
we thought of another path.
A more ‘natural’ method.” The smile returned to Proton’s face.
“Breeding and nurturing!
Utilizing scientific technology to allow these chimeras to successfully produce a next generation, or the generation after that.
Through this method, we will let them naturally shatter the shackles of their genes.” He leaned in close to Professor Elm, grasping his hand, his eyes filled with absolute sincerity: “And that is precisely the purpose for which we have invited you here.
Your authoritative knowledge in the fields of Pokémon breeding, nurturing, and evolution, alongside your profound understanding of life itself, is the final, most critical step on our stairway to the domain of the gods!” “…” Professor Elm fell into a deep silence, thinking only that Team Rocket was completely delusional.
The domain of the gods?
Utterly ridiculous!