Aoi Hyoudou: I am extremely happy with the feedback provided. Thank you so much for your assistance. I'm glad to hear that everyone is excited about the upcoming Area Zero saga! It sounds like it's going to be quite intense. In the meantime, why not enjoy some thrilling battles and the exciting buildup to this highly anticipated event?

Chapter X

Scars of Defeat!

~(...)~

BOOM

The sound of a deafening explosion suddenly reverberated through the air, causing everyone in the vicinity of the Pokémon School to look up in alarm. It was apparent that a battle was taking place right above their heads. Professor Kukui, Goh with Pikachu on his shoulder, and the others rushed across the school grounds to get a closer look at the intense sky battle taking place. The question remains: who was involved in this epic showdown?

"What's going on?" Goh was the first to ask, his gaze fixed on the sky. Unbeknownst to him, Pikachu's cheeks were already crackling with electricity as it sensed trouble looming overhead.

As the scene unfolded, everyone's attention was drawn to a familiar guardian deity who was darting through the sky at lightning-fast speed. The deity was skillfully maneuvering around each light blue energy blade from its attacker, while those watching on could only marvel at its agility. Suddenly, Tapu Koko had to dodge several silver balls of energy, the attacker having duplicated itself in order to confuse the guardian deity. However, it didn't take long for Tapu Koko to figure out which sphere was real and it quickly used Dazzling Gleam to prevent it from crashing down at the Pokémon School. Creating a rainbow-colored sphere around its body, Tapu Koko launched it at the Ancient Power, causing both spheres to collide and explode on impact.

BOOM

The collision created a powerful gust of wind that blasted towards the observing students and teacher. Despite the strong breeze, they stood their ground until it subsided. Once the incident was over, they immediately redirected their focus back to the sky battle. "It looks like Tapu Koko is trying to fend off the intruder who entered its territory!" Kukui exclaimed.

"But who's attacking it?" Mallow asked curiously.

Everyone's focus immediately shifted to the other figure, who was riding on the back of his Yanmega - the very creature that had attacked Tapu Koko. At first glance, he appeared to be an unremarkable, bespectacled man who might have been more at home in a university lecture hall. However, upon closer inspection, the small raven logo on his sleeve revealed that he was a notorious Black Raven group member. "That punk is with Black Raven!" Kiawe's expression turned fierce and he let out a low, menacing growl.

"It seems like Black Raven and his gang are up to no good once more. This time their target is Tapu Koko!" Gladion replied with a sharp gaze.

"Not on my watch!" Kiawe's grip tightened around a Poké Ball as he hurled it forward. The ball burst open in a vibrant display of light, revealing a fierce-looking, dragon-like Pokémon with two legs, wings, and a long tail tipped with flames. Charizard bellowed out a thunderous cry and turned to face its Trainer.

Kiawe climbed onto the back of his Charizard, ready to take off into the skies. However, before he could take off, Goh rushed over and offered assistance. "I'm coming, too!" Kiawe was a bit surprised and Goh didn't wait for his answer. Goh acted quickly and threw a Poké Ball with force. As soon as it hit the ground, the ball burst open in a dazzling display of light, revealing a Pokémon that resembled a bipedal dragon with insectoid features. Flygon emitted a gentle, high-pitched sound before its Trainer, accompanied by Pikachu, mounted it from behind.

Kiawe let out a frustrated sigh but couldn't help but smile at the competitive spirit of his fellow rival. "Fine, but don't get in my way!" He told him with a friendly warning.

Goh flashed a smirk and replied, "As if." The excitement was palpable as the two rivals' Pokémon soared up into the sky towards the ongoing battle. The rest of the group couldn't help but cheer them on, thrilled by the fierce competition between the two skilled trainers and their formidable Pokémon.

"Alright, Yanmega! One more time with Air Slash!" The battle was intense as the giant dragonfly let out a loud and angry cry. In the blink of an eye, it started flapping its wings at a high velocity, unleashing multiple light blue energy blades at the guardian deity. The guardian deity had been dodging the oncoming assault for a while now and was starting to show signs of fatigue. As the blades of the incoming attack were nearing Tapu Koko, a sudden burst of Flamethrower and Dragon Breath managed to intercept the impact by shooting underneath the path of the attack. The collision caused a large explosion, effectively neutralizing the threat.

BOOM

"What?" The sudden outcome caught Jake off guard. He clenched his teeth and braced himself as a strong gust of wind blew towards him, shielding himself from the debris that was carried along. As the smoke cloud cleared, he saw that Goh and Kiawe's Pokémon had positioned themselves between him and the startled Tapu Koko. "Oh, great...now what?" With a groan that conveyed his annoyance, he made it clear that he was not pleased.

"If you know what's good for you, you had better leave right now!" Kiawe's sharp glare served as a powerful warning, conveying a sense of urgency and importance.

"We're not letting you lay a finger on Tapu Koku!" Goh's angry voice echoed through the sky, causing Pikachu to shout in agreement with crackling electricity sparking from its cheeks.

Jake's lips curled up into a small smirk as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. It was almost amusing to him that these two had the nerve to get in his way and offer a warning. "Do you two not realize that your empty threats mean nothing to me? I aim to ensure Black Raven and Hunter J get what they want. And people like you are out of the picture." As if his opponents actually cared, he went on to explain his motives anyways.

"Too bad your bosses are crooks, or otherwise we would go easy on you!" Kiawe made fun of the Elite.

Jake's lips formed a straight line, giving off he was frowning and didn't appreciate the taunts. "I'm proud to be a member of the Elite Corp, and while I may not be the strongest member, I still have the ability to compete at a high level and give anyone a run for their money." He had transformed from a calm and peaceful person to a more serious one. "And you two wannabes are no match for my-wait a minute! Why are you two smiling?" As Jake was in the middle of his sentence, he suddenly stopped talking, realizing that Goh and Kiawe had smug smirks on their faces. It seemed like he had fallen into their trap. Jake glanced past the two teens and noticed that the guardian deity was nowhere in sight. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "Wait, where's Tapu K-" Soon realization washed over the Elite. Goh and Kiawe weren't here to battle him. They were here to distract him long enough for someone else to carry out their plan. The Elite knew he had to act fast, but it was too late. The damage had already been done, and he was left to deal with the aftermath. He couldn't help but feel foolish for falling for such a simple trap, but he knew he couldn't dwell on it.

Jake's gaze slowly shifted to the side, and he was horrified to see that Tapu Koko had already approached him. A cold sweat began to trickle down his face, and his throat felt parched. He knew that what was about to happen was inevitable and that there was no time to react. Even when he attempted to retrieve his most powerful Poké Ball, it was clear that it would not have changed the outcome. "You got to be sh-" Tapu Koko released a devastating Discharge attack, hitting both him and his Yanmega with a surge of high-voltage electricity. The piercing screams of agony filled the air, signaling an abrupt end to the battle.

The group stood over the defeated Elite Corp member, pondering their next move now that he had been captured. They were uncertain about what to do with him, but they knew they couldn't just leave him there. After a brief moment of contemplation, one of them proposed that they tie him up and take him back for interrogation. The others nodded in agreement, and they quickly began to bind the captive.

"He was right about one thing," Kiawe said suddenly, bringing all eyes to him. "He's definitely not the strongest." His joke was met with a burst of chuckles and giggles from his friends.

~(...)~

Raven's Nest - J's Office

An awkward silence filled the room as Pokémon Hunter J sat behind her desk, resting her chin on her intertwined fingers with her eyes closed as if deep in thought. Cutlass stood stoically beside the desk, her emotions kept tightly under control. In the room with them, Sarah was wrapped in a heavy blanket with a thermometer in her mouth and an ice pack on her head to soothe her cold. Meanwhile, Black Raven stood beside her, clearly frustrated after delivering his report about their mission. J was experiencing a range of emotions. On the one hand, she was disappointed that the team had failed to capture their biggest bounty, who had managed to escape right under their noses. On the other hand, she felt conflicted about the loss of one of the Elites who had failed their mission and ended up being captured by the enemy. Losing an Elite was a significant blow to the team, but J couldn't help feeling relieved that they had shed some dead weight. She had never held high expectations for Jake since he was only a pawn. Despite the absence of one of their Elite members, they should still be able to manage without him. Although his services were limited, they can be easily replaced.

"It's a shame about Scout," J finally spoke, breaking the ice and causing everyone to focus their attention on her. "I think we should consider all the options before making a decision," she said, her voice calm and steady. Soon she opened her eyes and continued, "We need to weigh the pros and cons and make the best choice for everyone involved." Her thoughtful words brought a sense of relief to the group, who had been struggling to come up with a solution. "But it's time to move forward!" The incident with Jake didn't surprise anyone, as Pokémon Hunter J was known to see her team members as nothing more than pawns for her personal gain. While Cutlass and Black Raven reluctantly accepted her response, Sarah was shocked that J would treat Jake so callously.

"A-Are you serious?!" Sarah held back the urge to snap back at her Mistress, trying her best to suppress the boiling rage she was feeling.

J shot an icy cold glare at the rebellious Elite. "He was weak. It was his fault for failing his assignment and getting captured. I say good riddance." The scene was tense as the blonde woman glared at J in frustration and gritted her teeth. "If you have a problem with it then perhaps you're not fitted to be an Elite either." J, with a cruel smile on her lips, taunted her Elite's emotions. She warned Sarah that if she had any problem with the situation, perhaps exiling her next would be the best course of action.

"What did you s-" Sarah attempted to take a step forward, but her leader blocked her by extending his arm, which prevented her from making a grave mistake. "-Leader?" Ash shook his head and didn't spare her a glance, which left her staring at him in disbelief.

"Sarah," he said in a firm but gentle tone, "I'm afraid we have to go along with J's decision." Sarah was taken aback. She had always trusted her leader to make the right choices, but now she couldn't believe he was giving in so easily. She bit her lip and looked down at her feet, feeling disappointed and unsure of what to do next. Despite her reservations, she knew she had to follow her leader's orders and do what was necessary.

Cutlass released a deep sigh, expressing clear frustration with the situation at hand, but recognized the need to move forward and concentrate on more significant matters. "It's unfortunate that Jake won't be moving forward with us in the near future, but it's time to shift our focus to a more important matter." She told the group, ignoring the glare she was getting from Sarah.

"I agree," J replied with a sigh, fully agreeing with her first apprentice.

Cutlass had a brief moment of amusement, but her attention quickly returned to their upcoming task."Our latest client has requested us to head to the Paldea region." The swordswoman informed her leader and the Elite Corp member, which immediately piqued their interest. It seems like a significant event that they received a request to explore that region for the very first time. It's definitely worth investigating what could have prompted this sudden interest.

"I'm assuming this bounty is a lot more than Mew." Cutlass couldn't believe how ignorant her leader was being.

"Forget Mew! We're going after a much bigger prize!" She declared with a smug smirk on her beautiful face, causing her comrades to become even more curious about what was in store for them.

"Which is?' Ash couldn't help but ask, even though he knew where this was leading.

"Area Zero," Cutlass announced with the smug smirk still plastered on her face.

~(...)~

Paldea region - Naranja Academy

In the center of Paldea lies the sprawling city of Mesagoza, known as the largest city in the region. The city is home to the renowned Naranja Academy, which has a rich history and attracts students from different parts of the world. The academy provides a platform for students to improve their skills through various means such as academics and Pokémon battles. As the school day comes to a close, students can be seen walking through the schoolyard, either heading back to their dormitories or exploring other locations around the academy.

One particular student had other ideas as she was heading towards the staircase which was often referred to as "the worst staircase in the world". Her name was Penny, a short girl who was always seen in a hoodie with a small Poké Ball in the center. She wore butterfly leggings, a short transparent skirt, snow boots, circular glasses, and a fluffy Eevee backpack. Her hair was blue with a red front.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice calling out to her from behind. "Hey, Penny!" Penny stopped in her tracks and slowly glanced over her shoulder, looking bored, as she noticed her upperclassman heading in her direction.

As Arven caught up with his friend, Penny, she muttered under her breath, sounding clearly unenthusiastic. Arven had blonde hair and green eyes and wore an orange shirt and necktie with a blue or yellow vest emblazoned with the school's emblem on the front. His orange pants and brown boots matched his backpack - a bright shade of yellow - which he carried on his back. After catching his breath, he glanced at Penny with a big grin and greeted her. Penny responded with an awkward, shy voice and then turned around, saying, "Oh, hi... And, goodbye!" Arven couldn't help but notice the girl's typical behavior. Although he wasn't surprised that she was still shy around him, he couldn't help but wish that she could have given him a proper greeting.

"Oh, come on, Penny! What kind of greeting was that?" His response frustrated the girl and she sighed before sparing him another glance.

"Is there something you want, Arven?"

Arven flashed another grin at Penny and said, "I thought we could hang out since Nemona isn't here to bug us nonstop in battling her." Though his offer seemed tempting, Penny already had plans. She quickly turned away and hinted that she would have to take a raincheck.

"Love too, but I already have p-" Arven noticed Penny stopped midway through her sentence when she was staring at something in the distance. He followed her gaze and saw a familiar airship approaching the academy. The front of the craft bore a raven-shaped logo, causing Arven's eyes to narrow and his lips to form a straight line. He felt that trouble was brewing for them and the region of Paldea.

Next preview - Chapter 11: "Chaos at Mesagoza - Part 1!"

Cutlass: "We're finally here!"

Ash/Black Raven: "So...this is the famous Naranja Academy I heard about."

Cutlass: "Try to bend in and don't do anything stupid to blow your cover!"

Sarah: "Alright! Who will be my first opponent!"

Penny: "I'm...Penny."

Stratos: "I'm...S-Sierra."

Cutlass: "Chapter 11: Chaos at Mesagoza - Part 1!"

Geeta: "Hello, young man. I'm Geeta, the chairwoman of Naranja Academy and Pokémon Top Champion."

Ash/Raven: "I'm-"

Geeta: "You're Ash Ketchum, aren't you? Or should I say...the infamous Black Raven."

Yes, I understand that Geeta, Arven, and Penny will be in the story, although their roles may be limited. The teaser between Ash and Geeta could lead to Paldea becoming a major arc for the next several chapters. As for the Elite Corp members, it seems that one or two may be outcasted during this saga. Unfortunately, I don't know who it is as I want to make sure the outcome is good.