Jecht’s eyes sparkled with interest as the woman spoke, her tone laced with the elegance and authority of a royal figure. A Galarian ambassador with ties to archaeology? He hadn’t expected this kind of company in such a remote place, but it made the situation all the more intriguing. The stakes were rising, and he thrived in such tension.
"Royalty and archaeology—a curious blend, but then again, we all have our secrets, don't we?" Jecht mused, his grin widening. His hand drifted to his side, where one of his Poké Balls rested, ready for whatever might come next. The pink-eyed Sprigatito, watching him closely, was a sharp reminder that this woman wasn’t just all talk.
He took a step closer, his voice dropping just slightly, enough to make it feel more intimate—yet charged with challenge.
"But you see, the tunnel here? It’s more than just a simple dig. There’s something hidden beneath these stones that even the best of your cousin’s crew might’ve overlooked." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.
"And as you said, you’re willing to play. So, what do you say we raise the stakes?"
The moment Jecht finished his sentence, the ground beneath them trembled. A sudden shift in the earth caused him to stumble slightly, and his smirk faltered for a brief second. His eyes narrowed as he felt the subtle tug of the earth—something wasn’t right.
"Tsk… clever," he muttered under his breath, glancing down to see a Trapinch emerge from the ground. Its large, vice-like jaws snapped shut with a menacing echo, and the air around them grew tense. The area seemed unnaturally still, almost as if an invisible barrier had been thrown up.
"Arena Trap."The words slipped from his lips as he realized what was happening. The Trapinch had them cornered. Neither he nor the royal ambassador could leave the area until this little guardian was dealt with. Jecht flicked his gaze to the woman beside him, still poised but clearly alert.
"Looks like we’re boxed in," he said, amusement lacing his voice despite the tension.
"Guess that means the game’s on, huh?"Before he could say more, a sharp, high-pitched screech echoed from above. From the shadows of the tunnel ceiling, a Gligar swooped down, its pincers snapping at the air as it circled menacingly, waiting for an opening.
Almost in sync, a Sandslash burst from the ground nearby, its claws gleaming under the faint light of the tunnel as it snarled, its spiny back bristling with aggression. The pair of Ground-types were clearly not alone—this was an ambush, and the Trapinch had set the stage.
Jecht’s hand slowly reached for his Poké Ball, his mind racing. An Arena Trap and these two. Clever. Whoever—or whatever—was commanding these Pokémon had a strategy, but that only made it more exciting.
"Looks like we're stuck together for this one, royal lady," Jecht said, the smirk returning to his face as he tossed his Poké Ball.
"So, let’s put on a show, shall we?"With a flash of light, his Zorua (Hisuian) materialized, eyes gleaming with readiness.
"Time to see how fast you can keep up with me."
The Gligar screeched again, swooping lower, while the Sandslash dug its claws into the ground, ready to charge. The Trapinch remained fixed, its Arena Trap locking them in place, watching with an unsettling calm as the others prepared to attack.
"You take the Sandslash, I’ll handle the Gligar," Jecht said, his voice low but full of energy.
"Let’s see how good you really are."
Elise Calcifet