Chapter 18: Blood and Bonds


    The air emanating from Lance’s body wasn’t just heavy—it carried an ancient, almost primordial aura. The Champion of Kanto, his red cape swaying slightly, watched the unfolding scene with eyes burning with a reptilian glow. It was as if a dragon had descended upon a nest of scorpions to assert its dominance.


    Koga let out a low growl, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Julia was crushed against the floor, the shadows of her Gengar dancing around her. Agatha gripped her cane firmly, while Oak and Gary, standing a few steps back, observed in silence, unwilling to intervene.


    “I told you to kneel,” Lance repeated, his tone colder than before.


    The weight of his presence intensified, and for a moment, it felt like the entire room was vibrating. Koga resisted, his breathing labored. Yet, in the end, he gave in, dropping to one knee, glaring at the Champion with pure hatred. Julia clenched her teeth and lowered herself as well—more out of sheer pressure than out of respect. Agatha, well-acquainted with Lance’s power, simply averted her gaze. She had enough experience to know that when a dragon was angered, it was best not to challenge it.


    Finally, Lance released the overwhelming pressure, and an involuntary sigh escaped from everyone. Koga stood rigidly, straightening his dark attire. Beside him, Julia caught her breath. The Champion continued to observe them with a mix of disapproval and slight contempt.


    “If the Pokémon League Federation (PLF) found out about the chaos you’ve caused in Kanto’s Academy…” he began in a deep voice, “they’d think Kanto is a region without order or control. And I won’t allow anyone to doubt the strength of our land.”


    Koga wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling venom pulsing through his veins. His cold demeanor remained unbroken, but his wounded pride was evident.


    “I don’t care about the PLF’s opinion,” he growled.


    “You’ll have to care,” Lance replied firmly. “Because I’m ordering this conflict to be settled within your respective clans—without killing anyone.”


    “What…?” Koga took a step forward, his eyes burning with rage. “That brat humiliated my son, stole a Zubat that belongs to us, and his grandmother is a fugitive from our clan! How do you expect my family to just let this offense go unpunished?”


    Julia clenched her fists, directing her fury at the leader of the Poison Clan.


    “We are not part of your family,” she spat. “You have no right to claim anything from Aspen.”


    Oak intervened, his voice measured, though his hands trembled slightly.


    “Koga, we’re talking about a student at the Academy… You’re not going to kill him over capturing a wild Pokémon.”


    “Not wild,” Koga corrected. “That Zubat was specially trained. It was meant for Niko, destined to inherit the secrets of the Poison Clan. It’s unacceptable for that impure-blooded boy to keep it.”


    “I’m afraid Lance has already spoken, Koga,” Gary added, trying to sound neutral, though Koga’s glare made him take a step back. “The PLF won’t hear about this problem—as long as there are no deaths or public scandals.”


    The leader of the Poison Clan shot a murderous look at Lance but said nothing. He had seen the Champion’s power firsthand and doubted he could successfully challenge him at that moment. Oak let out a relieved sigh, sensing a forced but necessary truce taking shape. Then, Lance spoke again:


    “You will resolve this issue within the clans. But I repeat—without unnecessary deaths. Neither Julia, Aspen, nor anyone else is to be killed. Is that clear?”


    Koga scowled, his anger barely contained. His silence was a form of protest. Finally, his voice, as cold as ice, cut through the tension:


    “I’ll do as you say….”


    Lance lifted his chin, accepting the reluctant submission.


    “Good. And make no mistake—if any of you violate this agreement, I will personally ensure that your entire family disappears.”


    The atmosphere in the room remained heavy with tension. Agatha struck the floor with her cane, the hollow sound reverberating through the space.


    “Now that it’s clear there will be no killings, let’s talk about the next step. Koga, Julia mentioned something about a… scroll from the Normal Clan that you have in your possession.”


    The Poison Clan leader shrugged, attempting to feign indifference.


    “That scroll exists, yes. I inherited it from my father. It’s a… copy of the Normal Clan’s records that he obtained decades ago.” His lips curled into a malicious smile. “Don’t pretend you didn’t already know that.”


    Lance tilted his head slightly, his smile holding a trace of amusement.


    “Of course we knew. But don’t act so self-righteous. It’s not the original, nor is its content complete. The PLF tolerates it because, for the most part, it lacks real value. In theory, whoever possesses the true text of the Normal Clan would have access to ancient primordial rituals.”


    Koga averted his gaze with a low grunt. Oak and Gary exchanged glances, realizing how much of the old clan politics remained unknown to them. Julia then spoke up:


    “Koga, you said you planned to kill Aspen over the Zubat and steal my technique. I’m willing to give you the technique I developed—but under two conditions.”


    Her words sparked murmurs. Koga raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued.


    “Just like that?” Doubt laced his voice. He studied the woman with a hint of greed. “Go on. Speak.”


    “First: Aspen keeps the Zubat. I won’t allow you to take a Pokémon he captured during an official Academy trial,” she said with surprising calm. “And second: you will not plot against me, Aspen, or my family. No direct attacks, no Poison Clan conspiracies.”


    Koga scowled bitterly.


    “And why would I agree to that kind of blackmail? Your Five Organs Technique isn’t even complete yet. You don’t even know which abilities or Pokémon produce the highest compatibility—you only have two out of five.”


    Julia smirked, her expression sharp.


    “Two is better than nothing. My technique contains notes on how I created it. Do you want the key to the fusion of forces that would balance your poison? It describes the characteristics of the five organs and their relationship to specific elemental types. Without it, your clan will never advance in the research you were planning.”


    Koga’s lip twitched in frustration. He clearly wanted that knowledge. After a long pause, he muttered:


    “Fine. But I don’t trust your word.”


    “That’s why we’ll perform a blood pact,” Julia declared, crossing her arms. “An ancient ritual derived from the poison energy your father used. We both know that if either of us breaks the pact, we’ll die instantly.”


    A shiver ran through the room. Even Oak and Gary seemed uneasy. The blood pact was an old and brutal method of sealing agreements between rival clans. There was no room for betrayal—without instant, fatal consequences.


    Koga clenched his jaw, his temple vein pulsing with barely restrained fury. The only thing forcing him to agree was Agatha’s gaze—piercing him like a dagger. Finally, he gave a stiff nod, defeated:


    “Fine, Julia. I’ll accept it. But you bring that scroll now. And know this—if I find out you’re deceiving me, the ritual will kill you, not me.”


    Julia remained silent, her eyes filled with nothing but contempt.


    Lance, satisfied that an agreement had been forged, relaxed his posture.


    “Perfect. You, Koga, and you, Julia—carry out the ritual. And no tricks.”


    Agatha nodded, and the two Gengar from both sides moved toward the center of the room. Julia locked eyes with Koga. Though he held himself high, tension seeped from his frame.


    Each took a knife and sliced their palms, letting a few drops of blood fall onto a piece of parchment. A cold chill swept through the room as the blood began to glow with a crimson light, transforming into smoke. The seal completed itself with a small burst of red energy. The promise was set.


    “If you break it,” Julia whispered icily, “you’ll die instantly. And the same goes for me.”


    Koga said nothing, but the way his jaw clenched betrayed his barely contained rage.


    ———————————


    In another chamber, Sabrina was in the midst of a deep psychic intrusion. The young Vera sat restrained in a metal chair, a psychic circlet fastened tightly around her head, suppressing her abilities. Her consciousness writhed under the relentless probing of the Psychic Clan’s leader. Vera, still furious at Sabrina’s violation of her mind and weakened by the ordeal, had no strength to resist effectively—the web of psychic seals kept her immobilized.


    “Let’s see what’s in here, bastard of the Psychic Clan,” Sabrina murmured, closing her eyes as she delved telepathically into the girl’s mind.


    A sharp pain, like needles piercing deep into her being, made Vera shudder. She tried to block out the intrusion, but the Third Eye—her Ajna Chakra—was nearly sealed by the circlet’s restraints. She silently screamed, her mind left vulnerable.


    “What… is this?” Sabrina’s eyes snapped open, stunned. She looked down, watching a flood of images and sensations unfold. “A psychic technique… The Seven Chakras? I’ve never heard of anything like this.”


    A faint pink aura began surrounding both their bodies, the air in the room growing thick, charged with psychic energy that caused sparks to crackle in the atmosphere. Vera whimpered silently, while Sabrina, in shock, read fragments of the implanted technique:


    Root Chakra (Dark Red) – Increases physical endurance and strengthens telekinesis, allowing precise manipulation of heavy objects.


    Sacral Chakra (Vibrant Orange) – Influences the emotions of others, inducing fear, calm, or confusion.


    Solar Plexus Chakra (Golden Yellow) – Enhances willpower and telepathy, enabling the implantation of simple ideas into others’ minds.


    Heart Chakra (Bright Green) – Creates a psychic bond with Pokémon or nearby allies, allowing for non-verbal mental communication.


    Throat Chakra (Light Blue) – Amplifies the “mental voice,” affecting perception and causing confusion or momentary paralysis.


    Third Eye Chakra (Intense Magenta) – Grants clairvoyance, allowing the user to anticipate movements, detect hidden presences, and perceive energy auras.


    Crown Chakra (Brilliant Violet) – Unlocks the user’s full psychic potential, merging telekinesis and telepathy into a devastating expansion of energy.


    One after another, definitions and manifestations of power surfaced. If Vera mastered all of them, she could become an unstoppable force.


    “Who implanted this in you?” Sabrina’s voice echoed inside Vera’s mind, but only fragmented visions surfaced—a man with dark eyes, an arcane seal, her mother collapsing to her knees, the absence of a father. It was all chaotic, disjointed.


    Sabrina’s heart pounded as her suspicions were confirmed—Vera hadn’t learned the technique in the conventional sense. It had been implanted into her, turning her into a latent “weapon” with immeasurable potential. And the most chilling realization? Vera possessed twice the base psychic power of an average psychic.


    Without the guidance of the Psychic Clan.


    Without official training.


    With nothing but raw talent.


    “You’re… a monster in the making,” Sabrina whispered, taking a step back. The Seven Chakras was something far beyond normal psychic abilities.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.She deactivated the circlet slightly, allowing Vera some relief. The girl collapsed, unconscious, drained of all energy.


    “Your hatred toward my father… I understand now,” Sabrina muttered. “He abandoned your mother when he saw no talent in her.”


    Her voice was unexpectedly soft—but devoid of empathy.


    “I think… it’s in my best interest to keep you under control, not dead.”


    Vera let out a final breath before slipping further into unconsciousness. Sabrina straightened, adjusting her uniform.


    A few minutes later, she exited the chamber, walking down the dimly lit hallway, where she encountered Bruno. The Fighting Clan leader was just leaving the room where he had interrogated Kara. He frowned as he noticed Sabrina’s expression.


    “How’d it go with the redhead?” Bruno asked.


    “Interesting,” Sabrina admitted. “I found something called The Seven Chakras. It’s an advanced psychic technique that channels energy through different points in the body.” She hesitated slightly. “Honestly, it was terrifying. If she masters it completely, she could surpass many of my best students.”


    Bruno clenched his fists, intrigued.


    “I discovered something similares with the fighter, Kara,” he said. “I skimmed the surface of her mind—nothing too invasive. I found a technique called The Six-Step Body Modification. It’s… incredible. Based on manipulating human physiology through aura.”He paused thoughtfully and explained, it consists of:


    Muscular System – Increases raw strength and explosive speed by densifying and strengthening muscle fibers.


    Skeletal System – Reinforces the bone structure to withstand extreme impacts without fracturing.


    Nervous System – Enhances reaction speed, reflexes, and motor coordination.


    Circulatory System – Optimizes oxygen and aura distribution to improve endurance and accelerate recovery.


    Perceptive System – Enhances the five senses to detect subtle environmental changes and anticipate attacks.


    Internal System – Regulates vital organs to resist pain, stabilize metabolism, and maintain the body under extreme conditions.


    “I recorded it in a scroll, but it’s useless to most of my students. It requires an exceptional aura to put into practice.”


    The two leaders stood in silence for a moment before Sabrina added:


    “Kara doesn’t truly belong to your clan, does she? My notes indicate that her aura is twice as strong as a normal human’s. Someone like that shouldn’t be left wandering freely…”


    Bruno nodded, a mix of envy and caution in his expression.


    “Yes, her body is a treasure. She could become a legendary fighter if she masters all six steps of the technique. But I don’t trust her.”


    “Neither of them will ever truly join our clans. Isn’t that what you’re thinking?” Sabrina continued. “The Psychic Clan won’t accept Vera as a ‘true daughter,’ and the same goes for Kara with the Fighting Clan.”


    Bruno gave a short nod.


    “Exactly. That’s why Lance ruled that officially, they ‘belong’ to us—but in practice, they’ll be outcasts. Kept away from the true teachings.”


    “In other words, control them without giving them too much power,” Sabrina concluded. “It’s the same decision Lance and the PLF made. Better to suppress potential rivals than risk them defecting to another region.”


    Bruno and Sabrina tucked away the scrolls they had written. It was clear that neither Lisa nor Alex could master Body Modification or The Seven Chakras. In their hands, the techniques would remain incomplete. The true prodigies… were Kara and Vera.


    Later that night…


    With his absolute authority, Lance issued the final orders:


    1. Kara, Vera, and Aspen would be placed under the “care” of their respective clans (or, in Aspen’s case, the Poison Clan and his grandmother, Julia—grudgingly).


    2. The clans were strictly forbidden from killing or seriously harming them under the threat of Lance’s wrath and PLF intervention.


    3. Officially, they would be recognized as members—but without any real privileges. A meaningless “title.”


    Agatha, assisted by Oak and Gary, ensured that Kara, Vera, and Aspen were taken away on stretchers. All three had lost consciousness after the cave collapse and the immense strain on their minds and bodies.


    Julia bid Koga farewell with a look of pure disgust. She had promised to deliver the Normal Clan scroll, sealed by the blood pact, in exchange for Aspen’s safety and the right to keep the Zubat. Koga, though seething with resentment, had no choice but to accept.


    Lisa and Alex left in frustration, feeling cheated—they hadn’t managed to kill or humiliate their rivals. Meanwhile, Niko departed with his father, his eyes blazing with fury. He swore to take revenge on Aspen when the opportunity arose, though the blood pact would prevent him from directly harming him.


    Koga, if he wanted to make Aspen’s life miserable, would have to be far more subtle.


    At Aspen’s Home————————-


    Outside, as the makeshift Academy ambulances pulled up, a few medics hurriedly transported Aspen, Vera, and Kara inside. Lance hovered above, watching from atop one of his dragons.


    Julia had already prepared a recovery room, filled with herbs and medicinal extracts. The medics, unaware of the full story, simply followed orders. They had no idea why a venom expert like Julia was treating these three or why the Elite Four had decided against taking them to a Pokémon Center. But no one questioned it—orders had come from the highest ranks.


    The sun set, and nightfall blanketed the small house in darkness. Julia got to work, mixing antidotes and herbal remedies of her own creation. Her Gengar assisted her, holding vials and stirring mixtures with an oddly gentle growl.


    Once the medics left, the old woman sat beside Aspen’s bed, watching his pale face.


    “Rest, my child…” she whispered, her voice filled with a tenderness that contrasted with the fury she still harbored toward Koga.


    She inhaled deeply. She knew that, even after giving up her technique, the Poison Clan wouldn’t sit idly by. But for now, the blood pact would prevent them from outright killing Aspen.


    For now, his life was safe.


    In the dimly lit room, Vera and Kara lay on makeshift cots, breathing in sync, their bodies still weak from the ordeal. Though unconscious, an eerie tension hung in the air between them—Vera’s suppressed psychic energy clashed with Kara’s naturally strong aura, creating an invisible but undeniable presence in the space.


    Julia, wiping sweat from her forehead, observed the strange resonance between the two girls.


    “They’re so different from my poisons,” she murmured, staring at their faintly glowing auras. “These three… I don’t know what path they’ll take, but their fates are now entangled with the most powerful clans.”


    For a brief moment, she recalled the piercing gazes of Sabrina, Bruno, and Koga. And then, the overwhelming presence of Lance, who had imposed his will upon them all like a true dragon.


    A shiver ran down her spine.


    It was rare for the Elite Four to intervene so directly in the affairs of Academy students. But the scale of what had happened in the caves—the raw potential that had been revealed—had forced their hand.


    Officially, the Kanto Academy had temporarily expelled Aspen, Vera, and Kara. The cave disaster, the broken traditions, and the tensions between clans had led to a politically convenient decision. It allowed the school to avoid direct scrutiny from the Pokémon League Federation (PLF) while giving the clans an excuse to tighten their control over the three.


    But everyone knew the truth—this was an “expulsion by agreement.”


    The official record stated:


    ? Aspen would be accepted (though in reality, marginalized) into the Poison Clan, placed under the reluctant supervision of his grandmother, Julia. He would not be given formal training but could not refuse the title.


    ? Vera would be acknowledged as an illegitimate Psychic Clan heir under Sabrina’s oversight. However, she would not be given full access to the clan’s knowledge or hierarchy.


    ? Kara would be assigned to the Fighting Clan, under Bruno’s watch. Though she would be monitored, she would never receive complete training or the benefits of a true clan member.


    They would bear the names of their clans, but none of the privileges.


    This was the final judgment Lance had imposed—a fragile balance that preserved Kanto’s reputation and prevented an all-out clan war.


    Hours passed, and night draped Aspen’s house under a blanket of stars. Outside, the chirping of crickets filled the air, occasionally accompanied by the distant flutter of a Zubat searching for fruit or insects. Most likely, the Zubat Aspen had captured—whom he had named Noizy—remained inside its Poké Ball, oblivious to the political turmoil it had unwittingly sparked.


    Julia stepped onto the small porch, cradling a cup of hot tea infused with calming herbs. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gazed into the garden’s shadows, remembering how she had fled the clan decades ago. It pained her to know that her grandson was now ensnared in the very same web. Yet, there was no other option.


    At the very least, they were still alive.


    At the very least, the poison technique Aspen was developing would not be forcibly taken from him.


    The blood pact protected him.


    For now.


    Inside, in the dimly lit room, Vera’s breathing was uneven. A faint whimper escaped her lips. In her subconscious, images of Sabrina rifling through her memories intertwined with the hatred she harbored toward her unknown father. Her hands twitched, and for an instant, her aura flared, causing a faint creak in the wooden floor beneath her.


    On the other side of the room, Kara stirred in her sleep, the bandages wrapped around her ribs shifting slightly. Her body, always in tune with her aura, reacted instinctively in her dreams. A soft blue glow rippled across her skin.


    Lastly, Aspen lay on his separate cot, his sleep devoid of clear dreams. His arm remained bandaged, faint traces of poison having been purged from his system by Julia’s treatment. Every so often, his body shuddered—lingering echoes of Niko’s blades haunted his mind.


    From his lap, a faint hum resonated from his Poké Ball—the one containing Noizy. As if, somehow, the little Zubat understood that its new trainer had fought hard to keep it.


    As dawn slowly crept over the horizon, Julia returned inside, seating herself beside her grandson’s bed. She murmured quiet words of reassurance, her voice gentle yet firm.


    Beside her, her Gengar and two Grimer, whom she had raised herself, remained on watch.


    She knew that if Aspen did not refine his technique, the clans would crush him.


    But if he trained too much, if he grew too strong…


    Would he become another Koga?


    Would he lose himself to power, just like the Poison Clan’s leader had?


    A flicker of fear crossed her mind.


    Her fingers trembled as she gently brushed Aspen’s damp hair away from his forehead.


    “I promise you, my child… I will make sure you keep your heart pure. Even if it means facing the Poison Clan once again.”


    Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the distant sound of a Zubat’s wings.