"Heh… Who would've thought a seemingly ordinary little farm would be home to so many rare Pokémon?"
With the aid of Sabrina's teleportation, Giovanni and several of his subordinates appeared directly in front of Rex. As his eyes swept across the lineup of Pokémon standing guard, he couldn't help but voice his admiration.
"Why are you forcing me into this? If you walk away from Rex Farm now, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."
Rex's eyes were calm and resolute as he spoke, his voice firm.
"What did you just say, punk? You're way too arrogant!"
Sabrina could no longer contain her rage. A powerful wave of psychic energy surged around her, ready to strike at Giovanni's command.
"Enough, Sabrina. Stand down—I want to speak with him first."
Instead of being angered by Rex's "threat," Giovanni seemed to appreciate his courage. He waved off Sabrina calmly.
"Hmph."
Sabrina snorted coldly and restrained her oppressive psychic aura, though her eyes still burned with fury.
"Young man, your strength has earned my respect. I'm here to invite you to join Team Rocket—as one of our elite executives. What do you say?"
Though Giovanni's face remained stern, his tone held a peculiar charisma. His mere presence radiated an unspoken dominance—like a monarch accustomed to control. It was a natural-born authority, honed through years of commanding Team Rocket, capable of making others submit without force.
This was why so many Rocket members revered him not just as a leader, but as a guiding light.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I just want to live peacefully here with my Pokémon and build a better future."
Though Rex could sense the sincerity in Giovanni's invitation, he had no interest in being anyone's pawn. His response came without hesitation.
"I see. If that's your choice, I'll respect it. But that makes us enemies. Hand over Diancie, and I promise I won't make things difficult for you. How about that?"
Having failed to recruit Rex, Giovanni wasted no time baring his fangs.
"You know that's not happening. Diancie—Diamond Storm!"
Knowing that diplomacy had ended, Rex didn't hesitate. At his command, Diancie unleashed a shimmering barrage of crystal shards.
It was the signal.
In unison, Rex's entire team of Pokémon launched their attacks at Giovanni's party.
The battlefield was engulfed in a flurry of explosive abilities.
"Heh… Such decisiveness. A shame he refused to join us."
Before the attacks landed, Sabrina had already teleported them back aboard their flying vessel—a contingency they had prepared beforehand.
Giovanni didn't plan to engage Rex in a direct battle—not when the boy was a martial artist capable of fighting without Pokémon.
"Begin," Giovanni said calmly.
"Yes, Boss," Matori replied, and pressed a button on a nearby console.
Immediately, a strange signal began emanating from a transmitter-like device, its pulse spreading outward like invisible waves.
"What's happening to you guys?!"
Rex looked up in alarm as dozens of Swellow began falling from the sky like rain.
He rushed to one of the fainted Swellow and examined it. Physically, it was unharmed—but its mind had clearly been assaulted, as if it were lost in confusion, unaware of its surroundings.
It wasn't just the Swellow. The Politoed tribe and even Milotic's ocean allies were similarly affected.
Only the strongest among them—Totem Swellow and the frontline battlers—remained standing.
For the first time, Rex truly witnessed the horror of Team Rocket's black technology. With just a signal, they had neutralized his numerical advantage.
"Regret your decision now?" Sabrina sneered as she reappeared on the battlefield via teleportation.
Without waiting for Rex's reply, she hurled a dark Poké Ball into the air.
A moment later, a majestic, flame-wreathed Moltres appeared in the sky above them.
Rex's pupils narrowed sharply.
Moltres—a legendary bird of fire. Its crimson feathers, fiery crest, and blazing tail shimmered like molten flame. Its wings, formed of living fire, lit the skies with every beat. Its arrival was said to herald the coming of spring to snowbound lands. Its presence alone was awe-inspiring.
But something was wrong.
This Moltres' gaze was hollow and glassy. Around its neck hung a black collar—unmistakably a control device.
Team Rocket had enslaved it.
Rex knew there was only one way to save the legendary Pokémon—destroy the collar. Until then, he'd have to survive its attacks.
And Sabrina wasn't done.
She released her full team: Alakazam, Espeon, Slowking, Metagross—all powerful Psychic-types.
This time, Sabrina wasn't making the same mistake as before. She wasn't underestimating Rex again.
Since she could no longer control him mentally, she would rely on overwhelming force.
As for the Moltres—it was on loan from Giovanni. Capturing and subduing it had cost Team Rocket dearly, both in resources and lives. But once it was secured, it became a powerful tool—especially against other legendary Pokémon.
Even though the collar suppressed part of its strength, it remained a terrifying weapon—and one capable of turning the tide of any battle.
(End of Chapter)