The massive swarm of Eelektrik erupted into a frenzy. For the other poachers who had yet to cross the underground lake, this was nothing short of a disaster. Their only option now was to send out their Pokemon to defend themselves.
However, with lightning flashing wildly across the lake and its surface, unless one had a Pokemon like Swampert — with both Water and Ground typing — or a Pokemon resistant to Electric-types, it was nearly impossible to continue fighting in this environment.
The Black Cloud Poaching Group, Shadow, and Hook's teams, who were using their UFO-shaped Magnezone to hover above the lake, were doing better. Most of the Eelektrik's moves could barely affect the Magnezone beneath them.
But the Crag Poaching Group and the Malevolent Ghost Poaching Group, who were trying to cross the lake using rubber boats, were in dire straits. Although their boats were made of special materials, far more insulated than ordinary rubber and exceptionally durable…
There were simply too many Eelektrik in the lake. Their small boat couldn't withstand such dense attacks. It wouldn't be long before the Eelektrik tore it apart entirely.
And judging by what happened to the poachers who fell into the water earlier, everyone could clearly see what kind of miserable fate awaited anyone who went overboard — absolutely no chance of survival.
At this moment, all the poachers hated the Gale Poaching Group to the bone. If they could, they would tear the Gale members apart alive.
But when backed into a corner, creatures often unleash astonishing strength. Every one of these poachers was strong enough to dominate an entire region; naturally, each kept life-saving trump cards hidden up their sleeves.
Facing this life-or-death crisis, the three major poaching groups finally played their hands.
The whip-wielding woman took out several pitch-black spheres from her storage backpack and tossed them into the lake below. The moment they sank, they spread through the water like drops of ink, rapidly dyeing an entire area of the lake black.
Immediately afterward, the Eelektrik within the darkened water began to develop large patches of purple markings, accompanied by waves of violet light radiating from their bodies — a clear sign of poisoning.
Within moments, countless Tynamo and Eelektrik floated motionless to the surface of the blackened water.
It was obvious that the spheres she threw were filled with highly toxic substances — and not ordinary poison either. They instantly killed a huge number of low-level Tynamo and Eelektrik.
However, members of the Tynamo line possess Levitate. Once they sensed the water becoming poisonous, they floated out of it as quickly as possible and launched even more frenzied attacks from above.
The whip-wielding woman clearly never expected those toxic spheres to wipe out all their enemies. She simply used the momentary chaos — when the Tynamo line was heavily damaged and unable to hinder them much — to lead her team in a rapid breakout.
In the end, after losing one teammate, she managed to drag the rest across the lake in a battered, miserable state.
The Crag Poaching Group used a different trump card — a terrifyingly powerful series of ice bombs. After detonating over a dozen, they finally froze a long stretch of the lake's latter half, creating a path of ice to escape on.
But at this moment, every Crag member felt their heart bleeding. These ice bombs were originally meant for battling Altaria… yet now, just to save their own lives, they had nearly used up their entire stock.
As for the Malevolent Ghost Poaching Group at the very back — they were in the greatest danger.
But they seemed to possess some kind of secret art that allowed their Ghost-type Pokemon to completely conceal their own presence. Using this technique along with several Eelektross they controlled, they barely managed to reach the opposite shore.
However, the cost was clearly immense. The sickly old man and the other five members of the Malevolent Ghost Group all looked deathly pale, their vitality brutally drained, as though they had aged several years in an instant.
The Ghost-type Pokemon beside them, however, appeared invigorated, their auras significantly stronger — as though they had consumed powerful nutrients.
"Damn it! Hey, you over there — buy me a little time! I'll take you with me!"
Meanwhile, Hook could feel the Magnezone beneath him nearing its limit under the relentless barrage of Acid from the Eelektrik. Panic surged in his chest. Finally, gritting his teeth, he shouted toward Shadow, who was struggling nearby.
As soon as he finished, he pulled out a pitch-black PokeBall and released its contents.
In the next moment, a Abra appeared beside him, wearing some kind of strange device on its head. The instant it emerged, its eyes lit up with a blue glow as it began preparing Teleport.
But before it could activate the move, Hook immediately pressed a button on a mechanical device in his hand. Instantly, the signal lights on the contraption attached to Abra's head lit up.
Abra let out a scream. Its psychic energy vanished, and its eyes turned vacant and lifeless.
"Five seconds."
Shadow listened without expression, but when he saw Hook forcefully controlling a Abra, he finally nodded and replied.
He quickly directed his Magnezone to move beside Hook's. Once the two Magnezone temporarily linked together via magnetism, Shadow released a level-52 Whiscash and ordered it to use Mud Sport over both Magnezone.
Then, he had Whiscash cooperate with his Arbok to use Protect.
(Note: Mud Sport, a Ground-type status move, reduces the power of Electric-type moves for a certain period.)
Under the effect of Mud Sport, the Electric-type attacks' damage against the two Magnezone dropped sharply. Meanwhile, Protect shielded them from the Eelektrik's Acid.
"Hurry up! Use Teleport and get us out of here!"
Seeing that the dangerous surroundings were temporarily under control, Hook finally let out a breath of relief and focused on controlling the rebellious Psychic-type Pokemon with the device.
This Abra was the very reason he dared to come here alone to steal the Pokemon egg. It had taken immense effort — and pure luck — to capture it.
But like most Psychic-type Pokemon, Abra had zero respect for Hook. Knowing this, he had paid a fortune to a money-obsessed mad scientist to create a device capable of forcing Abra's obedience.
Thanks to this Abra's Teleport, Hook had escaped death many times. That was why he had the confidence to brave this place and attempt the impossible. But now, in this life-or-death moment, he had to reveal his final trump card early.
Although Abra desperately resisted Hook's command, at only a little over level ten, it couldn't fight the device's suppressive force. Its empty eyes merely obeyed and activated Teleport, bringing Hook and Shadow with it.
Before long, with Abra's help, the two successfully escaped to the opposite shore of the lake.