"Honchkrow, Heat Wave!"
"HONCH!" Honchkrow let out an enraged cry!
Someone actually dared try to bypass it and launch an aerial assassination on Sato…
Did they think its massive body was just for show!!?
Heat Wave spread out in all directions, and the extreme heat forced the surrounding Flying-type Pokémon to retreat one after another.
But they quickly fought back with moves like Hurricane and Gust, then began to close in again.
Although Sato seemed to be just the spark that ignited this war, the Bounty on his head being even higher than an Elite Four Trainer's was absolutely real.
After he had lured Fish-Eyeds into the relatively safer forest and returned from there alone, Sato inevitably encountered an ambush from the Underground forces!
Fearow, Noctowl, Scyther, Golbat, Skarmory, Dodrio[1]… a wide variety of Flying-types stared menacingly, surrounding Sato and Honchkrow.
It was as if they were all waiting for the signal to execute their next coordinated strike!
Although Sato had long resolved to cut ties with his past life, there were still some lingering bonds he couldn't quite let go of…
When he saw Fish-Eyeds again, he couldn't truly treat him like a stranger.
Thankfully, Fish-Eyeds had been sensible. Once he realized Sato had noticed him, he retreated without hesitation, and Sato, in turn, cooperated by "driving him away."
As for these worthless pests in front of him…
"Hydreigon… Draco Meteor."
A flash of red light! And Hydreigon, who had performed brilliantly during the raid on the Team Rocket base, appeared at Sato's side.
Then came the move that was both stunning like fireworks and deadly like meteorites… the Dragon-type super finisher: Draco Meteor!
"FEAROW, USE AGILITY AND FLEE!"
"SKARMORY, USE PROTECT TO BLOCK IT!"
"DODRI-"
The flock of birds frantically scattered in all directions, trying to escape the attack range of Draco Meteor. But Draco Meteor had some tracking properties, escaping wasn't as easy as they hoped…
BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM…!
A series of thunderous explosions rang out like cannon fire, and only a few lucky birds trembled in place after narrowly avoiding the barrage.
"HY!!"
"DREI~"
"GOOON!"
The next second, Hydreigon swooped in personally, tearing through the scattered survivors like a Pidgeot among Caterpie.
Cries and pleas filled the air, but Hydreigon showed no mercy!
Flames, boulders, and torrents rotated one after another; wherever it went, not a single Pokémon could withstand a blow. The so-called "encirclement formation" had already completely collapsed.
It was a joke!
When Hydreigon returned to Sato's side, not a single soul dared to show themselves again to attempt an ambush.
Those hiding in the shadows could only look up at Sato floating above in terror!
And in his calm eyes…
Was nothing but disdain and ridicule.
---◓---
"Heh! What an arrogant punk!"
The Underground forces's commander sneered as he watched the footage of Sato dominating the scene through the surveillance camera.
"Is Ghost Ship out of people? Send your Gold-Rank Assassin to kill him. Letting him live is a disaster!"
"Heh."
The Ghost Ship representative responded with a cold sneer of his own. 'As if killing him were that easy… why didn't you do it yourself, 'commander'?'
When it came to understanding Sato, Ghost Ship came second; no other Underground Organization dared claim first.
After all, Sato had once fled from the Ghost Ship Organization at his weakest, and even took Zoroark and Gengar with him in the process…
You could say the more successful Sato became, the more of a thorn he was to Ghost Ship.
They would love nothing more than for him to die sooner…
But Sato's strength simply didn't allow for that!
---◓---
Finally, Sato safely returned to the Pokémon Center, and Lorelei's slightly angry concern came through his hidden earpiece.
[You… you were too reckless!]
Sato could only pretend not to hear, then quietly rejoined the battle, helping the League side expand their advantage with overwhelming force!
Seeing the Ghost Ship representative unmoved, the Underground commander looked furious but was powerless.
He then tried to get a few other Underground factions to send someone, but everyone acted like they were just there to watch the show.
Quite a few had even secretly given orders to begin withdrawing their people…
The commander cursed them in his heart, thinking how unreliable these temporary coalitions were. In the end, he could only rely on himself.
"Rando… you go."
"Yes, Commander!"
A deep voice suddenly responded from behind the group, and from the shadows emerged a towering muscle-bound man, massive like an Ursaring.
Rando's powerful arms were thicker than most people's thighs, and the scar across his neck made him look all the more vicious and aggressive.
"If the rest of you don't want to act, that's fine. But once our [Darth Thunderbolt Group] takes Vermilion City, don't expect to split the rewards like we agreed before!"
The commander watched as his strongest subordinate, Rando, left the room, sneering as he spoke. The others immediately changed expressions.
"Reynolds, the fight's not even over and you're already breaking the deal?"
"Your Group is nothing but a few Caterpie and Weedle. GO AHEAD AND TRY BREAKING THE DEAL!"
"Exactly! If we turn on you right now, let's see how you win!"
The meeting room erupted as representatives of the various Underground factions began arguing loudly…
Or rather, they started infighting.
Commander Reynolds coldly watched it all unfold. None of them wanted to pay a price, yet they all wanted a share of the rewards. Every single one of them was insatiably greedy!
After a few more minutes, the fired-up representatives realized Reynolds hadn't said a word. At last, they all tacitly fell silent.
"Hah! Don't stop now. You were all so worked up and passionate just a second ago. 'Snrk' Keep going!"
Faced with Reynolds' sarcasm, the others simply ignored him, waiting for his final answer.
"Post-battle rewards will be distributed based on contribution, none of that fluff. My man Rando is at Peak Ace. Unless you send an Elite Four, he's unbeatable!"
The other representatives had mixed reactions to that, but they all realized that Darth Thunderbolt Group might actually be going all in this time.
Soon, whispers filled the room again as each representative used their earpieces or other devices to contact their own forces and issue attack orders.
Only then did Reynolds nod in satisfaction. Thinking they could get benefits from him for free? Not a chance!
---◓---
Across various battlefields in Vermilion City, League Trainers were just about to secure victory!
…Only to suddenly be swarmed by new waves of Underground members, many of whom were very powerful.
At the same time, Rando also arrived at the battlefield near the Pokémon Center and launched a brutal assault on Sato without saying a word!
A Machamp and a Kangaskhan charged at Sato side by side, each slamming their right fists -each as big as sandbags- straight at him!
"Gen~" "Zoro!"
Gengar appeared, and Zoroark rushed back as fast as possible. Both simultaneously unleashed Psychic-type moves, aiming to restrict the movements of Machamp and Kangaskhan.
Psychic!
Extrasensory!
Two different psychic energies flared; Machamp and Kangaskhan's punches ultimately never landed.
Sato also swiftly retreated at that moment, refusing to give them another chance to strike!
But in the very next instant, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from behind Sato, chopping straight toward the back of his neck without hesitation!
[1] Groudon: I feel you, bro…