Silas's expression grew somewhat grim.
The cry of that Pokémon sounded abnormally deranged.
His instincts told him this wasn't a good sign for the League's side.
And faintly, it seemed as if there were many Pokémon crying out together.
"Blaziken, Agility into Brick Break—finish this quickly!
Gigalith, set up Gravity!"
With Silas's command, the two Pokémon sprang into action.
Having just finished a Flare Blitz and entering a brief stiffened state, Blaziken quickly recovered its vitality. With a sharp cry, a flash of light ran across the feathers of its body.
In the next instant, its speed nearly doubled compared to before as it closed in on the two Team Rocket Pokémon still surrounding it.
Blaziken showed no mercy, slashing its glowing claws straight across their bodies.
Two dull cries of pain followed, leaving the Rocket Grunts' faces twisted with frustration.
They knew they had run into tough prey. They cursed inwardly.
Even among the League's direct-line Trainers, there was a huge difference in strength—why did they have to be so unlucky as to stumble upon a powerful one?
But it didn't matter what they thought; the battle wouldn't bend to their will.
With Gigalith's Gravity suppressing the field, the two Pokémon cooperated seamlessly, bringing down the five enemy Pokémon still capable of fighting.
"Uh… surrender's worth half, right?"
The two Grunts forced out strained smiles at Silas while backing away from the three Pokémon closing in on them.
Silas snapped his fingers. Servine obediently lashed out its Vine Whip, binding the two tightly, and even rolled up some leaves into a ball to stuff into their mouths.
He hated listening to their whining. Whatever complaints they had, they could save for Officer Jenny. He was only here to fight.
Rumble!
A deafening noise shook the air, and the underground lab itself trembled violently.
Silas's expression shifted. Who the hell is using Earthquake down here?
"Raaaawr~!"
That eerie cry rang out again, even more suffused with madness.
Fragments of stone began to fall around them.
Silas poked his head out of the room and was stunned to see cracks spreading rapidly across the steel walls of the research facility.
He could barely keep his composure. No way… don't tell me this Team Rocket underground base is just shoddy construction?
Of course, that was only bitter humor in the face of danger.
Most likely, the battle on the other side—where Looker was facing off against two of Team Rocket's Elite-level Trainers—had gone wildly out of control.
At that moment, Silas's wrist device flashed with a forced command—"Retreat."
The message was simple, the sender clearly in a rush.
Silas quickly recalled Servine and had Blaziken drag along the two bound Rocket Grunts, following behind Gigalith as they rushed out of the room.
Crash, clatter.
Chunks of rock and steel rained down from the cracked walls. Silas dodged nimbly as he ran.
Blaziken dragged the unconscious Rocket Grunts across the ground. There was no pain for them—they had already been knocked out cold by falling debris at the exit.
"Gigalith!"
Gigalith's deep call reverberated through the corridor.
At the lift they had originally used—beside the massive hole Aggron had blasted open—a large red arrow pointed upward, marking their escape route.
Silas narrowed his eyes and released Pidgeot.
Without hesitation, he leapt onto its back.
"Piiiii!"
With a piercing cry, Pidgeot spread its wings and soared upward.
Blaziken clung to Pidgeot's talons with one hand, being pulled up together.
Thankfully, the elevator shaft was wide enough—otherwise, Pidgeot wouldn't have been able to spread its wings and take flight.
In no time, Silas emerged into the open sky above.
Wait—sky? He froze for a second.
The place they had descended from should have still been underground, right? The passage hadn't seemed that deep…
Before he could dwell on it, with a sharp "whoosh," Pidgeot carried them through the gap to the surface. In the next instant, they were already soaring high above the battlefield.
Silas scanned the ground below, his eyes narrowing.
There, he saw Looker and more than a dozen other Trainers already back on the surface.
Croagunk was leading the charge, fighting alongside each Trainer's chosen starter Pokémon and support partners against over a dozen enemy Pokémon.
Even working together, with three or four Pokémon ganging up on one target, they were only barely managing to hold their ground.
The sight was completely wrong—as if the roles had been reversed.
Normally, it was Team Rocket who ganged up three-on-one against League Trainers.
But without exception, all of the enemy Pokémon had bodies shaded with an unnaturally dark hue.
And their expressions… were twisted into terrifying snarls.
Silas patted his Pidgeot, and together they quickly landed at a relatively safe position in the rear.
"Blaziken, Flamethrower! Pidgeot, Air Slash! Servine, you come out too—set up Grassy Terrain."
There was no need for lengthy explanations—just looking at the situation was enough to tell what was happening.
Silas decisively commanded his Blaziken and Pidgeot to begin long-range attacks.
As for jumping into the fray recklessly, that might disrupt the existing coordination and attack rhythm, which would only make things worse.
Silas silently observed.
These Pokémon looked terribly off. He was deep in thought.
If he remembered correctly, one of Team Rocket's highest-ranking Executives, named Bishas, possessed a special kind of Poké Ball called the Dark Ball.
This Dark Ball was different from the standard Dark Ball developed by the League, which increased capture rates in darkness.
Its true function was to forcibly capture Pokémon, whether wild or already owned.
And afterward, it would make them abnormally violent—just like the ones in front of him now.
At the same time, Pokémon captured by Bishas's Dark Ball would have their power forcibly boosted to the maximum for a period of time.
The cost was their very life force.
These Pokémon were fighting by burning up their own lives. During the process, they felt nothing else—only an overwhelming desire for destruction.
No wonder the League's side needed three-on-one or four-on-one just to barely hold their ground.
Never mind the strength boost—the fact that they were fearless, unfeeling berserkers was already more than normal Pokémon could endure.
As League Trainers kept receiving orders and emerging from underground shelters onto the battlefield, the situation was beginning to stabilize.
Everywhere but one place.
There stood a darkened Venusaur.
All around it spread a cloud of multicolored powders, and the ground was covered with thick, writhing vines.
"Venaaa!"
The Venusaur's cry contained none of its kind's usual gentleness—only brutality and madness.
"Venusaur, calm down!"
A League Trainer, risking his life under the protection of an Alakazam, stepped in front of the Venusaur.
His expression was desperate as he shouted.
This was his Venusaur. The moment it had been summoned, it was ambushed and seized by Team Rocket.
"Venaaa!"
Venusaur roared wildly, its bloodshot eyes of destruction glaring straight at its original Trainer.
"Shhhhhh!"
The slicing sound of leaves cutting through the air followed as Venusaur launched Razor Leaf directly at its Trainer.
Fortunately, the Kadabra was already prepared. With its psychic power, it shattered the incoming attack and whisked its Trainer out of the battle zone.
As for why it didn't use Teleport—that move wasn't safe yet. Until it evolved into an Alakazam, carrying a human with Teleport wasn't reliable.
"Damn it!"
Venusaur's Trainer slammed his fist into a nearby tree, furious.
"Has anyone ever seen something like this?
My Venusaur was only Quasi-Elite level before, but judging from its moves now, it's already battling at Elite-class strength!
I have a very bad feeling about this."
His face grew darker as he looked to nearby Trainers for answers.
"We've already confirmed—it's unprecedented. Based on the energy readings and the data you provided, the power boost seems to come at the cost of potential… even life force itself."
A Porygon's Trainer, holding a portable computer, answered him.
"Damn it all."
Another Trainer muttered what everyone else was thinking.
From Venusaur's movements and behavior, it was clearly in agony.
For Pokémon Trainers, this was the last thing they ever wanted to see.
Silas frowned deeply as he watched the battlefield.
Meanwhile, not far away, two Team Rocket members were flushed with excitement as they observed.
"Executive Bishas is truly incredible! With this Dark Ball, Team Rocket will definitely conquer the world!"
Their fanaticism was obvious.
Before this mission, they had already received word from above.
Learning they were expendable pawns hadn't surprised them.
As ordinary members with no future, joining Team Rocket meant they had long accepted this fate.
After all, their families would be provided for by the organization. If they performed well, their children might even gain promising opportunities.
But just as they were about to be discarded, Executive Bishas had personally approached their leaders the very next day.
"This is my latest creation: the Dark Ball. It can forcibly increase a Pokémon's power.
When the League attacks, you can use it to make your Pokémon stronger.
If luck's on your side, you might even escape."
To them, Bishas's words had been like tossing a drowning man a straw.
Useless, maybe—but better than nothing.
"Executive Bishas truly lives up to his reputation—a villain to the core."
The two of them sighed in admiration, then looked at each other and laughed.
For members of a dark organization, wasn't that the highest praise?
"If only there were more Dark Balls—we could distribute them to the grunts, and then the League would see that Team Rocket is no pushover."
One sneered.
"This is a new prototype. Of course there are issues. The fact we have twenty samples at all is already impressive."
The other replied.
They were unbothered.
Because on the battlefield, the tide was turning once again.
As time passed, the Dark Balls' hold over their Pokémon seemed to intensify. Their power surged even further.
The League Trainers were shaken by this sudden shift.
But thanks to their preparation, they managed to hold the line, though with difficulty.
"Does this ever end? Can someone tell me when they'll finally stop?"
A League Trainer shouted in frustration.
They knew power fueled by self-destruction couldn't last forever—but without knowing when, their nerves were fraying.
"Based on calculations—about seven more minutes."
Several Trainers skilled in data analysis huddled together, frantically crunching numbers.
The estimate matched the results Silas and Unit Zero had already projected.
"Seven minutes… good thing these Pokémon are only Elite tier. Otherwise, we wouldn't last at all."
Someone muttered.
Across the battlefield, sixteen Dark Pokémon still remained.
Each was surrounded by at least seven or eight opponents, with others pelting them from afar.
It wasn't that more Pokémon couldn't be deployed—the space simply wasn't big enough. Too many would only get in each other's way.
But there was one advantage: when a Pokémon was badly hurt or exhausted, another could swap in.
And in the rear, a few Pokémon could provide healing.
"Damn it!"
Venusaur's desperate Trainer and his Kadabra were dragged back again, both gasping for breath.
They'd lost count of how many attempts they'd made.
Everyone looked at them with sympathy, but none knew how to help.
No matter how the Trainer called, Venusaur didn't respond.
Even Kadabra's attempt at telepathy had been met with a wall of violent, destructive thought.
From the fates of the only two Dark Pokémon already taken down, the truth was clear—the cost of their power was their life force.
Those Pokémon were on the verge of death, nothing like their normal selves.
Boom!
A loud crash shook the field. Another Dark Pokémon was knocked down by a Croagunk.
Its body was covered in wounds, parts already rotting from the frog's poison.
Yet still, the Dark Pokémon staggered back to its feet, attacking again.
Croagunk had no choice but to meet it once more. Was this enemy truly indestructible?
"Who says Interpol can't fight? Just look at that Croagunk—it's Elite-class strong!"
A Trainer quipped.
"True, but that guy only has the one Pokémon. You can't call him weak, but you can't call him strong either."
They jokingly referred to the Interpol agent as "Handsome Guy." The nickname felt like an unfair advantage.
Still, like Team Rocket, they were oddly relaxed.
Surely the enemy had no more tricks left.
"Strange… why aren't those two Rocket grunts running?" Someone frowned at the two lone survivors peeking out from afar.
"No idea. Maybe they think running would get them caught easier, so they're staying close to their Pokémon?"
Nobody really understood.
Meanwhile, those two Rockets were arguing.
"Are you an idiot? You put all your Pokémon into the Dark Balls! How the hell are we supposed to escape Viridian Forest now?"
"Oh, like you're any better—you did the exact same thing!"
"You moron! I outrank you by half a tier—watch your tone with your superior!"
The two shouted angrily at each other.
Clearly, they were fools.
Then they exchanged a helpless glance.
The perfect chance to flee—they'd ruined it themselves.
"Damn it… if we can't escape, let's make them suffer instead." One of them growled, eyes flashing with malice.
"Use the last two Dark Balls! Aim for the big ones—the starter Pokémon. Forget that Croagunk, it's too strong, we'll never get close."
His partner's face twitched, but he gritted his teeth and agreed.
Originally, they'd had other plans for those two Dark Balls.
But their blunder had left them no choice.
"What are those two doing?" League Trainers spotted the Rockets charging toward the battlefield's edge under a hail of attacks.
"Stop them! They still have those devices!"
One Trainer shouted from a better vantage point.
Devices? Everyone froze for a second—then panic spread.
Especially among Trainers whose Pokémon were closest to the enemy.
It had been over ten minutes—they thought the eighteen Dark Pokémon were the limit. Who could've guessed there were more?
It made no sense.
If the Rockets had unleashed more Dark Pokémon earlier, when fewer League Trainers were present, it might've turned the tide. Now, though, it would only disrupt the fragile balance they'd fought for.
What were those idiots thinking?
"Kadabra, stop them!" Venusaur's Trainer roared, eyes red.
Another Trainer with an Alakazam also commanded it to intercept.
Psychic-types were uniquely suited for this task—their Teleport could bypass obstacles, and their mental defenses kept them safe from the Dark Balls' influence.
They didn't even need to get close—they could just fling the devices away.
The two Rockets each clutched a Dark Ball as they reached the edge of the battlefield.
Seeing the League Trainers' frantic faces, they sneered.
"Go, Dark Balls!"
But before the second could throw, the nearer Rocket suddenly froze—his eyes glowing blue and purple.
An Alakazam appeared before him, wiping imaginary sweat from its brow as it carefully plucked the one of the Dark Balls from his hands and sealed it in a case.
Then, with a flick, it teleported the man back to the League's side.
It hadn't stopped the other.
That Rocket's throw was already midair—
The Dark Ball struck a Charizard.
In an instant, the Charizard reappeared, consumed by darkness, and began rampaging.
It had only been Elite-tier. But in this state, a single strike could be lethal.
Smack!
"You bastard! Tell me how to return my Venusaur to normal!"
The furious Trainer of the Dark Venusaur punched the captured Rocket grunt in the face.
Everyone else averted their eyes, pretending not to see.
"The League has rules! After capture, you can't use violence against us—that would be abuse of authority!" The Rocket cried in panic.
"Special wartime regulations allow for exceptions in cases where human or Pokémon lives are in immediate danger," Silas said calmly.
"Specifically—Article 732, Clause 3, Subsection 2."
Meeting their confused stares, he explained.
The others: We weren't asking where it was written. We just can't believe you memorized this stuff.
Silas hadn't always studied the rules—but after leaving the Safari Zone, he'd made a point to learn them thoroughly.
The Rocket's face went pale.
"So—are you going to talk, or not?" Venusaur's Trainer snarled.
"I don't know! I really don't know! Executive Bishas never told me how to undo it!" The grunt was nearly crying.
He had a rough idea who this Trainer was.
And since his Pokémon was being destroyed before his eyes, there was no way the man's methods would be merciful.
"Rooooar!"
As the distant Dark Charizard raged, another Trainer cracked his knuckles and walked over.
..
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