Team Rocket's trainers seemed far more arrogant than usual. Nozomi figured it was because they had learned about Giovanni's bold assault on the Indigo Plateau to rescue Chakra. That must have inflated their confidence.
Still, Nozomi couldn't help but think these Team Rocket grunts were idiots.
Sure, Giovanni was powerful—he'd taken down one of the Elite Four, Bruno—but that didn't mean they were powerful too.
Boasting without strength—what a joke.
Across from him, the Rocket trainer misread Nozomi's calm silence as fear and smirked with satisfaction.
"I'll give you one last chance! Team Rocket's on official business—get lost while you still can!"
In his mind, since their boss Giovanni could come and go freely at the Indigo Plateau itself, Team Rocket's glory days must be just around the corner.
"Are you stupid or something?"
Nozomi stared blankly at the bunch of Rockets celebrating inside their own delusion. He genuinely couldn't comprehend their logic.
He hadn't even said much yet—how had they already decided he was scared?
"Well, whatever. You'll do nicely as a test subject for my new Pokémon," Nozomi said, fingers closing around a Poké Ball on his belt.
Before the Rockets could react, he hurled it.
Bang!
The ball burst open midair.
With a thunderous roar, a massive form materialized between Nozomi and the Team Rocket trainers—Dragonite.
"D-Dragonite?!"
Gasps rippled through the Rockets. None of them had expected that the supposedly "terrified" trainer before them would possess such a powerful Pokémon.
"This guy looks kind of familiar…"
"Wait! Isn't he that Nozomi?!" one of them cried.
"No way! Nozomi's the guy with the Metagross! There's no way he has a Dragonite too!" another Rocket snapped back confidently.
His "reasonable" argument won nods all around—no, surely this couldn't be that Nozomi.
Nozomi sighed helplessly at their chatter but didn't bother to waste more time.
"Dragonite, Dragon Pulse!"
Dragonite's mouth opened wide, unleashing a radiant blast of swirling energy straight toward the Rockets.
They barely had time to react, hastily tossing Poké Balls to block the attack.
A horde of Pokémon appeared—Arbok, Nidorino, and more.
BOOM!
The Dragon Pulse exploded among them, sending shockwaves through the clearing. Several Pokémon were blasted into the air, and even more collapsed, fainted, or unconscious.
The shockwave struck the unprepared trainers as well, hurling them back and leaving them groaning in agony.
"Damn it! Regroup and counterattack!"
"How dare he ambush Team Rocket!"
"Get him!"
Their furious shouting filled the air—but in truth, very few of them actually attacked. Most quickly recalled their fainted Pokémon and started retreating.
Despite their bluster, they weren't fools.
That Dragonite's power was overwhelming—its first strike alone had wiped out half their ranks. Fighting back would be suicide.
So, except for a few brainless ones, the rest backed off while yelling to save face.
Nozomi chuckled. "After dealing with you Rockets for so long, I should've known—you're all talk when facing the strong, and bullies when facing the weak."
Those few who were still commanding their Pokémon froze when they heard that, faces twisting in panic as they tried to withdraw their Pokémon.
But releasing a Pokémon in front of Nozomi and expecting to take it back unscathed? Not happening.
"Dragonite, Wing Attack!"
Dragonite spread its wings, its bulky form lifting into the air before surging forward like a cannonball.
Its wings didn't just slice through the air—they slammed into its targets with crushing force.
Every Pokémon in its path, regardless of type or strength, was flattened and knocked unconscious by the sheer momentum.
"Hiss—!"
The Rockets in the back all sucked in sharp breaths.
How could they fight that? It was total domination. In just a single exchange, it was clear that none of their Pokémon could even scratch Dragonite.
At the rear, two Team Rocket scientists exchanged nervous glances.
If their combat units failed, that terrifying trainer definitely wouldn't spare them.
"Should we use it?"
"Use it!"
Their cryptic conversation made no sense to the others, but both nodded grimly.
"But it's the device we prepared for the Ghost Festival event…"
"We've got no choice. It's now or never!"
After that strange exchange, one scientist ran to a machine positioned behind their defensive line. He slammed a button.
The device whirred to life, lights flashing wildly as alarms beeped in rhythm.
Then came a low charging hum—the antenna-like module atop the machine began glowing red.
A beam of crimson energy shot skyward, spreading in rippling waves across the battlefield.
"What the—?!"
Nozomi had been focused on the fight, so he hadn't noticed the scientists' movements until now. When he saw that scarlet light bloom across the sky, his expression hardened instantly.
He went on full alert.
At present, he had both his Mega-Evolving Metagross and Dragonite at his side—aside from Giovanni with Mewtwo, there wasn't a single Rocket he feared.
But the Rocket scientists were another story.
These people had created Mewtwo itself—who knew what other monstrosities they could unleash?
After all, in the original accounts, Team Rocket had developed machines capable of mass-hypnotizing Pokémon.
"Dragonite! Watch out for that red light!" Nozomi called out.
"Rrroarrr!" Dragonite nodded, eyes narrowing as it hovered defensively, muscles tensing.
It knew something wasn't right—and neither did Nozomi.