"Don't be afraid, everyone. Reinforcements will be here soon."
A curvaceous woman with long brown hair stood at the top level of the defensive perimeter, directing the Pokémon's defensive efforts while offering encouragement to those within.
"No... it's too late... these monsters are going to kill us..."
A man whose entire family had been bitten and mutated by the creatures suddenly suffered a mental breakdown, shouting hysterically.
The brown-haired woman frowned. "Don't worry. As long as you follow my instructions, they won't break through."
"What makes you so sure? If you're so capable, why didn't you save my family?" The man's face twisted with anguish, snot and tears streaming down. "My daughter was so young... so adorable... Why didn't you come sooner?"
"You need to rest."
The woman turned to the pink Pokémon beside her. "Use Hypnosis."
"Piii~"
Clefairy wiggled its two short fingers, releasing a strange power that instantly dulled the crazed man's eyes before he collapsed into a deep sleep.
In a critical moment like this, attention had to be focused on what was useful—not wasted on calming emotions.
"Caw~ Caw~"
Raspy bird cries echoed from the sky. Dozens of mutated Flying-type Pokémon formed a "︿" formation, diving down toward them.
"Squad One, attack."
At the woman's command, the middle row of Pokémon on the wall immediately unleashed their moves. Bright flames and crackling electricity streaked upward, scattering the incoming formation.
"Squad Two, attack."
Like a synchronized routine, the second group followed up, further dispersing the already scattered mutated creatures.
"Use Gravity."
Clefairy wiggled its fingers again, sending rippling rings outward. Two mutated Pokémon plummeted to the ground.
"Gary, attack now."
"Got it, sis."
The boy beside her, accompanied by an Arcanine, swiftly commanded his Pokémon to strike.
Fire and electricity rained down, pulverizing the grounded creatures.
Is this the girl organizing the islanders' defenses tonight?
Lucius observed the scene through the eyes of a mutated Fearow circling above.
Beautiful... and the boy looked familiar too.
Lucius smirked. He hadn't expected to see Professor Oak's grandson and granddaughter—Gary Oak and Daisy Oak—the first great rival of Ash Ketchum.
Tch, what a pity I'm not on the island myself. Otherwise... Gary's body would have been mine.
No... it would have been claimed.
Professor Oak was a high-ranking League official. His resources rivaled or even surpassed Archer's. That lab of his undoubtedly housed countless Pokémon, along with secret training techniques.
Lucius dismissed the defensive perimeter from his mind and refocused on the mutated creatures retreating toward the shore.
Under his orders, they were heading toward the Team Rocket speedboat hidden nearby.
Just as they reached the vessel, an oppressive pressure filled the air.
Even from hundreds of miles away, Lucius felt it through the senses of thousands of infected creatures.
What the hell is happening?
Lucius immediately ordered the creatures to hide and shifted his vision to the Vespiquen.
Another Dragonite?
Through Vespiquen's compound eyes, he saw a large, proud figure hovering in the sky—like a king surveying its domain. Even the mindless mutated creatures trembled under its overwhelming presence.
"Draco Meteor."
A cloaked figure on Dragonite's back gave the calm command.
"Roooaaar!"
Dragonite howled toward the heavens.
The dark sky flickered with pinpricks of blue light—at first like tiny fireflies, but within moments transforming into blazing meteors streaking down toward the island.
Shit—get on the boat!
Lucius frantically ordered the mutants to retreat.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The meteors rained down like a tactical missile barrage, annihilating everything outside the defensive perimeter. Mountains shattered, water boiled, and the ground cracked—leaving countless craters across Sunburst Island. The entire island was nearly obliterated.
What the f**k... is this tactical missile coverage bombing?
Lucius could hardly believe it. Except for the few high-fusion mutants near the shore, 99% of his infected monsters were obliterated—including Vespiquen.
Lance... Is this the strongest power in this world?
After the initial shock, a wave of twisted delight surged through Lucius.
No matter how strong your Pokémon are, you're still just flesh and blood. And I... am a virus. If I ever meet you in person... you won't escape me.
Lance remained oblivious to the malevolent gaze fixed upon him from the shadows.
"Dragonite, use Blizzard."
Freezing temperatures—Blaine's recommended method.
Dragonite flapped its wings, summoning an icy storm that transformed the tropical Sunburst Island into a frozen wasteland within minutes.
Although Blaine wanted live specimens brought back... sealing the entire island in ice would preserve whatever creatures remained—and contain any lingering viruses.
"Lance, you're here."
A Gyarados circled overhead, carrying Drake on its back.
"Yes. I received the emergency report and came at once."
Despite being a young Champion, Lance carried himself without arrogance—especially in the presence of an Elite Four member like Drake.
"I've been searching for survivors... but found none." Drake sighed, for the islanders... and for himself.
Watching Lance's Dragonite freeze the island, Drake's heart twisted.
His own Dragonite was barely at the threshold of King-class—while Lance's had reached the pinnacle.
What's more... there was a good chance his Dragonite was already...
The two men landed inside the defensive perimeter, exchanging information with Daisy Oak. Soon, League ships and helicopters arrived from Mandarin Island and Pummelo Island—both to evacuate survivors and to set up offshore laboratories for on-site research.
None of them noticed a small speedboat slipping away from the island's southern shore, carving a white trail across the waves.
Lucius sensed it from a distance—they were almost back.
The mutant that had set out from Mandarin Island and the ten mutants who had escaped from Sunburst Island were steadily approaching Nanyl Island.
Once they reunited, along with Ophelia, Scott, Soran, and Lucius himself, the mission to establish an organization with more than ten members would finally be complete...
-----
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635