On the battlefield, whether it was raging flames or the crumbling ruins, everything became a tool for battle in the hands of powerful Pokémon, enabling them to unleash incredible techniques.
Everyone watching, from Rocket Executives to ordinary grunts, was completely engrossed.
This was a battle between Elite Four...
Against such opponents, they wouldn't last even a second.
That thought surfaced in the minds of most spectators.
"Damn it, have these two really become this strong?" Ariana clenched her fists, her sharp nails digging painfully into her palm. Just ten minutes ago, she had considered herself in the same league as them. But now, she realized the gap between them had long since widened.
Ariana stole a glance at Pierce, only to find his expression unnervingly calm—completely devoid of shock or frustration.
This guy... could it be…?
"Quite the spectacle, isn't it?" Domino stepped into the dimly lit office, her gaze falling upon the massive screen broadcasting the high-stakes Elite Four-level battle taking place on the lowest floor.
"Haha, indeed. Our Executives are proving to be quite impressive." The burly man beside her stroked his Persian's head, exuding an aura as imposing as a mountain.
Domino smiled slightly. No matter how well they hid their strength, they were still just Elite Four-level trainers at best...
Countless violet Will-O-Wisps surged from Gardevoir's hands, cascading down like a torrential storm, covering the entire battlefield.
Celebi extended its tiny hands, summoning layer upon layer of polygonal barriers, reminiscent of an AT Field, enveloping itself in an impenetrable prism.
Psychic-type move: Light Screen.
Lucius recognized this instantly—it was the same technique Gardevoir had used back in the Crystal Cave.
Under such a powerful defense, the ghostly flames rained down but failed to inflict any damage.
However…
Gardevoir suddenly teleported behind Celebi, disregarding the flames scorching its own body. Its right fist ignited with an intense, acrid-smelling flame, striking forward with relentless force.
Fire-type move: Fire Punch.
Even Vicious was stunned, and even Giovanni, watching the broadcast, momentarily faltered.
A Gardevoir—known for its prowess in Special Attacks—using Fire Punch?
The layers of Light Screen dampened the flames on Gardevoir's fist, but they couldn't nullify the force of a physical blow.
Boom—!
Celebi's small body was sent hurtling like a meteor, crashing into the ground in a daze.
Light Screen couldn't block physical attacks—this punch had landed directly.
"..."
"Did Gardevoir really just use Fire Punch? How in the world did Archer train it…?" Even the usually composed Pierce was momentarily dumbfounded.
Celebi slowly floated back up, visibly disoriented.
Since Light Screen had weakened the elemental power of Fire Punch, Celebi had only taken a direct physical hit. The damage wasn't severe, but it had landed headfirst, leaving it momentarily dizzy.
Though it hadn't inflicted massive damage, Lucius still smiled.
Gardevoir had been enhanced by the virus, significantly boosting its physical attack and defense beyond that of its species. More importantly, that wasn't just an ordinary flame—it was a viral ability: Toxic Flame.
Even though Light Screen had nearly nullified it, some of the virus had still infiltrated Celebi's body.
That peculiar Celebi would soon be his.
...
Cerulean City Airport.
A small aircraft landed discreetly, its exterior marked with barely visible text, hinting at an Ultra Beast Countermeasure Headquarters.
Three figures disembarked—one woman and two men. Leading them was a young woman with long, violet hair tied in a high ponytail, clad in a sleek black suit.
Some people wear suits and look like insurance salesmen. Others wear suits and exude the aura of a 007 agent. She was undoubtedly the latter.
"Commander Anabel."
Rowan, who had been waiting, immediately stepped forward and saluted the violet-haired woman.
"Who is she?" Some of the other officers, though maintaining their serious expressions, couldn't help but wonder.
Due to the massive fallout of the recent Interpol crisis, reinforcements had been dispatched from neighboring cities, and the League had assigned Rowan as the direct commanding officer.
In just a few days, Rowan had gained the trust of the local police with his exceptional capabilities.
And yet, now, this formidable Interpol officer was saluting a young woman who appeared to be under twenty—with such deep respect…
"I've already received orders from the League," Anabel said, nodding toward Rowan. "Leave the matter of Raikou to me."
...
Ophelia sat in a corner of a quaint café, enjoying the gentle warmth of the sunlight filtering through the glass. More importantly, this spot allowed her to observe her surroundings while discreetly making contact with Shadow Ops.
A waiter approached, placing a cup of Unovan Black Coffee in front of her—her usual order.
"Thank you," Ophelia said, accepting the elegant spoon from him.
No one noticed the momentary exchange—when their hands met, a USB drive subtly passed into the waiter's palm.
It contained the intelligence she had just stolen using Porygon from Andreas' database.
She hadn't expected Rocket's infiltration of Silph Co. to be this deep—even the Vice President was under their control.
Ophelia processed the newly acquired intel.
From what her Shuppet had eavesdropped, Matori had come to inquire about a joint project with Onando Research Institute. However, Andreas had assured her that he already had a suitable candidate in place and that she needn't worry.
But from what Ophelia had witnessed at Houston's storage facility, that so-called "suitable candidate" was likely Ariana.
When Andreas wasn't paying attention, Ophelia had sent Porygon into his computer to decrypt files related to the project. To her surprise, the Onando Research Institute's personnel list only had one name—while the rest were all employees from a Unovan corporation called Blackwater.
Blackwater was flagged on Shadow Ops' watchlist—suspected of ties to Syndicate, a notorious Pokémon smuggling ring in Unova.
Which meant… Onando Research Institute was already under the control of a local crime syndicate.
Unfortunately, before Porygon could finish decrypting the remaining files, Andreas had returned.
This kind of method couldn't be used frequently. If Porygon's digital footprint were discovered, Silph Co.'s technological capabilities would quickly trace it back to her, greatly increasing her risk of exposure.
However, this wasn't just about uncovering the corruption within Silph Co.'s upper ranks—it also involved the secret collaboration between Team Rocket and the Syndicate, two major criminal organizations.
If her suspicions were correct and the operation was happening near Cerulean City, it would pose a significant threat to the peace and stability of Kanto. That left her with no choice but to take the risk of exposure to retrieve critical intelligence.
Ophelia sipped her coffee, her face expressionless, but deep down, she was anything but calm. Her mission was to infiltrate X Lab. If she were discovered, she would never get another chance…
"Hey, there!"
A stylishly dressed girl with a stunning figure walked over and sat directly across from her, flashing a bright, playful smile.
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