"Target confirmed—Celebi is here. I finally found you."
Jaxon stared at the glowing marker on his screen. Fifty meters away. That was all that separated him from his prize. His heart pounded with fanatic devotion.
"Giovanni... soon, I'll understand why you left." His grip tightened around the controls. "They say you disappeared because of a battle loss—what a joke. There's no way someone like you would ever lose to some upstart trainer. There must have been a deeper reason."
"You weren't just the supreme leader of Team Rocket… You were an unbeaten legend." His eyes burned with conviction. "There's no way you'd ever fall to some brat."
Jaxon slammed the throttle forward. The massive armored vehicle roared as it charged straight through the dense forest, smashing through trees without hesitation. Anything in his way would be destroyed—just as Giovanni taught him.
But then—
The tank jerked violently, screeching to a halt.
The engines roared, but the vehicle wouldn't budge.
"The hell?" Jaxon's brows furrowed as he checked the external cameras.
Thick, gnarled roots had burst from the ground, wrapping tightly around the wheels and undercarriage.
"Vines? Frenzy Plant? Tch... so, the forest still has some pests fighting back. Fine."
He slammed his fist onto the control panel. The turret mounted on top of the vehicle slowly rotated, charging up a blast.
"Let's clear out the trash first—"
BOOM!
The entire tank shuddered violently, nearly knocking him out of his seat. Warning lights flashed across the console, alarms blaring in his ears.
Jaxon winced at the deafening noise, gritting his teeth as he glared at the screen.
"Turret—damaged?! WHAT?!"
His eyes darted to the live feed—
A small masked Pokémon stood atop the vehicle, smashing the turret with a burning club.
"That little bastard—!"
Jaxon's hand slammed onto a button, launching a shock-net straight at the intruder. Crackling electricity surged through the wires, ensnaring the Pokémon instantly.
Got it.
"Target one secured." He grabbed his Poké Balls, preparing to flush out the Pokémon responsible for Frenzy Plant—
Until a blinding light engulfed the vehicle.
"No—wait—this is—!"
The caged Pokémon began to glow.
A colossal, fiery mask materialized over its face as searing blue flames erupted around it.
Terastallization.
"Celebi's power?!" Jaxon's eyes widened in shock.
The flames instantly incinerated the net, freeing the enraged Ogerpon.
"GAOOOO!!"
Ogerpon growled furiously, her fiery club crackling with heat.
This guy—he wasn't just after Celebi. He had harmed the forest.
He had tied her up.
Ogerpon's eyes burned with rage.
And for that, he would pay.
Jaxon, however, only grinned.
"Perfect."
"This power... I've decided. You're coming with me."
He grabbed four Poké Balls, tossing them into the battlefield.
A brutal sandstorm erupted.
A deep roar echoed as a Krookodile stomped forward, red scales glistening under its black markings. Its piercing gaze made it seem as if it was wearing sunglasses.
The "Desert King", a master of hunting through the sands.
Above, a Garchomp hovered within the storm, its razor-sharp wings extending menacingly. The "Dragon Predator", slicing through the air with scythe-like arms, hunting even the swiftest Flying-types.
To its left, a Rhyperior, encased in rock-solid armor, loomed like a walking fortress. It raised its massive arms, the holes in its palms preparing to launch a devastating Rock Wrecker.
And finally—
The source of the storm itself.
A Hippowdon.
The "Sand Tyrant" stood firm, its four back vents spewing sand, choking the battlefield in a blinding tempest.
The moment the storm engulfed the field, Jaxon calmly pulled down his breathing mask.
His suit, designed for harsh sandstorm conditions, ensured perfect visibility and oxygen flow.
He was untouchable here.
The Sandstorm was his domain.
"Tch—" Ogerpon winced, shaking her head as sand filled her mask. This was bad.
She shed her fiery mask, swapping it for the Cornerstone Mask.
"Ptoo! Ptoo!" She spat out the dirt, shaking her tiny fists. What kind of jerk attacks with sand?!
Jaxon wasted no time.
"Garchomp—take out the masked Pokémon! Krookodile—scan the area for other threats! Rhyperior—charge Rock Wrecker! Hippowdon—keep the storm going!"
The four Pokémon roared in unison, executing his orders with terrifying precision.
Jaxon smirked.
This was it. Celebi couldn't escape. The forest Pokémon would crumble.
This battle was already—
"BOOM!!"
A massive shockwave tore through the sandstorm.
The sound rippled through the battlefield, a deafening sonic boom that sent all four Pokémon reeling backward.
Jaxon himself was flung into the air, slamming face-first into Rhyperior's solid chest.
A low ringing filled his ears.
His vision spun.
"What the hell... was that?"
The sandstorm died instantly.
From atop the wrecked tank, Ogerpon spread her tiny arms in victory, basking in the now-clear sky.
She had used Sunny Day.
If Archer had seen this, he would have screamed in frustration.
Why did this forest keep changing the weather?!
Then—
A shadow stepped forward.
A figure dressed in a Ranger's uniform.
Behind him, a massive Rillaboom cracked its knuckles, glaring at Jaxon's Pokémon.
Jaxon's eyes darkened.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The Ranger pointed at his uniform.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"I'm a Forest Ranger."
Jaxon's veins bulged in fury.
A Ranger?
A mere Ranger had single-handedly dismantled Team Rocket's operation?
No. Impossible.
"Bullshit!" His breath came in ragged pants. "Rangers aren't this strong!"
The screen in his palm flickered.
He froze.
The map showed nearly every Team Rocket signal was gone.
The devices were destroyed.
The plan—ruined.
"...No." Jaxon's face twisted in rage.
He threw out his arm.
"Rhyperior! FIRE ROCK WRECKER!"
Summer simply narrowed his eyes.
And Rillaboom raised its drumsticks.
The battle had begun.
(To Be Continued...)