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A deafening roar erupted from the bottom of the well, followed by a geyser of swirling sand that burst forth like a dragon ascending to the sky. The sand surged into the air before crashing down in a violent wave, mercilessly swallowing everything in its path.
Several members of the hunter group who had just approached the well's edge didn't even have time to react to the sand wave. They could only tremble as it swallowed them whole before being washed away.
"Ah!!"
"Help me!!"
The group of hunter group members cried out in agony as they struggled in the engulfing sand.
"What! How is this possible? What on earth is going on!?"
The sudden change at Slowpoke Well drew Kyra's attention. Even her Zangoose stopped attacking and turned to look back at the well, now completely wrapped in flowing sand, their eyes full of astonishment.
"Oh~ I think I heard someone asking what's going on? Heh heh…"
"Since you've so sincerely asked, then I shall mercifully tell you!"
~ To prevent the world from devastation!
~ To unite all people within our nation!
~ To denounce the evils of truth and love!
~ To extend our reach to the stars above!
~ Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light!
~ Surrender now, or prepare to fight!
"Rooarr!!" (That's Right!)
Kyra's confusion was answered as, with another resounding roar, a massive white figure burst from the mouth of Slowpoke Well, spiraling upward into the sky. A pair of wings—completely formed from condensed sand—unfurled in the night, stirring up a storm laced with dust.
"You! What is going on?! What is that Pokemon! Damn it! Just because you're some Pokemon I've never seen before, you dare act so arrogant toward me? Let's see how you like this! Come out, Crobat! Get in there—use Cross Poison!"
Kyra's eyes widened at the sight of the majestic white figure dominating the skies. A flash of panic passed through her gaze, but she quickly suppressed it. Biting her silver teeth, she hurled another PokeBall.
With a burst of light, a purple Crobat flapped its two large and two small wings in the dark night.
"Cro!"
The instant it appeared, Crobat's wings gleamed with purple light. With a powerful flap, it streaked forward, leaving four violet trails as it fearlessly charged at the white Pokemon.
"Hmph! Overestimating yourself! Garchomp—Stone Edge!"
Standing atop Garchomp's back, Liam narrowed his eyes at the incoming Crobat. A cold smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he gave the order in a low voice.
"Rooarr!!"
At the command, Garchomp threw back its head and roared. Beneath its sand-formed wings, razor-sharp stones rapidly took shape. With a single shudder of those wings, countless jagged rocks shot out like a volley of arrows, blanketing the sky in an instant.
"Cro!!"
Crobat beat its wings furiously, using its agility to dodge the incoming Stone Edge. But there were simply too many—after evading a few, one rock struck its wing. With a pained cry, Crobat lost balance and was immediately pelted by the rest, its entire body swallowed by the onslaught.
Boom!
A heavy crash shook the ground as a deep crater appeared. Crobat lay at the bottom, eyes spinning, completely unable to battle.
"This—this is impossible! Damn it! Come back, Crobat! Retreat! Everyone, retreat now!!"
Her confidence shattered by the instant defeat, Kyra's eyes went unfocused for a moment. She shot a venomous glare at Garchomp and Liam, then turned to recall her fallen Crobat before fleeing with her Zangoose.
"Oh~ now you want to run? Where was that confidence just now? Hmph! You think you can escape? Garchomp—cut her off!"
From the sky, Liam's mocking smile widened as he watched her retreat.
"Rooarr!"
At his command, Garchomp cast a disdainful glance at the fleeing Kyra. With a mere twitch of its sand wings, its massive body vanished from the air—reappearing on the ground in the blink of an eye, directly blocking her escape route.
"Kuhhh!!"
Her path blocked, Kyra's Zangoose's eyes flashed coldly. It accelerated, claws gleaming white, lunging at Garchomp in an attempt to carve a path.
But—
"Gah!"
Wham!
With a casual sideways slash, Garchomp struck Zangoose across the waist, sending it flying. It hit the ground hard, rolled several times, and tried to get back up—only for its forelegs to buckle as it collapsed unconscious, eyes spinning.
"Rooarr!!"
Seeing her partner taken down in a single blow, Kyra skidded to a halt, terror flooding her face. She fumbled for another PokeBall—only to feel Garchomp's scythe-like fin press coldly against her neck. Her movements froze instantly.
With Kyra immobilized, Liam hopped lightly down from Garchomp's back, smiling faintly as he approached. Reaching up, he slowly removed his Black Vortex mask, revealing his true face.
"Honestly, I never expected to keep this identity a secret for long. But your intel is really outdated. When you saw me just now, you said I was Team Rocket's Vortex leader and the winner of this year's Indigo League. That's old news. Now…"
He pulled a small golden badge from his coat and held it up for her to see.
"Now my title is: Team Rocket's Vortex leader and the current reigning Kanto Champion! So now you understand—you just provoked someone you really shouldn't have messed with!"
As his words fell, Garchomp gave Kyra a light tap on the neck with its fin, and she crumpled unconscious to the ground.
Liam didn't spare her another glance. He turned and walked toward the "old man" standing not far away.
In truth, nothing he said earlier was an exaggeration. The hunter group had indeed provoked someone far beyond their ability to handle.
As the current Champion of Kanto, Liam represented the entire region. So long as he remained with the League, the full weight of its power stood behind him—a force capable of crushing any obstacle. The League's true strength was far beyond what most could imagine.