Silas acknowledged the message with a quiet "Got it."
"I'm a member of the Intelligence Division. According to the monitoring data above the Seafoam Islands, fifteen Rocket teams are moving toward the valley for support."
Everyone's earpieces soon received the same report.
Normally, Team Rocket combat squads operate in pairs—two trainers per unit. Only the most elite among them are granted the privilege of forming two-person–one-Pokémon teams, where the Pokémon is assigned by a superior officer or instructor.
After all, finding a Pokémon that's both intelligent and compatible with its trainer isn't easy.
Take James, Jessie, and Meowth, or Butch and Cassidy with their Raticate, for example.
Though they're portrayed as comic relief in the anime, don't be fooled—within Team Rocket Academy, those two teams actually graduated top of their class during the final evaluation.
"So it's basically one versus two," said Jun Yuto eagerly, ready for action.
That was indeed the norm when official League trainers faced members of dark organizations.
Even at similar levels, the resource gap often meant the latter needed to fight two-on-one just to stand a chance.
Most of them didn't even have as many high-level Pokémon as the League trainers did.
As for why Rocket squads weren't made of three people instead of two?
Efficiency.
If two could get the job done, there was no need to waste a third.
And besides, the final outcome of a battle wasn't decided by grunts like them—it always came down to the strongest trainers.
Their only job was to buy time, to wear down stronger opponents, and to force them to reveal more of their Pokémon.
That was the dark organizations' hard-earned combat experience.
"Alright, I'll handle support," said Nurse Aya Joy, recalling her Blissey and volunteering to cover logistics.
Her team composition wasn't suited for large-scale combat anyway, and no one disagreed—no one was more qualified than a Joy for that role.
Soon after, several Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon were commanded to use Rock Tomb to block the valley entrance.
They didn't want to be caught in a pincer attack while fighting.
Though everyone was confident—the League doesn't lose—that was no reason to take chances.
"I'll take the first team,"said Zongju Soshu, stepping forward as the first pair of Rocket grunts appeared.
Typically, the earliest reinforcements were also the strongest.
As the eldest and one of the most powerful among the sixteen trainers present, it was only natural for him to take the lead.
If Silas hadn't rushed ahead, and if Officer Airi Jenny's Arcanine hadn't been so fast with Extreme Speed, he would've been the first to arrive.
"Machamp, use Karate Chop!
Golem, Defense Curl—then Rollout!"
Two massive Pokémon sprang into motion—Machamp's four arms glowing with Fighting-type energy, while Golem tucked in its limbs and head, glowing briefly before rolling toward the Rocket squad like a boulder.
"Fearow, use Drill Peck!
Primeape, use Cross Chop!"
The two Rocket grunts didn't panic—they'd been prepared. Their Pokémon, one airborne and one on the ground, lunged to meet the attack.
The clash was fierce and fast-paced—but the others didn't have much time to watch.
More Rocket teams were arriving by the minute.
"The second squad's mine," said Airi Jenny, dashing forward atop her Arcanine, her Ninetales following with elegant but rapid strides.
"Arcanine, use Howl!
Ninetales, use Confuse Ray!"
"Arcanine—arooo!"
The resonant howl echoed across the battlefield, radiating overwhelming pressure.
The opposing Pokémon flinched instinctively—three in total and hesitated in their trainers' commands.
That single heartbeat of hesitation was enough.
Ninetales's eyes flashed with a strange glow, and one of the Raticate immediately turned on its teammate, the Arbok beside it.
Even among allies, the savage Arbok wouldn't tolerate being attacked—it retaliated fiercely, and the Rocket squad descended into chaos before the battle had even started.
While Confuse Ray caused the disruption, Intimidate, Arcanine's Ability, was the real factor.
This was why the Jenny family preferred Arcanine with Intimidate over Flash Fire—its mere presence could shatter the nerve of any criminal.
Flash Fire was great in Fire-type duels, sure, but Intimidate was more versatile and fit their law enforcement role perfectly.
Both battlefields erupted in intensity as the pairs fought—each pulling their fights away to avoid crowding the entrance.
"Blaziken, use Blaze Kick!
Pidgeot, Quick Attack to cover!"
Silas called out his orders.
Pidgeot swooped low, its wings gleaming white with speed, while Blaziken charged ahead, legs blazing with fire.
The sudden burst of acceleration rivaled Arcanine's Extreme Speed, catching several eyes.
They quickly realized—this was Blaziken's Hidden Ability, Speed Boost, likely at its peak activation.
"So that's why you kept Blaziken in constant combat earlier," said Aya, half teasing.
Keeping Speed Boost active wasn't easy—it drained stamina and focus.
Silas just smiled.
"You all do your best too."
Then he dashed forward to join the fight.
The others exchanged exasperated looks—but didn't hesitate.
Each chose their own opponents and engaged.
Meanwhile, in the valley, One-Eyed Dragon listened to his subordinates' reports and nodded.
"Good. Keep them busy. Those brats won't cause much trouble."
He then focused his full attention back on the main battlefield.
"Crobat, Air Slash!"
High above, the massive purple bat flapped its wings sharply, releasing white blades of compressed air that sliced toward Bruno's Machamp, who was still fending off lesser foes.
"Pa-pa!"
Machamp glanced up, then casually swung its lower arms—each Karate Chop releasing air blades of its own that collided midair with Crobat's attack.
Even though Machamp hadn't taken the attack seriously even though Flying-type moves countered Fighting-types—
even though one side charged up while the other didn't—
the two Air Slashes still canceled each other out completely.
That was the difference between an Elite level Pokémon and a Elite-Four one.
"Tch," the One-Eyed Dragon growled, clearly displeased but helpless.
Even if the four Rocket Executives worked together, it would take at least three of them to match Bruno.
If the Pokémon League truly took Team Rocket seriously, they'd have been wiped out long ago.
Bruno, meanwhile, had only been using his Machamp this whole time.
Not once had he released a second Pokémon.
And that was enough—just one Pokémon was maintaining the fragile balance on the field.
If he sent out all six, the battle would end in minutes.
Team Rocket's entire force here wouldn't stand a chance.
"Damn it… hurry up," the One-Eyed Dragon muttered, glaring toward the underground lab entrance.
He could only hope Athena had already extracted Articuno's genetic data so they could retreat.
This was his first time facing one of the Elite Four head-on—and all his ambition and confidence had evaporated.
He had imagined defeating one and earning a promotion.
Now, he barely dared release another Pokémon—afraid that if he did, Bruno might take it as an excuse to unleash more himself.
No wonder Rocket Executives always worked in teams of four.
Facing power like this… was it even something humans could reach?
Bruno looked toward the underground entrance as well, murmuring to himself:
"Is this all you've got? Did Apollo and the others head inside already?"
Even as he thought aloud, his Machamp continued fighting with mechanical precision.
The Pokémon League had at least some awareness of Team Rocket's executives' movements.
However, the Pokémon world was vast — even just the Kanto region was enormous — so knowing every detail was impossible.
"Just stall them. There shouldn't be any major issues underground."
Bruno remained calm, almost as if he were on vacation rather than in the middle of a battle.
After all, according to the League's plan, this mission's main purpose was to give the younger Trainers some real combat experience.
As the battle dragged on, the one-eyed Executive's face grew darker.
Despite the prolonged fight, Machamp's movements hadn't slowed or weakened at all — its stamina was unbelievable.
"Combat unit, charge the No. 3 device!"
Finally, after yet another of his Pokémon was defeated, the Executive snapped and issued an order.
"But, sir— Lady Athena and the others still haven't—"
Before he could finish, the Executive's murderous glare silenced him.
A group of Rocket scientists pressed against the rocky wall and activated the so-called "No. 3 Device."
"Oh? So you're giving up on relying on your Pokémon's strength?"
Bruno glanced at them with disdain, but he still stayed alert.
After all, the reason Team Rocket had managed to persist for so long was largely due to their advanced technology — far ahead of the League's in certain areas.
Though Bruno, a traditionalist who believed firmly in a Trainer's bond with Pokémon, looked down on artificial means, he still acknowledged their destructive potential.
"Machamp — Unleash it."
The strange order caught the one-eyed Executive off guard.
"Machaaamp!"
With a powerful cry, Machamp tore off the belt around its waist — then took out a different belt from somewhere and fastened it back on.
Hot vapor spewed from its mouth, forming white mist in the frigid air of the Seafoam Islands.
"High Horsepower!" Bruno commanded.
The Executive suddenly felt a wave of dread. Maybe he really should've listened to Miss Proton's advice not to use the device so early.
"Machaaamp!"
With another roar, Machamp's figure vanished from sight.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A flurry of heavy blows echoed throughout the valley as one Team Rocket Pokémon after another was sent flying.
High Horsepower — a pure offensive move that lets the user throw its full physical power into a devastating charge.
For a Pokémon like Machamp, that meant unleashing a rapid barrage of punches from all four arms at inhuman speed.
Don't underestimate those simple strikes — they represented a perfect blend of speed and strength.
Hundreds of punches per second from four massive arms, each backed by Machamp's mountain-crushing power — even Lance's Dragonite might not be able to take that head-on.
Ten seconds.
That's all it took.
Within ten seconds, the center of the valley fell silent. Aside from Machamp, now breathing steadily, not a single Team Rocket Pokémon remained standing.
Sweat poured down the one-eyed Executive's forehead.
"Damn it! Is the No. 3 device ready yet?!"
He shouted, voice shaking.
"Ten more seconds!" his subordinate answered, panicked. He hadn't expected Bruno to finish the fight so quickly once he got serious.
"Houndoom! Weezing! Persian! Starmie! Weavile! Go! Stall that Machamp!"
The Executive threw out all five of his remaining Pokémon at once — each of them roughly at the Elite level.
"Thunder Punch."
Bruno's calm order rang out.
In the next instant, Machamp appeared before Starmie in a flash.
Electricity surged across its fists and before Starmie could even emerge fully from its Poké Ball, it was sent flying straight into the icy rock wall.
Bang!
Its central gem flickered weakly before dimming completely.
Just one blow — and the Elite-ranked Starmie, despite its natural regenerative power, was already down.
"Double Chop."
Machamp kicked off the ground, appearing above Weezing midair.
"Dodge it!"
The Executive's instincts screamed the right command but too late.
Machamp's downward elbow strike smashed Weezing unconscious, sending it crashing straight into Houndoom below.
Boom!
The two tumbled together, leaving Houndoom dazed and reeling.
Landing lightly, Machamp bent its knees and launched forward again, colliding squarely into Persian's body.
Persian crashed hard into the wall beside Starmie.
A faint ripping sound followed — Machamp's body stiffened slightly.
Three deep claw marks opened on its left leg — a parting blow from Weavile.
Weavile backflipped repeatedly, trying to widen the distance.
"Machamp!"
Before it could even land, Machamp appeared behind it like a phantom.
Weavile's eyes widened in despair — then all four of Machamp's arms seized it at once in a crushing submission hold.
"Weaviiile—!"
The cry was cut short as Weavile went limp.
Machamp loosened its grip, letting the fainted Weavile fall to the icy floor.
A pillar of flame shot toward it — Houndoom's Flamethrower, the last desperate attack.
"Focus Blast," Bruno commanded.
Machamp stood unmoving, letting the flames engulf it. Its four arms came together at its chest, spinning a yellow-white sphere of energy.
The orb burst forward, cutting through the fire like a comet and smashing directly into Houndoom's neck — shattering the bone-like collar that normally protected it.
The force sent Houndoom flying, collapsing in a heap on the frozen ground.
"Woooong—!"
At that very moment, the so-called "No. 3 Device" fired, releasing a brownish-yellow beam of energy that shot straight into the depths of the cave below.
....
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