Reshiram slightly lowered its noble head, its deep blue eyes calmly staring at the figures standing before it.
The entire floor was deathly silent, so quiet it felt suffocating.
After all, if anyone stepped out of an elevator or through a door, only to find themselves face-to-face with a high-tier Legendary Pokémon, who wouldn't be shaken to the core?
Especially when that Legendary… happened to belong to the enemy!
Even for seasoned, level-headed champions like Steven and Cynthia, their usually calm expressions were visibly strained.
"Cynthia, Steven, Iris… three trainers of the Master Class Rankings, huh?" Lucas's crimson eyes gleamed faintly as he toyed with a minimized Poké Ball between his fingers. "Looks like old Loki really does think highly of me."
He chuckled lightly, tone mocking yet unhurried.
The Team Rocket had known that the Pokémon League was sending reinforcements, but they hadn't been able to find out who. Now that the three of them stood here before him, the answer was clear.
And this might not even be all of them. For all he knew, there could be more elite trainers hidden elsewhere in the city.
"So, it's you after all…" Steven exhaled softly, steadying his heart as he drew a Poké Ball from his belt, his voice low and composed. "I should've known—if we came here, we were bound to run into you, Lucas."
He had already prepared himself mentally.
If this was a final showdown with Team Rocket, then a battle with Lucas was inevitable.
Cynthia and Iris, too, had already taken their Poké Balls in hand, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," Lucas said with a faint, predatory smile spreading across his lips. "We've met before, haven't we? But I've never actually fought any of you."
His crimson eyes flickered across all three of them, Cynthia, Steven, Iris. He had spoken with them before, even shared meals and conversations during League events. But now—
Now they stood on opposite sides.
Their roles had never been more clearly defined.
Enemies.
"Come then," Lucas's smile deepened, eyes narrowing with a mix of anticipation and battle lust. "Let me see… the so-called power of your regions' greatest champions."
"Reshiram, Fusion Flare!"
The white dragon behind him roared, a mighty roar that shook the air itself. The temperature of the entire floor skyrocketed in an instant as a blazing sphere of crimson fire condensed before Reshiram's maw.
"Metagross!"
"Garchomp!"
"Hydreigon!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Steven, Cynthia, and Iris threw their Poké Balls forward.
Their Pokémon emerged in a burst of light just as the giant fireball erupted forward, devouring everything in its path.
"Metagross, Protect!" Steven barked out instantly.
Metagross floated forward, a shimmering green barrier flaring to life before the group.
BOOM!
The fiery sphere slammed into the barrier with an earth-shattering explosion. The impact sent shockwaves through the entire floor, flames licking against the shield.
"Hydreigon, Dragon Pulse!" Iris commanded sharply.
As the flames dissipated, Hydreigon's three heads rose in unison, releasing a radiant beam of draconic energy toward Reshiram.
"Garchomp, Dragon Claw!" Cynthia's voice followed immediately.
Her Garchomp roared, pushing off with its powerful legs and charging straight for Reshiram with claws glowing a fierce turquoise.
"…Your reaction time is impressive," Lucas murmured, smiling faintly. "Reshiram, Dragon Pulse."
Reshiram met Hydreigon's attack head-on with its own Dragon Pulse. The two beams collided midair but in the blink of an eye, Reshiram's attack completely overpowered Hydreigon's, bursting through and shooting toward Garchomp.
"Garchomp!" Cynthia shouted.
Her dragon raised one claw, meeting the oncoming blast head-on.
BOOM!
The floor trembled as Garchomp slid backward, its claws gouging deep furrows into the ground as it skidded to a stop.
"So strong…" Iris muttered under her breath, eyes wide.
This was her first time truly confronting a Legendary Pokémon. She had always heard the rumors that one of Team Rocket's senior executive had been acknowledged by one of Unova's legendary dragons, becoming the Hero of Truth.
But only now, seeing Reshiram in battle, did she truly understand what that meant.
Even with the combined might of three regional champions, they hadn't managed to gain any advantage—not even during the opening exchange.
"If this is the extent of your power," Lucas said lazily, brushing nonexistent dust from his coat, "then you'll never defeat my Reshiram."
"The evil of Team Rocket ends today," Steven declared coldly. "Lucas, if you turn back now, it's not too late."
He wasn't trying to provoke him. He simply hoped that, deep down, Lucas might still be reasoned with.
After all, Lucas's strength was terrifying perhaps second only to the mysterious Team Rocket leader himself.
But could that leader really be someone even stronger than this man standing before them?
"How dull," Lucas chuckled softly, eyes flashing with contempt. "You heroes always say the same things. Don't you ever get tired of it?"
His tone dropped several degrees colder. "Enough talk. Show me your real power… because I won't be holding back."
He was about to command Reshiram again—
When suddenly—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the building from above. The entire floor quaked violently as dust and debris rained down from the ceiling.
"There's a battle upstairs!" Steven immediately realized.
If Lucas was here, then the person on the top floor, the president's office could only be one other person.
The true leader of Team Rocket.
"Oh my, looks like Boss Giovanni's having fun," Lucas grinned, raising an eyebrow.
That level of destruction could only mean one thing, Giovanni was up against a formidable foe.
"Lance, huh?" Lucas mused aloud. "Yeah… that sounds about right. Knowing him, he'd go straight for the boss himself. Typical."
"Since the boss is going all out, I suppose I should put in some effort too."
He turned his crimson eyes back to the trio of champions, his grin widening.
"Reshiram—Overheat!"
…
Meanwhile, outside in Saffron City, the entire city had become a full-scale battlefield.
At the police headquarters, Commander Jenny Zero was running herself ragged, barking orders as she coordinated the chaos.
On one street, a Rocket executive named Petrel grinned wickedly as his Raticate clashed with an opposing Growlithe.
"Raticate, Hyper Fang!"
With a vicious screech, Raticate lunged forward, its fangs gleaming as it struck the Growlithe squarely.
"Tch!" The opposing League trainer stumbled back, gritting his teeth.
Petrel smirked. "Is that all the League can muster? Pathetic. You came to pick a fight with Team Rocket at this level? Seems the League's really lost its touch."
"You—how dare you!" the trainer shouted, face red with fury.
He was actually mocked by a member of Team Rocket!
"Enough, vile Team Rocket member!"
A clear, feminine voice suddenly rang out from behind Petrel.
"Hm?" He turned around with a frown and froze.
Then, as realization dawned, he actually burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Oh, that's rich!"
Because standing behind him was Nurse Joy.
Clad in her signature white-and-pink uniform, her face calm but serious, her iconic pink hair tied neatly behind her head.
"Don't tell me…" Petrel snorted. "The League's so desperate they're sending Nurses to the battlefield now?"
He sneered openly. "What are you gonna do, treat me to a healing massage? Or are you gonna throw a Chansey at me?"
Every region had its Joys, but not one of them was known for combat.
"Evil like Team Rocket will never be forgiven!" the Nurse Joy declared sternly, ignoring his mockery.
With a swift motion, she threw a Poké Ball into the air.
A beam of light burst forth—revealing a sleek, white-and-red Pokémon that floated gracefully beside her.
Petrel blinked, frowning. ""Hehe~ Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson toda—wait, WHAT?!"
His voice cracked.
The Pokémon hovering there—streamlined body, white above, red below was none other than Latias, the Eon Pokémon, one of the rarest Legendaries in existence.
"What the hell—?! A Nurse Joy with a Latias?!"
His brain froze.
No, this wasn't possible. This couldn't be possible!
Where did she even get a Legendary?!
"You... You don't come over here! I'm not someone you can easily mess with!"
And then… well, there wasn't a "then."
Because within minutes, Petrel became the first Rocket Executive to be captured that day.
…
At the entrance of the Silph Co. Building.
"Madam Agatha, aren't you going up?" a young Officer Jenny asked curiously.
Steven, Cynthia, Lance, Leon and the others have already entered the building, but Agatha has no intention of going in.
"I am an old woman and I can't compare with those young people. I can't climb the stairs." Agatha chuckled, leaning on her cane.
Her tone was light, but the wrinkles on her aged face carried a strange, ghostly aura. One that could make even the bravest trainer's skin crawl.
Years spent alongside Ghost and Poison-type Pokémon had left their mark. Even her shadow concealed her true ace, a Ghost Pokémon lurking unseen.
Their chilling aura had seeped into her very being, giving her that eerie, unsettling presence.
"Still," she murmured softly, "who would've thought an old woman like me would live long enough to join the fight to destroy Team Rocket…"
Unlike Lance or Lorelei, Agatha didn't hate Team Rocket with any burning passion. She neither loved nor despised them, she had simply seen too much in her long life.
But even so, one last ember of resolve still burned within her heart.
BOOM!
Another distant explosion shook the air.
"…Looks like Lance has found his opponent," she said, squinting toward the sky.
Far above, two tiny figures were descending rapidly toward the city.
Even with her old eyes, Agatha could make them out clearly—the familiar silhouette of a Dragonite, and the other…
"…A Beedrill?"
Her gaze sharpened. One was Lance, no doubt about it and the other, riding atop the massive Beedrill, was unmistakably Giovanni.
As one of Kanto's oldest Gym Leaders, Agatha had seen them both rise to power.
"Well then," she sighed, smirking faintly. "If I keep slacking off, that old coot Loki will just nag me again."
Her cane tapped the ground, and the shadow at her feet rippled ominously as she slowly made her way toward the crash site.
…
Thirty-sixth Floor.
"Weavile, Ice Punch!"
"Houndoom, Flamethrower!"
Karen narrowed her violet eyes, commanding her two partners.
Her opponent was none other than Bruno, the Fighting-type Elite Four member.
Weavile's claws shimmered with icy light as it darted forward, grinning wickedly at the oncoming Hitmonlee.
Behind it, Houndoom leapt high, a fiery blast erupting from its maw.
"Cross Chop!" Bruno's booming voice echoed.
Machamp lunged forward, crossing its four muscular arms to cleave straight through the torrent of flames, scattering the fire like sparks in the wind.
Taking advantage of that opening, Hitmonlee twisted its body midair, its foot igniting as it lashed out at Weavile.
Blaze Kick!
Flame met frost in a violent clash.
After a brief stalemate, both Pokémon were blown back.
"Weavile!"
It slid backward, claws digging into the floor to slow its retreat. The heat had left its hands singed, and its eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Tch… what a pain," Karen muttered, brow twitching. "Honestly, Bruno, you're exactly the kind of man I hate fighting—big, loud, and built like a tank."
She sighed dramatically, her tone full of disdain. "Fighting-types are just… ugh. Such a hassle."
She specialized in Dark-types—the natural enemy of Fighting-types.
"Then I suppose that's unfortunate," Bruno replied bluntly, his massive arms crossing. "Because I quite like you."
Karen blinked, momentarily thrown off.
"…Excuse me?!"
Bruno simply grinned. "Your strength. It's impressive."
Karen's expression twitched violently.
'Excuse me, sir—what? I like pretty boys, not muscleheads!'
(End of Chapter)