Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [450] [50 PS]

The Team Rocket grunts stationed outside sprang into action under Courtney's command, launching their assault on the building.

A net of Arbok, Weezing, and Golbat encircled the entire complex, cutting off any attempts to escape from either the Sinnoh League or Team Galactic.

Of course, this outer perimeter alone wasn't enough to stop someone like Cynthia—or other Elite Four members like Aaron or Gardenia.

But Luo Yuan had long anticipated that.

Right now, under his direction, Deoxys was holding off Aaron, Gardenia, and the Interpol agent Looker.

Mewtwo was relentlessly suppressing Pluto and the Galactic grunts, leaving them unable to even catch their breath.

As for Luo Yuan himself, he was facing off directly against Cynthia.

Naturally, Luo Yuan knew her well.

Cloaked in black, Cynthia stood behind her Garchomp, brows drawn into a frown as she stared across at him.

She hadn't expected him to be this arrogant—to face her alone, without Mewtwo or Deoxys at his side.

Does he think so little of me?

Luo Yuan caught the thought just from her expression.

Arrogant? Maybe. But it was arrogance built on a solid foundation—his own strength.

"Gengar, Dragapult."

Snap.

At Luo Yuan's signal, Dragapult shot from its Poké Ball and dove straight at Cynthia's Garchomp.

At the same time, a shadow darted from the side—Gengar, who had been lurking unnoticed, now lunged directly at Cynthia herself.

"Despicable!"

That was Cynthia's first reaction at the ambush.

But as a Champion, her reflexes were razor-sharp.

In a flash, she hurled a Poké Ball.

A streak of white light, and Spiritomb appeared—blocking Gengar's path.

Even in such a tense situation, Cynthia hadn't panicked for a second—she'd made the exact right choice.

As a Ghost/Dark-type, Spiritomb held a natural advantage over Gengar.

Boom!

Gengar's [Shadow Sneak] was shattered by Spiritomb's [Dark Pulse].

The sneak attack had failed.

Meanwhile, on the front lines, Dragapult and Garchomp clashed.

Dragapult launched its signature [Dragon Darts].

Garchomp countered with [Dragon Rage], but the two Dragapult-born Dreepy deftly curved around the blast and veered in from the sides.

"Garchomp!"

Cynthia's ace Pokémon responded with power worthy of its reputation.

Just in time, it drove its legs into the ground and leapt high, spinning midair and unleashing another Dragon Rage—this one striking the Dreepy mid-pursuit, breaking up the attack.

Now recovered, Garchomp hovered in the air, watching the circling Dragapult with sharp eyes.

Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Impressive—but not surprising.

Cynthia was a Champion, and Garchomp her signature partner. Of course she was strong.

But that also meant Gengar and Dragapult alone wouldn't end this fight quickly.

And using more of his Pokémon risked exposing his identity.

Sigh... Why are you forcing my hand?

Luo Yuan let out a long breath.

Cynthia's eyes narrowed. "?"

She didn't understand the meaning behind that sigh.

Then Luo Yuan reached into his pocket—and pulled out a Master Ball.

Thud.

A burst of white light.

ROAR!!!

A thunderous dragon's cry shook the entire building as Rayquaza appeared.

The massive Pokémon immediately outgrew the space between the first and second floors, its serpentine body straining the already battered ceiling, breaking apart what little structure remained.

Chunks of concrete rained down onto Rayquaza's body—completely ineffective.

"Hang in there," Luo Yuan said calmly. "I know this space is tight."

ROAR!

Rayquaza responded and locked eyes with Cynthia.

Just from its gaze, a wave of cold fear surged through her—it was the pressure of a true apex predator.

"Rayquaza..."

Cynthia struggled to find words.

Team Rocket really isn't holding back in Sinnoh...

Not just Mewtwo and Deoxys—they'd even brought Rayquaza, long thought to reside exclusively in Hoenn.

No matter how much she tried to steel herself... for the first time, Cynthia felt despair creeping in.

Against three Legendary Pokémon—she saw no chance of victory.

Not even retreat seemed possible now.

Would Luo Yuan allow them to flee?

Of course not.

If he had any intention of letting the League go, he wouldn't have deployed Rayquaza and sealed the exits.

Bringing in Rayquaza and surrounding the building had only one purpose—to trap everyone inside.

So that no one could interfere when he moved against Cyrus.

"Rayquaza, [Dragon Pulse]!"

At Luo Yuan's command, a glowing yellow orb began forming in Rayquaza's mouth—and fired straight at Garchomp.

Earlier, Dragapult's assault had forced Garchomp back. Now, with Cynthia standing directly behind it, dodging would mean letting the attack hit her instead.

There was no escape.

"[Protect]!"

A shimmering dome enveloped Garchomp.

The next moment, Rayquaza's [Dragon Pulse] collided.

BOOM!

The explosion rocked the ground.

The barrier shattered under the force of the blast. The remaining energy struck Garchomp full-on—blasting both it and Cynthia backward.

The shockwave radiated outward, sweeping through the battlefield and hurling aside both League and Galactic trainers alike.

At the same time, Mewtwo and Deoxys launched coordinated strikes.

Vast waves of psychic energy crashed down upon trainers and Pokémon alike.

Everywhere their attacks passed, bodies dropped—overwhelmed.

Team Rocket grunts on the outside immediately swarmed in, binding and disarming the downed League and Galactic trainers with ruthless efficiency.

In this perfectly timed pincer assault, Team Rocket was picking apart both factions with surgical precision.

Cynthia, only just recovering from the earlier blast, could only watch.

Behind her, her Garchomp stood battered and gasping.

She looked up at Luo Yuan and asked, "What... exactly are you trying to do?"

No dark organization had ever gone this far before—openly attacking and capturing League trainers on such a massive scale.

Especially not when two Elites and a Champion were present.

Was Rocket... planning to declare all-out war on the League?

Cynthia was filled with questions.

But Luo Yuan only smiled.