Training Gastly

This was the first time Gastly had joined the training, so Aoki wasn't sure about the exact amount of training to assign but just thought of a similar amount in his mind.

After Aoki finished speaking, Gastly immediately ran off to begin its training.

Murkrow's first exercise was to focus on using its Dark Pulse. The goal was to channel the energy of the Dark type and focus the attack, maximizing the damage of the Dark Pulse.

Next, Murkrow practiced Wing Attack. As its most powerful flying move, part of the damage came from condensing flight energy into its wings to boost attack power, while the rest relied on the physical strength of Murkrow's wings to enhance the attack.

For Slowpoke, a Water and Psychic-type, while its Water abilities were decent, its Psychic powers were more prominent.

Aoki had always focused on training its psychic abilities. As long as Slowpoke's psychic powers were well-developed, supported by its Water skills, it would become a formidable mobile turret, capable of controlling and outputting damage while maintaining weak defense and health.

Gastly, a Ghost and Poison-type, had high Special Attack stats. However, for a Ghost or its eventual evolution into Gengar, the battle wasn't about quick victories but a war of attrition.

With Ghost-type moves and continuous Poison-type damage, the longer the battle dragged on, the more damage it could inflict. But the key was surviving the initial onslaught from opponents.

Ghost-types like Gastly had high Speed, which allowed them to survive longer, and they could learn a variety of control moves that could irritate and disrupt opponents, increasing their battle longevity.

In Aoki's mind, Gastly just needed to master Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Sleep Talk, and Toxic moves. If these moves were executed flawlessly, Gastly could wear down even high-level Pokémon.

Thus, Gastly was seen as the primary damage-dealer in Aoki's team. Murkrow wasn't suited for prolonged battles, and Slowpoke, while strong, was too slow and easy to target. But none of that mattered for Gastly.

Once Gastly evolved into Gengar and potentially used a matching Mega Stone, battles beyond its current level would be possible, even against higher-tier foes.

The next day, Aoki and his team arrived at the Rockets' base after a full day of travel.

It had taken a day to move from the Rattata territory to the base, but the journey wasn't rushed—it was filled with training and leveling up.

The most improved Pokémon was Gastly. With the help of Murkrow and Slowpoke, Gastly's level skyrocketed, jumping from Level 10 to Level 14 in just a day.

During the intense battles, Gastly had become a real fighter, thriving in the heat of combat and keen on facing different opponents. This surge in activity helped it level up by 4 levels.

Slowpoke and Murkrow had also leveled up by one, reaching Levels 22 and 20 respectively. Most of this came from Gastly's enthusiasm—when they encountered strong opponents, Gastly would challenge them, leading to battles that helped everyone gain experience.

After the battles, Aoki returned to the base with his team.

"Slowpoke, you're not suited to be out here. Go back to your Poké Ball and rest," Aoki said, recalling Slowpoke. As a rare Shiny Pokémon, Slowpoke's pink color made it stand out, and Aoki didn't want any unnecessary attention.

While Aoki wasn't worried about the Rocket Trials, he was cautious about the official Rocket members on the island—those who had experienced real bloodshed. For them, risks were just a part of the job.

Aoki handed Gastly the incubator with Lavitar's egg, instructing it to hide it in its shadow, and led Murkrow into the base confidently.

The long ridge-like passageways were still familiar to Aoki, but this time, he didn't feel the same sense of dread.

As the saying goes, "Strength changes your perspective on the world," and that's exactly how Aoki felt now.

He now had two powerful Pokémon, Murkrow and Slowpoke, both with strong levels, and a highly talented Gastly. Add to that resources like the Earth Core Milk and Dark Stone, and Aoki was no longer a mere trainer. He had the power to back up his plans, and the pressure from the Rockets wasn't as overwhelming anymore.

Aoki walked with a different attitude than when he first entered the base.

The Rocket Square, which had once been empty, was now bustling with activity. People were moving hurriedly, not just the trial members but also official Rocket soldiers, who seemed busy.

After entering the base, Aoki noticed several undercover agents blending in with the crowd. Though he didn't pay them much attention, there were at least three or four of them.

"Interesting, the base has gotten more complicated," Aoki thought with a smirk on his face.

Soon, the news of Aoki's return spread throughout the base, and many of the higher-ups were alerted.

A group of people quickly emerged from the dormitory area, led by a figure at the front. They made their way to the square, each person accompanied by at least one Pokémon. The leader had two.

As they approached Aoki in the square, their expressions became more complex—nervous, excited, and even fearful, yet they moved at their fastest pace.

The leader of the group, Skye, was the first to approach. "Master Aoki, you're back," he said, his voice a mixture of respect and anticipation. Aoki had given him the Koffing that had once belonged to Soros.