Chapter 249: Trouble

"What should we do now, Captain?" a team member asked anxiously.

The Sweet Scent had successfully drawn a large group of Geodude, but with the arrival of Graveler and the pseudo-Elite Golem, no one dared to act rashly.

If they attacked the Geodude in front of the Graveler and Golem, it would be a declaration of war.

"Team Two, get over here immediately," the captain said into his walkie-talkie.

The appearance of a pseudo-Elite Golem had severely tipped the scales against them, so he called for the second team, which was originally tasked with protecting the train.

As for the train's safety, it was no longer a concern. The presence of the Golem signified that this area had become its territory, and no other wild Pokémon were likely to approach.

"Golem, I hope you'll allow the train to pass through the tunnel ahead," the captain said, releasing his pseudo-Elite Ampharos.

In terms of type advantage, the Rock/Ground Golem had the upper hand, but strength was essential for negotiation. Without it, this wouldn't be a negotiation—it would be begging for mercy.

The sight of the pseudo-Elite Ampharos made the Golem's previously arrogant expression noticeably more subdued.

Soon, the five members of Team Two arrived. Initially, they were puzzled as to why the captain had summoned them.

But upon seeing the massive horde of Geodude—over 600 of them—along with dozens of Graveler and the Golem facing off against the captain, their confusion vanished.

They had run into a tough adversary.

The captain had no desire to fight the Golem. The opposing side had an overwhelming advantage in numbers, and a battle would leave them at a severe disadvantage.

If the Golem allowed the train to pass, they could avoid a confrontation.

He planned to report the situation afterward, and professionals would be sent to deal with it.

However, the Golem was far from cooperative. Seeing so many of its Geodude minions being mesmerized had already infuriated it.

"Roar!"

With a furious roar, the Geodude snapped out of their trance from the Sweet Scent.

They first appeared disoriented but quickly recovered, glaring menacingly at the opposing Vileplume.

Though the Geodude weren't very high-level, their sheer numbers made them a formidable sight.

Under the collective gaze of so many Geodude, even the Advanced-level Vileplume grew uneasy and instinctively stepped back.

That single step seemed to signal the start of a battle.

Nearly a hundred Geodude tucked their bodies into spheres and began rolling toward the Vileplume en masse.

The rumbling sound was deafening, and even the ground began to tremble.

"Engage!"

The captain commanded solemnly.

The battle was now unavoidable.

The team members quickly released their Pokémon to join the fray.

"Vileplume, Razor Leaf!"

"Blastoise, Water Gun!"

"Crobat, Supersonic!"

"Aipom, Swift!"

Each team member sent out two Pokémon, most of them at the Advanced level.

Their coordination was seamless, a clear indication of their professional training for group battles.

The moves complemented each other, amplifying the effects.

Explosions erupted one after another, halting the advancing Geodude. Nearly a hundred Geodude were knocked out, sprawled on the ground.

Meanwhile, the team's Pokémon remained unscathed. The Geodude couldn't even get close before being defeated.

Yet this display of power didn't deter the remaining Geodude. They continued their charge relentlessly.

In a species like this, as long as the leader stood tall, the rest would never feel fear. They believed that no matter how strong the enemy was, their leader would prevail.

This was why defeating the leader of a species often turned the tide.

"Raichu!"

The captain deployed his second pseudo-Elite Pokémon. Though only at the initial stages of pseudo-Elite strength, it was one of only two such Pokémon he possessed.

"Ampharos, Iron Tail on Golem!"

Ampharos moved swiftly. The surrounding Geodude tried to intervene, but they couldn't even graze it. Yet, before Ampharos could reach its target, dozens of Graveler stepped into its path.

To take down the leader, it had to first overcome these defenders.

"Raichu, hold them off for Ampharos!"

The captain had sent out Raichu specifically to keep the Graveler at bay.

Though Raichu appeared pudgy, its speed was remarkable. It launched a Thunderbolt that struck the ground, creating an explosion of debris and dust. The Graveler instinctively closed their eyes.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Ampharos leaped forward, its tail glowing with a silvery light as it swung down powerfully.

However, Golem, despite its bulky appearance, displayed unexpected agility. It curled into a ball and rolled backward just in time, evading the attack.

Ampharos's Iron Tail slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater. The shockwave caused several Graveler to lose their footing and tumble over.

"Raichu, Focus Punch!"

The captain seized the moment and called out.

While Ampharos's attack missed, it created an opportunity for Raichu.

With incredible speed, Raichu charged up its energy and unleashed a devastating Focus Punch, sending one Graveler flying into another.

"Roooar!"

Golem stomped its left foot on the ground, summoning razor-sharp rocks from the earth. The Stone Edge move flew toward Ampharos and Raichu, whistling through the air with a piercing sound.

Ampharos, sensing the incoming attack, bristled as its fur puffed up, transforming it into a fluffy defensive ball.

The sharp Stone Edge shards pierced into the seemingly soft cotton, yet the Cotton Guard absorbed the impact, halting the rocks in their tracks.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Golem, undeterred, began moving its heavy body forward like an armored tank.

A white stream of air pressure formed in front of it as it charged, unleashing a powerful Heavy Slam.

This move grew stronger the heavier the Pokémon using it, and Golem's weight ranked among the highest known Pokémon species.

Heavy Slam collided with Ampharos's Cotton Guard. While the cotton barrier was incredibly resilient, it couldn't fully withstand the raw, overwhelming power of the attack.

The cotton barrier shattered on impact, revealing Ampharos's fragile form as it stood directly in Golem's path.

The Heavy Slam didn't stop there.

"Bam!"

Ampharos was struck head-on, letting out a pained cry as it was sent flying. Though it hadn't been knocked out, its trembling body struggled to get back on its feet.

"Ampharos!"

The captain's voice was a mixture of shock and fury. He hadn't anticipated that this Golem wasn't just a pseudo-Elite at the early or mid-stage, but one at the peak of pseudo-Elite tier.

His Ampharos, at level 65 and mid-pseudo-Elite, should have had the upper hand under his command. Yet, it was overwhelmed.

The only explanation was that Golem's level was even higher.

"This is the security team, requesting immediate assistance. Is there any trainer among the passengers with a peak pseudo-Elite Pokémon? We urgently need reinforcements."

the captain quickly radioed through his walkie-talkie to the train's conductor.