Chapter 106: Encirclement
Though Lucius' Poké Ball throw wasn't particularly flashy, his calm and steady demeanor exuded the presence of a true expert.
"Pika! Pika!"
A flash of white light revealed an adorably bright yellow Pokémon with a lightning-shaped tail and two round red cheeks.
"Wow, it's a Pikachu! So cute!"
"Look at its fur, it looks so soft… I really want to pet it…"
"Pikachu, you can do it!"
"Pikachu, go! Volkner, go!"
As expected, most of the female audience couldn't resist the charm of an adorable Pokémon. The moment Pikachu appeared, it won the hearts of many female spectators, who cheered excitedly in support.
With the announcer's cry of "Battle, begin!" Rosa wasted no time making her move.
"Roserade, perform a dazzling dance—let flower petals cover the entire field!" she commanded gracefully.
"Roooose~"
Roserade stepped forward in an elegant dance. With each sway of its body and graceful wave of its twin rose-like hands, countless cherry blossom petals materialized, transforming the battlefield into a mesmerizing pink sea of flowers.
"Impressive," Lucius sincerely praised.
Unlike other Grass-type Pokémon that often released Petal Dance in a wild, chaotic manner, this Roserade's movements were so fluid and artistic that it truly resembled a dance—yet the power behind its technique was anything but delicate.
"Pikachu, use Swift," Lucius instructed in a calm voice.
"Pika!"
With a flick of its lightning-shaped tail, Pikachu launched a volley of shimmering golden stars into the sky. The stars collided mid-air with the falling pink petals, bursting into countless sparkling golden fragments, creating a breathtaking display.
In Coordinator battles, it wasn't just about the strength of the moves—visual appeal was just as crucial. Often, both trainers needed to work together to enhance the spectacle.
Though Lucius wasn't a Coordinator himself, in a performance battle like this, he was willing to cooperate for the sake of the show.
Noticing Volkner's seamless response, Rosa smiled slightly.
Coordinators dreaded facing brute-force battlers—those who fought with sheer power and disregard for aesthetics. Not only did such tactics lack beauty, but they also increased the risk of Pokémon suffering unnecessary injuries.
But since her opponent was willing to coordinate, it was all the better.
"Roserade, become one with the earth."
"Rose!"
Roserade spread its arms wide, and from beneath its feet, vines extended deep into the ground. Its body took on a more vibrant green hue, radiating a faint glow…
...
Meanwhile, in a distant estate…
The head of the Hjelle family sat outside the manor, watching as truck after truck delivered renovation materials, ready to refurbish the grand, ancient castle.
This castle had a long history—once a proud symbol of the Hjelle family's golden age. Although time had diminished their former influence, they still held a formidable presence within the Pokémon League and the Kanto region, even if they no longer flaunted their power as openly as before.
If this investment succeeded, the Hjelle family might just reclaim the peak of their glory from a century ago.
His mind drifted back to a few days prior, when his granddaughter had handed him a research report from the laboratory. For the first time in years, his long-dormant heart stirred with excitement.
What was the most important thing for a family?
Was it wealth? Prestige?
No…
Only powerful Pokémon truly mattered.
To possess powerful Pokémon was to hold power.
Without strength, no amount of wealth could be protected—it would only make one a target.
Without strength, noble lineage was nothing more than an elegant veil—beautiful, but useless.
Ever since his son's passing, the Hjelle family had lacked a true powerhouse leader. For an ancient family, this was a dire crisis.
Wealth without power was nothing but a feast for the wolves.
He was still alive for now, barely keeping the situation in check. But once he was gone, how could his granddaughter—a mere girl—possibly hold onto the vast legacy of their family?
Then came that research report. And with it… hope.
A method to directly enhance a Pokémon's potential—if successful, it would mean the ability to mass-produce powerful Pokémon. With the Hjelle family's vast resources, they could raise an army of elites in no time.
Furthermore, mastering this technology meant monopolizing the market.
With that, their foundation would be unshakable.
His gaze shifted toward a girl nearby, engaged in conversation with his granddaughter—Ophelia.
A new generation always brings new talents…
If only I had a grandson instead…
...
Elsewhere, in a dense forest…
"Ariana, the excavation has begun," a dwarf-like operative reported, watching the data on the radar screen.
Ariana nodded but remained cautious.
Their team had successfully rendezvoused with the advance unit and had begun setting up a base camp around the excavation site.
Since the exact entrance to the ruins was unknown, they had chosen four different locations to dig simultaneously.
"ROOOOAAAAR!!"
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the forest, sending a shiver through countless wild Pokémon. Even some Kakuna and Metapod lost their grip and tumbled from the trees.
"What was that?!" Ariana's expression darkened.
The roar had come from behind their group, but almost immediately, similar howls echoed from all directions.
She glanced at her Arbok—it was visibly restless, shifting nervously. It didn't take an expert to see that her team was in serious danger.
Had they been surrounded by wild Pokémon?
Around her, the Rocket Grunts had picked up on the abnormal situation. One after another, they released their Pokémon, standing on high alert as they scanned the dense jungle.
"Prepare for battle!" Ariana barked at Dolores.
But Dolores didn't seem nearly as alarmed as Ariana had expected. She continued issuing instructions in a calm, collected manner.
Unlike the Rocket Grunts, who were visibly uneasy and scrambling into formation, the Syndicate operatives moved with steady, deliberate precision, positioning themselves in battle-ready stances.
What's with these Syndicate people…?
In truth, this was the result of Rocket's recent shift in focus. With so many of their resources diverted into virus research, they had overlooked more practical threats.
If Dr. Namba or Dr. Zager had been present, they might have realized it immediately—Dr. Onando's trucks were emitting strange signals.
And those signals were agitating every Pokémon within range.
It's here…
A massive shadow swept over Sham's head.
It was a sight rarely seen anywhere in the world—an ancient Pokémon long thought to be extinct: Aerodactyl.
At the same time, three leader-class Pokémon emerged in the sky—a Pidgeot, a Skarmory, and a Butterfree.
And beyond these four approaching commanders, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed from the ground below.
It was clear that a large number of Pokémon were converging toward them.
"Prepare the weapons," Ariana ordered calmly.
Machine guns rose from the truck, their cold, heavy barrels radiating an ominous chill.
Several Team Rocket grunts retrieved electric nets, flamethrowers, and other weapons from the vehicle, readying themselves for battle.
Both Team Rocket and the Syndicate had extensive experience dealing with wild Pokémon. After all, against the firepower of human weaponry, most ordinary Pokémon stood little chance of resisting.
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