Chapter 107: Whirl Islands

Wild Sandslash, Ekans, Pinsir, Raticate, Nidorino, Diglett, and other Pokémon emerged from the surrounding forest, encircling the entire camp and sealing off all possible escape routes.

In the skies above, flocks of Fearow, Beedrill, and Pidgeotto loomed, their eyes glowing red with a frenzied, violent aura.

"Something's not right with them," Ariana muttered to the dwarf-like man beside her. "Chakk, contact headquarters immediately. Ask Dr. Namba—he's an expert on Pokémon emotions."

"Understood," Chakk responded, dashing back into the tent to establish contact with Team Rocket headquarters.

Due to the absence of communication towers in such a remote jungle, Chakk had to rely on Team Rocket's specialized signal transmitter. Though unstable, it was still better than nothing.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the dense forest as a massive figure emerged from the ranks of wild Pokémon standing before Team Rocket.

It had a thick, blue, armored hide and a short yet razor-sharp horn protruding from its forehead—a colossal Nidoqueen.

Another Leader-tier Pokémon.

Ariana's pupils contracted. Until now, the only Leader Pokémon present had been those circling in the air. But now, the ground had one of its own.

"ROOOAARRR!!"

Nidoqueen let out an earth-shaking roar, the powerful soundwave nearly toppling the outermost tents.

"Lady Ariana, the call is connected!" Chakk hurried over, dragging the communications device to Ariana's side.

"Dr. Nappa, Chakk must have briefed you on the situation. What should we do now?" Ariana asked urgently.

"It's Namba, not Nappa!" the scientist shouted in irritation before continuing, "Use the sonic device I gave you. Tune it to the frequency I preset—it emits a calming signal that soothes aggressive wild Pokémon and lowers their alertness."

Ariana instantly understood. That device was their secret weapon, originally intended for use once they entered the ruins. She hadn't expected it to have this kind of function as well.

"Go! Bring it here, now!" Ariana commanded the nearby grunts.

With five Leader-tier Pokémon in play, a full-scale battle would spell disaster. While she herself had the strength to survive, the Team Rocket grunts and their equipment stood no chance. Even if she escaped, their mission would be a complete failure.

"Altaria, Draco Meteor."

A cold, emotionless voice rang out from the side.

Ariana turned to see Dolores' Altaria raising its head to the sky, letting out a piercing cry. Mysterious energy surged forth as luminous meteors—shimmering in shades of azure and gold—streaked through the air like falling stars.

"You idiot!" Ariana cursed out loud.

She had been moments away from deploying the device to pacify the Pokémon, yet this Syndicate fool had gone and attacked instead.

Once battle commenced, no device would be able to calm them down.

But rage wouldn't change reality—the attack had already begun.

The Leader-tier wild Pokémon roared in fury, countering with powerful moves to intercept the meteor storm.

Whether by design or sheer recklessness, Dolores' Draco Meteor was widely dispersed. Even the Aerodactyl and Pidgeot in the air couldn't block all of them. The remaining meteors rained down, bombarding the wild Pokémon below.

The devastation resembled a carpet-bombing strike.

Dolores' Altaria, already at the peak of Leader-tier strength due to the virus infection, had unleashed a devastatingly powerful Draco Meteor.

Only the area shielded by Nidoqueen's Ancient Power barrier remained unscathed. Everywhere else was a scene of carnage—severed limbs and lifeless bodies strewn across the battlefield.

The scent of fresh blood and death only fueled the already enraged Pokémon, driving them into a full-blown frenzy as they surged toward the encampment like a tidal wave.

At this point, Ariana had no time to curse anyone further—she immediately took command of her Pokémon, ordering them to form a defensive line and counterattack.

In the skies, the Leader-tier Pokémon, led by Aerodactyl, unleashed Hurricane, Stone Edge, and other devastating area-of-effect moves, clashing violently with Team Rocket's heavy weaponry. Explosions and battle cries filled the air.

...

Meanwhile, in another arena…

"Vileplume, unleash your most radiant bloom!" Rosa commanded.

"Viiile!"

Vileplume, its massive, vibrant petals absorbing every last ray of sunlight, directed its pollen-laden blossom toward the opposing Electivire. A dazzling beam of energy shot forth—Solar Beam, one of the most powerful Grass-type attacks.

"Electiviiire!"

Electivire roared as arcs of electricity crackled violently around its body, surging skyward before crashing down like a thunderstorm. At the same time, golden light enveloped its form, condensing into a massive, radiant tiger's head that lunged toward Vileplume with predatory ferocity.

A combination attack—Thunderbolt (Electric-type) fused with Giga Impact (Normal-type).

The golden tiger, wreathed in flickering electric currents, bore down with an all-consuming force. Half the battlefield was engulfed in its overwhelming energy.

Vileplume's Solar Beam struck the golden tiger head-on, illuminating it like a celestial spotlight.

But as the tiger's radiance faded, Vileplume had already collapsed onto the ground.

"Vileplume is unable to battle! Volkner is the winner!" the announcer declared, his voice brimming with excitement.

"Ahhh… That was incredible!"

"Volkner-sensei is amazing!"

The audience was still caught up in the excitement of the dazzling final blow delivered by Electivire.

By converting Giga Impact into an Electric-type move through Thunderbolt, not only did it create an overwhelmingly brilliant spectacle, but the sheer, earth-shaking power of the attack was also etched into everyone's minds.

"I lost."

Rosa recalled her Vileplume, her expression free of any frustration.

She knew full well that Volkner had gone easy on her. That Electivire undoubtedly possessed strength beyond the level of a Gym Leader's Pokémon. If it had used its full power, a single blow might have utterly crushed Vileplume.

"Thank you, Mr. Volkner."

As they shook hands, Rosa expressed her sincere gratitude.

With Volkner's strength, he could have ended the match much sooner. Yet, he had engaged in an extended back-and-forth battle, delivering a spectacular performance. His cooperation had made their match all the more thrilling.

"Thank you as well," Lucius said.

This exhibition match was a crucial opportunity for him to boost his popularity in his bid for a position among Kanto's Elite Four. With Rosa's help, he had left an even stronger and more favorable impression on the audience.

"Mr. Volkner, are you free tonight?"

As they walked backstage together, Rosa smiled and asked, "After seeing the way you executed your moves, I suddenly got some new ideas. I'd love to exchange thoughts with you."

"Of course. I've always been interested in the techniques of Coordinators, so this would be a great chance for me to learn from you as well."

Lucius responded with a grin, readily agreeing.

...

Whirl Islands.

Legend has it that these islands were once a single, massive landmass. However, two warring nations frequently clashed over control of the island, provoking the wrath of the Sea Guardian, Lugia. In its fury, Lugia unleashed a storm of lightning, splitting the island into four separate pieces.

The archipelago lies on Route 41, between Johto and Ciandwood City. Its waters are treacherous, filled with powerful whirlpools. Only a few safe routes allow for passage.

"Grandma, look! What's that?"

A child pointed excitedly at a Pokémon soaring past the house.

"That?"

The elderly woman squinted through her reading glasses, struggling to make out the tiny, vibrant green figure.

Suddenly, her clouded eyes widened in shock.

"It's Celebi… the mythical Time Travel Pokémon… Celebi!"

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