The R Project was Team Rocket's grand plan to create the strongest Pokémon army and conquer the entire Pokémon world.
Clem captained Team Rocket's R Project execution force—powerful and cunning.
He primarily operated in the Johto region, assisting Professor Sebastian in researching Pokémon Radio Waves to enhance Pokémon strength.
Recently, Professor Sebastian had conducted live experiments on a batch of Pokémon eggs using Pokémon Radio Waves. Though most eggs lost their life force after wave radiation, one stubbornly survived.
Most importantly, this egg didn't just survive—its life force grew stronger, as if intense energy was building inside.
Professor Sebastian was thrilled. Every day he hoped the egg would hatch so he could conduct further research.
Unfortunately, the egg showed no signs of hatching.
Left with no choice, Professor Sebastian ordered Clem to escort the egg to Celadon City.
That was Team Rocket's headquarters—more talented individuals, more advanced technology. Perhaps they could hatch the egg.
Entrusted with the mission, Clem rode his Skarmory from the Johto region without stopping.
But after seeing the Dratini, Clem felt a small detour was worth the risk.
After all, this was a Dratini!
If he could steal it, Clem was confident he could raise the Dratini into a powerful general.
That way, his position within Team Rocket might advance even further.
As for stealing someone else's Pokémon—while that was a crime for ordinary people, was it really an issue for Team Rocket?
That was their job!
Desire burned in Clem's eyes as his Skarmory swooped toward Caster.
Caster had no idea he was being targeted. He was busy distributing the rewards he'd just received to Dratini.
Dratini quickly mastered two new moves—Rest and Dragon Rush—then absorbed the Ancient Dragon Orb. Energy surged through its body.
"Dratini~"
Dratini trembled with excitement.
It could feel its power growing stronger, especially its perception and control of weather.
However, the Ancient Dragon Orb's pure, vast energy couldn't be fully absorbed quickly.
Just then, a steel giant bird descended from the sky.
Caster looked up. Seeing Clem on Skarmory's back, his pupils constricted sharply as he blurted out in shock: "Clem!!!"
Clem first appeared in the anime's original series episode "Rage of Innocence," featuring Lance and the Red Gyarados!
After Ash and his friends discovered the Red Gyarados suffering from evolution waves, Clem clashed with Ash. Fortunately, Lance arrived in time, and his Dragonite defeated Clem's Fearow.
Clem couldn't match Lance and Dragonite even two-on-one, but this was Champion Lance—a different caliber entirely!
Truth be told, Clem's strength was formidable. Otherwise he couldn't have become a Team Rocket special operative—he'd even injured Lance and Dragonite, putting them in a difficult battle.
With such a terrifying figure appearing before him without warning, it would be strange if Caster didn't panic.
This was Team Rocket—villains who stopped at nothing!
"Hmm? You actually know who I am?"
Murderous intent flashed in Clem's eyes as he sneered, "I was only planning to steal your Dratini, but since you know who I am, I can't let you live."
Two Poké Balls appeared in Clem's hands.
He pressed the buttons. Two Pokémon emerged—orange feathers, cream-colored wing sections, red crests, and long necks ending in sharp pink beaks.
Fearow—Normal/Flying-type Pokémon.
"Screech~ Screech~"
The two birds flapped overhead, glaring down with harsh cries.
Common Pokémon, yes—but these were Clem's strongest.
"Come out, Gyarados!"
Learning that Clem not only wanted to steal Dratini but also eliminate him, Caster's back became drenched in cold sweat.
This damn Team Rocket!!!
"ROAR~"
An ear-splitting dragon's roar split the air as the massive Gyarados appeared.
"Pika~"
Sensing the nearly frozen atmosphere, electrical arcs flickered from Pikachu's cheek pouches as it dropped to all fours, ready for battle.
"Dratini!"
At the center of the vortex, Dratini hurriedly manipulated the Dragon Orb's energy to change the weather, creating a favorable environment.
RUMBLE!
PATTER!
In the blink of an eye, massive dark clouds appeared from nowhere in the previously cloudless sky, and torrential rain covered at least a hundred meters.
Within the dark clouds, lightning flashed and thunder roared, shaking the heavens.
Undoubtedly, this downpour far surpassed anything Gyarados's rain could produce.
"ROAR~"
The moment raindrops drenched its body, the Sea King's Authority within Gyarados activated, suddenly increasing the power of its Water-type moves by fifty percent.
Combined with the rain's own boost, Gyarados finally had the confidence to face the two Fearow whose energy intensity was clearly much higher.
"Hmm? This Dratini seems to possess weather control abilities like Dragonair does?"
In midair, Clem watched the suddenly changing weather not with alarm but with joy.
Because if so, this Dratini's training value was even higher.
WHIRR! WHIRR!
The Fearows' beaks were long and sharp. When they spun, they became like drills, making tooth-aching sounds that unsettled Caster's mind.
"Pikachu, Thunder!"
Facing the Fearows' terrifying pressure, Caster decided to strike first, directly targeting the nearby Clem.
Since his opponent was Team Rocket, there was no need for honor.
Just do it!
BOOM!
Massive lightning tore from the dark clouds with unstoppable force, striking toward Clem and Skarmory.
"Protect!"
Clem's arms folded calmly.
BUZZ!
A translucent barrier appeared, completely blocking the lightning, unable to harm Clem in the slightest.
BOOM!
As the first bolt dissipated, a second strike immediately followed, giving Clem no chance to catch his breath.
A double lightning strike—this was inspiration Caster had gained from his battle with Gary.
But Clem seemed prepared, still completely confident of victory. Skarmory shot a brilliant metallic beam from its mouth, blasting upward at the lightning.
Flash Cannon—a Steel-type move.
BOOM!
Flash Cannon collided with the lightning. The two energies exploded violently in the air before vanishing without a trace.
Caster's preemptive offensive had no effect whatsoever.
At the same time, the two Fearows' powerful attack finally arrived.
The Fearows spun their bodies madly, truly transforming into drills, attacking Caster with unstoppable momentum.
Drill Peck—a Flying-type move!
"Dratini~"
Both his older brothers had just used their ultimate moves and were now powerless to resist. Dratini immediately stepped up, deploying a translucent barrier to buy them time.
BUZZ!
The Protect barrier had just formed when the first Fearow's attack arrived.
CRACK!
But Drill Peck's power was too great. Dratini's Protect barrier could barely withstand one Fearow before the translucent barrier shattered.
BOOM!
Immediately after, the second Fearow's Drill Peck struck heavily against Dratini's body.
"Dratini~"
With a cry of pain, Dratini was sent flying.
By the time it landed, its eyes had already rolled back in spirals, and its body had gone limp like soft mud.
"Dratini!!!"
Seeing this scene, Caster's chest tightened, and even his breathing became rapid.
He looked up, his gaze toward Clem exceptionally cold, his tone frigid: "Clem!!!"
Caster's consciousness sank into the fishing space, activating the trump card items he had treasured there for so long.
X Attack, activate!
X Speed, activate!
After these two items were activated and channeled into Gyarados, Gyarados first shuddered, then its aura began rising steadily.
The pressure emanating from its body became deep as an abyss, heavy as hell.