On the island where Team Rocket's base stood, the place was already in total chaos.
Battles between Team Rocket and League Trainers were raging everywhere.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Salamence's roar shook the air as a concentrated Dragon Pulse ripped forward.
Mightyena's agile body twisted away just in time, dodging gracefully—but by the time it'd reset its stance, the feral Salamence was already on top of it, Dragon Claw carving straight toward its flank.
Dragon Claw!
Boom!
A violent explosion rang out.
Mightyena was blasted back, digging its claws into the ground and skidding for quite a distance before it finally came to a halt.
"Tch～ Old man, you're pretty damn strong!"
Archie bared his teeth in a savage grin, looking across at the stern elder in a high‑collared coat, radiating authority.
His posture was ramrod straight. The white beard on his face showed he was no young man, but his sharp, domineering gaze was striking.
His exposed midriff even showed faint abs. This was Drake, head of the Hoenn Elite Four—
The undisputed number one below Hoenn's Champion!
"As a man of Hoenn, actually joining Team Rocket… Archie, you've really sunk low."
Drake's voice boomed, full of fierce conviction.
"Hahahaha～ What the hell are you even talking about?" Archie's grin only widened, turning downright feral.
"You already branded me a villain back when I was leading my own team. You expect me to not join Team Rocket and go turn myself in to your League instead?"
He sneered.
"Team Rocket swallowed Team Aqua. It's devouring this rich land piece by piece."
Drake's eyes were ice‑cold as he raised another Poké Ball in his left hand, his imposing stance utterly unlike what you'd expect from an old man.
With a low, throaty draconic cry, a Flygon spread its wings and soared up.
"And you chose to become their claw and fang, ravaging the very land and people you once called your own. Archie, if you have even a shred of conscience left, then for Hoenn's sake—for its future—you know damn well what you should be doing right now."
Drake's tone was iron. Team Aqua's old goal had "only" been expanding the oceans—extremist eco‑group territory.
But now? This was something else entirely.
"Hahahaha～ Sorry, I don't." Archie's laughter was wild.
"Old man, I don't need your lectures. I don't give a damn about that kind of crap."
He flashed a row of big white teeth, looking every inch the unrepentant thug.
"All I care about is this: I'm comfortable in Team Rocket, and they gave me the life I wanted. That's enough."
"I see." Drake's expression turned even colder.
"Then you really do deserve what's coming."
He'd dedicated himself to making life better for the people and Pokémon of this world. Every time he saw a bright‑eyed kid laughing with their Pokémon, it filled him with genuine joy.
Why? Because a long time ago, he'd fallen overboard and nearly drowned—only to be rescued by a wild Dragonite. It had left an unforgettable mark on his heart.
From that day on, Drake understood: Pokémon, nature, and humans together were what made this world whole.
To protect that Hoenn—to honor the Dragonite that had taught him that truth—Drake had held his post in the Elite Four ever since.
He would never allow evil or darkness to stain this beautiful, harmonious land.
"..."
"Heh… you wanna take me down? I don't think you've got it in you." Archie's grin turned sly, completely unafraid.
"Come try me. This is the power Lord Damian gave me."
He popped open an Ultra Ball.
"Guzzlord～!"
With a heavy crash, a massive black Pokémon slammed down in front of Archie. The monstrous maw on its belly gaped wide, black pincer‑like tongues lashing and scraping at the air.
The Ultra Beast codenamed "UB‑05 Glutton," Guzzlord!
It was Archie's reward from Damian for selling out Team Magma's base.
Damian was always generous with his subordinates.
"An Ultra Beast, Guzzlord?"
Drake narrowed his eyes. As a Trainer, he kept a close watch on newly logged Pokémon in the Pokédex.
"Hahahaha～ Not bad. You actually recognized it. Then you'd better really feel what Guzzlord can do!"
Archie laughed uproariously.
"I will be capturing you today, Archie."
Seeing that swaggering, lawless attitude, Drake snorted.
Elsewhere.
Deeper in the base, Sidney—red tuft of hair and all—walked along with his hands shoved in his pockets, lazy as ever.
An Absol and a Mightyena padded at his sides.
A few Team Rocket grunts had tried to stop him, but he'd brushed them aside without effort.
Until—
"Tsk tsk～ Finally, a big fish."
Sidney grinned wide as a cold‑faced blond boy appeared around the corner ahead.
"If I remember right, your name's Gladion, yeah?"
Gladion—Team Rocket executive, and one of the names on their special priority list.
"I'm Sidney of the Hoenn Elite Four. Lucky day, huh? I've been wanting to see what you can actually do."
"You'll regret it." Gladion said flatly.
"Don't see it that way. This whole island's already surrounded by us. You Team Rocket guys～"
Sidney's smile turned sharp and nasty.
"Not a single one of you is getting out."
What surprised him was that the blond kid's expression didn't change at all. He simply opened two Poké Balls.
Silvally and Zoroark, just like in the intel files, materialized in front of Gladion.
"Huh? You're not worried?" Sidney asked, confused. "We've completely surrounded this island. You're trapped."
"So what?"
Gladion countered, calm as ever.
Sidney paused.
"It's pointless. Lord Damian is already on his way. You don't stand a chance."
"Hah?" Sidney's brow twitched.
"And before he arrives, taking out a high‑tier asset like you will earn me a lot of merit."
"???" Sidney actually laughed in disbelief.
"Kid, you've got a big mouth for someone so small. You really think you can beat me? That's some grade‑A arrogance."
He considered himself, at the very least, one of Hoenn's Elite Four. He knew this cold blond brat was elite‑four‑level too—but so what?
"It's not arrogance. Against a League Elite Four like you, even if there were two of you, you still wouldn't be my opponents."
Gladion remained expressionless.
If he could take out a couple more Elite Four‑level opponents, he'd rack up enough merit to finally trade for that Moltres back at HQ.
Then he'd have a Legendary Pokémon on his main roster too.
He had no idea his Silvally technically already counted as a Legendary.
"Heh. Guess I really have been underestimated." Sidney let out a cold chuckle.
He usually didn't care too much about win or lose—but that depended entirely on the situation.
"I'll stake this beautiful hair of mine on it: today, I am beating you, you arrogant little punk!"
Gladion stared silently at the single obnoxious red tuft on Sidney's head.
…He'd just have to accommodate him, then.
The battle between Team Rocket and Hoenn League was white‑hot.
But without question, the tide was slowly turning in Hoenn League's favor. Most of the Team Rocket members in this base were ex‑Team Aqua and Team Magma grunts, their strength middling at best.
The League forces here, on the other hand, were all elites. The momentum was already shifting.
"Damian's still not here, huh."
Not far off the island, Steven and the others were watching from atop a Wailord's back.
"Sidney said the intel from Gladion was that Damian's already on his way." Steven stayed cool.
"But Sidney's already called for backup. He's not a match for Gladion, and apparently Gladion even humiliated him."
Wallace's expression twisted. According to Sidney's voice message, Gladion had literally cut off the proud tuft of hair he'd staked everything on.
Sidney had been choking up.
"Team Rocket really is evil!"
Wallace thundered righteously. The effect would've been more convincing without the smile on his face.
"Things are going well on Drake's side. He's got Archie pinned down."
"But if Gladion manages to rendezvous with Archie, I'm afraid Drake won't be able to handle the two of them together."
Steven frowned.
"I'll go help then!"
Nemona was practically bouncing on her feet, itching for a fight.
"Nemona, you stay. Wallace, you go—lock down every Team Rocket member in that base as fast as possible."
Steven's gaze lingered on Nemona for a moment before he ultimately chose Wallace.
Given how things had gone when Wallace faced Zinnia and Caitlin last time, he was better suited to dealing with Gladion and company.
"Okay! Leave it to me." Wallace stood up smoothly, radiating confidence.
"Be careful. Try not to let anyone slip away." Steven reminded him.
"Relax, Steven. You can always count on me!"
Wallace brushed a hand through his bangs and smiled downwards.
At that line, Cynthia and the others all wore slightly complicated expressions.
Steven nearly lost it on the spot. Dude, I'm begging you—stop flagging yourself.
"…You sure about this, Wallace?"
He suddenly felt a little worried again.
"What are you talking about, Steven? You think I can't handle a couple of mere Elite‑Four‑level Admins?"
Wallace felt personally insulted by his close friend's doubt, and it did not improve his mood.
Sure, he had been taken prisoner a few times before—but did he see who those opponents were?
Totally different tier.
"Alright. Go."
Steven thought it over and had to concede the point. None of Team Rocket's true top‑tier Admins had shown up yet. With just Gladion and Archie on the field, Wallace should be fine.
"Just wait for the good news, everyone!"
Wallace sent out Gyarados, hopped onto its back, and flew toward the island, making a confident declaration.
Come on. He was the former Hoenn Champion Wallace, a master of Mega Evolution.
"With Wallace joining in, this base is as good as ours."
"Everyone… I can't shake the feeling something's off. Don't you think this base has too many executives?"
Giovanni suddenly frowned.
Originally, their goal had been to seize Maxie in this base and use him to drag Damian out—or at least interrogate him for the whereabouts of Zinnia and Caitlin, those two top‑tier Admins.
But now Maxie still hadn't shown himself, and instead Gladion and Archie—both executives—had.
It felt a little too convenient. What were the odds both would just happen to be stationed here?
"Agreed." Steven and the others immediately picked up on that same wrongness.
It was like Team Rocket had gotten advance warning of their operation and were deliberately lying in wait for them.
"Doesn't matter. We're already this far in, and this still lines up with our own plans." Steven turned his head, looking toward the island.
Maybe Team Rocket was trying to lure them in—but that worked for them too.
If they could use this chance to take down most of Hoenn Team Rocket's executives in one go, there'd be no threat left in the region.
A savage draconic roar echoed faintly across the water as a Salamence with blood‑red wings came soaring in.
A black‑haired girl sat cross‑legged on its back, gazing down at Steven and the others from above.
"Yo～ League Champions, good afternoon～"
The black‑haired girl grinned and tilted her head in greeting.
Team Rocket's top‑tier Admin—Zinnia!
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