On the island where the Team Rocket base was located, everything was now a big mess.
The battle between Team Rocket and the League trainers was very strong.
"Dragon Pulse!"
The roar of the Salamence was very loud. A beam of dragon energy moved through the air.
However, a fast Mightyena moved quickly and dodged it. But as soon as the Mightyena stood still, the angry Salamence was already right in front of it. Its sharp claws moved through the air.
"Dragon Claw!"
Boom!
A loud explosion happened.
The Mightyena was pushed backward. It put its claws into the ground and slid a long way before finally stopping.
"Tch... old man, you're really tough!"
Archie showed his teeth when he saw this. He looked at the impressive old man across from him. The man wore a coat with a high collar and had a powerful energy.
He stood up straight. His white beard showed he was quite old, but his sharp, strong eyes were very easy to see.
You could even see the shape of muscles on his stomach. He was the head of the Hoenn Elite Four, Drake!
He was also the strongest person in the Hoenn region except for the Champion.
"As a man of Hoenn, you actually joined Team Rocket. Archie, you have become a bad person," Drake said. His voice was full of energy and very strict.
"Hahahaha! What are you talking about?" Archie laughed, and his face showed a mean smile.
"The Hoenn League already thinks I am a criminal, right? If I didn't join Team Rocket, was I supposed to just give myself to you guys?" Archie replied with a look of dislike.
"Team Rocket took over your Team Aqua. It is destroying this good land," Drake said. His eyes were cold as he held another Poké Ball. His strong posture did not look like an old man at all.
There was another low dragon roar as a Flygon spread its wings and flew.
"And you are being used by them. You are hurting your own people and this land together. Archie, if you care at all about the beauty and future of Hoenn, you should know what you need to do right now!" Drake said in a deep voice.
In the past, Team Aqua's goal was only to make the sea bigger. They were just a group with extreme ideas about nature. But now, it was different!
"Hahaha! Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about!" Archie laughed loudly.
"Old man, you don't need to give me any speeches. I don't care about that stuff." Archie showed his teeth and looked very dangerous.
"I only know that life in Team Rocket is very comfortable. It gave me the life I wanted. That is enough."
"I see." Drake's face became even colder. "You really deserve to die!"
He had always worked hard so that the people and Pokémon of this world could have a better life. Whenever he saw cute children and Pokémon, he felt happy.
This was because a long time ago, he had fallen off a ship into the water and almost died. A wild Dragonite saved him. That memory stayed with him forever.
From that moment, Drake understood that Pokémon, nature, and humans all work together to make this world.
To protect Hoenn, and for the Dragonite that taught him that lesson, Drake had stayed as an Elite Four member.
He would never allow any evil or darkness to ruin this beautiful and peaceful land!
"Chuckle~ Do you want to take me down? I'm afraid you can't do it," Archie said with a mean smile. He was not afraid at all. "Try this. This is the power Lord Damian gave me."
Archie opened an Ultra Ball.
"Guraaa!"
With a low roar, a huge black Pokémon landed heavily in front of Archie. It opened the scary mouth on its stomach, and two black tongues moved around.
It was the Ultra Beast known as UB-05: Glutton, or Guzzlord!
This was the Pokémon Damian had given Archie as a reward. Archie had told him where the Team Magma base was. Damian was always kind to the people who worked for him.
"The Ultra Beast Guzzlord?"
Drake narrowed his eyes a little. As a trainer, he often looked at the new Pokémon in the Pokédex.
"Hahaha! Not bad, you actually recognize it! Then feel the power of Guzzlord!" Archie laughed.
"I will definitely arrest you today, Archie."
Seeing Archie acting so proud, Drake made a cold sound with his nose.
On the other side, inside the base.
Sidney, who had red hair, walked toward the deep parts of the base with his hands in his pockets. He looked very relaxed.
Beside him were an Absol and a Mightyena.
Some Team Rocket members tried to stop him, but he beat them easily. Then...
"Tsk tsk tsk~ I finally found an important person."
Sidney smiled. He looked at the cool boy with blonde hair who appeared around the corner.
"If I remember correctly, your name is Gladion, right?"
Gladion was a high-ranking executive of Team Rocket. He was also on the special list of Team Rocket members.
"I am Sidney of the Hoenn Elite Four. I'm in luck. I really want to see how good you are."
"You will regret this," Gladion said calmly.
"I don't think so. Our trainers are all around this island. As for you Team Rocket members..." Sidney showed a mean smile and spoke rudely. "Not a single one of you will escape."
But Sidney was surprised. The blonde boy's face did not change at all. He simply opened two Poké Balls.
Silvally and Zoroark appeared in front of Gladion.
"Huh? Aren't you worried?" Sidney asked. "Our people are all around this island. You are trapped here and cannot escape."
"So what?" Gladion asked back calmly.
Sidney was surprised.
"It's useless. Lord Damian is already on his way. You have no chance of winning."
"Ha?" Sidney raised an eyebrow.
"Before he arrives, defeating a high-level fighter like you will earn me a lot of credit."
"???" Sidney was so angry that he started laughing.
"Kid, you're young but you say very bold things. You think you can beat me? You are very proud."
Sidney believed that since he was an Elite Four member, he was strong. He knew the blonde kid was also at the Elite Four level, but he did not care.
"It's not pride. Even if there were two more Elite Four members like you, you still wouldn't be able to beat me," Gladion said calmly.
If he could beat a few more Elite Four opponents, he could get a lot of credit. Then he could trade for the Moltres at the headquarters!
That way, he would have a legendary Pokémon as a partner. (Note: Gladion did not know that his Silvally was actually a legendary Pokémon too.)
"Ha, it seems I'm really being looked down on," Sidney said with a cold laugh.
He did not usually care about winning or losing, but this was different.
"I bet my beautiful red hair that I will beat you today! You arrogant brat!"
Looking at the red hair on Sidney's head, Gladion was silent for a moment.
In that case, I have to do what you want.
The battle between Team Rocket and the Hoenn League was happening everywhere.
But the Hoenn League was slowly winning. Most of the Team Rocket members at this base were from Team Aqua and Team Magma before. They were not very strong.
The people from the Hoenn League were all very good. The battle was going their way.
"Damian still hasn't arrived."
Near the island, on the back of a Wailord, Steven and the others were watching.
"Sidney said the information from Gladion is that Damian is on his way," Steven said calmly.
"But Sidney has already asked for help. He is not as strong as Gladion. Apparently, Gladion even said mean things to him."
Wallace's face looked strange. According to Sidney's message, Gladion had cut off his red hair! Sidney's voice sounded like he was crying.
"Team Rocket! They are truly evil!"
Wallace spoke with anger, but he had a smile on his face.
"Things are going well for Drake. He is already winning against Archie."
"But if Gladion and Archie join forces, Drake might not be able to beat them," Steven thought out loud.
"Then I'll go help!" Nemona wanted to go. She wanted to fight.
"Nemona, you stay here. Wallace, you go. Control all the Team Rocket members in this base as quickly as possible."
Steven looked at Nemona but chose Wallace.
Wallace might be captured if he fought Zinnia or Caitlin, so it was better for him to fight Gladion and the others.
"OK! Leave it to me," Wallace stood up and looked very confident.
"Be careful. Try not to let anyone escape," Steven warned.
"Don't worry. You can always count on me, Steven!"
Wallace fixed his hair and smiled.
Cynthia and the others looked at him strangely.
Steven was worried. Friend, please! Stop saying things that might bring bad luck!
"Will it be okay? Wallace?" Steven was worried about him again.
"What are you saying, Steven? Do you think I can't handle a few simple Elite Four level executives?"
Wallace felt his friend was doubting him, and he was not happy.
He had been captured before, but he was fighting very strong people then. This was different!
"Fine, go ahead."
Steven thought about it and realized Wallace was right. None of the top executives had appeared yet. Dealing with Gladion and Archie should be fine for Wallace.
"Wait for my good news, everyone!"
Wallace used his Gyarados. It took him toward the island while he spoke confidently.
He was the former Hoenn Champion and could use Mega Evolution. He was very strong.
"With Wallace joining in, we will definitely take this base."
"Everyone, I feel like something is wrong. Don't you think there are too many high-ranking executives at this base?" Giovanni suddenly said with a frown.
At first, they wanted to catch Maxie. Then they would use Maxie to find Damian, Zinnia, or Caitlin.
But Maxie had not come out yet. Instead, two other executives, Gladion and Archie, were there.
It seemed too strange. Why were these two at this base?
"True." Steven and the others also realized something was wrong.
It was like Team Rocket knew they were coming and was waiting for them.
"No matter what, we've come this far. This also fits our plan." Steven turned his head.
Maybe it was a trap, but that was okay. If they could catch many Team Rocket executives at once, the group would not be a threat anymore.
A loud dragon roar came from far away. A Salamence with red wings flew toward them.
A girl with black hair sat on the Salamence's back. She looked down at Steven and the others.
"Yo Champions of the League. Good afternoon"
The girl smiled and moved her head to say hello to Steven and the others.
It was the top executive of Team Rocket, Zinnia!
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