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Since the Shifting Sand Sea wasn't part of the mysterious island's central region—just a vast desert situated in its mid-western zone—the average level of the Pokémon living there was only around level 30.
Throughout the entire battle, Bellossom and the Shiny Beautifly together defeated over 600 enemies.
However, their own levels were already quite high, and since most of the enemies were lower-leveled, their experience gain wasn't tremendous. Bellossom gained 2 levels, reaching level 54, and the Shiny Beautifly gained 3 levels, reaching level 52.
At this moment, the battlefield was in complete disarray. Injured Sandile line lay scattered everywhere, and a thick scent of blood lingered in the air, quickly carried off by the strong desert winds.
Most of these Pokemon weren't dead—just heavily injured and incapacitated. Thanks to Pokémon's naturally resilient bodies, they still clung to life, and if they received treatment in time, they had a chance to survive.
But in a harsh desert environment like this, food and water were incredibly precious. So shortly after the battle ended, some Lycanroc and Rockruff were already approaching the battlefield's edges, drawn by the scent, while flocks of Mandibuzz circled ominously overhead.
Tomoki's expression turned grim as he noticed the Lycanroc and Mandibuzz. He knew the smell of blood had already alerted other predators of the desert. If they didn't leave soon, they might be dragged into another unnecessary battle.
"Everyone, move quickly. It's getting late, and the predators of the desert are already gathering. We should leave as soon as possible."
Worried about a prolonged stay attracting wild Pokémon attacks, Tomoki raised his voice, calling out to the members of the expedition still combing through the battlefield for loot.
In truth, he didn't need to say it. These Team Rocket recruits had survived on the mysterious island long enough to develop a sharp sense of danger, and they too were growing uneasy.
However, upon hearing Tomoki's command, most of them didn't react immediately. Instead, they all turned—seemingly in sync—to look at Sato, who was still wandering the battlefield.
Tomoki may have performed well in the recent battle, but compared to Sato, the difference was night and day—completely incomparable.
Within Team Rocket, strength was the highest law. So ever since the battle ended, most of the expedition team members had subconsciously elevated Sato's status to the top of the group.
And now that Sato hadn't made a move, none of them dared act hastily. In a place like this, following the strongest was always the safest bet.
...
Tomoki, highly observant as he was, quickly noticed the change in the team's dynamic. He realized that the expedition's internal leadership structure had subtly shifted, but he said nothing, maintaining a stoic expression.
Still, when his eyes once again landed on Sato, a deep sense of wariness stirred in his heart.
"All right, Mr. Tomoki. I'll be done soon."
As a psychic, Sato's perception was at least equal to Tomoki's. He, too, had noticed the shift within the team—but he wasn't interested in becoming the de facto leader just yet. After thinking it over, he responded to Tomoki clearly, making his stance known.
With that, most of the Rocket recruits visibly relaxed and began moving in Tomoki's direction.
Tomoki nodded in return, also letting out a silent breath of relief. It was clear that Sato wasn't interested in a power grab. The caution in Tomoki's heart faded considerably.
Due to time constraints, Sato gave up on picking out the absolute best spoils. Instead, he quickly selected a Krokorok with decent ratings and a good set of learned moves nearby on the battlefield.
He also helped Thomas pick out a well-qualified Krokorok.
The reason Sato put so much effort into choosing a Krokorok was largely due to their upcoming exploration of the Mirage Ruins (Mew Ruins), where they would likely face many Ghost-type Pokémon.
Ghost-types were notoriously tricky. Without a Pokémon that could effectively counter them, their journey would be nothing but trouble.
Krokorok, being a Ground- and Dark-type Pokémon, was perfect for this role. It also had the Moxie ability—an outstanding trait.
When Sato had seen the ambushing Sandile line from the air earlier, he had been thrilled. He had already made up his mind then to capture one for the ruins ahead.
Even if a Sandile couldn't deal major damage, its Moxie ability could greatly benefit other teammates, especially someone like Kecleon with transformation utility.
Moxie was practically made for group battles and worked especially well with physical powerhouses like Swampert.
The only regret Sato had was failing to catch a gold-grade Sandile this time. In the end, he settled for a slightly lesser Krokorok with the crucial Moxie ability.
....
Krokorok's Data:
Pokémon: Krokorok
Level: 35
Type: Ground / Dark
Ability:Moxie
Gender: Male
Known Moves: Leer, Bite, Sand Attack, Torment, Sand Tomb, Assurance, Mud-Slap, Swagger, Crunch, Dig
Egg Move:Taunt
Tutor Moves:Power Trip, Sandstorm, Snarl, Fire Fang, Uproar, Protect
Held Item: None
IVs: (out of 31)
HP: 25
Attack: 30
Defense: 24
Special Attack: 20
Special Defense: 25
Speed: 31
Overall IV Rating: 155 (Purple-grade quality)
This Krokorok had been carefully selected by Sato. Although its potential wasn't the highest, it came with several very useful moves—especially the combination of Taunt, Snarl, and Uproar.
Taunt was a given. It shut down all kinds of flashy enemy tactics. Ghost-types were notorious for their tricky status and illusion moves, and Taunt was their worst nightmare.
Snarl was also extremely effective. While its power was spread across a wide area and thus lower in damage, it guaranteed a reduction of the opponent's Special Attack by one stage—perfect against Ghost-types that often relied on Special moves.
Finally, Uproar, while a Normal-type move that didn't harm Ghost-types directly, had a unique benefit due to being sound-based: it could affect a large area.
Any Pokémon caught in Uproar would be unable to fall asleep, and even those already asleep would instantly wake up.
This was crucial. Most Ghost-types excelled in illusions and hypnosis-based abilities. Their ability to put enemies to sleep was one of their core strengths, and Uproar was the perfect counter.
If Sato and his team encountered a large swarm of Ghost-types in the ruins, Uproar might very well be the key to turning the tide.
...
(Note: Taunt was listed twice, both in Egg Move and in Tutor Moves, likely as a mistake/oversight in the original text. I temporarily changed it to Power Trip for the time being, but I might change it later if I find that it was something else.)