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No one knew who launched the first attack, but in the blink of an eye, Kai's Pokémon and the ones belonging to Archer and Ariana surged into battle.
They had already sized up their opponents during the tense standoff.
Gengar dove straight into a 2-on-1, taking on both Hypno and Wobbuffet two tricky Psychic-types.
Kai's Crystal Steelix blocked off Muk and Arbok with its massive, gleaming frame its Steel-Ground typing giving it a strong defensive edge.
His Tyranitar challenged Archer's own Tyranitar in a brutal head-to-head clash. Jolteon darted after the nimble Persian, locking the feline in a high-speed duel.
Scizor rushed at Lickitung and Vileplume, while Dragonite took on the dual threat of Houndoom and Sneasel both Dark-types known for their aggression.
Gardevoir stepped in to psychically suppress Golbat and Kabutops with precision.
None of these matchups were dictated by Kai they were instinctive. In training, he had drilled his team to react quickly in chaos, making use of type advantages and battle roles.
In a live battle, this allowed them to move fluidly and intelligently without needing direct orders.
Still, this was just the start. As the battle dragged on and chaos set in, Pokémon began to lose track of their designated targets.
That's when coordination mattered most Kai's team had practiced that too. Regroup, support, retarget. No panic.
Despite being outnumbered, Kai's Pokémon held the field with calm and precision.
On the other side, Archer and Ariana were growing frustrated.
Not only were Kai's Pokémon powerful, but their discipline and cohesion made them even more dangerous.
No wonder this guy had become the biggest thorn in Team Rocket's side.
Thankfully for them, the turning point came at Tyranitar.
Compared to Archer's veteran Tyranitar, Kai's had evolved more recently and lacked the same battle-hardened experience. The two monsters clashed like tectonic plates, rock and sand, exploding with every blow.
Kai's Tyranitar was the first to fall.
It collapsed backwards with a groan, struggling to rise but unable to continue.
With Kai down one powerhouse, the balance tipped. Archer's Tyranitar charged into other skirmishes, disrupting Kai's team and throwing the field into disarray.
Even though Kai's remaining Pokémon fought valiantly, Team Rocket's monsters were no pushovers. They fought strategically, using their own strengths and refusing to get pulled into brute-force clashes. Now, seeing one of their strongest teammates win its fight, their morale surged.
Archer and Ariana exchanged a glance then smirked.
Ariana scoffed, "Looks like this one's ours."
Kai shook his head, calm as ever. "Don't get ahead of yourselves. You might want to hold back on the trash talk. It's embarrassing when it backfires."
As he spoke, he recalled the fallen Tyranitar. Then, with unhurried confidence, he reached into his belt pouch and pulled out two Poke Balls.
Archer's eyes narrowed. There was no tension in Kai's face. No fear. Just focus.
"You said the Legendary Birds were elsewhere," Archer said sharply.
"They are," Kai replied, casually tossing the Poke Balls in his hands. "I told you the truth. I sent them off. But that doesn't mean I came here without a backup plan."
With a flick of his wrists, he hurled both Poke Balls forward.
Twin flashes of blue light hit the battlefield and two quadrupedal figures emerged.
Even before the light faded, Archer and Ariana's faces had gone pale.
Standing before them were Suicune and Raikou.
Those unmistakable silhouettes… the air around them rippled with pure elemental power.
Legendary Beasts.
No. It couldn't be.
How?!
Their expressions contorted in disbelief. Even for Kai, this was outrageous.
They had known barely that Kai had aided Raikou in a past incident. A report had suggested Raikou had assisted Kai against Team Rocket… but there was no confirmation that it had been captured.
And Suicune?
Where had that come from?
There had been no intel, no sightings, no hint of this bond. No warning.
Archer stared hard at Kai, exhaling slowly. Now it made sense. This was why he dared to chase them down alone.
This was the source of his confidence.
Still, he noticed something. While Suicune stood poised, calm and regal, Raikou was visibly agitated. Its fur crackled with unstable energy as it scanned the surroundings.
It wasn't focused on them.
Maybe… it hadn't been with Kai long. Maybe it was still unsure, still adjusting.
But it didn't flee.
After a few quiet, almost soothing murmurs from Kai, Raikou settled—its gaze sharpening and locking onto Archer.
The moment their eyes met those fierce, feline eyes staring straight through him Archer felt a chill roll down his spine.
On the other side, Suicune and Raikou hadn't moved yet, just standing imposingly in the clearing. Kai raised a brow.
"You two done posing?" he said with a smirk. "Quit showing off and help me out. The battlefield's clear, no civilians around go wild. And hey, fight well and maybe I'll let you out more often."
With that, the two Legends sprang into action.
Suicune glided forward, ethereal and elegant, mist rising in her wake.
Raikou exploded into a blur of speed and thunder, barreling into the enemy lines like a bolt from the heavens.
With the battlefield changed in an instant, the pressure on Kai's team lifted. Crystal Steelix, sensing the opportunity, abandoned its current matchup and turned its attention to Archer's Tyranitar.
It had wanted this rematch.
And now it was going to prove who the real beast of the battlefield was.
Meanwhile, Gengar floated lazily back to Kai's side, arms folded. It hadn't been too invested in the fight after all, it had known from the start that Kai would win. Its role had been simple: stall its opponents. Mission complete.
Now, with two Legends on the field, Gengar kicked back to watch the chaos unfold, treating the battle like a front-row seat at a fireworks show.
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