Aoki's Pokémon erupted with their strongest fighting power, sensing the suppressed anger in his heart. This anger was directed not only at the two Team Aqua grunts but also at himself for arriving too late to find the Bagon.
As fate would have it, the two Team Aqua members had stumbled right into Aoki's path.
They had found their outlet.
The Drapion charged into the group of opposing Pokémon, immediately targeting a Dustox that didn't seem particularly strong. It pinned the Dustox to the ground, relentlessly pounding it without giving it a chance to resist. The other Pokémon tried to intervene, but Drapion ignored them completely.
Meanwhile, Aoki's other Pokémon launched their own assaults.
Slowking, in its strongest state, had elevated its psychic power to another level. The boost from its Hidden Power was far greater than anticipated. The dark pulses formed by its enhanced psychic energy not only moved faster but had nearly doubled in size.
Previously, it would have taken six combined psychic attacks to match the force of one, but now, only three were needed.
It had essentially become an automatic, long-range turret with double the firepower.
The psychic fortress is in position—all units, take note!
Slowking specifically targeted Pokémon weak to psychic-type moves, bombarding them with relentless attacks, overwhelming them without mercy.
This took immense pressure off Drapion.
Slowking's sheer offensive power alone was equal to half the combined strength of the nine opposing Pokémon.
It was undeniably formidable.
Then came Weavile's Blizzard attacks, one after another.
Having mastered Blizzard, Weavile could now control its range and intensity, skillfully avoiding Drapion while still blanketing the battlefield.
Snowflakes scattered violently in the confined space, the temperature plummeting to minus ten degrees under Weavile's full-powered assault.
Not only did this relieve Drapion's pressure, but it also slowed the enemy Pokémon, making them easier targets for Drapion and Slowking.
Then there was Honchkrow.
Its Overconfidence ability had already stacked three times, and now, with Brave Bird, any Pokémon it struck was guaranteed to be knocked out.
After being guided by Altaria, Honchkrow's Brave Bird charged much faster than before, and its aerial combat skills had improved significantly.
The blue energy coating its form was more vivid than ever, every detail of the attack clearly visible.
Honchkrow had only recently mastered Brave Bird, yet its power had already grown tremendously.
"Caw!!!"
With a piercing cry, Honchkrow plunged into the heart of Weavile's Blizzard.
Snowflakes clung to its blue energy wings, making the attack even more dazzling.
Boom!
It struck with devastating force, then immediately pulled back without waiting to see the result, folding its wings and flipping backward.
Once outside the Blizzard's range, its momentum surged again.
Overconfidence stacked to four layers—Honchkrow's explosive power had intensified further.
Pash and Lina's faces were pale, partly from the cold, partly from the realization that their nine Pokémon stood no chance against Aoki's four.
Lina suddenly remembered why Aoki had seemed familiar.
She had sensed being watched earlier, but the feeling had vanished too quickly to dwell on.
Now she understood—Aoki had already spotted them but hadn't acted, not wanting unnecessary conflict.
Yet they had walked right into his path.
They had kicked an iron plate—and it was far harder than expected.
"Pash, we need to retreat! We can't win this! We'll come back another time!" Lina hissed at the burly man beside her.
"Retreat?! Are you blind?! That Bagon is right there! If we hold out, that Drapion will fall soon—once it's down, the rest of his Pokémon are finished!" Pash's face was frozen, but his eyes burned with fury.
The Mightyena killed earlier by Drapion, the Dustox being pummeled into the ground now, the Parasect taken out by Honchkrow's first strike—they were all his Pokémon.
He had lost too much. If he didn't walk away with that Bagon, his standing in Team Aqua would be ruined.
With his strength diminished, his enemies within the faction would tear him apart.
He had no choice but to fight to the death.
"Go all out! Take down that Drapion first!"
Meanwhile, Drapion—now covered in wounds—finally eased up from its violent thrashing of the Dustox.
The Dustox had been beaten into a bloody pulp, its life all but extinguished.
But the assault had left Drapion badly injured.
"Floette, use Grassy Terrain for Drapion!" Aoki ordered the Floette perched on his shoulder, which had been overlooked until now.
"Floo~"
With a wave of its flower, emerald grass sprouted beneath Drapion, glowing with revitalizing energy as it healed the scorpion's wounds.
Feeling renewed strength, Drapion roared and charged back into the fray.
Before, it had fought recklessly, driven by rage. Now, calmer, it struck with precision—each attack exploiting the enemy's weaknesses.
Seeing Floette's Grassy Terrain in action, even Pash knew the battle was lost.
But Lina had already decided to abandon him.
Pash was now a liability.
She turned to flee—only for a grotesque face to rise from her shadow.
"Ah!"
She screamed, startled.
"Geh-heh-heh~~" Gengar cackled wildly.
"Gengar, capture them both," Aoki commanded coldly.
"Geh-heh!!"
Gengar's playful grin vanished, replaced by a sharp focus.
It could joke around normally, but when given orders, it obeyed without hesitation.
Shadow Balls materialized in its hands as it glared at the two grunts.
If they tried to run, they'd get a personal Shadow Ball delivery.
Of course, Gengar wasn't just standing guard—after ensuring they wouldn't escape, it turned its attention to their Pokémon, launching a barrage of attacks from the rear.
Second fortress now operational—teammates in front, be advised!