Team Luminal was a global organization much like Team Umbraline, with members scattered throughout the world. The key difference lay in their modus operandi. They were essentially bandits who preyed on travelers far from civilization, most often between regions where security was at its weakest.
Like Team Umbraline, they had no central base of operations, instead relying on the resourcefulness of their members to thrive. Even if individual cells were dismantled, new recruits would inevitably fill their ranks, making their complete destruction an unrealistic endeavor.
With the Black List, however, Alex had uncovered the addresses of several key members, along with distribution centers where stolen goods were collected before being redistributed for profit. Hunting down these locations wouldn't guarantee the organization's demise, but it would deal a significant blow to its operations. It might even be enough to discourage new recruits from joining.
In any case, the distribution centers promised to be formidable targets, each protected by at least one Master ranked trainer, located in hostile remote terrain, and potentially defended by an army of supporting trainers. That made them more than worthwhile hunting targets for Alex.
"I guess Team Luminal has been double-dipping between the League and the Underworld if they've ended up on the Black List," Alex said as he considered his options.
Should he leave Kalos and begin hunting the organization, or should he stay and continue building his reputation?
"I'd better stay for now and keep hunting in the region," Alex ultimately decided. "The Silver Network could use more recognition. That'll let Lyra and Mika go after even bigger targets without worrying as much about retaliation."
Still, that didn't mean he would let such a juicy target go untouched. The distribution centers, in particular, warranted his visit, as they contained abundant resources that could supply his bounty hunters and significantly reduce operating costs. He might even be able to sell the surplus to the Black Market Alliance in bulk.
"It'll take Nyx some time to finish double-checking the Black List. Should I go play with Team Luminal in the meantime?" Alex said with a mischievous smile.
According to the Black List, they had two bases near Kalos's borders. One lay deep in the southern wilderness, while the other was located northeast of Laverre City, near the region's edge.
"Alright, why not. Let's go have some fun," Alex said as he released Gardevoir and teleported to Vaniville City.
Vaniville City had remained a frontier town despite Kalos's rapid population growth over the past few decades. Instead of evolving into a bustling commercial center, it had expanded into a vast residential community. The original town center remained largely unchanged, while neighborhoods of detached homes, duplexes, and modest apartment buildings spread steadily to the south and west to accommodate the influx of families.
The city's architecture retained Kalos's signature elegance, with white stone facades, steep slate roofs, decorative timber framing, wrought-iron balconies, and colorful flower boxes adorning many homes. Tree-lined streets, small parks, schools, and neighborhood markets gave each district a welcoming suburban atmosphere despite the growing population. Community centers, clinics, and elementary schools were deliberately woven into every neighborhood, allowing most daily necessities to remain within walking distance.
Beyond the last rows of houses, civilization ended almost as abruptly as it began. Dense forests and untamed wilderness still bordered the settlement, preserving the frontier spirit that had defined Vaniville since its founding. It was common for residents to spot wild Pokémon at the edge of newly built neighborhoods, while Forest Rangers regularly patrolled the outskirts to keep both people and Pokémon safe.
Alex headed south from Interpol's teleportation network, riding Arcanine through the forest. The dangers gradually increased the deeper they ventured until they reached a mountain range at the edge of the region. At Arcanine's full speed, the journey took less than a full day before they arrived near the coordinates listed in the Black List, only to find nothing but rugged terrain and a mountain blocking their path.
"Is it underground?" Alex asked as he checked the Black List.
Reading the entry again, he noted that the compound was concealed by a camouflage energy shield similar to Team Dominion's, preventing it from being detected by surveillance satellites. If he wanted to find the base without making too much of a fuss, like dropping a bomb on it, he'd have to rush in blind.
"If these coordinates are correct, then that mountain is nothing more than camouflage. If I want to get inside without wasting time dealing with the energy shield, my only option is to tunnel beneath it and come up on the other side," Alex said as he released his Pokémon and began powering up.
With the Rhyperiors leading the way, they burrowed deep beneath the earth, carving a tunnel that passed well below the shield's projected boundary before angling upward.
The ground erupted in an explosion of dirt and shattered stone as they burst to the surface beyond the compound's outer walls, immediately forming a defensive formation.
Spread before them was a sprawling military installation hidden within the shield's illusion. Massive reinforced buildings dominated the landscape, housing barracks, warehouses, and factories. Vast Pokémon training fields occupied the open spaces between them, where hundreds of Pokémon had been drilling only moments earlier. Tall defensive walls ringed the compound, lined with watchtowers overlooking every approach.
With their arrival announced by the tremors of their tunneling, the compound was already scrambling. Alarms blared as red warning lights flashed across every building and searchlights locked onto the fresh breach behind Alex. Trainers poured from the training grounds and nearby buildings as Poké Balls burst open in every direction. Shouted orders echoed throughout the compound while disciplined squads rapidly converged on the intruders.
Within seconds, hundreds of trainers and Pokémon were moving to surround Alex's position.
"No prisoners," Alex ordered as the battle began.
Immediately, the attack teams blitzed through the gathering defenders, bypassing the front lines to strike key positions. Arcanine led the charge, bulldozing through the largest concentration of Pokémon with Raticate and Ceruledge close behind. Kommo-o swept through an incoming group with Breaking Swipe before slamming the ground with Earthquake, while Togekiss provided support with Wish and Dusknoir kept bodies down with Gravity.
Lucario, Urshifu, and Seismitoad's groups weren't far behind, carving through weaker trainers and Pokémon while drawing the attention of the compound's stronger defenders. Grim, Knight, and Hydreigon took to the skies, systematically demolishing watchtowers, sensor arrays, and power conduits to cripple the base's defenses. Within moments, the entire compound had descended into chaos.
Finally, the defense team blanketed the battlefield with overwhelming firepower, eliminating isolated survivors who had escaped the attack teams while saturating the area with devastating area-of-effect attacks. Surf and Dazzling Gleam crashed into the compound in relentless succession, reducing buildings to rubble, tearing through defensive emplacements, and forcing the remaining trainers to fight for survival instead of mounting an organized counterattack. The base's carefully coordinated defenses collapsed under the sheer weight of the bombardment.
Then, a surge of aura swept across the battlefield, signaling the conflict's escalation.
A Master ranked Pyroar roared with fury as it unleashed Heat Wave, evaporating the incoming Surf before charging forward with a team of Champion ranked Pokémon at its back. The attack teams immediately regrouped, with Arcanine's squad moving to intercept and surround the Pyroar. At the same time, the remaining teams split apart to isolate the accompanying Champions, preventing them from supporting one another.
Sensing no additional Master ranked threats, Alex released the Crobat couple.
"Bring me their trainer," he instructed as the two Pokémon shot into the sky.
In no time, the Champion ranked Pokémon, each forced into hopeless one-against-three engagements, were overwhelmed and knocked out, recalled by their trainer. That left only the Master ranked Pyroar, which fought with astonishing tenacity despite being surrounded. Flames erupted with every swipe of its claws as it desperately tried to break through Raticate's team, only to be pushed back time and time again by their relentless coordination.
Moments later, the Crobat couple returned with a trainer dangling from their mouths, unconscious. He was a middle-aged man with a broad, muscular build whose imposing physique hinted at years of combat experience. Even while unconscious, his stern features and expensive tailored suit gave him the air of a thug accustomed to commanding others rather than following orders.
Alex glanced at the captive before casually moving down his belt, locking the Poké Balls of the Pokémon that had already been retrieved. That left only the Pyroar still fighting, but there was no reason to interfere. The battle was part of their training and, at this point, already decided. Besides, they needed the meat.
Meanwhile, the compound gradually fell silent as the battle wound down. The panicked shouting gave way to the distant rumble of collapsing buildings and the occasional explosion as the defense team methodically leveled the remaining fortified positions. Thick smoke drifted across the compound while fires spread through shattered warehouses, abandoned barracks, and ruined training grounds. The few trainers who had survived wisely chose to flee rather than continue a hopeless resistance.
"Finish this up, Gardevoir," Alex said, turning his attention toward the sprawling warehouses and armories. "I want to check the spoils."
Just like that, the first of Team Luminal's many bases fell with barely a fight.