A red-haired woman with a voluptuous figure suddenly walked in through the cave entrance.
Seeing the situation inside, the woman said to Luke.
"Even though they're useless underlings, they're still members of our Team Rocket. You've put big sister in a difficult position, Luke-chan."
Looking at the woman before him, Luke said disdainfully.
"Tch. Ariana, I didn't expect you to be here this time. Although I don't know what your purpose is, running into me is just your bad luck."
That's right.
This woman is Ariana, one of Team Rocket's Four Generals.
Luke used to often go on missions with Lorelei and the others.
As the largest underground criminal organization in Kanto and Johto, they naturally had frequent dealings, so it's not surprising that both sides know each other.
Ariana didn't get angry and didn't even look at the Team Rocket members lying on the ground anymore.
She said to Luke.
"Don't talk so big, kid. This time your sister Lorelei isn't here to protect you. Why don't you throw yourself into big sister's embrace, big sister will take good care of you," She finished with a continuous "hehehe" laugh.
Luke curled his lip and said, "I'm not interested in old ladies. So put away that act of yours, it's disgusting!"
Ariana immediately stop laughing.
The words "old lady, old lady" kept echoing in her mind.
After being stunned for a moment, Ariana suddenly flew into a rage out of humiliation.
"You little brat, I'll tear you apart."
"Go, Vileplume."
Vileplume
Type: Grass, Poison
Ability: Chlorophyll: Speed doubles in harsh sunlight.
Hidden Ability: Effect Spore: Contact with the Pokémon may inflict poison, paralysis, or sleep on the attacker.
Strength: Elite Four level
------
System: Ding. How can a hero let evil forces run rampant?
Mission: Defeat the old lady Ariana in front of you.
Reward: Gyarados' Mega Stone.
------
"I might as well capture you and hand you over to Lorelei, so she won't have to worry about Team Rocket's affairs anymore."
After saying this, Luke said to Arbok, "Go."
"Arrrbook," Arbok nodded and slithered to face Vileplume, its fierce eyes staring straight at Vileplume.
Combined with the intimidating face on its body, it scared Vileplume into taking two steps back, activating its hidden ability Intimidate.
"So this is the Ekans from back then, It's already grown to this level. Perfect, once I defeat you, it will be mine," Ariana stared obsessively at Arbok.
"Keep dreaming. Arbok, Dark Pulse."
With both having Poison-type, poison moves wouldn't be very effective, so Luke chose to use a Dark-type move to attack.
Arbok opened its mouth and fired a pulse of dark energy at Vileplume.
"Vileplume, Seed Bomb" Ariana commanded.
Vileplume spat out a barrage of seeds from its mouth.
The seeds met the Dark Pulse midway and exploded, canceling out the attack.
"Continue, Dark Pulse" Luke ordered again.
Arbok opened its mouth once more and fired another black shockwave at Vileplume.
"Vileplume, protect yourself with Petal Blizzard," Ariana calmly said.
"Viiillle," Vileplume cried out, whipping up a swirling storm of colorful petals around itself, blocking Arbok's attack.
"Kid, you can't do anything to me. Now it's my turn to attack. Vileplume, Stun Spore," Ariana laughed.
The flower on Vileplume's head immediately sprayed out a burst of pollen, which quickly spread out in the air.
"Arbok, use Haze" Luke didn't want Arbok to be touched by that nasty pollen.
Arbok spewed out a cloud of black mist from its mouth.
The haze quickly covered the field and the pollen all fell down upon contact with the mist.
With the black haze spreading, Luke seized the opportunity to command.
"Arbok, first use Coil, then attack with Screech."
Hearing the order from within the black haze, Arbok quickly coiled its body, then opened its mouth and let out a loud cry.
Immediately, a piercing sound emanated from the black haze.
Ariana covered her ears with both hands, cursing angrily.
"Damn brat!"
"Vileplume, use Petal Blizzard to blow away the smoke."
Seeing the black haze about to dissipate, Luke said to Arbok.
"Now's our chance, use Fire Crunch."
Arbok's coiled body sprung forward, its mouth forming fiery fangs.
In a flash, it appeared beside Vileplume and bit down hard.
A snake's striking speed when uncoiling is incredibly fast, not to mention the stat boost from Coil.
Fire Crunch is a combination move: Crunch + Fire Fang.
"Viilleeee" Vileplume cried out in pain as it was bitten.
Grass-types are most vulnerable to fire.
"Keep up the attack, use Wrap" Luke pressed the advantage.
Another excellent hunting technique of snakes is constriction and its crushing power is truly terrifying.
Arbok's body coiled around Vileplume, wrapping it up tightly and squeezing harder and harder.
Unable to exert any strength, Vileplume could only let out cries of pain.
Ariana panicked and was about to command Vileplume when suddenly Arbok's body stiffened.
It released Vileplume and lay on the ground motionless, unable to move.
Ariana suddenly realized that Vileplume's Effect Spore ability had taken effect, paralyzing Arbok.
"Didn't expect that, did you, brat? My Vileplume has the Effect Spore ability," Ariana said smugly.
"Just dumb luck" Luke scoffed.
Ariana was immediately taken aback, "What an annoying brat. Vileplume, now's your chance, use Hyper Beam."
The immobilized Arbok was struck by the Hyper Beam, crying out in pain as it collapsed in front of Luke.
"Arbok!" Luke cried out in concern.
"Arrr-bok," Arbok responded to Luke, as a flash of light enveloped its body and it rose up again.
Its Shed Skin ability had activated, curing the paralysis.
"Great job Arbok. While the opponent can't move, use Dark pulse" Luke said with relief.
Arbok let out a loud cry as Dark pulse shooting towards the Vileplume that was unable to move after using Hyper Beam.
The Vileplume hit by Dark pulse was starting to pant, clearly struggling with its stamina.
"What a persistent brat," Ariana said hatefully.
"Vileplume, use Synthesis."
"Don't even think about it, Arbok, use Snatch."
Vileplume's body began to glow brightly, then transformed into scattered green light particles, but as Arbok let out a cry, the green particles suddenly flowed towards Arbok's body, restoring its health.
"Damn brat. Vileplume, Energy Ball!" Ariana gritted her teeth.
"Arbok, Sucker Punch!" Luke said with a snicker.
Before Vileplume could fully form its Energy Ball, it was attacked by the darting Arbok, rendering it unable to even use the Energy Ball move.
"Vileplume, Petal Dance."
Petal Dance is a continuous attack move, but using it causes confusion afterwards.
Ariana was clearly going all out.
Swirling petals erupted around Vileplume's body, then swept towards Arbok like a long dragon.
"Hmph. Want to fight to the Death? I'll oblige you. Arbok, Giga Impact!" Luke said disdainfully.
A powerful shockwave burst out around Arbok as it charged forward, pushing through the dragon formed by Petal Dance.
BOOM
The exhausted Vileplume clearly couldn't withstand Arbok and was sent flying by the impact, fainting.
Taking out a Poké Ball to recall Vileplume, Ariana said to Luke.
"Brat, I'll give you this one. Next time won't be so easy!" She turned to leave as she finished speaking.
"Trying to leave? Not so fast. Arbok, block her" Luke wasn't one to let things go easily.
Looking back at the Arbok charging towards her, Ariana pulled out a Poké Ball and threw it.
"Weezing, use Explosion."
Weezing had barely emerged when it was frozen in midair, unable to move.
Using psychic powers to hold Weezing in place, Luke said, "I was prepared for that, you Team Rocket goons have overused that trick."
"Brat, you can use psychic powers??!" Ariana said in panic.
"There's a lot you don't know about me. Arbok, knock her out."
"NOO!!."
Ariana only managed to shout once before she was knocked unconscious by the pursuing Arbok.
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System: Ding. Mission complete. Rewards have been issued.
-----
After saying goodbye to the Clefairy, Luke used his psychic powers to carry Ariana and the few surviving Team Rocket members out of Mt. Moon.
After exiting the cave, Luke used his communicator to tell Lorelei what had happened here, then waited for the League personnel to arrive.
Over an hour later, two helicopters landed on the open ground in front of Luke, with Officer Jenny and some League members disembarking.
After discussing with Officer Jenny, Luke handed over Ariana and the Team Rocket members to them, then continued on towards Cerulean City.
Halfway there, Luke released Arbok and took out a faintly glowing gray gemstone to give it.
This was given by the Clefairy clan just before leaving, a Moon Heart that only appears once in a century.
Moon Heart: When absorbed by Dark or Poison-type Pokémon, it can increase their potential.
When Arbok saw the gemstone, its eyes lit up like a hungry man seeing a beautiful woman and it eagerly swallowed it.
Arbok's strength hadn't improved in a long time, mainly because it had reached its potential limit.
Luke was happy that it could now advance further.
Patting the satisfied-looking Arbok, Luke smiled and said.
"Keep it up. Break through to Champion level soon."
*****
Cerulean City is a coastal city in northern Kanto, known as the Floral Lagoon City.
Arriving in Cerulean City, Luke decided to first rest at the Pokémon Center, then challenge the Gym.
After handing his Pokémon to the ever-diligent Nurse Joy, Luke went to the video phone to report his safety to Lorelei.
[Was lazy to update this, i apologize lol!]