A few days later, inside the League's camp in Meteor Falls, only Drake, Glacia, Norman, along with Cain, Steven, Phoebe, Wallace, and another League member remained. A total of eight trainers with Elite-level strength or higher.
Drake gathered everyone for a brief meeting.
The conclusion was unanimous: they could no longer delay.
Otherwise, they wouldn't just be giving Team Magma and Team Aqua more time to find what they were searching for, but also granting the Hunter Guild more opportunities outside.
After remaining silent for so long and always giving the impression of prioritizing money and neutrality, the Hunter Guild had made many believe they weren't a real threat.
But when they truly mobilized, their power was terrifying.
Even now, Team Rocket itself wouldn't completely trust them.
That was why the sooner this situation was resolved, the sooner they could turn to face the Hunter Guild.
Thus, the League's missions became increasingly aggressive, and infiltration and intel-gathering assignments multiplied.
That day marked the fourth since the League's entry into Meteor Falls. Cain, alone, advanced deep inside with his Pokémon, completing reconnaissance missions and clearing out wild Pokémon.
Because several rounds of cleaning had already been done, to find new wild Pokémon, one had to venture quite far in.
Moreover, the Pokémon appearing now were at a considerably higher level.
For others, that could be a difficult task — but for Cain, it wasn't a problem at all.
"Shelgon, Dragon Pulse!"
"Seadra, Brine!"
These past few days, Cain had focused his training on having Shelgon and Seadra battle.
Both were growing rapidly.
Shelgon, thanks to Kommo-o's help, accumulated energy quickly — even faster than Pupitar.
Meanwhile, Seadra, after evolving from Horsea, had finally shown worthy combat power.
Her coordination with Cain improved day by day.
Perhaps soon, it would be the right time to make her evolve once more.
Boom!
Right after Shelgon and Seadra defeated several Golem in the tunnels, a loud rumble shook the place. The ground trembled and stones began to fall from the ceiling, but Cain stopped them with his psychic powers.
He frowned.
At such depth, they shouldn't yet be encountering members of Team Magma or Team Aqua, nor wild Pokémon of such dangerous strength.
He extended his psychic senses.
He searched for the source of the tremor.
He recalled Shelgon and Seadra, releasing Drapion and ordering it to move toward the source of the disturbance.
It wasn't far from his current exploration range.
According to the mission layout, there should also be several League teams operating nearby.
Cain guided Drapion at full speed, taking advantage of his detailed knowledge of the map.
Five minutes later, upon reaching the area near the epicenter, he confirmed through his psychic perception that League members were involved.
But it wasn't an offensive assault — it was a desperate defense.
Two League squads — eight members in total, including two quasi-Elite trainers and six Advanced-level ones — had fallen into an ambush by Team Magma and Team Aqua.
The teams assigned to such deep-level missions were the elite among the elite, with far stronger configurations than average.
Unlike greenhouse-trained trainers, these were the League's regular combat forces, used to dangerous missions.
Their battlefield discipline was on par with that of criminal organizations like Team Rocket.
Now, the tunnel was covered in debris and showed clear signs of an explosion — they had fallen into a hidden bomb trap, explaining the loud blast Cain had heard earlier.
The state of the eight League members was dire.
Three were already unconscious and being dragged away by teammates who retreated slowly.
Several Pokémon lay on the ground, either fainted or showing no signs of life.
The two captains were bleeding but still commanded their Pokémon, struggling to resist and buy time.
The others, while carrying the wounded, also tried to maintain the defensive line.
On the other side, eight members from Teams Magma and Aqua — also organized in squads — had them cornered.
The difference was brutal: their leaders weren't quasi-Elite but true Elite-level trainers.
The rest of their members were near that level too. Combined, their strength far outmatched that of the League.
Adding the advantage of the ambush and the explosions, the gap was even greater.
Still, the League members fought tooth and nail.
The tenacity of their training was unquestionable.
Even so, they had barely managed to hold on for five minutes, and their Pokémon were already at their limits, all severely wounded.
"Captain, let's finish them off quickly. If someone else shows up, it'll be trouble," said a woman from Team Aqua.
Her leader nodded.
"Right. The sooner we're done, the better."
"Captain Macly, let's end this already. Delaying will only cause more problems," proposed the Team Aqua leader to the Team Magma captain.
But the Team Magma captain, Macly, sneered disdainfully. "Don't worry, Kevin. The bosses' orders were to clean out these League scouting squads so they don't stick their noses too deep. I bet all the teams they sent here are of this same level."
"Perfect bait to draw in more. That way, we can wipe them all out at once."
"Elite League members? Hah!"
He spat toward the exhausted trainers.
His Team Magma comrades cheered, emboldening him further.
He threw Kevin a mocking glance, as if to say, What, are you afraid?
Kevin frowned but said nothing.
He had to admit Macly was right, and he couldn't let anyone think he feared the fight.
Still, he hastened his commands.
The pressure on the League captains increased.
The entire scene reached Cain clearly through his psychic perception.
His expression darkened.
Boom!
Following his order, Drapion smashed through the wall separating two tunnels.
"Who's there!?" Macly and Kevin shouted in unison, watching as a cloud of dust burst from the shattered rock.
A silhouette emerged through the haze.
A cold voice echoed from the opening:
"You take joy in bullying the weak... let me see just what you're capable of."
Standing atop Drapion, Cain threw several Poké Balls.
"Tyyrraannn!"
"Grrraahhh!"
"Swaammppp!"
"Blaazzzkkk!"
"Floootttt!"
Tyranitar, Aggron, Swampert, Blaziken, and Florges appeared around him, along with the Drapion beneath his feet. Six Pokémon in total, ready for battle.
"Lord Cain!"
"Lord Cain!"
"Cain...!"
Upon recognizing the figure emerging through the dust, the two captains and the remaining standing League members, though battered, showed expressions of relief and joy.
(End of chapter)