"Roooar~!!"
Raikou roared once more, lightning crackling across its entire body. Facing the thunderstorm in the sky, it leaped upward.
Charging toward that torn opening at the sky's edge.
"Can't let it escape, or all our efforts will be wasted!"
Among the mountain peaks, someone suddenly shouted.
Hearing this, those who'd originally wanted to wait until the end to strike and reap the profits could no longer restrain themselves. They all attacked.
Across the entire mountain, various brilliantly colored attacks burst forth, colliding with each other amidst continuous violent explosions. These Pokémon all desperately tried obstructing the fleeing Raikou.
Yet often, before attacks even got close, they were destroyed by the lightning surrounding Raikou's body. From the cloud layers above, lightning pillars continuously fell to destroy them.
Just as Raikou dragged its lightning toward the sky's edge, a purple figure suddenly flashed up at an extreme speed.
Its velocity was no slower than Raikou's lightning-powered charge. A purple blade glowing with a cross-shaped light flashed. Raikou was instantly struck, tumbling from the sky.
Cross Poison!
The torn opening in the sky slowly closed. Raikou lay on the ground wailing, purple mist faintly rising from its body surface.
That strike actually managed to poison the Sacred Beast.
Everyone barely had any time to see that figure, just a flickering purple silhouette in the sky, vaguely revealing a Pokémon's form.
Crobat!
Mushin and the other four hiding in the shadows silenlty observed the constantly changing battlefield situation, already swallowing nervously, their hearts anxious beyond measure.
The Elite Four-level battle just now had left them jaw-dropped. Even Sieg, as mentally prepared as he was, remained endlessly amazed.
So this was an Elite Four-level battle? Far more powerful than what he'd witnessed at Rusturf Tunnel last time.
"Executive Archer has made his move!"
The corner of Mushin's mouth lifted slightly as he looked toward the Crobat in the sky, speaking excitedly. Raikou staggered to its feet, looking toward the purple figure in the sky. Lightning surged across its body surface once more. However, before it could launch an attack, the severe poison embedded in its body struck again.
"Roar~~"
Raikou's roar no longer carried its previous might, instead revealing a sense of weakness.
Seeing this, everyone erupted with wild joy, once again commanding their Pokémon to attack Raikou with even greater force than before.
Raikou relied on powerful thunder to struggle desperately, but anyone could see it was clearly at the end of its rope, unable to hold on much longer.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!" A middle-aged man in blue explorer clothing commanded expressionlessly.
Lucario raised its hand, condensing a blue orb containing violent energy, launching it toward Raikou.
"Bang!"
This strike landed solidly. Dull explosion sounds once again echoed through the mountain forest.
As smoke cleared, Raikou had already staggered to its feet, blood seeping from its body surface and dripping to the ground.
The instant that golden blood droplet touched the earth, it immediately scorched the nearby grass, electric light crackling. Divine blood was truly extraordinary.
Raikou raised its head, looking reluctantly at Wattson one last time.
Turning, it roared once, dragging its exhausted body and leaping toward the mountain's depths, electric light continuously flashing.
"Raikou's fleeing in panic, quickly, pursue!"
Someone else shouted across the mountain.
Everyone released flying mount Pokémon to give chase, already blinded by their own greed.
Momentarily, various Flying-type Pokémon hidden in the mountains took flight.
Salamence, Altaria, Pidgeot, Skarmory.
Countless Flying-types flapped their wings, using various acceleration techniques, chasing after that electric light running across the distant earth.
Thunder clouds in the sky gradually weakened. Though electric arcs still occasionally crackled in the air, the previous suffocating feeling had clearly diminished.
Instantly, the entire mountain forest fell silent.
Sieg looked toward that pool of golden blood on the battlefield, pressing the switch. His combat suit instantly enveloped his entire body, already coiled and ready to strike.
"Don't rush yet. There are definitely still people hiding nearby!"
Mushin narrowed his eyes, surveying the mountain forest. Sure enough, before his words even finished falling, a sneaky black figure crept toward that pool of golden blood.
But before that black figure got close, an icicle suddenly descended from the sky, pinning the figure firmly to the ground.
Those hiding in the shadows no longer played around, revealing themselves and charging toward that pool of golden blood.
All those big shots had gone to pursue Raikou. Naturally, the ones remaining would compete for its blood.
Though just a few drops of blood, this was from a legendary deity, Raikou's blood!
If given to an Electric-type Pokémon to consume, it would absolutely be a transformative baptism. It might even instantly grant an ordinary-potential Pokémon Elite Four-level capability.
Of course, no one would actually do that.
After all, this blood's scientific research value far exceeded its inherent value. Team Rocket's collection of this blood was surely also for research purposes.
"I'll tie them down. You go collect that blood directly. Afterward, regroup according to the pre-arranged plan!"
Mushin said in a low voice, releasing his Dragonite. Wearing his combat suit to conceal his identity, he charged directly out from the hidden mountain forest.
Sieg released Crawdaunt and Sharpedo. With light steps, he rushed toward that pool of blood in the center. Their strange attire and actions naturally attracted considerable attention, instantly making them a target to everyone around them.
Crawdaunt and Sharpedo weren't pushovers either, blocking them.
However, Sieg keenly observed the electric arcs crackling in the air, making the Pokémon's movements slightly stiff. These were likely traces Raikou had left behind.
No wonder Mushin had trained their Pokémon to resist paralysis. Just Raikou's residual traces were enough to affect his Pokémon movements.
If they hadn't undergone specialized training, they probably couldn't even approach that pool of blood.
"Damn it, we can't let these people succeed!"
The mountain forest that had been in chaos instantly reached consensus, launching attacks at the four unanimously.
In an instant, countless flames, lightning, and frost charged toward Sieg's group.
Mushin turned to look at the four collecting blood. "Dragonite, use Protect to shield them!"
Dragonite's dopey expression turned serious. Its angel-like little wings flapped rapidly as it flew close, simultaneously raising a massive green protective barrier.
"Gengar, Shadow Ball! Electivire, use Thunder! Rapidash, Flare Blitz!"
Facing these "pathetic" attacks, Mushin showed no panic. As an outstanding elite among elite-level trainers, all his Pokémon were at elite level peak.
No matter how many Pokémon surrounded him, he feared nothing.