As Silas surveyed the desert surrounding the cave system, he frowned slightly.
There were dozens of cave entrances scattered throughout the rocky landscape.
Some were narrow enough that only a person could squeeze through, while others were massive openings capable of concealing entire groups of pokemon. From the outside, every entrance looked equally plausible.
There was no obvious indication which one housed Team Rocket's forward operating base.
Silas glanced toward Jason.
"We might as well sit down while we decide."
Jason nodded, dropping his pack beside a nearby boulder.
Before either of them could take another step, a cold voice echoed from behind.
"You think this is a place for you to relax?"
Silas' eyes sharpened.
An average looking man dressed in a black hoodie emblazoned with a massive red R had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Standing beside him was an Electrode whose presence immediately commanded attention.
Without hesitation, Silas activated Hermes.
Electrode (M)— Level 59 (Suppressed to 54)
Ability: Soundproof
Potential: B+
Moves: Rank A Teleport, Rank A Magnetic Flux, Rank A Thunder, Rank A Thunder Bolt, Rank B Thunder Wave, Rank B Sonic Boom, Rank B Gyro Ball, Rank B Magnet Rise, Rank B Energy Ball, Rank B Light Screen, Rank B Focus Blast, Rank B Charge, Rank B Rollout, Rank B Mirror Coat, Rank B Foul Play, Rank B Taunt, Rank B Protect, Rank B Swift, Rank B Electro Web, Rank B Charge Beam, Rank B Signal Beam, Rank B Explosion
Silas immediately understood why he had failed to sense them sooner.
Electrode could use Teleport. Yet another high ranking rocket flexing his teleporting pokemon.
The pair had likely been watching them from somewhere nearby before appearing directly in front of them.
"Executive Viper sent us."
Silas produced Viper's token without hesitation.
The man's gaze lingered on it for several moments before his expression relaxed slightly.
"So you're the 2 reinforcements he spoke of."
He nodded once.
"You can never be too careful."
His eyes briefly swept over both Silas and Jason before returning the token.
"Now that you're here, we welcome the help. Just don't get in anyone else's way and you'll be fine."
He reached into his jacket and produced a small metallic card.
"This is the mission briefing. Scan it with your devices and make sure to read everything."
Silas accepted the card while Jason pulled out his own Team Rocket communicator.
Both devices emitted a quiet beep as they copied the encrypted information.
Silas immediately began reading.
The mission details were more interesting than he had expected.
Intelligence gathered by Team Rocket indicated that the leader stationed at this hidden Luminary Court base possessed a Regirock.
Silas' eyes narrowed.
Regirock.
Fortunately, it was restricted.
According to the report, its strength had been suppressed just like all the other higher level pokemon.
The report suggested overwhelming it through superior numbers and coordinated tactics if necessary.
Silas silently disagreed.
Perhaps that strategy could work against a wild Regirock.
Against one with a trainer and allies would be much harder.
A legendary pokemon directed by an intelligent trainer while supported by dozens of teammates was an entirely different matter.
The rest of the briefing outlined the operation itself.
The Luminary Court had established its base within an underground desert oasis cave. Unlike many criminal organizations, they had made little effort to conceal its general location.
Team Rocket had already infiltrated one of their own spies into the facility.
The spy's assignment was simple; Destroy the psychic spatial barrier protecting the base.
The security system reminded Silas of the Rocket installation on the beach.
The barrier prevented teleportation and other spatial techniques from functioning within the base.
Once the barrier fell, the assault would begin immediately.
A lean strike team would teleport directly into the enemy base while the remainder of Team Rocket attacked from the exterior.
The Luminary Court would be forced to defend two battlefronts simultaneously.
It was a solid plan.
The man waited patiently while Silas and Jason finished reading.
"We estimate the mission will begin within 24 hours but everything depends on our spy. The moment the barrier comes down, the assault begins."
Silas nodded.
"As long as the spy succeeds, the odds are favorable."
The man grunted in agreement.
"That's the idea."
With the briefing complete, he led them into the cave network.
The hidden Rocket base was far larger than Silas had anticipated.
The outer chambers had been converted into barracks, supply storage, medical stations, and temporary command posts.
Trainers, scientists, logistics personnel, and combat specialists moved efficiently through the tunnels, everyone focused on preparing for the coming assault.
Toward the rear of the cave system, an enormous collapse blocked several connecting passages.
Silas noticed numerous support beams reinforcing the area.
"What happened?"
"Wild pokemon."
The guard shrugged.
"Those tunnels connected to the natural cave system. We sealed them off after repeated attacks."
Silas nodded thoughtfully.
Leaving countless underground passages unsecured would be inviting disaster.
After thanking the guide, Silas searched for a quieter location.
Eventually, he found a dead-end tunnel that offered both privacy and enough room for everyone.
"This will do."
Jason agreed immediately.
The two trainers released their pokemon and began setting up another temporary campsite.
With everyone helping, the process took only a short time. Once everything was organized, Silas went through his usual routine.
Every pokemon received a thorough examination.
They had some minor lingering injuries but they were mainly fatigued. Nothing serious remained after the previous day's battles.
Thankfully, they had arrived nearly a full day before the mission.
Had they been delayed, they would have entered combat immediately after crossing the desert. That would have been far from ideal.
Silas smiled slightly as he checked on Tropius.
The difficult journey had paid off.
After the constant travel, repeated battles, and continuous strain of carrying two people across the desert, Tropius had broken through once again.
Level 41.
Silas wasn't surprised.
The Miracle Seed continued supplying abundant grass type energy, allowing her to improve steadily so long as she continued training hard.
She had earned every bit of that advancement.
Flying long distances while carrying passengers was already physically demanding.
Doing so while enduring repeated attacks from the Arbok hunting pack had pushed her even further.
Silas gently rubbed her neck.
"You've done well."
Tropius happily leaned into the praise.
Silas then looked over Jason's team. Both Scyther and Krokoroc had improved significantly during the journey.
Krokoroc, in particular, had flourished in the desert environment.
With constant opportunities to battle ground type pokemon, it had rapidly caught up to Scyther. Both now stood at Level 38.
Jason noticed Silas' approving nod and grinned.
"Krokoroc finally caught up."
"He definitely earned it."
Silas wasn't stingy with praise when it was warranted.
The crocodile pokemon had fought tirelessly throughout the desert.
Silas then turned his attention toward another recent acquisition.
Hippowdon.
Unlike the younger Hippopotas, the fully evolved pokemon would be useful immediately.
Winning its cooperation had required both force and kindness.
Silas had defeated, fed, and healed it
Finally, after recognizing his strength, Hippowdon agreed to cooperate.
There was only one condition.
"Please make sure to raise this child into a powerful pokemon."
The large groundtype looked toward the resting Hippopotas.
"He is naive, but he possesses real talent. Treat him well."
Silas met her gaze.
"I intended to regardless."
Hippowdon nodded. That answer satisfied her.
Hippopotas had already begun warming up to Silas after seeing his mother interact with him peacefully.
For now, however, Silas needed Hippowdon herself, mainly for her ability.
Perhaps no support move was more valuable inside a desert than Sand Storm.
Combined with her Sand Stream ability, Hippowdon could transform the battlefield into favorable terrain almost immediately.
Excadrill would benefit tremendously thanks to Sand Rush.
Vibrava, as a ground type, naturally fought comfortably within sandstorms as well.
Ground, Rock, and Steel types enjoyed increased resilience within the environment.
Silas quickly explained the team's preferred battle formations.
"Hippowdon, I want you acting as my personal guard while supporting everyone else. Your priority is controlling the battlefield."
She nodded once.
Simple and calm, exactly the response Silas wanted.
After strategy discussions concluded, both Silas and Jason finally relaxed.
With nearly a day remaining before the operation, there was little benefit in exhausting themselves.
Instead, they focused on improving their aura control.
Pokemon and humans followed fundamentally different paths.
Pokemon primarily used aura to reinforce physical abilities, enhance their senses, or form defensive barriers.
Humans possessed far greater versatility.
Aura could strengthen the body permanently over time. Join him Certain exceptionally pure forms even produced miraculous effects.
Viridian Forest's blessing was one example.
Unlike ordinary aura manipulation, that power belonged only to those chosen by the forest itself. It could not simply be learned.
The two also sparred repeatedly. Sometimes with swords. Sometimes barehanded. Each exchange became another opportunity to test new ideas.
During one particularly intense spar, inspiration struck Silas.
He gathered aura into his fist before releasing it as the punch connected.
The impact itself wasn't extraordinary.
The vibrations were.
Aura infused shockwaves penetrated through the target rather than stopping at the surface.
Silas immediately recognized the potential.
Against opponents with thick armor, the vibrations would continue traveling through muscles, bones, and organs before dissipating causing damage.
A smile slowly formed.
"Shockwave Fist."
The name fit perfectly.
Time passed quickly.
Soon, news finally arrived.
The spy had succeeded.
The psychic spatial barrier protecting the Luminary Court base had been destroyed.
The strike team already waiting nearby moved into position immediately.
Everything would begin tonight.
Throughout the cave, Team Rocket members quietly assembled.
The atmosphere steadily transformed.
Everyone was filled with anticipation, excitement and for some, bloodlust.
A tall man stepped forward before the assembled Rockets.
His voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Alright, Rockets."
The cave immediately fell silent.
"This is it."
His sharp gaze swept across everyone present.
"The mission calls for ruthlessness. Prioritize your own lives but remember, cowards have no place within Team Rocket."
A roar erupted from the gathered members.
The cheers echoed through the cave with almost frightening intensity.
Silas watched quietly.
Whatever personal motivations had brought these people into Team Rocket, tonight they all shared the same objective.
Destroy the Luminary Court.
Soon afterward, the assault force began moving.
Numerous pokemon silently tunneled through underground passages while Rocket members followed behind.
Once they reached the staging area near the enemy base, everyone halted.
Night concealed their movements.
Silas released Tropius.
He climbed onto her back before allowing Espeon several opportunities to stack Calm Mind.
Tropius then used Dragon Dance repeatedly.
Each boost increased her speed further. Silas wanted no unnecessary risks.
The enemy base resembled a modest dome built beside a desert oasis.
Yet beneath the surface, his senses detected something far larger.
Most of the facility lay underground.
"Begin."
Tropius swept overhead.
Hundreds of Razor Leaves rained across the compound.
Explosions erupted throughout the enemy position as buildings, equipment, and defensive emplacements suffered immediate damage.
Moments later, Tropius used Energy Ball.
Calm Mind boosts allowed the attack to have terrifying power.
The giant Energy Ball slammed into the compound.
A tremendous explosion followed.
Enemy alarms immediately sounded.
Flashes of red light erupted below.
A group of a dozen Pokémon attscked. Talonflame and Noivern groups burst into the night sky.
Following the plan exactly, Tropius turned and fled.
Even while retreating, she fired a Dragon Pulse.
The attack struck one Noivern directly causing it to spiral from the sky as it fell unconscious.
The remaining flying pokemon shrieked furiously and gave chase.
Exactly as planned.
Silas led the small aerial force farther and farther away from the base.
Several minutes, a flash of red and white suddenly appeared. It was Electrode.
Before the pursuing pokemon could react, it used Discharge. Blinding electricity exploded outward, knocking every Talonflame and Noivern from the air simultaneously.
They were all falling towards the ground, stunned from the electricity. A green blur and a white blur flashed through the battlefield.
They delivered multiple fast slashing attacks, beheading a flying Pokémon with each move.
The enemy pokemon were beheaded almost instantaneously.
Silas immediately recognized the 2 pokemon , it was a Zangoose and Sceptile.
The veteran Pokémon calmly cleaned the blood from their claws before looking coldly to the enemy base.
Silas saw Victor looked up at him.
"This isn't some random battle."
Victor's voice was completely emotionless.
"The objective is to slaughter and utterly destroy the enemy."
He met Silas' eyes directly.
"This will be your one and only lesson from me. Not every defeated enemy deserves to be taken away."
His gaze shifted toward the corpses.
"Sometimes, you simply send them to meet Arceus early."
Silas understood immediately.
"Thank you, sir. I'll remember your lesson."
Victor gave a single approving nod before turning back toward the battlefield.
Silas remained silent.
Victor wasn't glorifying killing. He was explaining reality.
This was war. A defeated enemy that survived today could become the blade in your back tomorrow.
Silas realized he had subconsciously been treating this mission too much like ordinary pokemon battles.
Recent successes had made him far too comfortable.
Even the Arbok ambush had ended almost perfectly.
Without realizing it, he had begun believing he could always find a clean solution.
The scent of blood hanging in the air shattered that illusion.
The aerial defenders had been eliminated.
The second phase of Team Rocket's assault was about to begin.
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Thanks for the continued support on my first fanfic!!
Moving forward, every 50 Power Stones, I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also be releasing bonus chapters for milestones. The next ones are 200k views and chapter 200.
Finally, I will be releasing 3 extra chapters once we reach 10 reviews. 5 star reviews are appreciated but not required, I want honest feedback so I can improve.
Once again, thanks for all the support and feedback!