A giant sphere shot past Silas toward the incoming attack. Silas quickly realized it was Electrode.
Electrode met the attack head-on with Mirror Coat. A mirror-like layer of energy surrounded its body as it struggled to rebound the massive sphere of Dragon and Electric type energy.
"Ampharos, detonate it."
Ampharos' trainer smiled wickedly.
Ampharos stared at the struggling Electrode, and the sphere suddenly exploded directly in its face.
"Impressive power. You managed to blow away my Electrode's Protect."
As the smoke cleared, Electrode levitated slightly in the air, completely fine. Protect had absorbed the vast majority of the attack's power, leaving Electrode with minimal damage.
The trainer stared in disbelief as Victor immediately counterattacked.
"Electrode, use Signal Beam."
Electrode fired a multicolored blast toward Ampharos. The attack exploded against its body, but Ampharos resisted the damage.
Seeing his Pokémon suffer an attack finally snapped the man out of his stupor.
"Ampharos, use Magnet Rise, then Iron Tail!"
The large Pokémon actually began floating in the air before launching itself toward Electrode at high speed.
Electrode responded with Signal Beam, firing multiple blasts in Ampharos' direction. Ampharos dodged every attack before closing the distance and slamming its glowing tail into Electrode.
Electrode bounced off the wall from the impact, but immediately came back using Gyro Ball. Its body rotated at high speed while becoming coated in Steel-type energy.
Ampharos had impressive speed while airborne, but Electrode still held the advantage.
Electrode struck Ampharos four times in rapid succession.
Still, Ampharos refused to give up and fired a powerful Dragon Pulse.
"Electrode, use Thunder and cancel out Dragon Pulse."
"Electabuzz, use Ice Punch."
Electrode gathered a tremendous amount of electrical energy before firing Thunder directly into Dragon Pulse. The two attacks collided, resulting in a large explosion that filled the area with smoke.
Neither attack had gained an advantage.
It was a tie.
Electabuzz charged directly through the smoke and caught Ampharos completely by surprise. Its ice-covered fist smashed into Ampharos' face, sending the large Pokémon reeling backward.
"Ampharos, they're underestimating us! Use Dragon Pulse and Thunder together!"
Ampharos began gathering both types of energy, attempting to combine them once again.
Before it could fully condense the attack, Electrode charged directly into its stomach and struck heavily with Gyro Ball.
Victor laughed.
"Haha! You think you're being underestimated? Treat this as my utmost respect. M Electrode, use Teleport, then Protect and Explosion."
Electrode vanished.
A moment later, it reappeared directly beside Ampharos.
Electrode's body began glowing as a terrifying amount of energy gathered within it. At the same time, an emerald barrier formed around both Pokémon.
Explosion.
A devastating blast erupted within the confined space.
The explosion struck the inside of the Protect barrier but had nowhere to escape. The violent energy circulated within the barrier, amplifying the damage several times over.
The ground shook violently for several seconds.
Finally, the barrier faded.
Smoke immediately poured out.
When it cleared, Ampharos fell heavily to the ground, its body covered in burns and injuries.
Moments later, its Mega Evolution came undone and Ampharos returned to its normal form.
Its trainer dropped to his knees.
Electrode was injured as well, but surprisingly, it was still conscious. The sight reminded Silas of the Golem he had encountered at Mount Silver.
However, Electrode were naturally more adept at using Explosion than most other Pokémon. While the majority of Pokémon would end up in critical condition after using the move, a sufficiently talented Electrode could escape with only moderate injuries.
However they couldn't use the move indefinitely without a real consequence so they still had to tread carefully when unleashing the powerful Explosion.
"It can't be. How can you be so strong?"
"Frogadier, cut off his arms so that he cannot resist."
Frogadier appeared like the grim reaper.
In a single motion, he severed both of the man's arms at the elbows.
Despite his shock at the deadly combination Electrode had just executed, Silas and his Pokémon had remained ready for anything.
The man didn't even have time to yell.
Victor stuffed a wet rag into his mouth before tying a rope around his head, preventing him from spitting it out.
"I will speak. You will listen."
Victor stared coldly at the prisoner.
"You can be let go depending on how well you cooperate with us. Now, where is the Regirock trainer we heard about?"
Victor walked over and loosened the restraints enough for the man to speak.
The prisoner began coughing violently after Victor punched him a few times.
"I doubt you'd let me go. Just kill me."
The man managed to force out the words in a pained, muffled tone.
Victor kicked the prisoner several times before a wicked grin appeared on his face.
He threw out a pokeball.
A Slowbro appeared.
However, it was a different kind of Slowbro.
A normal Pokémon from the Slowpoke line constantly had a zoned-out, nonthreatening expression. This one was completely different. Its eyes held a sharp and dangerous gaze.
Silas immediately noticed something else.
There was nothing attached to Slowbro's tail. Instead, the transformed Shellder was wrapped around its left arm.
Silas recognized it as the Galarian variant.
This Slowbro was a Poison- and Psychic-type Pokémon.
"I will make you wish you had simply told me what I wanted to know."
Victor's smile widened.
"Slowbro, use Toxic. I can't wait for the show."
Something about the way he spoke gave Silas the creeps.
Victor was someone he never wished to become enemies with. The man was far too vicious, and his overwhelming strength only made him more dangerous.
Silas knew he would never forget the deadly combination Electrode had just demonstrated.
Teleport ensured a nearly limitless attack range. Protect, when used in that manner, prevented the enemy from escaping, while Explosion delivered overwhelming damage at point-blank range.
It was a deadly triple combination.
Used cleverly, most Pokémon would fall victim to it.
Slowbro calmly approached the restrained man before spraying him with poisonous liquid from its shell-covered hand.
At first, nothing happened.
After several seconds, however, the poison seemed to come alive as it seeped through the man's skin and entered his body.
He began screaming and howling.
With the rag still stuffed inside his mouth, all anyone could hear were muffled cries.
"You can simply suffer as a living example of what happens when someone defies Team Rocket."
Victor searched the man for valuables, taking everything except his clothes.
"Please! Let me go. I swear I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
A sadistic grin appeared on Victor's face.
"I'm afraid we're past that point, my friend. You should have considered your position carefully before refusing my kindness. Perhaps in your next life, you'll be more self-aware."
Victor gestured toward Silas and the other Rocket before continuing deeper into the base.
By now, the members who had infiltrated earlier had already begun their surprise attack.
The net was slowly closing around the remaining Luminary Court members.
Silas noticed a portable computer-like device among the items taken from the poisoned man and picked it up.
The other Rocket member thanked Silas for his help before jogging out of the room with his Pokémon.
Silas handed the device over to Hermes for analysis.
"Device successfully copied and all data is ready for consumption and use."
In under ten minutes, Hermes had copied everything stored on the device.
Silas could explore the information properly once the mission was over.
For now, he unleashed his Psychic Aura senses to their maximum range.
He had nearly forgotten that with the barrier disabled, Psychics held a decisive advantage within the base.
With his senses fully extended, Silas quickly located the man who commanded the Carbink squad.
He was one floor below, but much farther ahead.
Unfortunately, another enemy was much closer.
Silas' psychic sensing had alerted the person to his presence.
The enemy released his own psychic power.
Their psychic energies collided.
For several moments, neither side gained an advantage. Eventually, the clash settled into a stalemate.
Neither could overwhelm the other in the short term, making it pointless to continue.
Silas made a quick decision.
He had his Pokémon combine their power and blast a hole through the floor before jumping down.
If the man was waiting for him, Silas figured he might as well meet him head-on.
He soon came face-to-face with a middle-aged man with dark gray hair.
"What the hell? How could you possess such powerful psychic abilities at your age?"
The man stared at Silas incredulously.
What he didn't know was that Silas had simply gotten lucky.
Silas was by no means a truly powerful Psychic. However, under normal circumstances, it would take someone several years to reach his current level.
His strength might have been considered reasonable if he were in his late twenties.
But Silas was clearly still a teenager despite his sturdy frame.
"Old man, do you really think I'm going to give you any information?"
Silas smirked.
"Have you already gone senile, sir? Perhaps the battlefield is no place for you. A retirement home might be better suited for a man your age."
"Haha! The arrogance of youth."
The man shook his head.
"Did you actually believe those little insults would be enough to make me lose control? It's obvious you're baiting me."
His expression hardened.
"I am angry, though, and here's how I'll express it."
The man reached for two pokeballs.
"You'll regret provoking me."
He threw them simultaneously.
One contained a Lunatone.
The other contained a Solrock.
Both Pokémon hovered silently in the air, awaiting their trainer's commands.
Silas immediately scanned them.
Lunatone — Level 47
Ability: Levitate
Potential: C+
Moves: Rank B Psychic, Rank B Cosmic Power, Rank B Rock Slide, Rank B Stone Edge, Rank C Confusion, Rank C Psywave, Rank C Psycho Shift, Rank C Rock Throw, Rank C Rock Polish, Rank C Moonlight, Rank C Hypnosis, Rank C Harden, Rank C Tackle, Rank C Embargo, Rank C Heal Block, Rank C Future Sight, Rank C Explosion, Rank C Shadow Ball, Rank C Ice Beam
Solrock — Level 47
Ability: Levitate
Potential: C+
Moves: Rank B Psychic, Rank B Cosmic Power, Rank B Rock Slide, Rank B Stone Edge, Rank C Confusion, Rank C Psywave, Rank C Rock Throw, Rank C Rock Polish, Rank C Harden, Rank C Tackle, Rank C Fire Spin, Rank C Embargo, Rank C Heal Block, Rank C Wonder Room, Rank C Solar Beam, Rank C Explosion, Rank C Shadow Ball, Rank C Solar Beam, Rank C Zen Headbutt
Silas laughed.
He couldn't understand how someone with only this much strength could act so domineering.
The man definitely wasn't a weakling. His strength was respectable, but that was all.
There was nothing to fear.
Electabuzz and Frogadier stepped forward.
"Solrock and Lunatone, use Shadow Ball."
"Electabuzz, use Thunderbolt! Frogadier, use Water Pulse!"
Both sides launched their attacks simultaneously.
The four attacks collided in the center of the battlefield, resulting in a large explosion.
Neither side held a significant advantage.
All four attacks dissipated in the resulting blast.
"It seems you have a bit of skill."
"Hahaha! Old man, I was joking with you earlier, but now I'm serious."
Silas genuinely began laughing.
"Isn't it a bit sad that someone at your advanced age is simply tied with me?"
The man's expression darkened.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You're probably fifty years older than me, yet our Pokémon have similar strength, and our psychic powers are comparable as well."
Silas shook his head.
"I'm genuinely curious about what you've been doing all this time. How can you still be this weak at your big age?"
Silas continued taunting the man, genuinely amused by the situation.
Unlike before, the man finally took the bait.
"You bastard!"
His face twisted with rage.
"If I don't kill you with my own two hands, I won't be able to forgive myself!"
"Killing me won't change the facts."
Silas' smile remained.
"By the time I'm your age, I'll be far stronger than you are now."
He shook his head mockingly.
"It's pathetic, really."
The man's expression suddenly became cold.
"You won't be reaching my age."
His eyes began to glow.
At the same time, the eyes of both Lunatone and Solrock lit up.
Silas' expression changed.
An intense wave of energy began emanating from both enemy Pokémon.
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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!