The bihquake unleashed by four Elite Four-level Fighting-type Pokémon was so terrifying that even Sato, still a kilometer away and rushing toward the Game er, could feel the tremors beh his feet.

  Sato's heart tightened. If Zoroark were hit by an attack at or above its own level, its Illusion ability would be shattered.

  A mysterious Pokémon with the ability to transform was more than enough to attract the i of lurking predators.

  His eyes turned pitch-bck as Dark Energy silently surged through his body, boosting his speed expoially.

  Using the cover of night, Sato raced toward the Game er at full speed.

  At the same time, Zoroark, still disguised as a young man, proved to be even more perceptive than Sato had expected.

  It was stantly monit its surroundings for the slightest movement—and the moment Hitmon and the others made their move, Zoroark reacted immediately.

  Without hesitation, it stepped directly onto another person's back, perfectly avoiding the initial impact of the Earthquake.

  Fortunately, a rge structure like the Game er was built with high seismic resistance. While the foundation remained intact, everything else was not so lucky.

  Shattered gss, snapped light fixtures, and suspended monitors all came crashing down uhe raw force of the attack.

  Many people were injured in the chaos, but the sudden pain also shem back to reality.

  The gamblers scrambled to find cover, while the Team Rocket grunts quickly retreated—pulling back just enough to keep a safe distance from Bruno and his League forces.

  Even the rogue League members abaheir attempt to join the "bug-catg" frenzy over the Pokémon prizes.

  With everyone moving away from the ter of the chaos, the Pokémon that had been freed from their Poké Balls were suddenly left standing in the open.

  At that moment, the League forces fell silent.

  Team Rocket fell silent.

  The hidden gamblers fell silent.

  Eveartled Pokémon huddling together in fear fell silent.

  For a brief moment, all four sides stared at each other in plete, mutual hesitation.No one dared to make the first move.

  "Larvitar is over there!"

  Shff! Shff! Shff!

  As if triggered by those words, all eyes immediately locked onto the ter of the battlefield.

  A pale green Pokémon trembled in fear, shrinking behind the round body of a sey.

  "These Pokémon are now League property!"

  A smug voice broke the tense silence—Officer Jenny, who immediately took the opportunity to assert League authority.

  She ordered Team C, a squad that had barely participated itle so far, to secure the Pokémon.

  The League members quickly surrouhem.

  This, however, did not sit well with certain individuals.

  To the gamblers watg from the sidelihese Pokémon were already as good as theirs.They had already sidered them personal prizes!

  And those who could afford to frequent the Goldenrod Game er were not the type to be intimidated by the League.

  "And who gave you the right?!"

  The first voice rose in defiance.

  Then another.

  And another.

  Even Team Rocket members joined in the mockery, deliberately fanning the fmes of dissent.

  Bruno's face darkened.

  He had just swept the area with Mind Reader.

  Only one person among Team Rocket's forces had reached pseudo-Elite Four strength.Clearly, this individual was not the one leading this operation.

  Meanwhile, underground…

  The damage to Team Rocket's secret base was even worse than the Game er itself.

  Though they hadn't been buried alive, the entire electrical system had beeroyed.Cracks ran along the walls, filling those below with a growing sense of dread.

  All eleiunication devices were now useless. And worse—the base still tained a vast amount of sensitive data and cssified information.

  Without erasing those records, Kaiser couldn't risk retreating.

  "Damn it! Destroy every puter! Purge all digital records! Clear the colpsed exits a us out of here!"

  Kaiser's voied through the darkness. His subordinates immediately obeyed, turning on fshlights and sending out Pokémon with Fsh to light their way.

  Ba the surface, Bruno watched as the crowd's hostility escated.

  With a mere wave of his hand, his fhting-type Pokémon stepped forward in unison—charging up another Earthquake.

  The pressure in the air shifted.

  Those hiding in the shadows pulled ba fear.

  Those standing their grouated.

  And the fused Pokémon remained as clueless as ever.

  "Politoed, take these Pokémon away!"

  Bruno unleashed his stro Pokémon once more.

  The moment the rescued Pokémon were escorted to safety—the battle erupted again.

  Sato immediately noticed the Rocket Admin at the far end of the battlefield—a Pokémon trainer with Pseudo-Elite Four strength and the designated leader of this entire operation.

  Soured down the man's forehead despite his outward posure. Inside, he anig. Ever sihe earthquake, he had lost all tact with ander Kaiser.

  Now, with Team Rocket locked in another direct frontation against the League, their forces were crumbling rapidly. Outnumbered and outmatched, they were losing at an arming rate.

  Yet not a single Rocket member surrendered.

  The reason Team Rocket had mao survive past defeats and rise again from the ashes was clear—they never bowed down.

  At that moment, Goldenrod Gym Leader Howard, Sato, and additional League reinforts arrived oer another.

  With his heightened senses, Sato instantly detected Zoroark, who had remained hidden. The two exged a gnd gave each other a slight nod.

  Sato blended into the League ranks. His impressive bat skills and crucial assistance during the battle had made him a wele ally among them.

  Meanwhile, Zoroark, who had been lurking otlefield's outskirts, took advantage of the chaos to quietly slip away unnoticed.

  By now, the Rocket forces above ground had been nearly wiped out.

  League trainers cheered at their immi victory, but Bruno remained deeply troubled. His brows furrowed as he swiftly ordered a full sweep of the Game er, instrug his subordio search for any hidden passages.

  "AHHH!!!"

  A sharp, blood-curdling scream tore through the battlefield. Amidst the cmor of bat, this sound cut through everything like a bde.

  "Elite Four Bruno! We've found Team Rocket's underground base!" Officer Jenny clutched her earpiece, excitement evident in her voice.

  "Move in!"

  Without hesitation, Bruno charged ahead, leading his fhting-type Pokémon straight into the underground base, showing no for potential ambushes.

  Officer Jenny hurried behind him, barely keeping up, her face lit with excitement.

  Below, ihe Team Rocket hideout, Kaiser scowled as the entrance was breached. One of his subordiumbled dowairs, their fate uain.

  But moments ter, Kaiser's lips curled into a sinister grin.

  He pulled out three bck Poké Balls, his expression twisted with anticipation as he locked eyes with the massive figure stepping through the entrae Four Bruno.

  "So, it is you," Bruno muttered, his voice low and tense.

  Having spent years battling Team Rocket, he knew each of the Four Executives and their tendencies. Despite his brutish appearance, Kaiser was by far the most ing among them.

  "Hahaha! What's with the small talk?" Kaiser sneered. "Rhydon, Aggron, Nidoking—go wild!"

  Three massive Pokémon burst from the Dark Balls, their eyes glowing a menag red. Their raw poresence were on par with Elite Four Pokémon.

  "You're still as depraved as ever," Bruno growled, his fists g at the sight of the Dark Balls.

  Around them, League trainers poured into the hideout, immediately g with Rocket forces in a full-scale underground brawl.