"Interesting operation you've got there," William said casually. His voice echoed sharply off the walls. "Mind if I see your mining license?"
Both Rockets froze, then spun around.
"Who the hell.....?"
The man reached for a Poké Ball, but William was already moving.
"Eevee, Sand Attack!"
A burst of dust filled the air, blinding them.
Ralts' eyes glowed blue with Confusion surged through the chamber, slamming one of the Rockets against the wall.
"Shocker, move!"
The Electabuzz dashed forward, fists crackling. He ducked under a wild swing and planted his palm against the man's chest. Electricity roared outward using the move Thunder Punch!
The man dropped instantly.
The woman cursed and threw her Poké Ball. "Go, Golbat!"
The winged Pokémon screeched and dove, sonar waves shaking loose pebbles from the ceiling.
"Eevee, Quick Attack into Iron Tail and cut its wing pattern!"
Eevee leapt high, twisting mid-air as his tail gleamed silver. It struck Golbat's left wing, forcing it off balance. Shocker jumped up behind, grabbing the bat mid-flight and slamming it to the ground and use the move Thunder Punch.
It twitched once, then went still.
Silence returned, broken only by the labored breathing of the Rockets.
William approached slowly, his boots crunching on the stone floor. "You guys're done here. Let the good guy take care of its."
The man spat blood, snarling. "You don't know who you're messing with…"
"On the contrary," William said evenly, "I think I do."
He reached for the cage latch to open—and that was when the ground shook.
From the far tunnel, a deeper roar erupted. A sound that rattled the cavern like thunder.
Shocker's eyes widened. "Electa…?"
William turned sharply toward the sound.
From the darkness emerged a towering silhouette with its massive horns, violet scales gleaming under torchlight.
Nidoking. Its claws scraped the stone, eyes burning with rage. Scars marked its shoulders which must be the recent ones.
William's pupils narrowed. He recognized it. "The same one from yesterday…"
The Rockets scrambled to their feet. "That thing again?! It's not ours.....get it out of here!"
But the beast wasn't listening. It was enraged, not by them but by the scent of smoke and the faint cries of the Clefairy.
It bellowed, shaking the entire cavern.
William stepped forward, his expression hardening. "Ralts, Eevee, get those Clefairy out of the cage. Shocker—you're with me."
Shocker's aura flared yellow, electricity crawling up his arms.
"Round two," William murmured. "Let's finish this."
The Nidoking stomped forward, claws digging into the rock. The air thickened with dust and ozone.
As the first tremor hit, William dropped his stance. "Battle start."
The roar hit like a living shockwave.
Dust rained from the ceiling as the walls of Mt. Moon trembled under the force of it. The echo rolled through the tunnels, deep and ancient, rattling loose stones and making the Clefairy shriek in terror.
Nidoking emerged from the far shadows with its massive, violet armor glistening under torchlight, horn pulsing with venomous light. Its eyes blazed with feral anger, protective and territorial. Behind it, the last of Team Rocket's grunts stumbled backward, cursing as they dropped crates of stolen fossils.
"Forget the rocks! Run!" one shouted, disappearing into a side tunnel.
Electabuzz stepped forward, muscles rolling under his striped fur. The static around him thickened, casting faint blue light through the dust. He raised one claw and slammed it into his chest—thump-thump—electric current crackling down his arms.
"Alright," William said quietly. "Let's show him we're not the enemy."
But Nidoking charged.
The ground split beneath its feet. A boulder shattered as its horn drove forward, glowing with Poison Jab. William reacted instantly.
"Shocker. Intercept! Block and counter!"
Electabuzz surged ahead, sparks exploding from his shoulders. The horn struck his crossed arms with a metallic clang that threw sparks across the cavern. Shocker skidded backward, feet gouging twin lines in the dirt, then twisted, grabbing the horn with both hands.
"Now use Ice Punch!"
Icy cold energy erupted from his fist, white-blue arcs tracing the air. The punch landed square on Nidoking's jaw, bursting in light. The giant reeled, stumbling half a step, growling low through the smoke.
William's pulse quickened. He's durable… way tougher than before.
Nidoking stomped once, sending a Shock Wave of earth toward them with small rocks and dust pelting the ground.
"Jump and guard!"
Shocker vaulted over the ripple and landed hard, discharging a burst of static that shielded him from the debris. The air filled with the smell of ozone and burnt mineral.
For a heartbeat, both Pokémon stared at each other with sparks flickering against venomous glare.
Then Nidoking spun its tail, slamming it into the ground.
"Earth Power...Oh shit!" William realized too late.
The floor erupted in a geyser of molten stone and golden dust. The shockwave lifted Shocker off his feet. He slammed into a stalagmite and groaned, sparks flickering weakly around him.
"Shocker, you good?" William called out.
Electabuzz gritted his teeth, shook off the dust, and raised one arm in a signal that he was still in it.
William's eyes sharpened. 'I need to support Shocker. That Nidoking is a beast.'
He raised a hand.
"Ralts! Use Reflect Barrier Shield and support Shocker!"
Ralts extended its small arms, psychic energy blooming like pale glass around the Electabuzz. The next volley of rocks from Nidoking's Rock Blast shattered against the barrier instead of his body.
William seized the opening. "Now! Follow up with Low Kick!"
Shocker dashed in low, sweeping Nidoking's knees. The behemoth toppled, the crash shaking the chamber.
For a moment, silence and dust swirling, Ralts panting, Eevee twitching its ears at every rumble. Then Nidoking roared again, the ground cracking under sheer willpower.
William narrowed his eyes.
"He's fighting through it… stubborn brute."
He glanced at Sharpedo circling in the nearby pool, the water flashing from its dorsal fin. "Jaw, be ready. If he tunnels, cut him off."
The shark Pokémon growled in reply, eager.
Then Nidoking slammed its fists into the ground and vanished beneath it.
A low rumble filled the chamber. Nidoking uses the Dig move.
"Move! He's underground!" William shouted.
Ralts darted back behind cover. Shocker spun, electricity flaring around his body, scanning for vibrations.
The ground burst open behind him.
"Behind you!"
Shocker pivoted, fists sparking, but Nidoking's horn caught him in the ribs and hurled him across the cavern. He smashed into the wall near the Clefairy cluster, coughing from the hit.
William's heartbeat thundered in his ears. "Hold on, buddy...."
Nidoking rose again, snarling, dust coating its scales.
William's expression hardened.
"Fine. No more defense. Let's go punch for punch. Shocker uses Bulk up."
Electabuzz looked back, eyes fierce, and nodded once. His body began to hum and muscles are more define and tense up.
William smirked. "Let start the round two."
***************
Thank you for reading my book.