"This forest belongs to us. Anyone who crosses paths with us knows to show some respect. Kid, since you ran into us today, shouldn't you show a little courtesy?"
The two men laughed as they blocked Leon's path. Behind them, a Fearow perched on a tree branch, calmly preening its feathers.
"So impressive," Leon replied calmly. "And what kind of 'courtesy' are you looking for?"
He already knew the Fearow's strength—Level 27, nothing more.
"Simple. Leave your spatial backpack behind. We're reasonable people."
"Oh, so this is a robbery."
"Correct. Sadly, no reward for guessing."
As they closed in, five more Pokémon appeared, charging together with the Fearow. The earlier talk had only been a distraction.
Boom—
Leon vanished in an instant, reappearing at a distance. He looked at the two men coldly.
"Three high-level Pokémon. Who gave you this confidence?"
His tone was calm, almost mocking. After confirming their strength, he felt completely at ease.
"This target's tough, Brother Long. What do we do?" one of them muttered.
"No turning back once the bow is drawn," the man called Brother Long said grimly."Kill him. Even if he's a psychic—kill him."
"Then let's do it," the other man gritted his teeth.
Three high-level Pokémon stepped forward—Sandslash, Muk, and Primeape—along with the remaining Fearow.
Leon raised his hand.
"Come out, Gyarados. Looks like we've got some work."
"ROAR—!"
Gyarados emerged, mostly recovered. Fighting was no problem.
"Gyarados—Aqua Tail."
Leon pointed toward the Fearow in the air. Gyarados swung its tail, smashing the Fearow mid-flight.
A shrill cry rang out as it crashed to the ground.
"Hydro Pump!"
Gyarados followed up instantly. The attack was blocked by Primeape—but the redirected blast slammed into another Pokémon, sending it flying.
In a single exchange, two Pokémon were already down.
Four remained: three high-level and one mid-level.
"This kid's got skills," Brother Long muttered, his expression darkening.
An expert only needed one look to know the difference. Gyarados' presence alone proved this wasn't an ordinary trainer.
Still, Leon hadn't released another Pokémon.
He probably doesn't have more, Brother Long thought.
"But it ends here," he said coldly. "You're not leaving today."
Even if Leon released his other Pokémon, it would still be four versus two.
Three high-level plus one mid-level Pokémon against two mid-level ones.
"The advantage is clearly on our side," his partner said confidently."Advantage is mine."
Yet the battle did not unfold as they expected.
Leon didn't even release Vigoroth. Gyarados alone held them back—and several rounds passed without them gaining ground.
"Screee—!"
Sandslash was struck head-on by Ice Beam, half its body freezing instantly. A follow-up Water Cannon blasted it away.
"Block it! Primeape, coordinate! Muk, where's your support? Can't you follow commands?!"
Seeing Sandslash badly injured, Brother Long panicked.
"Muk—Mud Shot!"
Muk finally intervened, forcing Gyarados to pull back.
But the retreat wasn't weakness—it was preparation.
Gyarados surged forward again, waves roaring as it unleashed Surf.
BOOM—
Water flooded the battlefield.
"Brother Long… maybe we should stop. This one's too dangerous," the other man whispered.
Brother Long's face was grim."I'm afraid there's no peaceful end now."
"There is," the other man suddenly shouted, seeing the Pokémon separate slightly."Kid! You're in serious trouble, you know that?"
Leon gestured for Gyarados to pause.
"Oh?" Leon said calmly, tossing a recovery pill to Gyarados."Go on."
"Do you know who we are?"
"Enlighten me."
"We're Team Rocket! Ever heard of it?"
"You're opposing Team Rocket! If you're smart, we can still talk this out."
Leon laughed softly.
"Let me add something. I, along with Brother Long here, wiped out the Black Dragon Gang. Ever heard of them? Big deal, right? Still gone."
Leon found it amusing and let him continue.
"And how exactly do you want to 'talk'?" Leon asked.
The man misunderstood the tone and grew excited.
"Scared now? Haha. Simple—leave part of your backpack and we're done. Otherwise, I'll call our brothers. All Team Rocket. Ruthless. Kill without blinking."
"Showing off in front of the real thing," Leon muttered.
He stepped forward, signaling Gyarados to stay back. Dense psychic energy surged around him.
Leon vanished.
"Primeape, protect me!" Brother Long shouted.
"Protect you? With what?" Leon's voice echoed.
In the next instant, Leon's hand closed around Brother Long's neck.
"So… fast…"
Crack.
Brother Long's neck twisted unnaturally. His body went limp.
"B-Brother Long…"
"Relax. You're next."
Leon blinked away, dodging Primeape's strike, reappearing behind the man. A Psychic Sphere fired—but Muk intercepted it.
Gyarados moved again.
Water surged, freezing midair as it fell like an icy meteor.
BOOM—
Muk, already heavily injured, shielded its trainer.
"ROAR—!"
"That's enough," Leon said calmly. "Rest."
He stopped Gyarados, finished Muk with a burst of psychic force, and lifted the remaining man by the collar.
"Spare me! I'm not Team Rocket! I'm from the Black Dragon Gang! I didn't wipe it out—I don't even know who did!"
Leon smiled broadly.
"I'll tell you something. I am Team Rocket. And I'm the one who wiped out the Black Dragon Gang."
"You—you're that monster!"
"Time to go."
Leon tightened his grip.
The man convulsed once—and fell silent.
For a mid-level psychic, killing a man was no harder than killing a chicken.