Leon was about to step forward when Ryan suddenly raised an arm to stop him.
"Heh, let me handle this," Ryan said with a grin. "Boss, you keep an eye on the battlefield. These two? I'll finish them in minutes."
"Alright," Leon nodded. "Be careful."
Ryan stepped forward with Quagsire at his side, a smug smile plastered across his face as he approached the two opponents.
"Hehehe… why don't you surrender now?" Ryan said mockingly. "Be good and obedient, or things are going to get very painful."
Capturing them alive was always preferable. Whether for intelligence extraction or other uses, prisoners were far more valuable than corpses.
"Looks like I have no choice," Ethan Wolfe said coldly. "Breloom—come out."
He tossed a Poké Ball.
A Breloom appeared on the battlefield, its aura sharp and oppressive—an Elite-level Pokémon.
This wasn't even Ethan's own Pokémon.
It belonged to one of his elders, assigned to protect him. He had hoped never to use it, but now there was no alternative.
"Oh… oh hell no—there's another one?!"
Ryan nearly tripped backward in shock.
Before he could retreat, Breloom locked onto him. In a blur, it closed the distance, its fist glowing faintly as it unleashed a Dynamic Punch.
Quagsire rushed forward to block—but was blown away instantly. The attack didn't even slow down as it continued straight toward Ryan.
"I'm dead. I'm so dead."
That was the only thought in Ryan's mind.
What a rollercoaster of a day.
Just moments ago, victory had been within reach. Then the enemy received reinforcements. When things turned bad, their own Battalion Captain arrived to save them. And just when Ryan thought it was finally over—
A Breloom appeared.
One punch knocked out Quagsire.
And the next one was coming for him.
That massive fist—there was no way he would survive it.
"I knew it… I shouldn't have shown off… why did I open my damn mouth…"
BOOM—
"RYAN!"
Noah shouted, eyes bloodshot.
He could only watch helplessly as Breloom's fist closed in.
Ryan was the first person Noah had met after joining Team Rocket.
Sure, he was unreliable. Woman-crazy. Cowardly. Greedy.
But he was a good partner.
Watching him about to die like this tore at Noah's chest.
Then—
"I—wait… I'm not dead??"
Ryan suddenly appeared behind Noah, patting his own body in disbelief.
"Hahaha! I'm alive! I knew it—someone as cursed as me wouldn't die that easily!"
"Stop spacing out," Leon shouted. "Get up. Now."
Leon had already stepped in, Gyarados and Vigoroth engaging Breloom directly.
Ryan scrambled to his feet, staring wide-eyed as Leon's psychic power erupted outward. Blue light flared in Leon's eyes as invisible force restrained Breloom.
Only then did Ryan understand.
Leon had saved him.
"Hahaha! I knew it—my boss is a psychic!" Ryan laughed hysterically. "Back from the dead! Today's been insane! Noah—are you crying? Don't worry, you haven't even lost your virginity yet. No way I'd die before that!"
"Shut up," Noah snapped, laughing despite himself. "Get ready to help."
"I'd love to, but all my Pokémon are down!"
"Watch the surroundings."
"Oh—right!"
The moment Leon revealed himself as a psychic, Ethan Wolfe immediately recalled Breloom to his side.
A capable psychic meant danger.
Ethan knew exactly what that meant.
Breloom was pulled back into a defensive position, standing guard.
Ethan felt like vomiting blood.
Every time victory seemed within reach, something went wrong.
First Leon's strength.Then the Battalion Captain.Now a psychic—one who clearly wasn't weak.
Life really was unpredictable.
Sausage wrapped in sausage.
At least he still had Breloom. Without it, he would already be dead.
"A psychic like that… and he didn't join the League?" Marcus Reed muttered in disbelief. "He joined Team Rocket instead?"
Psychics were rare—naturally superior to ordinary trainers, especially in Pokémon combat.
As allies, they were priceless.
As enemies?
Terrifying.
Both Ethan and Marcus were silently cursing the mission. What kind of cursed operation attracted monsters like this?
The situation froze again.
Both sides hesitated.
Explosions echoed in the distance, yet here—an eerie calm settled in.
That calm shattered instantly.
BOOM—
A figure fell from the sky.
Dust erupted as a Dragonite swooped down, shielding its fallen trainer.
"Sir! Are you alright?!"
Ethan and Marcus rushed forward to regroup.
Leon didn't hesitate.
"Pull back," he ordered, grabbing Ryan and Noah as they retreated with their Pokémon.
This was Champion-level combat.
Leon had no intention of getting involved.
His psychic abilities meant nothing in front of a true Champion.
The next instant—
A terrifying force descended.
Both Rocket Branch Ministers arrived simultaneously, launching a joint attack on the fallen League Champion.
The League's forces were barely holding on. Anyone could see it—the battle was lost.
Their last hope had already been knocked from the sky.
"RETREAT! BREAK THROUGH!"
The League Champion roared, eyes wild.
"Dragonite—Outrage! If I take one of them with me, it's worth it!"
Dragonite surged forward, tearing into the two Champions to carve an escape route.
The League forces surged, breaking through in chaos.
"Don't let them escape!" the Battalion Captains shouted. "No prisoners! Kill anyone who runs!"
"Hmph."
The League Champion scoffed. After several exchanges, he seized an opening and withdrew at full speed.
The battle was over.
With the Champion retreating, the League forces collapsed entirely. Team Rocket encircled them, capturing survivors and executing those who resisted.
A handful escaped in the chaos.
Among them—
Ethan Wolfe.
Leon's eyes narrowed as he spotted it.
"You two stick with the main group," Leon said. "I'll catch up."
"Maybe don't," Noah warned. "A cornered enemy is dangerous."
"I'll be fine. Stay safe."
With that, Leon vanished into the chaos, chasing after Ethan.
Staying here would bring nothing.
But following him—
Might bring something interesting.