The massive Nidoking glared at Silas and his group.
Its imposing body towered over them as it slowly raised its claws. Purple energy gathered around the sharp tips before it scraped them together.
Silas' expression grew serious as he saw the Nidoking using Hone Claws.
Nidoking was already an incredibly dangerous pokemon. If this one possessed the Sheer Force hidden ability, it would be even more terrifying.
The pokemon's muscles tensed as it lowered its body and began gathering energy.
A bright beam started forming inside its mouth. It was Hyper Beam and an incredibly potent one too.
Silas immediately began calculating possibilities.
Even if everyone fought together, defeating a level 48 Nidoking with B+ potential would come at a heavy price. There were also other voices nearby, meaning the ambush involved multiple people.
The situation looked grim.
Then the Hyper Beam suddenly fizzled out.
The Nidoking froze.
A strange rumbling sound escaped its throat.
To Silas' surprise, the pokemon was laughing.
It was an absurd sight.
Seeing such an intimidating pokemon shaking with laughter almost felt surreal.
Nidoking rolled on the ground the way children do when they successfully pranked their parents.
"So you still haven't figured it out yet."
A familiar voice came from nearby.
Silas turned toward the source.
From behind a tree, Rex calmly stepped into view.
For a moment Silas simply stared but then realization hit.
"You truly are a bastard for scaring us like that."
His annoyance was genuine but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling relieved.
Finding Rex was infinitely better than finding another hostile squad.
Rex grinned.
"Yeah, I had to do it. I know I won't get many chances to catch you off guard."
He placed a hand on Nidoking's shoulder.
"Definitely worth it."
The Nidoking flexed its muscles and Rex copied the pose. It was obvious to everyone that this wasn't the first time they attempted this pose together.
"I hope our imposing presence didn't traumatize you."
Silas rolled his eyes.
Despite the irritation, he found himself smiling. It was good seeing his sworn brother again.
"I can see you've grown stronger than me, though."
Silas glanced at Nidoking.
"Nidoking is a cut above most pokemon in its tier."
That wasn't an exaggeration.
If the encounter had been real, Silas' team would have paid dearly for victory.
Rex nodded.
"Yeah, we've had a few good encounters."
His eyes shifted toward Jessie and James.
"I see you've improved too. Your subordinates have respectable strength."
James immediately brightened.
The praise clearly meant a lot to him.
Silas noticed but chose not to comment.
His officers had worked hard recently. They deserved recognition.
With the misunderstanding resolved, Rex joined the group as they continued toward the base.
As they walked, Silas found himself curious about something.
"How do you feel about this whole Trial Island situation?"
Rex raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"They forced all of us into it."
At first Rex looked annoyed.
Then he shrugged.
"Honestly? At first I was irritated."
His expression became slightly awkward.
"My girlfriend probably won't believe me when I explain where I've been."
Silas nearly stumbled.
"You have a girlfriend?"
The disbelief was immediate.
"I can't imagine you caring about girls seriously."
Rex looked deeply offended.
"Hey."
He pointed at himself.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I have always been, and always will be, a gentleman of the highest caliber."
Silas stared at him.
Then he started laughing.
"Right."
"I'm sure you're basically a saint when it comes to women."
Rex burst out laughing as well.
The two continued trading jokes for several minutes.
Jessie and James watched from behind.
It was strange. Around everyone else, Silas always seemed mature and composed.
Around Rex, he was different.
Eventually the conversation shifted toward training.
Rex explained that he had spent most of his time in the desert region. The area had been difficult but rewarding.
Among other things, he had captured a Baltoy. The pokemon resembled a spinning top with a vaguely humanoid upper body.
It eventually evolved into Claydol. If it possessed good potential, it would become a valuable member of Rex's team.
The conversation also reminded Rex of something.
He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out several crystals.
"I found these."
Silas immediately recognized them.
Electric crystals.
The quality was surprisingly good.
"These should help Electabuzz."
Silas accepted the gift gratefully.
The gesture reminded him of something as well.
He reached into his own storage space and produced several Beedrill stingers along with multiple poison cores.
Rex's eyes immediately lit up.
"Those from the hive?"
Silas nodded.
Some of the materials came from pseudo-advanced Beedrill. For a Poison type like Nidoking, they possessed real value.
Pokemon games rarely reflected how complex poison truly was.
In reality, different poisons possessed different properties.
Some killed quickly, some accumulated over time, and some shut down bodily functions while keeping the victim alive.
The possibilities were extensive.
Intermediate and higher-ranked Poison-types developed poison sacs inside their bodies. These organs allowed them to refine and reproduce toxins using Poison-type energy.
Rex examined the materials.
"Thanks."
His expression became slightly apologetic.
"I don't really need the intermediate class stuff anymore."
He pointed toward Nidoking.
"But I'll gladly take the pseudo-advanced materials."
Silas simply nodded and handed them over.
The exchange felt natural.
Neither of them worried about keeping score.
Over time, both had helped the other repeatedly.
Jessie and James observed quietly.
Seeing Silas interact with Rex felt different. Their boss actually acted his age around him.
Most of the time, people forgot Silas was still a teenager. His behavior rarely reflected it. His appearance certainly didn't.
Ever since he began properly training aura, his body had steadily improved.
At over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a muscular frame, he looked more like a grown man than a teenager.
Only his facial features revealed his true age.
Eventually Silas remembered a question that had bothered him for quite some time.
"So tell me something."
Rex glanced over.
"Why did you save Butch and Cassidy back on Mount Moon?"
Silas had never received a satisfactory explanation.
The two had nearly gotten Jessie, James, and Meowth killed. As a leader, he felt obligated to stand up for his people.
Rex sighed.
"I wondered when you would ask."
His expression became serious.
"At the time, they were technically members of my squad."
Silas listened carefully.
"I personally disliked them but I couldn't just stand there and watch them die."
He pointed toward Silas.
"And before you ask, no. I'm not telling you the mission details. They're classified."
Silas accepted the answer.
Meowth suddenly joined the discussion.
The small pokemon's eyes narrowed.
"So now that they aren't part of your squad anymore, I'm free to carve them up whenever I want?"
Sharp claws extended from his paws. The murderous intent radiating from Meowth was palpable.
Rex looked at him be he laughed.
"You might get your chance."
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
"They're here."
Silas frowned.
"Here?"
"On the island."
Rex nodded.
"They've always been Elite Officer Hun's lackeys."
His expression turned thoughtful.
"I assume they joined her group when the trial began."
The information wasn't encouraging. Hun had been powerful the last time Silas encountered her. She had likely become even stronger since then.
Meowth's claws dug into the ground.
"I don't care who protects them. Unless Giovanni himself tells me to spare them, I'm going to slit their throats."
His voice carried genuine hatred. His murderous aura returned immediately.
Silas frowned.
"Meowth, get your emotions under control."
The harshness in Silas' voice surprised him.
Silas continued.
"I support your decision if you choose to kill them but it has to make sense."
Meowth had a look of confusion.
Silas pointed at his head.
"Your brain is your greatest weapon. If you let your emotions control you, you'll become nothing more than another bloodthirsty idiot."
The words struck home.
Meowth remained silent for several seconds.
"You're right."
He looked embarrassed.
"Sorry."
Rex laughed again. The tension vanished instantly.
For the remainder of the journey, the group discussed random topics.
The atmosphere remained relaxed.
Eventually the base came into view. After 30 minutes of walking, they finally arrived.
The large dome structure was far busier than before. Members constantly entered and exited, it had the vibe of a large metropolis.
Everyone appeared focused on training, trading, or preparing for future challenges.
Once inside, Rex and Silas prepared to go their separate ways.
Rex stretched.
"I'm going to get some rest."
Silas nodded.
"I need to visit the exchange counter."
Then a serious expression appeared on Rex's face.
"For your sake, I hope we don't end up on opposite sides during the upcoming challenge."
The playful attitude disappeared completely.
"You're my brother so I won't hold back. Take it as a sign of respect."
Silas met his gaze without hesitation.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. You can expect the same treatment."
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"As a sign of respect, I'll crush you with everything I have if you're my opponent."
For several seconds neither spoke.
The atmosphere became so intense that nearby spectators stopped what they were doing.
Several people clearly expected a fight.
Both young men soon burst out laughing and they shook hands.
The tension vanished.
Moments later they headed in opposite directions.
Silas eventually arrived at the exchange counter.
Fortunately, the line wasn't very long. Only 2 people stood ahead of him.
Unfortunately, several more arrived shortly afterward. By the time he settled into place, 6 people had joined the queue behind him.
While waiting, Silas observed the facility.
The exchange system was impressively professional. Privacy appeared to be a major priority.
Each customer entered a private office with the clerk. That way no ond outside could hear the conversation or could see the items being exchanged.
It was an excellent system. Team Rocket understood that fair competition required secrecy.
After waiting approximately fifteen minutes, Silas' turn finally arrived.
He entered the office and froze.
The clerk sitting behind the desk wasn't a stranger, it was Percy.
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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 100k views and chapter 100.
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!