Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

Overall, Aoki had the numerical advantage among the Pokémon. However, if one looked at the quality, the gap was significant. The two Pokémon that had just been defeated were below level 65, but now the opponent did not have a single Pokémon below that level.

"It seems we have the advantage in the end," Brownis said, his expression improving. With Moltres defeated, the opponent was now at a disadvantage—exactly the outcome he had anticipated. Though there had been unexpected setbacks and losses along the way, the result aligned with his expectations.

This young man before him could not be allowed to live. If he survived, there was no telling how much stronger he might grow. The one who could bring ruin to the Jinchuan family might very well be this very boy. His son Regis was likely already in danger.

At that thought, the smugness on Brownis' face faded.

Yet, Aoki did not show the panic Brownis had hoped to see. Instead, he glanced at the time on his communicator, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"If you weren't relying on your family's inherited Pokémon, always carrying an elder's team with you, you'd be on your knees begging for mercy by now," Aoki remarked.

Brownies frowned at Aoki's calm demeanor. What could possibly make him so composed, as if he were the one holding the advantage?

Could it be Dark and Shadow?

The thought sent a ripple of unease through him. The distant sounds of battle had faded some time ago. If Aoki joined forces with those two, it would indeed be troublesome. However, after fighting the three Legendary Birds, they shouldn't have much strength left.

Besides, Brownis had some understanding of their capabilities. At best, they were senior Champion-level Trainers—no match for his Ampharos. If they still had any fight left in them, they would have dealt with Zapdos and Articuno by now. After all, Moltres was the strongest of the three.

"No, no, don't misunderstand. Dark and Shadow won't be coming," Aoki said, as if reading his thoughts.

"Oh? Then what gives you such confidence?" Brownis sneered. "Not only did you dare to take Moltres from me, but you also revealed your identity so brazenly. Do you really think Team Rocket will still have a place for you if you return alive?"

"So, the moment I revealed myself," Aoki replied, spreading his hands, "it meant neither of you are leaving this mountain. Otherwise, I'll have a hard time explaining things to the higher-ups."

"Explaining? So Giovanni sent you? Did he give you some kind of backup?" Brownies' expression darkened.

Though he loathed to admit it, Giovanni's strength far surpassed his own. The Jinchuan family's schemes against Team Rocket were only viable if Giovanni was dead, defeated, or missing. Until then, they wouldn't dare act openly.

Aoki smirked. "Seems you're still terrified of the boss. I don't know who came up with your family's idiotic plan to challenge him, but—" He shook his head, clicking his tongue in mock pity.

"You little—!" Brownis and Rocks' faces twisted in fury.

Even if their family's ambitions were flawed, as members, they were bound to carry them out. And in their eyes, there was still room for success—they had managed well so far.

"Enough. Let's end this quickly," Brownis spat, patience gone. He no longer cared who had sent Aoki or what gave him such audacity.

Defeat him.

Capture Moltres.

The family's plans would proceed as intended.

As for Regis' death—anger flared, but he suppressed it. A family should not mourn failures. Regis had been weak, unworthy of excessive grief.

Such was the cold logic of their world.

Aoki scoffed. "Since you're so curious about my trump card, I'll show you."

"Slowking," he called.

The Slowking nodded and vanished with Teleport.

Before Rocks could sneer, the Pokémon around Brownis—especially Ampharos and Charizard—tensed, their fur and scales bristling.

Slowking reappeared beside Aoki, but now, another figure stood with him.

A Pokémon with a crystalline body, as if carved from ice itself.

Long time no see, Regice.

Before descending from the sky fortress, Aoki had instructed Slowking to retrieve Regice. He knew this mission wouldn't be easy—his opponent was a Trainer bold enough to battle Legendary Pokémon. He couldn't face them alone.

To ensure success, he needed every advantage.

Though this mountain was far from Regice's island, Slowking's Teleport made the distance trivial. The psychic coordinates Aoki and Slowking had left on the island proved invaluable.

It had taken time for Slowking to bring Regice here, hiding it on a nearby islet.

This was Aoki's ultimate trump card—his final resort.

A Regice surpassing Champion-level strength.

Though both were Legendary Pokémon, the Regice outmatched the fallen Moltres in sheer power.

As Regice appeared, the temperature on the mountain plummeted. The volcano's fury dimmed, as if snuffed by the cold.

Aoki stepped forward, placing a hand on Regice's frigid body, feeling the unnatural warmth beneath the ice.

"Sorry to trouble you again."

The yellow orbs atop Regice's head flickered in response.

This was the second of three favors Aoki had secured from it. Once the last was fulfilled, their debt would be settled—but Aoki would still owe Regice help in finding its purpose.

An equal exchange.

At the sight of Regice, Brownis and Rocks paled.

No one could have predicted Aoki's final card would be a Regice—one that had broken past Champion-level strength.

Though Regice and Aoki had been apart for so long, its level remained unchanged.

But its power remains unchanged.