Pokémon: From Pirate to Just

The chaos was still ongoing, and Sieg was soon confronted by a member of team Aqua.

"Hmph, never thought your Pokémon would also be a Crawdaunt. Let's see whose claws are tougher!"

The Aqua Team member cast a mocking glance at Sieg's Crawdaunt, his gaze lingering deliberately on the crustacean's claws.

"Those claws are so tiny, they must be weak!" the man jeered without hesitation.

Sieg ignored the trash talk and calmly started giving orders. The opposing Crawdaunt's large claws were simply the result of its Hyper Cutter ability.

That ability manifested physically in the form of larger pincers. But size didn't equal strength.

"Crawdaunt, use Razor Shell."

Sieg commanded without the slightest change in expression.

"Then let's go head-to-head! I'll crush you, my Crawdaunt's claws are on another level!"

The Aqua Team grunt commanded his Crawdaunt to use Razor Shell as well.

The two Crawdaunts launched forward using their powerful legs, leaping into the air simultaneously while water-type energy surged around their claws. Streams of water coiled tightly, forming the shape of razor-sharp shells.

Boom!

Water had no true form, yet it cut like a blade.

While Sieg's Crawdaunt had slightly smaller pincers, it was clearly bulkier overall than its opponent.

The Aqua Team member seemed to realize this as well, his face showing a flicker of embarrassment, though he still barked commands, unwilling to admit defeat.

Sieg then released his Sharpedo, ordering it to spam Aqua Jet and leverage its Speed Boost ability to harass the enemy from all over the battlefield.

"Murkrow, Eevee, stay by my side. Be ready to use Protect at any moment."

Sieg always prioritized survival. After all, only the living could plan for the future.

The grunts from Team Aqua and Magma were nothing like the trainers of the League. These people were veterans of wilderness combat.

They didn't need to defeat your Pokémon. They only needed to kill you.

Even though the League's makeshift reinforcements appeared strong in numbers, one or two trainers were still being ambushed and killed by enemy Pokémon from time to time.

Most of the temporarily conscripted trainers weren't actual battlers. Their Pokémon were mostly utility types like Geodude or Machop, ideal for mining rather than fighting.

These Pokémon clearly hadn't been trained for coordination or combat. It was obvious these people were prospectors, not fighters.

A group made of civilians could never hope to withstand a tight-knit, combat-hardened criminal organization.

As expected, with each defensive line collapsing, another trainer was torn apart by a Mightyena.

Blood splattered everywhere, a severed head rolling into a pile of fleeing trainers.

Panic spread like wildfire.

Some of the less mentally prepared trainers ran like headless chickens, commanding their Pokémon to carry them to safety while stumbling blindly through the battlefield.

Not every trainer had the courage to face death head-on. Most had accepted the mission purely for the Pokédollars that had been offered as a reward.

"Sharpedo, finish him with Aqua Jet!"

Sieg's gaze swept over the disintegrating battlefield, anxiety building in his chest, but he kept commanding with a cold, firm tone.

His Sharpedo surged forward, enveloped in water, becoming a flash of blue light that crashed into the opposing Crawdaunt.

Bang!

The enemy was slammed into a stone wall and knocked out cold.

Seeing his Pokémon defeated, the Aqua Team member turned and roared at a nearby Team Magma grunt, "Damn it! Can't you see that kid's Sharpedo is blitzing all over the place like a damn blue lightning bolt?! Get over here and help me, now!"

The Magma Team grunt glanced at the angry man but remained indifferent. His gaze drifted into the depths of the Verdant Cavern, as though something more important had caught his attention.

Sieg had taken down several enemies, but the rest of his side was being pushed back hard. Just as he was about to retreat and abandon the mission.

Roaring waves of orange fire erupted from the mountainside, sweeping through the enemy ranks.

Whooooosh!

Whooooosh!

The flames surged like an inferno, and while a few Aqua and Magma grunts managed to use defensive moves to block, the majority were reduced to scorched skeletons in the blink of an eye.

Their entire bodies were incinerated, leaving behind only charred bones.

Sieg looked toward the mountain forest. Dozens of majestic Arcanines stood proudly atop the slopes, their thunderous howls shaking the battlefield.

"Awooooo!"

Officer Jenny spotted the Arcanines among the trees, her face lighting up with hope. She shouted at the top of her lungs, "Fellow trainers, the League reinforcements are here! Hold out just a little longer, victory is within reach!"

The announcement boomed across the battlefield, rallying everyone's spirits. Trainers began revealing their last trump cards.

At the same time, Roxanne, Tabitha, and Shelly, who were battling atop the Verdant Cavern also heard the echo of Jenny's loudspeaker.

Tabitha and Shelly exchanged a glance. Without words, both pressed their fingers against special cube devices strapped to their belts.

Suddenly, small devices hidden throughout the Verdant Tunnel burst from the ground and flew toward the pair, being recalled into their gear.

They were retrieving surveillance equipment.

Standing on her Steelix's head, Roxanne immediately realized their intentions.

"We can't let them escape. Stall them. We must keep them here!"

Though she was gentle and warm in her daily life, that was reserved for allies within the League.

Toward villains and criminal organizations, her stance was absolute. She had been raised with strong values and had no tolerance for the underworld.

"Probopass, use Magnet Bomb."

(A steel bomb that locks onto the target, guaranteed to hit.)

Suspended in mid-air by magnetic levitation, the Probopass fired several steel bombs from its mouth.

Though not especially powerful, they carried a magnetic force that forcibly dragged a retreating Camerupt back into battle.

"Damn it! These League mutts are as annoying as ever! They dragged my Camerupt back!"

Tabitha, with his pudgy frame, had just climbed onto a Mightyena, ready to escape, but upon seeing his Camerupt being reeled back, he was utterly furious.

His Pokémon had been pulled beyond the range of his Pokéball's recall. Even the usually composed Tabitha began to panic.

Thankfully, Shelly called out, "We've already gathered the data we needed. The mission is complete. Even if we lose one Pokémon, our boss will compensate you."

Her message was clear: don't waste time here.

Now that the police force's Pokémon unit had arrived, the League's elite trainers would surely follow soon.

The two of them might be able to handle a Champion-tier trainer together, but if a real Champion showed up, they'd be done for.

(fyi, Gym leaders are considered champion tier, because they're very close in strength)

Especially that young girl. Her other Pokémon might be average, but that Probopass was overwhelmingly strong.

Better to retreat now and fight another day.

Tabitha snapped back to his senses at her reminder.

Still, he cast a lingering gaze toward his Camerupt, his heart heavy with reluctance.

He turned his venomous glare toward the League's forces, silently swearing that once Adrian's grand plan was complete, and the entire continent was under their control.

He would wipe out every last one of those League bastards!

But before leaving, he wasn't going to let them off so easily. He patted the Mightyena beneath him.

"Unleash Dark Pulse at those League rats!"