The Gyarados herd unleashed a barrage of Hydro Pumps at the Red Gyarados, the jets of water slamming into its massive frame. However, the Red Gyarados didn't flinch; it simply roared back at the wild leader, allowing the high-pressure blasts to wash harmlessly over its reinforced scales.
"Hmph. Gyarados leader, you think I came unprepared? Ivysaur, let's begin!"
Seeing his dragon being attacked by the ungrateful herd, Feng Che turned to his Grass-type partner. Ivysaur nodded, and a pale green light radiated from its body. The Leech Seeds that had been covertly planted on the wild Gyarados earlier suddenly sprouted, their vines rapidly coiling around the sea serpents' bodies.
The Gyarados watched in terror as green vines carpeted their scales, siphoning their stamina at an alarming rate. Golden pulses of energy flowed through the vines back into Ivysaur.
[Gyarados Leader: Damn it! My whole body feels numb and weak. I knew this human was a snake!][Gyarados Leader: Fine! Even if I'm torn apart, I'll take you down first. Everyone, prepare Hyper Beam!]
Feng Che, hearing the leader's internal monologue, didn't panic. He was ready. The leader let out another command, and the herd stopped struggling against the vines. They endured the pain of being drained, focusing every ounce of their remaining energy into their maws.
But just as they prepared to unleash the destructive white beams, Ivysaur manipulated the vines to snap shut over their mouths, binding their jaws tight. The Hyper Beam energy, with nowhere to go, was forced back into their gullets. Wisps of acrid smoke escaped their nostrils as they suffered the internal backlash.
Meanwhile, under the Red Gyarados's command, the Whirlpool in the center of the battlefield grew more violent.
"Captain Shizukawa, move the boat further back! We're getting too close to the suction!" Feng Che shouted.
Once the speedboat reached a safe distance, the exhausted wild Gyarados began to be sucked into the vortex one by one.
[Sharpedo Leader: Hahaha! You stupid dragons. Did you really think a human would help you? Once you're gone, the Sharpedo will rule this sea!]
The Sharpedo leader gloated, planning to watch from the sidelines, only to realize that the Whirlpool's pull had reached its own pack.
[Sharpedo Leader: Wait! Why is the pull so strong? I can't break away!]
The shark leader struggled with all its might, but its body slowly slid toward the abyss. Eventually, it was pulled in, spinning alongside the Gyarados. [Sharpedo Leader: My head... everything is spinning...]
"Gyarados, Aerodactyl, use Hyper Beam on the center of the vortex! Ivysaur, Solar Beam!"
The Red Gyarados and Aerodactyl unleashed searing white beams from the sky, while Ivysaur fired a massive pillar of golden light. The three attacks collided at the heart of the Whirlpool, triggering a cataclysmic explosion. A mountain of water erupted into the sky, and for a moment, it rained sea Pokémon.
When the surface finally settled, the water was covered in floating, unconscious forms: Mantine, Mantyke, Octillery, Gyarados, and Sharpedo. The local ecosystem had been effectively "cleared."
Feng Che noticed a soft green glow emanating from the bud on Ivysaur's back—a precursor to evolution. I'll need to find the Mysterious Garden soon for its final ascension, he thought. "Return, Ivysaur. Now, for the harvest."
Aerodactyl swooped down, grabbing Feng Che by the shoulders and flying him over the floating field of Pokémon. Feng Che opened his storage ring and pulled out a crate of Poké Balls. Using his telekinesis, he sent the balls flying toward the fainted targets.
"Go, Poké Balls!"
He systematically captured the Gyarados and Sharpedo. The high-potential specimens would go to his Breeding Center—since they could adapt to freshwater lakes—while the common ones would be handed over to Team Rocket to fulfill his mission quota.
Back on the deck, Shizukawa was speechless. Elite Feng Che is a monster... he just wiped out two entire warring herds alone, he thought. He noticed Hanabi looking at the captured loot with greedy eyes and pulled him aside. "Hanabi, that's a Rocket Elite. Don't even think about it. If you cross him, there isn't a corner of the world where Rocket won't find you."
"Captain Shizukawa," Feng Che called out. "Is there a place nearby suitable for a Water-type evolution?"
His Froakie was also nearing its limit. Shizukawa, a veteran of the seas, rubbed his chin. "In the Hoenn region, there's a holy site. It's said the legendary Kyogre once rested there. Evolving there might grant a 'Blessing of the Sea'."
"Is it on our route?"
"It's near Poseidon Island, which is right in our path to Unova," Shizukawa replied.
"Then set course for Poseidon Island," Feng Che decided.
Team Rocket Headquarters
Lt. Surge stood before Giovanni, a golden Master Ball resting on the desk between them.
"Excellent work, Surge. I didn't expect you to secure Zapdos so quickly," Giovanni praised.
"I succeeded because I discovered a way to evolve Magneton into Magnezone," Surge explained, still looking a bit shaken. "My Magnezone acted as a lightning rod, siphoned Zapdos's power until it was drained. Otherwise, a single hit would have vaporized my team."
"Regardless, you've done well. Now we just wait for Koga to bring in Articuno. Once the trio is assembled, Team Rocket will hold the power of gods. The League will fall like a house of cards."
Giovanni's laughter filled the room. "Even if the fusion plan fails, we have Mewtwo. One of them will succeed. It's time for Goodshow to step down."
Meanwhile, Sabrina had made it a habit to pour her overflowing psychic energy into Mewtwo. The infant was now a meter tall and gaining weight, though it followed Feng Che's advice perfectly—acting weak and sickly so no one would realize its true strength.
Lavender Town
Agatha was busy taming a new army of ghost Pokémon when she suddenly felt a presence behind her...