Fumino Go snapped his eyes open, a sharp glint flashing through them.
He didn't fly into a rage because of Laic's provocation; instead, he stood up slowly, and the invisible pressure suddenly intensified.
"Team Rockets?"
He glanced at the red 'R' on Laic's chest, his tone turning cold and grim.
"What audacity, daring to break into my Wenye Family home. Since you've come, stay here forever."
Before his voice could fade, he waved his arm, and a Poké Ball flew out in response.
"Ampharos, kill them!"
A flash of yellow light appeared, and an Ampharos far larger than normal manifested in the center of the room. Its golden skin shimmered under the lights, and the red orb at the tip of its tail flickered with dangerous electricity.
A powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire training room.
Jiang Han's breath hitched slightly.
Level 51!
This Ampharos's level had firmly stepped into the Gym-level.
That energy fluctuation was incredibly violent!
This was the ace Pokémon of a Gym-level Trainer!
Jiang Han subconsciously looked at Laic. This guy had been boasting grandiosely before, but now that he was facing a truly tough opponent, could he still be so confident?
"Wow, Gym-level, how scary."
Far from being afraid, Laic smiled even more happily. He took a Poké Ball from his waist and spun it on his fingertip.
"I was waiting for this Electric Mouse of yours!"
"Come out, my secret weapon!"
The Poké Ball was tossed high, and a red light landed in front of Ampharos.
The ground shook slightly as a muscular, entirely blue Pokémon landed steadily. Its orange gills were highly recognizable, and its eyes were calm and powerful.
A Superior-level, Level 45 Swampert!
Jiang Han's eyes lit up.
Water and Ground-type!
Electric-type moves are completely ineffective against Ground-types!
This was essentially the ultimate weapon prepared specifically to counter Ampharos!
No wonder Laic had been full of confidence from the start; he had already investigated the opponent's ace thoroughly and prepared a perfect counter-strategy.
Fumino Go's expression finally changed. He stared fixedly at that Swampert, his gaze so gloomy it could drip water.
He clearly hadn't expected the opponent to lead with an ace that perfectly countered his own.
"So you came prepared," Fumino Go snorted coldly. "But do you think you can beat me just by relying on type advantages?"
"Of course not just that!" Laic snapped his fingers and, as if showing off his collection, threw out several Poké Balls in succession.
"Everyone, come out for some fresh air!"
A purple silhouette flashed by as a massive Crobat spread its wings, silently hovering in mid-air, its crimson eyes locked onto Fumino Go.
Level 48!
Immediately after, a Machamp with four thick arms pounded its chest, making a dull thudding sound that caused the wooden floor to vibrate slightly with every hit.
Also Level 48!
Finally, with a roar, the Gyarados that had previously devoured Wen Ye Bai's corpse appeared on the field. Although it was the lowest level at 43, its ferocious aura was not weak in the slightest.
For a moment, the small training room was packed tight with four powerful Pokémon.
Two quasi-Gym-level, one peak Superior-level that perfectly countered the opponent's ace, plus a ferocious beast Gyarados.
Watching from the side, Jiang Han was somewhat tongue-tied.
This guy's strength was much stronger than he had anticipated.
He remembered the first time he saw that Crobat and Machamp, they were both Level 44. After some time to settle, their strength had improved a lot!
And that Gyarados... previously Jiang Han only thought it looked familiar, but as it appeared alongside Crobat and Machamp, Jiang Han completely remembered. Isn't this that pirate captain's Gyarados?
No wonder Laic had pursued that pirate so relentlessly back then; it turns out he had his eye on the opponent's Pokémon!
Now, Laic's lineup was enough to challenge some less experienced Gym Leaders.
It seemed the internal resources and competition within Team Rockets really could force a person to grow at a crazy pace.
Fumino Go's eyes narrowed completely, moving from initial contempt to solemnity, and now to wariness.
He realized that those who came today weren't two ignorant little thieves, but two well-prepared wolves intending to swallow his entire family in one bite!
"Good, very good." Fumino Go laughed instead of getting angry, but his eyes burned with fury. "It seems today, this won't end peacefully."
He no longer held back, and the Poké Balls at his waist all popped open!
A Jolteon covered in sharp spikes bared its teeth, electric arcs dancing across its body, Level 43!
A burly Electivire with two cable-like tails on its back clashed its fists, making a crackling sound of current, Level 46!
But the last one caused Jiang Han's pupils to shrink suddenly.
It was a Pokémon with a huge green leaf on its head, a long nose, and an appearance like a Tengu!
Shiftry!
Grass and Dark dual-type!
"This guy..." Jiang Han's heart sank, "is not stupid."
Fumino Go specialized in Electric-types; there was no way he didn't know he would be countered hard by Ground-types.
This Shiftry was clearly a trump card he had specifically trained to cover his team's defensive blind spots!
Grass-type, four times effective against Laic's ace, Swampert!
The smile on Laic's face also faded slightly, clearly realizing how troublesome this Shiftry was.
The atmosphere on the field instantly became tense. Four Pokémon faced off against four Pokémon, their violent energies colliding, causing the air to warp. A brutal battle was on the verge of breaking out!
Just then, the wooden door of the training room was suddenly burst open by a great force from the outside.
"Family Head! We heard..."
Four young men about Jiang Han's age, wearing the apprentice uniforms of the Wenye Family, rushed in. When they saw the scene inside, they were all stunned.
But they reacted quickly, immediately noticing Jiang Han standing to the side, also wearing the clothes of an outsider.
"There's another intruder!"
"Catch him!"
The four of them didn't hesitate for a second and all pulled out their Poké Balls.
Jiang Han sighed helplessly.
He had originally wanted to quietly watch a high-level battle and learn some combat experience, but trouble had sought him out anyway.
He stepped back two paces from the confrontation circle between Laic and Fumino Go, leaving enough space for their battle while also creating a battlefield for himself.
"Sandile, Inkay, Sneasel."
Jiang Han calmly threw out three Poké Balls. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the four apprentices.
"Finish this quickly."