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Haxorus's massive foot stomped down, sending an invisible wave rippling out from its center.
Earthquake!
It wasn't trying to destroy the island, but rather using the feedback from the seismic waves to sense any anomalies in every inch of the ground below.
Any hidden tunnels or caves would be exposed under this carpet-style search.
Flygon, meanwhile, zipped through the Sandstorm at supersonic speeds; its special compound eyes could see through the dust, allowing it to conduct a rapid, dragnet-style patrol of the island.
The sky, the ground, and the underground.
A web of certain death, woven by four Elite Four Level Dragon-type Pokémon, had now completely enveloped this uninhabited island.
...
Inside the Sandstorm, it was so dark one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
The military-style blockade by Drake's Pokémon had effectively cut off the escape routes for Ariel and Team Evil.
The piercing alarms were still echoing, but they were suppressed by the increasingly violent sound of wind and sand, sounding weak and feeble.
"Lord Ruth... energy readings... it's the Elite Four's Drake! He... he brought them all by himself!"
Yuki stared fixedly at the energy readings on her wrist terminal, which had long since gone off the charts.
It wasn't just one Elite Four Level, but four!
With a lineup like this, even the League Champion would have to think twice if they were here in person.
Ariel's expression didn't change in the slightest; Drake's arrival was within his expectations, yet also unexpected.
He had anticipated the League taking action here, but he hadn't expected it to be Drake, nor had he expected him to strike with such thunderous force, leaving no room for error.
"What's there to panic about?"
Ariel's voice wasn't loud, but it acted like a stabilizing anchor, instantly steadying the nearly collapsing spirits of the surrounding team members.
He calmly scanned his terrified subordinates, his voice betraying not a hint of tension.
"Everyone, change gear! Follow me!"
The command was brief and clear.
The team members seemed to have found their pillar of support; though their bodies still trembled slightly with fear, they didn't dare delay their movements in the slightest.
They immediately pulled out sets of folded black combat suits, as thin and light as tinfoil, from their tactical backpacks.
"phantom combat suit."
This was one of the pinnacles of Team Rockets' high-tech achievements, featuring not only military-grade optical camouflage but also the ability to perfectly insulate body heat and odors, even muffling heartbeats to the lowest possible level.
Ariel quickly donned the suit himself; the moment he pressed the activation button, his figure distorted slightly in the air before completely merging with the surrounding yellow Sandstorm.
"Move."
Ariel spat out the word, leading the now completely "invisible" team through the Sandstorm-shrouded jungle like ghosts, silent and stealthy.
Their movements made no sound; they stepped on withered branches and fallen leaves as if walking on level ground.
Boom!
A strong vibration came from underground; it was the sweep of Haxorus's Earthquake waves.
One team member lost their footing and nearly fell, but was caught by a companion.
Ariel glanced back and made a tactical hand gesture for "maintain distance, watch your step."
He could clearly feel the probing waves passing over them like ripples on water, without pausing for a moment.
The phantom combat suit had successfully fooled the perception of "Earthquake."
But the crisis was not over.
From within the Sandstorm overhead, a "vroom" would occasionally whistle past; it was the sound of Flygon cutting through the air during its supersonic cruise.
Every pass sent the team members' hearts into their throats.
Ariel's psychological fortitude was on full display at this moment.
He not only had to plan the route but also constantly calculate the scanning intervals of Haxorus's Earthquake waves and Flygon's cruising trajectory, leading the team through these lethal "scanning lines."
His brain was like the most efficient supercomputer, calmly processing all information.
Drake was very strong.
But on this island, Ariel had memorized all the retreat routes long ago; catching him wouldn't be so easy!
After passing through a grove of trees bent out of shape by the wind and sand, the loud sound of waves Pounding against rocks came from ahead.
They had reached their destination.
It was an extremely hidden sea cave; the entrance was obscured by dense vines and a large natural rock, making it difficult to find even in normal times, let alone while shrouded in a Sandstorm.
Ariel was the first to slip inside, with the team members following close behind.
Inside the cave was another world entirely.
A deep waterway led directly to the open sea, and beside it, an all-black Speedboat with a futuristic design sat quietly at anchor.
This was their true escape route!
Inside the sea cave, the salty and damp air filled their nostrils.
Ariel took one last glance at the yellow sky outside churned up by the Sandstorm, then slapped the cold metal hull of the Speedboat hard.
"Go!"
No extra words were needed; a single word was enough.
The engine's low growl was amplified within the narrow cave, turning into a dull roar.
The specialized high-tech Speedboat, like an awakening deep-sea behemoth, sliced through the water with its bow, trailing two white wakes as it burst out of the dark cave entrance.
The moment the turbocharger kicked in, a powerful force of acceleration pinned everyone firmly into their seats.
The Speedboat's speed was pushed to the limit, flying across the sea surface like a missile, frantically distancing itself from the island now shrouded in the shadow of death.
The wind whistled in their ears, and the cold seawater was Slashed apart by the hull, turning into a spray of mist that pelted everyone's phantom combat suits.
However, everyone knew that this hundred-meter line between life and death had only just begun.
High above, Drake rode on Salamence's back, his eyes as cold and hard as iron.
He looked down at the island below, completely covered by Flygon's Sandstorm, not missing a single anomaly.
But his sharpest eyes were not his own, but the streak of azure light circling the edge of the Sandstorm—Altaria.
As a Dragon and Flying-type Pokémon, Altaria's vision had been tempered through a thousand trials, allowing it to see through clouds and capture the smallest movements of prey thousands of meters away.
Just then, its retina caught a glimpse of a highly discordant image.
On the sea surface, a trail of water was extending far too fast—abnormally fast.
It sliced straight through the chaotic waves like a sharp scalpel, making a precise cut on the sea god's erratic pulse.
That was no natural phenomenon.
"Chirp—!"
A clear yet murderous cry rang through the skies.
Altaria Locked-On to its target; with a sudden flap of its cotton-like wings, its entire body transformed into a cyan arrow, diving vertically from a height of a hundred meters!
"Lord Ruth!"
Yuki's voice carried a hint of a tremble.
"In the sky!"
Even without her reminder, Ariel had already looked up.
In his pupils, a blue point of light was rapidly expanding.
The point of light was initially only the size of a needle tip, but in an instant, it expanded into a mass of destructive energy.
The frigid aura even pierced through the whistling wind, making the surrounding air feel thick and sluggish.
Ice Beam!