"We've finally arrived… but there are way too many wild Pokémon here."
After a grueling battle, Sato finally led the group to the edge of the battlefield where Brandon and the others were located. Using his psychic detection, he scanned the dense mass of wild Pokémon ahead, and his scalp tingled at the sheer number.
At this point, although Sato's rescue team hadn't suffered any fatalities, five members were already seriously injured. While most of their Pokémon still retained combat ability, without their Trainers' command, sending them out would only be throwing them away.
Thus, only ten members of the support team were still able to fight.
"Let's move. Two people stay behind to tend to the wounded. The rest, follow me. Stick to the plan. Hughes, Kuroki, Norton—you three will lead the way."
Sato turned around and spoke sternly to the group.
Through his psychic sensing, he had already located the cracked stone fortress surrounded by countless wild Pokémon. He knew it wouldn't hold out much longer under such relentless attacks—they had to act immediately.
"Got it, leave it to me."
"…"
"Yes!"
Hughes responded with a helpless nod, Kuroki Ryo silently accepted with a displeased expression, and Norton replied loudly.
Since Sato had revealed himself as a Psychic and successfully led everyone here while saving several members along the way, his authority in the team was unquestionable. Naturally, leadership had fallen into his hands.
"Come out, Zoroark."
"Stantler, prepare for battle."
"Steelix, I'm counting on you."
In the next moment, Hughes, Kuroki Ryo, and Norton released Zoroark, Stantler, and Steelix respectively.
This mission was extremely dangerous, so no one dared to hold back. Everyone brought out their strongest assets.
Sato chose Hughes and Kuroki Ryo to lead because both possessed Pokémon capable of creating large-scale illusions.
Hughes' Zoroark was self-explanatory—it possessed a Nightmare Crystal, granting it extremely powerful illusion abilities, capable of even causing enemies to destroy themselves.
Kuroki Ryo's Stantler was equally formidable. Its mastery of Hypnosis was extraordinary. By releasing widespread psychic waves, it could cast Hypnosis over large groups, dragging enemies into illusions.
While this large-scale Hypnosis was less effective against high-level Pokémon, it was devastating for low-level ones, with over an 80% success rate.
Sato's strategy was clear: Stantler would handle the low-level Pokémon, while Zoroark would deal with the stronger and more mentally resilient ones.
However, neither Zoroark nor Stantler could maintain such large-scale illusions for long. Both needed intense concentration and were easily disrupted.
As for Norton, Sato valued him because his Steelix could serve as a mount.
Although Steelix's base Speed was low, its actual movement speed wasn't slow—it just struggled to dodge attacks due to its massive body.
Especially in desert terrain, Steelix could move faster than many Pokémon.
Under Sato's leadership, eight support members charged into the battlefield.
Though few in number, their entry was like a massive stone crashing into water, sending ripples across the battlefield.
Riding on Norton's Steelix, the group surged toward the stone fortress. Before setting off, Norton had already commanded Steelix to use Autotomize and Iron Defense, maximizing both its speed and physical defense.
Under Sato's direction, Steelix charged forward like a raging dragon crossing a river, heading straight toward the fortress.
Along the way, countless Ground-type Pokémon were easily sent flying by Steelix. Their mostly physical attacks barely affected it, leaving only faint white marks on its body.
At the same time, Kuroki Ryo's Stantler stood atop Steelix's head, its antlers emitting waves of multicolored light.
The waves spread outward rapidly. Instantly, many low-level Ground-type Pokémon rushing toward them began to stagger as if drunk, then collapsed one after another.
However, some higher-level and strong-willed Pokémon resisted the effect. Though briefly dazed, they quickly recovered and resumed their assault.
Meanwhile, Hughes' Zoroark was also hard at work. Following Hughes' orders, it specifically targeted those that slipped through.
Soon, under Zoroark's illusion attacks, the Pokémon that broke free from Stantler's Hypnosis became dazed, then terrified—attacking themselves in confusion.
Yet the incoming wild Pokémon seemed endless. Wave after wave was suppressed by illusions, but the assault showed no signs of weakening.
Even with Stantler and Zoroark giving it their all, they couldn't completely block the enemy.
This was where the rest of Sato's team came in. They released their Pokémon to prevent the surrounding wild Pokémon from approaching Steelix—the "iron ship" pushing forward through the storm.
Although Steelix's physical defense was incredible, it couldn't withstand endless attacks forever. As they drew closer to the fortress, its injuries accumulated, and its speed gradually slowed.
"Lucy, it's your turn. Quickly have your Pokémon heal Steelix."
After repelling several incoming wild Pokémon, Sato immediately used telepathy to call out to Lucy.
"I understand, Mr. Tyler. Clefable, Blissey—use Healing Wish on Steelix!"
Ever since learning that Sato was a Psychic, Lucy's attitude toward him had changed noticeably. Hearing his command, she gave him a sweet smile before issuing orders to her prepared Pokémon.
Lucy was a rare medical-type Trainer in the support team, possessing Pokémon like Clefable and Blissey. Whether Steelix could safely reach the fortress depended heavily on them.
Steelix's massive size made it difficult for a single Pokémon to fully heal it. But with two Pokémon using the powerful move Healing Wish simultaneously, recovery was no problem.
Clefable and Blissey immediately closed their eyes and held hands, chanting softly.
Soon, a vibrant life energy radiated from their bodies.
Under their control, this energy condensed into a brilliant sphere of light, which shot downward and struck Steelix.
In an instant, dazzling white light enveloped Steelix's entire body. Its wounds vanished rapidly, and its stamina and condition were restored to their peak.