As Lance led every assembled powerhouse of the Kanto Pokémon League toward Viridian City, Team Rocket's headquarters, Aiden mounted Latios and surged ahead of the main force at rocket-like speed.
Watching Aiden ride atop Latios, Lance felt significantly more at ease.
That was right.
Although Professor Oak would no longer be helping them, Aiden possessed Legendary Pokémon.
And not just one.
That overwhelming power was the foundation ensuring the Kanto League would never truly fall.
As long as Aiden remained on their side, how could Giovanni's cloned Legendary Birds possibly compare?
Could ordinary secondary Legendary clones defeat a true top-tier Legendary?
Absolutely impossible.
And beyond Aiden, there were two more Trainers capable of commanding Legendary Pokémon.
Noland of the Battle Frontier possessed Articuno.
Although he had never officially captured it, the Legendary Bird still willingly obeyed his commands.
Likewise, Brandon was already Champion-level himself and also commanded Heatran.
His strength was nothing to scoff at.
Combined with Pryce, Blaine, Bertha, Bruno, Lorelei, Drake, and the rest of the League's veteran and rising powerhouses, the Kanto League had mobilized nearly everything it possessed.
Could Team Rocket really stop such a force?
As for the old men of Mt. Silver—
Many had already been exposed as Team Rocket sympathizers or outright infiltrators.
Lance had removed them all.
With the Dragon Clan's support, Mt. Silver was now completely under his control.
No one remained to restrain him.
No one could stop him from declaring war on Team Rocket.
When the League forces finally arrived within Viridian Forest, they split into multiple strike teams.
Each group advanced from a different direction toward Viridian City.
…
Meanwhile, Giovanni had expected this outcome long ago.
The moment Team Rocket chose to occupy Viridian City openly, a siege by the Pokémon League had become inevitable.
However—
Giovanni had absolute confidence in both his own strength and Team Rocket's cloned weapons.
After years of preparation, he believed it was finally time to show the world who truly ruled Kanto.
Accordingly, he made his own arrangements.
Current Team Rocket forces:
Master-tier:
Giovanni.
Legendary-tier:
Mewtwo.
The cloned Legendary Birds.
Champion-tier:
Ariana.
Sird.
Chakra.
Orca.
Each of the four executives had been assigned three cloned Legendary Birds.
As a result, each executive possessed enough firepower to challenge three or four Champions and Elite Four-level Trainers simultaneously.
That was right.
Team Rocket had invested unimaginable resources into the project.
A total of fifteen cloned Legendary Birds had been created.
Twelve were distributed among the four executives.
The remaining three stayed under Giovanni's direct control.
Alongside Mewtwo and his personal ace team.
"You four will defend the four approaches to headquarters."
"And remember."
"If you encounter Lance…"
"Or that Hoenn Champion, Aiden Flint…"
"Report immediately."
"I'll personally deal with them."
The four executives accepted the order without hesitation.
Soon afterward—
The next stage of the war began.
…
"Lorelei, Bruno, Bertha, Brandon, and Noland."
"You will each lead a division and attack from different directions."
"As for Giovanni…"
"I'll deal with him personally."
Following Lance's orders, everyone immediately moved into position.
The eastern front.
Lorelei led Sabrina and Blaine.
Their opponent was Ariana.
Team Rocket's strongest remaining female executive.
"Well, well."
"We meet again, Miss Lorelei."
"This time…"
"I think victory will belong to me."
"Big words."
The moment the exchange ended, Ariana burst into laughter.
Three Dark Balls appeared in her hands.
The next second—
Moltres.
Articuno.
Zapdos.
Three cloned Legendary Birds emerged simultaneously.
Their pitch-black eyes locked onto Lorelei, Sabrina, and Blaine.
Seeing this, Blaine's expression changed dramatically.
"Dark Balls…"
"Poké Balls designed to forcibly control Pokémon."
"So Team Rocket's technology has advanced this far already?"
Ariana laughed.
"Blaine."
"If you returned to Team Rocket, Giovanni might even let you resume your research."
"Bullshit!"
"I came here to atone!"
With that, Blaine released his own team.
Charizard.
Magmortar.
Ninetales.
They charged directly toward Articuno.
At the same time, Sabrina released:
Alakazam.
Gardevoir.
Gallade.
And confronted Zapdos.
Seeing this, Lorelei sent out:
Jynx.
Slowbro.
Cloyster.
And faced Moltres head-on.
"Come."
"Even three against one doesn't scare me."
Still, Sabrina and Blaine were somewhat weaker.
Even with type advantages and numerical superiority, they remained under tremendous pressure.
As a result, Lorelei frequently had to redirect support from Jynx and Slowbro to assist her allies.
For the moment, the battle remained evenly matched.
…
The southern front.
Chakra released three cloned Legendary Birds and confronted:
Bruno.
Bertha.
Clair.
Both Bruno and Bertha possessed Champion-level peak combat power.
Against a single cloned Legendary Bird, they could maintain parity.
Combined with assistance from numerous Elite Four-level and Gym Leader-level Trainers nearby, the southern front barely managed to hold.
Clair was slightly weaker.
Fortunately, Bertha's vast experience compensated for the difference.
…
The western front.
Drake.
Ash.
Pryce.
Versus Sird and her Legendary Birds.
Thanks to Pikachu's astonishing power, Ash managed to completely occupy one cloned Legendary Bird by himself.
For a time, his performance appeared even more aggressive than Drake's.
Watching the battle, Pryce nodded repeatedly.
"The Kanto League truly has worthy successors."
As for Pryce—
Though technically only Elite Four-level, his ace Piloswine possessed Champion-level combat power.
Combined with Drake's Dragonite, the western front gradually began suppressing the cloned Legendary Birds.
…
Finally—
The northern front.
Lance personally led Brandon and Noland.
With Heatran and Articuno clearing the way, ordinary Team Rocket forces were completely unable to resist.
They advanced almost unhindered.
Until—
They encountered Orca.
And the three cloned Legendary Birds under his command.
Only then did their advance finally stop.
…
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