Soon, another day passed, and it was finally the day Team Rocket launched its offensive.
At this time, Icarus and the others were wandering near the main mountain range of Mt. Moon, waiting for an opportunity to profit from the chaos.
Airi and Stone didn't suspect anything. After all, the closer they got to Mt. Moon's central range, the higher the chance of discovering valuable resources.
While there were also more people around, it simply came down to who could seize the opportunities first.
The main peak of Mt. Moon was a heavily guarded forbidden area under the control of the Wu Neng Family.
It was also the place where the giant Moon Stone had fallen long ago.
According to the stories, the enormous Moon Stone could not be moved for some unknown reason, so the Wu Neng Family had simply sealed off the entire mountain and protected it ever since.
Rumors claimed that the mountain was filled with treasures, and that even the wild Pokémon living there possessed at least good aptitude. A Wu Neng Family Trainer had once drunkenly boasted that digging almost anywhere could uncover ores worth tens of thousands.
Unfortunately, security was so tight that no outsider had ever successfully entered.
Just as Icarus and the others were searching for resources, a deafening explosion suddenly echoed through the mountains.
Boom!
Then came another.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions spread endlessly throughout the mountain range.
At the same time, torrential rain began pouring from the sky.
Icarus immediately understood.
Apollo, one of Team Rocket's Four Generals, had made his move.
Despite his name evoking the sun, Apollo was actually a Water-type Naturally Extraordinary.
Among Team Rocket's publicly known high-level combatants, it was common knowledge that Apollo specialized in Water-type Pokémon.
His appearance alone gave it away—blue hair, blue eyebrows, and blue eyes.
Whether those traits were natural or the result of reaching a higher realm of power was unknown.
Still, sending a Water-type Elite to attack a family that specialized in Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon was undoubtedly the best choice.
"As expected of an Elite who has comprehended Water-type laws. The range of this Rain Dance is incredible."
Hidden within a tree, Icarus finally had time to observe the battlefield.
Heavy rain covered the entirety of Mt. Moon.
The downpour was so intense that visibility had dropped dramatically.
At the same time, explosions continued to erupt from multiple directions.
From what he could tell, Team Rocket had launched attacks against several outer forbidden zones simultaneously.
Just as he was wondering why the Wu Neng Family had yet to respond, an enraged roar suddenly came from the central mountain range.
"How dare you! Steelix, use Sunny Day!"
ROAR!
The earth trembled violently.
A gigantic steel head burst from underground.
Then came segment after segment of an enormous metallic body.
A massive Steelix, easily over ten meters long, emerged from the earth.
It raised its head and roared toward the sky.
A blazing sphere of sunlight shot upward.
Moments later, the rain above the main mountain range vanished.
The skies over several nearby peaks cleared instantly.
However, the rest of Mt. Moon remained drenched in Apollo's storm.
The difference in power was obvious.
This Steelix was strong, but it was still only at the Gym Leader level.
Apollo, on the other hand, possessed Elite-level power and had already grasped elemental laws.
An Elite could influence the weather across an entire region.
The fact that Apollo's Rain Dance covered nearly all of Mt. Moon was proof enough.
The Steelix could only reclaim the skies above a few nearby peaks.
The gap between them was enormous.
Soon, additional suns appeared above neighboring peaks.
Several Gym Leader-level Pokémon were clearly stationed throughout the important areas of Mt. Moon.
Then an elderly voice rang out across the mountains.
"Which Water-type Elite is joking with my Wu Neng Family? Why not show yourself?"
Standing atop Steelix's head was an elderly Trainer.
Although he already had a guess, he still wanted confirmation.
Reports from across Mt. Moon all pointed to one organization.
Team Rocket.
And among Team Rocket's Water-type experts, only Apollo possessed the power to affect the weather on such a scale.
More importantly, the old man hoped to buy time.
If negotiations were possible, even briefly, it would benefit the Wu Neng Family greatly.
A hearty laugh answered him.
"Hahaha! It's me, Apollo, one of Team Rocket's Four Generals!"
A man in a white uniform slowly floated into the air.
Beneath him was a fierce Gyarados.
Though slightly smaller than Steelix, it showed no fear whatsoever.
As soon as it appeared, it let out a thunderous roar.
ROAR!
The towering Steelix visibly lowered its posture.
The pressure from an Elite-level Pokémon was undeniable.
"General Apollo," the old man said calmly, "what brings you to my Wu Neng Family?"
"What else?" Apollo replied with a smile. "I'm here to borrow something."
"Oh?"
"The giant Moon Stone."
Apollo grinned.
"At least one-third of it."
"Impossible!"
The old man's answer was immediate.
At the same moment, he waved his hand.
"Tyranitar! Nidoking! Thunderbolt!"
Two gigantic Pokémon burst from underground.
Brilliant bolts of electricity shot toward Apollo and Gyarados.
Apollo snorted.
"I knew you were buying time."
"Come out, Swampert! Protect!"
A Poké Ball opened.
A green barrier instantly appeared.
The incoming Thunderbolt struck the shield and dissipated harmlessly.
Even the remaining electricity was absorbed by Swampert without leaving a scratch.
The battle had officially begun.
⸻
Far below, hidden among the chaos, Icarus watched everything unfold.
The scale of the conflict was far beyond anything he had ever experienced.
Elite-level Pokémon.
Gym Leader-level Pokémon.
Dozens of powerful Trainers.
The entire mountain range had become a battlefield.
Then Apollo's voice echoed throughout Mt. Moon.
"Hahaha! Trainers of Mt. Moon, listen carefully!"
"The entire mountain range is now in chaos!"
"All surveillance systems and defenses have been destroyed by Team Rocket!"
"This is your chance!"
"Whatever you take, you won't need to worry about consequences later!"
"Go!"
"Enter the forbidden zones!"
"Loot!"
"Hunt!"
Immediately afterward, Team Rocket's planted agents began shouting from all directions.
"Charge!"
"Steal Pokémon!"
"Take supplies!"
"Team Rocket will take the blame anyway!"
"As long as you catch something, you've profited!"
Many Trainers who had been hesitating suddenly became excited.
Some even began rushing toward the main mountain range.
Seeing this, the Wu Neng Family immediately launched a countermeasure.
"Combined Earthquake!"
Several powerful Pokémon struck the ground simultaneously.
The mountains shook violently.
Boulders tumbled.
Trees collapsed.
Countless weaker Trainers were sent sprawling.
At the same time, the elderly Trainer atop Steelix shouted:
"All Trainers, listen!"
"Assist the Wu Neng Family in defending Mt. Moon, and you will be generously rewarded!"
"But anyone who takes advantage of this chaos will be permanently blacklisted by the Wu Neng Family!"
For a brief moment, many people hesitated.
Then everything changed.
Apollo made his move.
Within moments, the old Gym Leader-level Trainer was killed.
The mountain's strongest defender had fallen.
Panic spread.
Greed followed immediately after.
The carefully prepared Team Rocket agents began shouting even louder.
"The strongest guardian is dead!"
"Charge!"
"There's ore everywhere!"
"Even the Pokémon here have good aptitude!"
"The law doesn't punish a crowd!"
The entire mountain range erupted into chaos.
Beside him, Stone's eyes turned red with excitement.
"Brother Icarus, should we go?"
Airi immediately nodded.
"Yeah! Let's go too!"
Even Luna looked tempted.
"Master…"
But Icarus didn't answer.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
He carefully listened to the voices echoing across the mountain.
Then he noticed it.
A familiar fluctuation.
It felt similar to Staryu's Confusion.
But infinitely stronger.
Its range was enormous.
His expression darkened immediately.
"Damn it…"
"They're using Psychic suggestion."
No wonder everyone had charged forward so recklessly.
No wonder almost nobody was retreating.
This wasn't natural.
The masked unit under Natsume had likely begun influencing the crowd with powerful Psychic abilities.
Countless Trainers were being subtly guided toward greed and impulsiveness.
The realization sent a chill down Icarus's spine.
Psychic-type Naturally Extraordinary individuals were truly terrifying.