Gengar ran to Sato's side—apparently, all the Pokémon were now ready to escape.

  Over a hundred Fire-type Pokémon sounded like a lot, but since most of them were retively small, they only formed a pact group when gathered together.

  The self-destruct program would erase all data and software from every puter in the base. With its twenty-year lead in teology, this program was virtually unbreakable given the current level of tech.

  To ensure a smooth escape, Sato set a thirty-minute tdown before taking the lead alongside Gengar at the front of the group.

  "Woof~"

  Houndour's leadership shone brilliantly at this moment.

  Those Pokémon still enduring pain ched their teeth, f themselves to remain silent. Meanwhile, the rger ones, like Magmar and Rapidash, began carrying those too weak to flee on their own.

  Seeing this, Sato Houndour, signaling that he was entrusting the group to it. Theurengar.

  "Lead the way!"

  Gengar grinned widely and floated forward. Spinarak silently climbed onto Sato's shoulder, its round eyes vigintly sing the surroundings.

  Larvitar and Zoroark fnked Sato on both sides, staying close and refusing to let their guard down for even a sed.

  After rounding a er, Sato saw several Team Rocket grunts sprawled limply on the floor, occasionally smag their lips as they slept soundly.

  Just then, a Houndour in the group suddenly had bloodshot eyes, gring at the unscious Team Rocket members before lunging at them in a savage bite.

  "Woof—!"

  A faster shadow crashed into the attag Houndour, knog it away. Sato's Houndour then cmped down on the aggressor's neck, dark red blood slowly seeping from between its fangs.

  Among the hundred Fire-type Pokémon, about half gradually regaiheir senses, now looking at Sato's Houndour with a mix of fear and awe.

  Releasing its grip slowly, Houndour returo the front with an air of pride and dominance. Instantly, the once-restless group fell into absolute silence.

  A show of force—Houndour, having been a leader before, had now fully uhe group.

  Sato quietly observed everything from the side. Once again, he felt incredibly fortuo have captured Houndour.

  Many of these Pokémon had been captured by Team Rocket, and if they had resorted to attag every ehey entered along the way, esg would have been impossible.

  From that moment on, whehey entered Team Rocket members, every Pokémon was strictly ordered to ighem, even when some grunts carried the st that they would have resented for a lifetime.

  Beep—Beep—Beep—

  Suddenly, arms bred throughout the entire base, alternating with fshing red lights. Team Rocket had discovered the intrusion!

  "Damn it!" Sato's heart tensed. He had known they would eventually be discovered, but this was way too soon!

  "No choice—we have to defeat every single one of them that tries to stop us! Houndour, have the Pokémon join the fight—you lead them!"

  "Awooo!"

  A howl of war echoed through the air. Though Houndour's body was small, it exuded an imposing aura. Even the Pokémon still suffering from the serum's effects forced themselves to stand, determio fight!

  "Gengar!"

  Gengar emerged from thin air, frustrated that the arm had pletely nullified its hypnosis.

  With Sato and his Pokémon at the front, Houndour led over a hundred Fire-type Pokémon behind them. With such a force, there was nothing to fear!

  ---------

  "They're over there! Weezing, Raticate, stop them!"

  "Fearow, Arbok, go as well!"

  A group of grunts rushed forward, immediately tossing out several Ordinary-Peak tier Pokémon, but before Sato could even give a and, a surging wave of fire instantly roasted them.

  Insta!

  Of course—there were over a hundred Fire-type Pokémon gathered here.

  While they had been fined in cages earlier, making their strength seem negligible, now that they were free and uhe sheer terror of their presence was undeniable.

  "Awoo!"

  Houndour barked out another and, and all the Fire-type Pokémon sprang into a, surrounding Sato and his team as they charged toward the exit together.

  As Sato ran, a thought crossed his mind—perhaps he wouldn't eveo do mu this battle and could just slip away quietly.

  Meanwhile, the arms and fshing red lights tinued bring throughout the base, but the Pokémon force pushed fgressively.

  Every Team Rocket member they entered along the way became mere on fodder, pletely uo stop them.

  Before Sato even realized it, they had reached the base's exit—a staircase leading up to the surface y quietly ahead.

  However, standing in their way was Voya, the leader of the base. Beside her, a ales stared at Sato coldly, its ails fanned out arrogantly!

  Sensing the challenge, Zoroark stepped forward instinctively, fag off against its fellow fox Pokémon. The Illusion Fox and the Fire Fox—fmes and darkness cshed as both of their auras surged fiercely!

  "ales!"

  Finally, after holding back for some time, ales could no longer tain itself.

  With a powerful kick off the ground, it lunged forward—its ails didn't his speed at all, closing the distao Zoroark in an instant!

  Zoroark moved just as quickly.

  With greater explosive power and a body built for battle, Zoroark held the clear advantage in direbat against ales!

  As cws and fangs cshed head-on, Zoroark's dominance was undeniable—within moments, ales' body was riddled with wounds.

  "ales, stop using your tails so stubbornly!"

  Hearing the and, ales let out a relut cry but obeyed. Instead of using them as before, it now wielded its tails as its most powerful ons!

  When soft, the ails flowed like silk, creating mesmerizing illusions that bewildered oppos. When rigid, they spread out like a fan, capable of sending foes flying with a single powerful strike!

  Just moments ago, Zoroark had the upper hand, but now, it was struggling to keep up!

  Narrowing his eyes, Sato quickly anded, "Grab its tail and swing it!"

  "ales, be careful!"

  Too te!

  With a swift motion, Zoroark seized one of ales' tails and swung it violently like a spinning top!

  BAM!

  ales smashed into the ground with great forearly losing its breath from the impact. But in the moment, a bst of crimson fmes shot toward Zoroark!

  There was no time to think—Zoroark immediately released ales' tail, dodging the fmes.

  Turning its gaze, it saw a fiery red Pokemon standing in front of ales—Charmeleon, the Fire-type starter of the Kantion!

  "Larvitar, assist!" Sato ordered.

  At the same time, Houndour led the Fire-type brigade straight into battle against the ining Team Rocket reinforts.

  With Team Rocket now grouped together, the previous numerical advantage was gohe battle had reached a stalemate.

  At the ter of the chaos, the fight between Zoroark and ales raged on, but now with Charmeleon and Larvitar joining the fray!

  "The Dark Pokémon, Zoroark. A pseudo-legendary hatg, Larvitar. A Gengar and a Spinarak…"

  Holding peared to be a unication device, Voya slowly spoke Sato's identity aloud:

  "You're the Trainer causing trouble for Team Rocket in Goldenrod City—Sato!"

  "If you want a fight, the's fight! Larvitar, Rock Slide! Zoroark, Dark Pulse!"

  "ales, Fmethrower! Charmeleon, Drage!"

  "Fight as much as you like… but holy, I think you're quite impressive—why not bey subordinate?"

  "...""Gengar!"