Under the teleportation of Slowking, Aoki returned to the backyard of Verdanturf Town.
With a cold face, he didn't speak.
Seeing Aoki's expression, the Pokémon who were training were a little frightened. Only Honchkrow and the others, who were more familiar with Aoki, sensed the anger burning within him.
Honchkrow, Weavile, and Drapion approached Aoki cautiously.
Aoki released Aron and the others, allowing them to stay in the backyard for the time being, then took out his Pokéballs and recalled the three of them.
"Since they want to use psychic-type Pokémon against me, then I'll show them just how little I fear psychic powers!" Aoki thought.
He exchanged a glance with Slowking, who nodded in confirmation—ready for battle.
Then, Aoki and Slowking vanished from the courtyard once more, leaving Aron and the others bewildered, completely unaware of what was happening.
In the forest, the Team Rocket member had just dialed Furukai's communicator when a lively voice crackled through.
"Sox—"
But before he could finish speaking, the Hypno beside Sox tugged at his sleeve, signaling that the Trainer who had just left had returned.
Under Sox's stunned gaze, the cold-faced Aoki and Slowking reappeared in a ripple of distorted space.
"I heard someone plans to use psychic-types against me?"
Sox's expression was no longer relaxed. Now that he knew Slowking had reached Quasi-Champion level, it was clear his Hypno stood no chance. And Aoki's return could only mean one thing—he was ready for a fight.
Snapping the communicator shut, he had no time to explain to Furukai.
With a flick of his wrist, several Pokéballs burst open, releasing five more Pokémon alongside his Hypno.
Now, six Pokémon stood at his side: Hypno, Victreebel, Weezing, Arbok, Koffing, and Houndoom—a formidable Team Rocket lineup, each Pokémon at least Elite-tier in strength.
Aoki, in turn, summoned his own team: Honchkrow, Weavile, Drapion, and Gengar, plus the Floette perched on his shoulder—six Pokémon in total, all Elite-level or higher.
Although Slowking was pseudo-champion tier, the rest of Aoki's team were Elite-tier, with Floette just breaking into the lower Elite ranks. Though his top strength surpassed Sox's, their average power was nearly matched.
The battle erupted instantly.
Aoki's eyes shimmered with a faint blue glow as his Telepathy activated, linking his entire team in seamless communication.
No words were exchanged. They moved as one.
Drapion flexed its massive pincers and raised its hooked tail, striding forward with arrogant confidence—the sole frontline fighter of Aoki's team.
Weavile darted nimbly into the trees to the right, blending into the shadows. The Never-Melt Ice it carried amplified its Ice-type moves to terrifying levels.
Honchkrow let out a piercing "Caw!" as a swirling gust of wind enveloped Aoki's team in a protective breeze. With a powerful flap of its wings, it ascended, maintaining aerial dominance.
Slowking hovered five centimeters above the ground, psychic energy radiating outward, distorting the air with faint pink sparks. Its eyes gleamed with an eerie, knowing light.
Floette, perched on Aoki's shoulder, waved its flower, its body shimmering green as it shifted to a Grass-type.
Gengar melted halfway into the ground, its form flickering between the forest's shifting shadows.
Sox's face tightened. Aoki's seamless coordination was alarming.
"This won't be easy," he thought grimly.
But he refused to show hesitation. His Pokémon weren't pushovers.
Hypno stood beside him, its pendulum swinging rhythmically as psychic energy encased them both.
While Aoki commanded through Telepathy, Sox relied on Hypno's Hypnosis to relay orders—slower than direct psychic link, but far faster than shouting.
Arbok, Koffing, and Houndoom lunged forward, targeting the smug Drapion at the front.
Arbok slithered fastest, Houndoom close behind, while Koffing lagged slightly, its bulkier form less agile.
Weezing floated upward, locking onto Honchkrow, while Victreebel remained rooted, tiny tendrils burrowing into the earth beneath it.
Sox stayed between Victreebel and Hypno, wary of Aoki's hidden Gengar and the darting Weavile. The oppressive tension made it hard to breathe.
Then—
Clash!
The battle ignited the moment Arbok collided with Drapion.
Arbok's Iron Tail, fueled by momentum, should have sent Drapion reeling—but the brute didn't budge. Instead, Drapion's pincer clamped down, halting Arbok mid-strike.
Before Arbok could react, Drapion's Fire Fang crunched down on its spine.
Houndoom, seeing Arbok's struggle, accelerated, flames gathering in its maw. Unable to risk a ranged attack without hitting Arbok, it lunged, fangs blazing with Fire Fang.
But Drapion ignored it, tightening its grip on Arbok.
Just as Houndoom's fangs neared Drapion's exoskeleton—
Psychic!
An invisible shockwave blasted Houndoom backward. The flames in its throat snuffed out, searing its insides as it crashed into the dirt.
Koffing, rushing past the downed Houndoom, aimed its Poison Jab at Drapion—only for a shadow to drop from above.
Honchkrow's Dark Pulse slammed into Koffing, sending it spiraling.
The battle had only just begun.