Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

Salamence's injury made Drake realize this fight might not be as straightforward as he'd hoped.

Still, a single setback didn't mean the battle had shifted in Luo Yuan's favor.

"Altaria, Dragon Breath!"

"Salamence, Dragon Pulse!"

Altaria supported, while Salamence led the charge, the two Pokémon synchronizing their attacks perfectly.

With both pressing the offensive, Dragapult couldn't afford to take any risks and had to swiftly dodge in mid-air.

"Now that's more like it!"

Drake's apprentices watching from the sidelines breathed a sigh of relief.

Sure, there'd been a minor setback, but the advantage still lay with their teacher.

"Going one-on-two is pushing it, and there's barely enough room to maneuver," Luo Yuan thought, directing Dragapult's evasive maneuvers as he assessed the situation.

Drake's Altaria and Salamence were coordinating expertly, leaving Dragapult little opportunity to counter.

Taking advantage of the openings as Dragapult dodged, Altaria even began to set up a Dragon Dance!

Luo Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Enough was enough.

If Altaria was allowed to keep building strength through Dragon Dance, there was no telling how powerful it would become.

"Alright then..."

Luo Yuan's gaze flicked to a corner of the deck, and he signaled with a quick gesture. "Go!"

Drake frowned, catching the odd movement.

"What?"

The next moment, a Gengar materialized from a shadow behind him, a wicked grin stretching across its face as it launched a Shadow Ball straight at Drake!

One of the simplest ways to win? Knock out the opposing trainer.

"Master!"

Drake's students spotted the Gengar, shouting a warning.

Drake sensed the danger immediately, rolling to the ground without a second thought as the Shadow Ball hurtled past, grazing him.

Boom!

The wooden deck splintered under the blast, sending shrapnel flying.

A cold sweat broke out on Drake's forehead.

Now he understood what Luo Yuan's signal had meant.

If that hit had landed, he'd be looking at weeks in the hospital—at best.

Disappointed his attack missed, Gengar frowned.

But it didn't launch a second Shadow Ball, as Altaria had immediately ceased its Dragon Dance and taken to the air, furious at the threat to its trainer.

"Altaria!"

With a piercing cry, Altaria streaked through the air with Aerial Ace, diving toward Gengar at an incredible speed, the residual energy of Dragon Dance leaving only a blue-white blur in its wake.

Yet Gengar wasn't fazed at all; in fact, it grinned wider.

"Gengar~!"

With a wave of its stubby arms, two shadowy claws emerged from the ground, reaching up to intercept Altaria.

Refusing to be intimidated, Altaria only accelerated, determined to power through Shadow Claw.

It was a mistake.

The first claw broke under Altaria's force, but by the time it reached the second, Aerial Ace's momentum had waned. The second claw held firm, halting Altaria in its tracks.

"Heh-heh!"

Gengar cackled as it clenched its fists.

The spectral claws followed suit, gripping Altaria's feathers to hold it in place.

"Altaria, use Agility to break free!" Drake called, sensing imminent danger.

Altaria instantly obeyed, pulling away with a burst of speed.

It was the right choice.

Moments later, another Shadow Ball whizzed past where Altaria had just been.

One second slower, and it would've taken a direct hit—and the results would have been devastating.

---

While Altaria narrowly evaded Gengar's critical Shadow Ball, the distraction was all Luo Yuan needed on his end to seize an opening.

"Dragapult, Phantom Force!"

Seizing the moment as Salamence's attack missed, Luo Yuan commanded Dragapult, then leapt off its back and landed on the deck.

Dragapult nodded, letting out a fierce cry as it rocketed skyward, vanishing into another dimension as it dive-bombed back down.

Alert, Salamence warily scanned the area, searching for Dragapult's whereabouts.

It never expected Dragapult to reappear from a shadowy portal at its side, launching a full-body tackle that sent Salamence flying.

Salamence crashed through the deck's railing, tumbling into the sea below.

"..."

Drake's apprentices, watching the fierce battle from a safe distance, could only exchange helpless glances. They were utterly outclassed, unable to do anything but stand by.

By this point, the battle had escalated beyond anything Drake had anticipated.

He'd expected to face Team Flare. But then Team Rocket had ambushed him, catching him off guard.

Just as he adjusted to Team Rocket's presence, "The Tech Hunter" had shown up out of nowhere.

Now...

Drake looked around, realizing that his position was steadily weakening, and his brow furrowed in frustration.

"Two Elite-level Ghost-types... Just who is this guy?"

Drake could count the number of Ghost-Type Elites on one hand—and none of them were men.

Instinctively, he reached for the remaining Poké Balls on his belt.

He still had Flygon and Kingdra in reserve.

But could bringing them out secure a swift victory?

After all, his enemies didn't consist of the Tech Hunter alone.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the sound of footsteps grew louder. At that moment, Team Rocket, led by Sabrina, emerged from the cabin and cut off any chance of retreat.

Drake's heart sank.

The worst-case scenario had come to pass, and the situation had spiraled into his biggest fear.

If Team Rocket had made it to the deck, that meant they'd defeated every League trainer inside.

Now, Drake was caught between the Tech Hunter, a notorious thorn in Hoenn's side, and the dominant force of Kanto's underworld, Team Rocket.

And a more troubling thought nagged at him—the timing of the Tech Hunter and Team Rocket's assault was suspiciously close. Could they be working together?

"Maybe... Maybe I should call for backup from the Kanto League..."

Drake was beginning to realize he might not have a choice.