Pokemon: Sandstorm Elite

Investigating these people by checking the origins of their Pokémon from their Poké Balls was, in a sense, a breach of this world's ethical boundaries. However, in terms of effectiveness, Klein's method was undeniably swift in verifying their true identities.

According to prior unspoken agreements, these intelligence operatives were not originally on the League's target list. However, Klein's actions had clearly enraged them. Just as Gengar lunged at Klein to attack, a sudden crimson light shot out from the shadows, piercing straight through Gengar's body.

"Attacking a League Elite publicly—you are beyond redemption."

At some point, Klein had activated the camera on his gear, capturing the six operatives' assault as evidence.

The intelligence agents were furious. Klein's tone was light, but the unsettling feeling he exuded only deepened their killing intent. Yet Klein remained indifferent.

A simple performance wouldn't be enough to shake the League's upper ranks. Only by capturing a few "big fish" could he draw greater attention to his true objective.

A massive sandstorm erupted, rolling forward like a tidal wave. Tyranitar, having activated Dragon Dance, moved in perfect sync with the mysterious assassin lurking in the shadows—the same one who had taken Gengar down in a single strike. Their coordination was flawless, forcing the six Rocket members into a standoff.

"Rapidash, use Sunny Day!"

"Dewgong, use Rain Dance!"

The Rocket operatives were no amateurs. After a brief moment of shock, they launched a counterattack. Two of them released their Pokémon, manipulating the weather to counter Tyranitar's sandstorm control.

Simultaneously, sunlight and rain clashed on either side, pushing against the raging sandstorm. It seemed the blockade was about to be broken—until an immense surge of energy from the shadows intensified the sandstorm once again.

What's going on?

Why didn't the weather shift work?

Before they could think further, countless grains of sand hardened into bullets, firing at blinding speed. The relentless barrage struck Rapidash and Dewgong before they could react, leaving them heavily injured. The sand bullets didn't stop there; they continued their assault toward the six operatives.

The green-haired woman leading the group narrowly dodged the attack, gritting her teeth as she glared at the enigmatic Sandstorm Elite before her. "Release all your Pokémon! We have to break through!"

Impressive agility—she had managed to evade Tyranitar's sandstorm attack after six Dragon Dance boosts.

Following her command, the remaining five agents reacted swiftly, unleashing their Pokémon in rapid succession. Various elemental attacks erupted in an attempt to dissipate the massive sandstorm domain, but their efforts were futile. From the shadows, streaks of red light continuously struck, knocking out several Pokémon and robbing them of their combat ability.

As the strongest among the six, the green-haired woman quickly sensed something was amiss. After several observations, she finally realized the truth.

"So despicable! He's using multiple hidden Pokémon in conjunction with Tyranitar's Sandstorm!"

It was clear that the overwhelming sandstorm wasn't just the result of Tyranitar's Sand Stream ability—it was being sustained by multiple Pokémon working together!

Does this guy even have the dignity of a real trainer? His tactics are completely ruthless!

As the battle dragged on, the green-haired woman attempted to deploy aerial drones to scan the surroundings, but each one was systematically destroyed.

In reality, Klein had stationed over twenty Ground-type Pokémon throughout the battlefield, many of which had been strengthened with stat-boosting moves. Among them, a red shadow moved at terrifying speed—the same entity that had taken down Gengar earlier.

"I'm just one person, while there are six of you with dozens of Pokémon. A direct battle would be too much trouble. That's why, as we traveled here, I was already planning my approach. When I used the sandstorm to obscure your vision earlier, I completed my battlefield setup."

A force of sandstorm-adapted Pokémon—perhaps not the most destructive combination, but certainly the best for battlefield control.

While the Rocket operatives struggled to counter his strategy, Klein calmly equipped a sleek pair of data-linked visor glasses and strapped on a specialized hovering device.

With a powerful burst of electromagnetic energy, Klein's body slowly lifted into the air. Surveying his enemies below, he issued a single command.

The entire Mt. Moon trembled violently.

Eight Pokémon simultaneously unleashed Earthquake, sending shockwaves surging toward the Rocket members from all directions.

"Pidgeot!"

The green-haired woman swiftly deployed a specialized emergency escape device, grabbing hold of a wild Pidgeot to flee the disaster zone. However, her teammates weren't as fortunate. The indiscriminate Earthquake attack was devastating—within less than a minute, the ground boiled like a cauldron, shaking with relentless force.

The location where Klein stood had been carefully chosen. Several hours earlier, he had scouted Mt. Moon, mapping out the terrain to select the perfect battleground for trapping the Rocket agents.

Under the relentless seismic onslaught, magma surged from the fractured earth. The terrifying chain-reaction trap devoured several Rocket Pokémon, and two of the operatives were consumed as well.

The sheer scale of the attack caught the attention of League members stationed nearby. Journalists who had come expecting a routine raid suddenly found themselves capturing the most shocking footage of their careers.

One section of Mt. Moon looked as if it had completely collapsed. Had the Rocket team uncovered some horrifying secret, prompting them to launch a desperate counterattack?

Reporters who had initially considered this a low-priority story were now fully alert, aiming their cameras at the battleground between Klein and the Rocket operatives.

Online, live news feeds focused on Mt. Moon. The massive Earthquake attack, combined with the sight of molten lava, sent the story's popularity soaring. The cameras eventually zoomed in on Klein, floating mid-air as he orchestrated the battle.

"Wait… was that Earthquake just now caused by the Sandstorm Elite?"

"This is insane! Does he have that legendary Pokémon from Hoenn? Otherwise, how could he create such destruction?"

Compared to the reporters' speculation, Bruno—who had also arrived at the scene—felt a different reaction altogether.

This kid… he really went overboard this time.

"Mr. Bruno, can you tell us what's happening? Was Team Rocket conducting some kind of horrifying experiment in Mt. Moon?"

"Ahem… that's classified information."

Bruno gave a sheepish laugh, revealing nothing. Truthfully, he himself wasn't entirely sure what had transpired. While the reporters pressed for answers, the tremors in the distance gradually subsided.

The battlefield lay in utter ruin. Not a single sound remained—the battle had ended completely.

Emotionless, Klein surveyed the destruction. There was no joy, no guilt, no cruelty—his heart remained tranquil, as if none of this concerned him at all.

With the fight concluded, Klein's hidden Pokémon retreated into their Poké Balls to rest.

"You… you're a demon."

The green-haired woman's trembling voice broke the silence.

At last, Klein's expression changed. Years of instinct took over—he spun in place, releasing a Poké Ball in a single fluid motion. The crimson flash of Scizor emerged at lightning speed, appearing before the woman in an instant.

The green-haired woman, too weak to resist, watched as the Scizor closed in, despair flooding her eyes.

For a brief moment, Klein hallucinated—her face overlapping with Rosa's in his mind. His hesitation transmitted to Scizor, and just as its claws neared her throat, the attack stopped.

"Finish it."

Snapping back to reality, Klein issued the command once more, but the attack failed to execute.

Before he could react, Rocket reinforcements arrived. A Psychic-type Pokémon materialized, whisking away the only surviving agent with Teleport.

"Sandstorm Elite Klein… Team Rocket will remember you."

(End of Chapter)