Pokémon, Inkaros, my starter Pokémon

Pikachu had just used Quick Attack to knock away an Arbok, and before it could even catch its breath, a deadly sense of crisis suddenly descended upon it.

"Pickup?!"

Pikachu only had time to turn around before a dark shadow was already close behind!

Secret attack on key points!

"mound--!!"

Pikachu let out a painful scream as its small body was struck hard by a claw containing terrifying power. It flew backward like a kite with a broken string and crashed heavily at Ash's feet, leaving clear claw marks on its body. It struggled but could not get up for a while.

The difference in level and the terrifying attack power of the Weavile instantly rendered it powerless to fight.

"Pikachu!!"

Ash was heartbroken and immediately rushed forward, carefully picking up Pikachu.

Lance's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he ruthlessly ordered, "Take care of any troublesome creatures, including that Pikachu. No one is allowed to interfere with the plan!"

Upon receiving the command, Weavile blurred once more, transforming into a deadly black beam that shot directly towards Ash and Pikachu, who were crouching on the ground, completely unprepared!

Those gleaming claws aimed straight for their vital points!

"Ash! Get out of the way!!"

Xiaoxia and Xiaogang screamed in terror, but they were entangled by the other Team Rocket Pokémon and could not come to their rescue in time!

It looked like the claws were about to tear Ash and Pikachu apart!

At the critical moment...

A dark-colored Pokémon capsule, its surface shrouded in an ominous mist, appeared silently in front of Ash and suddenly opened!

A petite figure, radiating deep shadow energy, appeared instantly and hovered in mid-air.

Those huge sapphire eyes calmly watched the oncoming Mavila.

It was Cain!

Faced with Mannura's lightning-fast and deadly attack, Cain remained calm, his shadow energy surging around him like a living thing.

Shadow Shield!

A seemingly thin layer of dark energy shield instantly unfolded in front of Cain and Ash!

Mavira's claws, sharp enough to tear through steel, slammed into the shadow shield with a piercing whistling sound!

"puff----!!"

A dull thud sounded!

The anticipated scene of the shield shattering and flesh flying everywhere did not occur. The Weavile's invincible claws struck as if hitting the deepest void; all its power and killing intent were completely absorbed and vanished without a trace by the thin shadow shield!

Weavile remained frozen in mid-air, still in its attacking stance, its crimson eyes revealing disbelief and astonishment for the first time.

Its attack... was completely blocked?

Not even a ripple was stirred?!

The entire chaotic hall seemed to have been paused at that moment.

All eyes were focused in shock on the small yet incredibly powerful Shadow Pokémon that had suddenly appeared, and on the unmoving, absolute defensive shield in front of it!

"what happened?!"

Lance's composure was shattered for the first time as he stared in astonishment at how Mavira's seemingly certain strike was effortlessly neutralized by that eerie shadow shield.

The sudden appearance of that ominous Shadow Pokémon was completely unexpected.

Ash, Misty, and Brock were also stunned. Looking at Cain, which was floating in the air and had blocked the fatal attack with its small body, and Ash and Pikachu behind it who were unharmed, they were filled with relief and disbelief at surviving the disaster.

Just then, Tokito calmly walked out from the panicked crowd who instinctively made way for him and came to Cain's side, facing Lance from a distance.

"It's Mr. Tokito!!"

Xiaoxia and Shengdai exclaimed in surprise almost simultaneously.

"Are you okay?"

Tokito first looked down at Ash, who was holding Pikachu, and asked him with concern.

"I'm fine! Thank you, Mr. Tokito."

Xiao Zhi shook his head vigorously, his eyes rekindling with fighting spirit.

"It's good that you're alright." Shi Dou nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to the shadows beside him and whispered, "Hilda, continue, Sky Dance."

A green figure emerged from the shadows in the corner; it was Hilda, whom Tokito had secretly released earlier.

Without any hesitation, Hilda danced with a strange rhythm once more, her body radiating light, her attack and special attack power surging again, and an invisible pressure enveloped the Team Rocket Pokémon on the other side.

Tokito originally planned to wait for Hilda to quietly upgrade to the maximum level, stack up six layers of Sky Dance, don her fighting spirit for protection, and become her complete form before emerging to wipe out the entire field...

Unexpectedly, Ash, this hot-blooded young man, went straight for it...

Emmm...

Plans can't keep up with changes. Oh well, now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to take action.

Hilda has already used Sky Dance twice. If she does it again, along with her fighting spirit, she will be in her complete form!

Lance's sharp gaze was fixed on Shidou. This suddenly appearing trainer made him sense an unexpected variable in his plans, so he asked in a cold voice:

"who are you?"

Shi Dou patted non-existent dust off his shoulder and said casually:

"Me? Just a gym leader who's passing by."

"Gym Leader?"

Lance frowned, quickly sifting through the information of all the official Gym Leaders in the Kanto region in his mind, but he couldn't match up with Sabrina, Lt. Surge, Ajax, or anyone else.

“I know all the official Gym Leaders in the Kanto region, but there’s no one like you.”

Just then, Tatsumi, as if noticing something, quickly moved closer to Lance, pointed at Tokito, and said with a mixture of resentment and eagerness to claim credit:

"Lord Lance, it's him, the trainer I mentioned to you before, the one with the super rare unknown Pokémon... no, it seems he doesn't just have one, but three!"

As he spoke, Tatsumi's gaze swept over Barus, Hilda, and Cain.

Upon hearing this, Lance stared intently at the three Pokémon beside Tokito.

A powerful blue water-type Pokémon; a green scythe wielding its scythe-like arms, radiating the aura of a hunter, as it wields its power-up; and this little shadowy creature before us, using a strange shield to block Weavile's attack...

These three Pokémon were all outside his knowledge, and each of them emitted a unique and powerful energy fluctuation.

Lance's initial astonishment faded, replaced by a wicked smile of interest, as if he had discovered rare prey. He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with greed and a desire for conquest.

"Oh? Three...unknown rare Pokémon?"

"Hehe...haha...it seems...quite interesting."

"Kid, I'm curious. Where did you get these three...unprecedented Pokémon?"

"From distant space. Not of this world."

Shi Dou answered in a very serious manner.

"...Are you kidding me?"

Lance's facial muscles twitched; he felt his intelligence had been insulted.

A little elf from space?

Are you kidding me?

Do you think you're a meteorite Pokémon?

But Lance took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and instead extended an olive branch, even speaking with a hint of sincerity:

"Hehe, having personality is a good thing. Kid, I see you're quite capable and lucky to have acquired these rare partners. Interested in joining our Team Rocket?"

"Our Rockets team offers excellent benefits. We have a standard 9-to-6 job, weekends off, no overtime, five social insurances and one housing fund upon joining, a free new Pokémon, and even year-end bonuses, project profit sharing, paid annual leave, regular team building activities, Pokémon training subsidies... Our welfare system is much more comprehensive than that of the league."

Shi Dou was slightly taken aback.

Damn it!!

These benefits sound even better than those of regular companies in the league?!

There were indeed a few overworked trainers present, crushed by the realities of life. Upon hearing the words "9 to 6," "weekends off," and "five social insurances and one housing fund," their eyes glazed over for a moment, and a shameful wavering even stirred within them...

Shi Dou's lips twitched as he listened.

Holy crap, the Rockets' benefits are just too good!

Very meow!

The League should really reflect on this and improve the benefits for Gym Leaders! This unofficial Gym Leader only gets a base salary of 3000 League Coins a month!

There's not even any insurance or health insurance!

Moreover, they have to fight like madmen against Natsumi; only by winning can they become official members.

Is that easy?!

What a miserable life!

Although his heart was screaming with rage, Tokito outwardly shook his head repeatedly, righteously refusing:

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. I cannot agree to that."

Lance's face showed an expression of extreme regret.

"That's such a pity. You missed out on a fortune. Since you can't be our partner, then... we, Team Rocket, will gladly accept your rare and powerful Pokémon!"

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P.S.: Here comes 20,000 words! Please subscribe and vote!

Chapter 55 Cain's Shadow Shield, even your grandpa Gaia can't break it! (2.5 words)

Lance pointed sharply at Hilda, who was undergoing enhancement, noticing that this strange, never-before-seen mantis was constantly increasing in power and was likely the greatest threat. He quickly gave the order:

"Mavira, take care of that strange mantis first, then ambush its vitals!"

"Mavila~"

Mallow nodded, then transformed into a shadow, revealing sharp white claws, and lunged straight at Hilda.

"Hilda, jump behind Cain," Tokito calmly commanded.

Hilda immediately stopped dancing, nimbly leaping backward and landing precisely behind Cain.

"Hmph, does dodging work? Mammalian, use Ice Pillar Slam!"

Lance sneered, thinking that Shidou wanted to use Hilda as a shield.

Mavira leaped into the air, conjuring several sharp ice pillars that slammed down with a whistling sound towards the area where Hilda and Cain were located.

However, just as the icicle was about to hit...

Shadow Shield!

The dark energy shield that had been invisibly activated silently once again unfolded, like a wall of sighs blocking his way.

"Puff puff……"

The moment the icicles touched the Shadow Shield, all the impact and chill were instantly absorbed and annihilated by the thin layer of shadow, not even a single shard of ice managed to get in.

"What?! Even a 'protective' technique can't possibly block attacks continuously without any gaps!!" Lance's composure vanished completely, and he gritted his teeth, speaking angrily.

Looking at his incredulous expression, Shi Tou said in a tone that was tinged with pity and mockery:

"So you're just a country bumpkin. Rare elves have unique rare skills, don't you even know this basic common sense???"

"you……!"

Lance was so enraged by the word "country bumpkin" that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his handsome face became somewhat distorted.

Lance, one of the Rockets' four key executives, had never suffered such humiliation, especially in the area where he was most confident in his strength!

"Damn it! Mavila, strengthen yourself with Sword Dance. Then, with your strongest power, tear that shield apart!"