Although the northern barbarians had long disappeared from the stage of history, their descendants had not vanished. Instead, they migrated south and settled in cities near Rota, becoming part of the local population.
Even after integrating into the League's society, the northern remnants never abandoned their pursuit of Mew and the Tree of Beginning.
To control Mew and the Tree of Beginning meant dominating the world, restoring their former glory, and reclaiming the power they once had.
This was their dream and ambition. To achieve it, they did not hesitate to ally with Team Rocket. Unlike ordinary trainers, the northern remnants were highly trained warriors, which led Giovanni to establish a Northern Division of Team Rocket to manage them.
Such a barren northern land required immense effort to cultivate an elite force, and Giovanni had invested a great deal of resources to make it happen.
During the Mewtwo Project, it was the Northern Division that provided key historical documents and Mew's genetic samples, enabling Giovanni to complete his "God-Creation" plan. As a result, he had long placed great trust in the Northern Rocket Division.
Originally, Team Rocket had no leads on the Tree of Beginning. But Klein's arrival changed that.
The Northern Headquarters locked onto the region, and a large-scale deployment of Rocket forces was initiated—all heading toward the Tree of Beginning.
Inside a massive power plant in the north, a middle-aged man with gray hair stared fanatically at the map displaying the Tree of Beginning's location.
"Mew… I've finally found you!"
This man was Blade, leader of the Northern Rocket Division, and the strongest warrior of the northern remnants. Years ago, it was he who had pushed for their alliance with Team Rocket, allowing the remnants to rise again, hidden under the organization's banner.
Though they operated under Team Rocket, the resources and support they received were real. Now that Mew had been located, Blade's ambitions swelled.
Without waiting for Giovanni's orders, he mobilized the entire Northern Rocket Division.
Across the thirty-four Rocket bases spread throughout the north, small teams were stationed, each ready to move out. With the full might of the Northern Division, their actions quickly alerted the Kanto League.
At Silph Co., Giovanni was discussing the next phase of Team Rocket's Orange Archipelago expansion plan with his executives when he suddenly received word of the northern mobilization.
His expression darkened.
"That area… isn't Sandstorm Elite Klein currently in Rota for a gym assessment?"
A massive Team Rocket operation would inevitably draw the League's attention.
And the nearest Elite Trainer?
Klein.
This was bad.
Blade… just what the hell are you planning?
Giovanni barely had time to step out of his office before the Kanto League reacted with lightning speed.
An emergency order was issued—commanding the gyms and trainers from six cities near Rota, as well as all League investigation squads stationed at Pokémon Centers, to fully mobilize and intercept Team Rocket's forces.
While the League had no clear intel on what Team Rocket was after, there was no way they would allow them to operate freely in such a sensitive area.
"Sir! Our vanguard team seems to have been attacked by an unknown Pokémon!"
"Oh?"
Blade was surprised. He hadn't expected the League's forces to respond this quickly.
At this stage, they were supposed to be mobilizing, not engaging in battle.
Or perhaps—
Someone else was already interfering at the Tree of Beginning?
"Tsk. These League-bred trainers are really starting to get in the way."
"But they've made a mistake—this is the North."
"And the North belongs to us."
—
At the Tree of Beginning's outer perimeter, the battle had already begun.
Klein's Nidoking and Tyranitar worked in tandem, hurling massive boulders that rained down on the invading Rocket squads. Meanwhile, the Tree of Beginning's defensive mechanisms activated, sending energy-based Pokémon avatars to intercept the intruders.
Though some Rocket operatives were taken down, many others continued their advance, launching counterattacks against Klein's Ground-types.
A Golbat shrieked, unleashing a piercing Supersonic wave, trying to disorient Tyranitar.
But from a distance, Swampert fired a powerful Hydro Pump, blasting Golbat out of the sky.
More Rocket Pokémon surged forward—Klein's Scizor responded instantly, firing off Bullet Punches to intercept them.
Nidoking and Tyranitar followed up with Earthquake, shaking the battlefield.
Above them, Delphox hovered in the air, using psychic senses to coordinate the defense.
Yet the sheer number of enemies was a problem.
Unlike the usual grunts Klein had faced before, these Rocket operatives were far stronger.
This attack wasn't just a raid.
It was an invasion.
The intensity of the Rocket offensive forced even the wild Pokémon to flee. Some were captured on the spot, immediately forced into battle against their will.
Mew's expression darkened.
It had never liked Team Rocket, especially after the New Island experiments.
Now, seeing them ravage the Tree of Beginning's surroundings, even Mew's usual gentle temperament cracked.
Noticing its growing anger, Klein gently pinched Mew's cheek, trying to calm it down.
Mew immediately flushed red and buried itself in Klein's arms, too embarrassed to come out.
"Mew, I need your help."
"Can you turn into Groudon again?"
Now that Klein had awakened basic psychic abilities, communication with Mew had become far smoother.
Mew peeked out of Klein's arms and nodded.
Floating into the air, its body glowed brightly, preparing for transformation.
Unlike Ditto, which struggled to copy Legendary Pokémon, Mew's Transform ability was flawless—able to perfectly replicate even Ho-Oh in the original movie.
In contrast to Ditto, Mew was a natural shapeshifter.
Although it rarely trained in battle, it retained the abilities and skills of every Pokémon it had ever transformed into.
A bright light flashed.
When it faded—
A colossal Pokémon loomed over the battlefield.
Its crimson, armor-like skin gleamed in the sunlight, lined with gray underscales.
Jagged spikes extended from its head, back, and tail, exuding unmatched dominance.
Each hand bore four sharp claws, and its tail resembled the blades of an excavator, its footprints scorching the earth beneath it.
And from the seams of its massive body, faint blue spikes pulsed, reacting to the energy of the land.
A fully-transformed Groudon now stood upon the battlefield.
The sight alone was enough to send the invading Rockets into a panic.
Some froze in place, their bodies unable to move.
Others instinctively began regrouping, realizing this battle had just escalated beyond their expectations.
Above them, Delphox gathered its Will-O-Wisp into an array of floating flames.
One by one, the flames sank into the Rocket squads, rendering them unconscious.
With the first wave of enemies down, Klein knew there was no time to waste.
More reinforcements would arrive soon.
Rather than sit here and let the next wave surround them, Klein chose the best strategy—
Attack first.
Destroy Team Rocket's Northern Headquarters.
The earth trembled.
A dazzling light illuminated the barren northern lands.
Under Klein's command, Mew—now Groudon—marched forward.
A titan of unstoppable destruction, heading straight for the heart of Team Rocket's forces.