Aakash POV
The journey through the zone passed quickly.
With perimeter teams clearing our route and Pidgeot providing aerial reconnaissance from above, we encountered very little resistance before reaching the core region where the unrest had originated. As we moved deeper into the zone, the signs of escalating aggression became increasingly obvious. Trees bore fresh scars from battles, the ground had been churned apart in multiple locations, and nervous groups of wild Pokémon could be seen retreating from areas they would normally inhabit.
When we finally reached the center of the zone, the situation became clear.
The core territory had effectively divided itself into three domains.
The western section belonged to a large Spearow flock, their nests filling the upper canopy while dozens of watchful eyes tracked every movement below.
The eastern section had become the territory of the Pinsir colony. Broken trees, overturned rocks, and deep gouges carved into the earth testified to the tremendous physical strength possessed by the beetle Pokémon.
At the center lay the territory of the Cyndaquil line. Even from a distance, waves of heat rolled outward from that area, and clusters of Cyndaquil and Quilava could be seen patrolling around the perimeter.
Three territories.
Three leaders.
Three Orange-ranked Pokémon.
Before we could even begin discussing our approach, the first battle erupted.
Pidgeot had continued circling overhead to maintain surveillance, and her presence immediately attracted the attention of the Orange-ranked Fearow.
A piercing cry echoed across the forest.
The massive bird launched itself upward from the tallest tree in the area with such force that bark exploded from the trunk beneath its talons. Its wings beat powerfully as it climbed toward the sky, accelerating with every second.
Above us, Pidgeot let out an answering cry.
The two birds met in midair.
The collision created a powerful gust that scattered leaves throughout the forest below while smaller Flying-type Pokémon fled in every direction.
Good.
One battlefield had already separated itself.
The moment our Rhyhorns came to a halt, I jumped down and released my Pokémon.
Primeape appeared first.
The moment he landed, his eyes locked onto the surrounding wild Pokémon, and I could practically feel his excitement. Ever since the Earth Liberation incident, he had been frustrated by his lack of opportunities to participate in meaningful battles.
Today, he finally had one.
Thwackey appeared next, twirling his sticks briefly before settling into a ready stance.
Finally, Pikachu landed lightly on the ground before surveying the battlefield with a focused expression.
Across from me, Apoorv and Rakesh released their own partners.
Prinplup appeared beside Apoorv with the confidence of a veteran soldier reporting for duty. Totodile emerged moments later and immediately began looking around excitedly for something to fight.
Charmeleon stepped forward beside Rakesh while Meowth stretched lazily, though the sharpness in his eyes made it clear that his apparent relaxation was entirely deceptive.
I quickly reviewed the battlefield one final time before issuing orders.
"As planned," I said.
Both nodded.
The Typhlosion represented the greatest threat in terms of raw destructive capability, but the combined strength of their teams, supported by the two Rhyhorn, would allow them to contain the situation until I could reinforce them.
I turned toward my Rhyhorn.
"You two go with them. Keep weaker Pokémon off their backs and intervene if the situation becomes dangerous."
The Rhyhorns snorted in agreement.
Apoorv and Rakesh mounted one of them while the second moved alongside as an escort.
Then they headed toward the central territory.
Meanwhile, I advanced toward the Pinsir domain.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The deeper we moved into the forest, the more aggressive the surrounding Pokémon became. Several Pinsir emerged from the undergrowth and charged without hesitation.
Primeape didn't wait for instructions.
He exploded forward.
His fist crashed into the nearest Pinsir with enough force to send it tumbling through several trees before it finally came to a stop.
At the same time, Thwackey darted through the battlefield with remarkable agility, his sticks striking repeatedly as he dismantled opponents through precise attacks rather than overwhelming force.
Pikachu remained behind them.
Exactly where I wanted him.
"Thunder Shock."
Electricity spread outward through the battlefield.
The attack wasn't intended to defeat opponents outright. Instead, it disrupted formations, slowed advancing Pokémon, and created openings for Primeape and Thwackey to exploit.
The strategy worked perfectly.
We continued pushing deeper into the territory, overcoming increasingly determined resistance as more Pinsir joined the battle.
Then the forest suddenly became quiet.
The ordinary Pinsir stopped attacking.
Primeape halted his advance.
Even Thwackey lowered his sticks slightly.
A pressure settled across the battlefield.
It was the kind of instinctive warning that every living creature understood.
Something stronger had arrived.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the forest.
One after another.
The ground trembled faintly beneath each step.
The ordinary Pinsir immediately retreated, clearing a path through the trees.
Then their leader emerged.
The Orange-ranked Pinsir was enormous.
It stood nearly twice as large as the others surrounding it, its body covered in battle scars accumulated through years of combat. The massive horns atop its head looked capable of splitting trees in half, while its powerful limbs tore deep impressions into the ground with every step.
The giant Pinsir let out a furious roar that echoed throughout the forest.
Primeape grinned.
Thwackey tightened his grip.
Pikachu's cheeks began sparking with electricity.
The real battle had finally begun.
Rakesh POV
The territory occupied by the Cyndaquil line felt completely different from the rest of the zone.
The air itself seemed warmer.
Despite the earlier rain, the ground remained dry in many places, and waves of heat occasionally shimmered above the earth. Burn marks covered several trees, while patches of blackened soil suggested that fire-based battles occurred here regularly.
The moment we entered the territory, groups of Cyndaquil and Quilava appeared from all directions.
The battle started immediately.
Prinplup established the front line with powerful Water Gun attacks that forced several opponents backward, while Totodile charged forward enthusiastically, treating the entire situation like the greatest adventure of his life.
Charmeleon met the advancing Quilava head-on, exchanging blows and bursts of flame with opponents that matched him closely in strength.
Meanwhile, Meowth moved through the battlefield like a shadow, appearing wherever he was least expected before disappearing again moments later.
Behind us, the two Rhyhorn formed an almost unbreakable defensive wall.
Any wild Pokémon attempting to flank our position found themselves facing several tons of charging muscle and armor.
For several minutes, everything progressed according to plan.
The wild Pokémon were aggressive, but manageable.
Then the atmosphere changed.
A low rumble echoed through the territory.
Every Pokémon froze.
The attacking Cyndaquil stopped moving.
The Quilava immediately backed away.
Even the Rhyhorns became alert.
Then came the roar.
The sound rolled across the territory like distant thunder.
Heat exploded outward from the center of the zone.
Nearby trees shook violently as waves of hot air swept through the battlefield.
The ordinary Fire-types immediately retreated, creating a clear path toward the inner territory.
And then—
It appeared.
The Typhlosion emerged from the heart of the territory with slow, deliberate steps.
It was enormous.
Far larger than any Typhlosion I had ever seen before.
Flames erupted from around its neck and back like a blazing mantle, while heat radiated from its body strongly enough that I could feel it even from a considerable distance.
Its eyes burned with fury.