Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

The holographic projection of Giovanni materialized before the three figures standing at attention.

"Leader." Aoki, Dark, and Shadow spoke in unison, their voices respectful yet firm.

Now holding the rank of executive within Team Rocket, Aoki no longer needed to kneel in deference as per Giovanni's decree. The privilege marked his elevated status, though he maintained the same disciplined posture as his companions.

Giovanni's piercing gaze swept over them, his fingers idly stroking the Persian resting beside him. Silence stretched as he observed the three test tubes laid before them—proof they had secured the genetic samples of the legendary avian trio. Yet his momentary pause stemmed from the absence of a fourth member.

"Excellent work," Giovanni finally remarked, his voice measured.

The trio relaxed marginally at his approval.

"Where is Rocks?" Giovanni inquired.

Aoki exchanged glances with Dark and Shadow before stepping forward to deliver his report. His account mirrored the explanation he had given his them earlier—the clandestine objectives of Brownis and Rocks, Lugia's sudden emergence, and their subsequent demise.

Giovanni absorbed the details with a slow nod, his expression unreadable. Like Shadow and Dark, he chose not to press for further elaboration.

"Understood. Return with the specimens. For now, Brownis' status remains undisclosed," Giovanni instructed.

"Yes, sir!"

"Leader," Aoki interjected respectfully, "I request permission to remain on the island for additional training. The environment is ideal for several of my Pokémon. I will rejoin Team Rocket's operations once their development is complete."

Gioshi's eyes lingered on Aoki before he granted a curt nod. "Minor decisions are yours to make. No need for exhaustive reporting."

With that, the transmission dissolved into static.

Aoki turned to Dark and Shadow with a faint smile. "I'll leave the delivery to you both. I have preparations to attend to here."

Shadow responded with a knowing smirk. No further words were necessary—Giovanni's tacit approval spoke volumes.

Though their primary mission had been accomplished flawlessly, Aoki's unsanctioned objective had yielded even greater dividends. The Jinchuan faction had been dealt a crippling blow with the loss of its two strongest enforcers, destabilizing their influence within Team Rocket's political landscape. Dark and Shadow recognized the urgency of capitalizing on this vulnerability. If remnants of the Jinchuan loyalists made any misstep now, Giovanni's retribution would be swift and absolute.

The boss of Team Rocket was not known for mercy.

Without hesitation, Aoki exited the control room and returned to the untamed wilderness of the Three Isle. Despite the lingering frenzy among the wild Pokémon, none attack him—Lugia's decree ensured his safety.

"Impressive. Its authority holds even now," Aoki mused.

He released four Poké Balls in quick succession, summoning Pupitar, Aggron, Blaziken, and Politoed. The island's high-level wild Pokémon provided ideal sparring partners.

Aoki noted that while the creatures wouldn't initiate combat, they retaliated fiercely when provoked. The ecosystem here had sustained the legendary birds and even Lugia—its secrets warranted investigation. His stay wasn't solely for training; he intended to unravel the island's mysteries.

That day, Team Rocket personnel evacuated via aerial transports while others descended to retrieve survivors. The island buzzed with activity until midnight, when the wild Pokémon finally stilled. Whether all operatives had escaped or been eliminated remained unclear, but silence soon reclaimed the land.

The sky fortress departed without fanfare.

Only Aoki remained.

Two Weeks Later

Aoki stood once more within Team Rocket's Viridian City stronghold.

Fourteen days of exploration had yielded no breakthroughs regarding the island's secrets, but his Pokémon had grown exponentially.

Initially, Pupitar and Aggron had shouldered the bulk of training. Once they plateaued, Aoki cycled in Bagon, Ralts, Seadra, and Carbink. Though their level gains were modest—Bagon and Seadra now at 24, Ralts at 19, Carbink at 32—their foundational skills had sharpened considerably.

The true progress belonged to his core team. Pupitar and Aggron now stood at level 49, teetering on the brink of the Elite tier. Blaziken and Politoed had breached the threshold, reaching level 52 and closing the gap with Swampert, who later joined the regimen.

With three pseudo-Champion-tier and two Elite-tier Pokemon, Aoki's squad dominated the island's hierarchy.

He departed only when Pupitar hit level 49. Evolution loomed—six levels shy of its final form. Aoki refused to rush this pivotal transition. As a pupal-stage Pokémon, Pupitar's current state was less about combat efficacy and more about energy accumulation. Wild specimens burrowed underground for years, absorbing terrestrial energy to optimize their metamorphosis.

Through relentless battle, Aoki had accelerated this process, but the fundamental principle remained: greater accumulation now meant greater power later. His ambitions for Pupitar—soon to be Tyranitar—demanded meticulous preparation. The Mega Stone waiting in his arsenal would elevate it to unprecedented heights, surpassing even Swampert.

Patience was paramount.

Now, back at headquarters, Aoki would convert his 100-million Pokécoin share into specialized resources to fuel Pupitar's ascension. But first, Giovanni awaited his debrief.