"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Keep it up, Golduck!"
"Continue using Slash!"
…
Inside the stone pit, everyone continued digging enthusiastically.
Suddenly, a Persian's claw broke through the outermost layer of rock and extended inward.
It was hollow!
"Meow?"
The Persian poked around with its paw in confusion. It really was hollow, and there was nothing inside.
"Huh?"
"How is the giant Lunatone hollow inside?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
Soon, others digging in different directions discovered the same thing and began asking in confusion.
"Heycha~"
At that moment, a Golem's Growl echoed from the hollow interior.
The Golem looked up at the light it had not seen in years, confusion flashing across its eyes. From its senses, none of these people belonged to the Wu Neng Family.
"Roar!"
Its gaze suddenly sharpened as it remembered its mission.
As the Pokémon of the previous-generation Gym Leader, after its Trainer's death, it had been ordered to remain hidden within this artificially created giant Lunatone.
One reason was to allow it to slowly advance to Elite Four level and beyond.
The second reason was to serve as a final means of mutual destruction.
"When someone breaks through the surface of the giant Lunatone from the outside, Golem, if you sense the bloodline of our Wu Neng Family, obey them temporarily and help drive away the invaders.
"If not, self-destruct with all your power. If enemies can reach this place, then our Wu Neng Family must already be facing a great crisis. Kill as many enemies as possible!"
The Golem seemed to hear its Trainer's final words once again.
Determination filled its eyes.
The energy within its body began to surge wildly.
Instantly, an aura far beyond Gym Leader level spread throughout the cave.
Over the countless years, protected within the giant Lunatone, it had successfully reached Elite Four level through sheer accumulation of time.
"Not good! Everyone scatter! Defend yourselves!"
Sensing the impending Elite Four-level self-destruction, Sabrina immediately shouted.
At the same time, she released all of her Pokémon and had them jointly create a Psychic Barrier.
Unfortunately, everyone else reacted too slowly.
Or rather, they were simply too close.
Even if they immediately erected barriers, how could Elite-level Trainers withstand an Elite Four-level self-destruction at such close range?
"BOOM!"
A terrifying wave of energy erupted outward from the Lunatone pit.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Ahhh!"
"No!"
The Elite-level Trainers closest to the explosion had their barriers shattered instantly.
They were completely vaporized by the overwhelming energy.
"Ah!"
Icarus bit down hard on his tongue.
The intense pain helped him regain partial control of his body.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the unconscious Airi and Stone from the ground and dragged them behind Sabrina.
"Crack! Crack!"
Sabrina had no time to pay attention to a few insignificant Trainers.
She focused entirely on maintaining the Psychic Barrier.
Yet after only a few seconds, cracks began spreading across the barrier's surface.
And this was only the initial impact.
"Ahhhh!"
Sabrina screamed as she poured every ounce of her mental power into the barrier.
Even the mental energy she used to maintain her illusionary disguise was redirected into it.
She didn't want to die.
She couldn't die.
At that moment, inside another stone chamber, an elderly man and a young man sensed the enormous energy fluctuations coming from nearby.
"Xiao Gang, remember this well.
"A cunning rabbit has three burrows.
"Even though our Wu Neng Family temporarily lacks an Elite-level Trainer, this is not a place where any Gym Leader-level thief can simply walk in!"
The white-bearded old man used the opportunity to instruct the brown-skinned, squinty-eyed youth beside him.
"I understand, Grandpa.
"But wasn't a quarter of the giant Lunatone destroyed? And we also lost the Elite Four-level Golem that Great-Grandpa left behind."
Regret appeared on the young man's resolute face.
"Don't worry.
"As long as the core of the giant Lunatone remains, it can regenerate within a few hundred years.
"If necessary, we could even sacrifice several mountain ranges and use their core spirit minerals as nourishment. Then it wouldn't even take a hundred years.
"As for Golem… that was its own choice.
"It burned away not only its power, but also its life.
"It probably wants to see its Trainer again."
Hearing his grandson's regretful words, the old man patted his head and explained.
However, when speaking of Golem, sadness inevitably appeared in his eyes.
He still remembered playing with Golem when he was a child.
He had never expected that after so many years, their reunion would be a final farewell.
Back in the stone pit—
Unable to withstand the self-destruction of an Elite Four-level Pokémon burning its own life force, even Sabrina eventually reached her limit.
"Crack!"
The blue Psychic Barrier shattered completely.
A blinding white wave of energy engulfed the entire cavern.
Amid the destruction, a faint Growl could still be heard.
"Heycha~"
"Master, I have completed your final command.
"I am coming to accompany you now."
At that moment, whether on the battlefield outside or in the hidden chamber where the old man and Xiao Gang stood, whether human or Pokémon of the Wu Neng Family, tears quietly fell.
"Roar!"
On the battlefield outside, even Tyranitar—the Desert Tyrant—let out a furious roar upon sensing the death of its old friend.
A tear rolled from its eye.
Previously suppressed by Gyarados, it suddenly erupted with power and turned the situation around.
"Damn it! We're retreating!"
Seeing that half of Mt. Moon's main peak had collapsed from the explosion, Apollo's expression changed dramatically.
He could no longer afford to remain entangled here.
After temporarily forcing back Tyranitar and Nidoking, he immediately issued the retreat signal.
He could already sense several powerful auras rapidly approaching.
If they delayed any longer, everyone except him might be trapped here.
Team Rocket's grand ambitions had not yet been realized.
These Elite-level members could not be sacrificed meaninglessly.
Therefore, he ordered an immediate withdrawal.
As for rescuing Sabrina, Apollo wasn't worried.
He simply didn't believe she had died.
His own Elite-level Golduck had reached its current level under Sabrina's guidance.
A woman like her dying in an Elite Four-level self-destruction?
He refused to believe it.
Furthermore, as a Gym Leader-level powerhouse, she undoubtedly possessed life-saving measures.
Of course, he also knew that even if she survived, her condition would likely be terrible.
That was why he needed to retreat quickly.
Once the large-scale operation ended, he could return alone to search for her.
"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"
"Split into smaller groups and withdraw immediately!"
"Stop fighting and retreat now!"
"Lord Apollo has given the order!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Following Apollo's command, Team Rocket members throughout Mt. Moon began retreating.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the other Trainers who had come to profit from the chaos also began withdrawing.
None of them wanted to be captured by the Wu Neng Family.