The Joy Family

N's army of Pokémon, reinforcements from the second defensive line, and, most importantly, the support of Hoenn Champion Steven had turned the tide.

Though the Shadow Team sent out one Shadow Pokémon after another, they defeated them all. Each was either returned to its original Poké Ball or caught with a Snag Ball—

They had spent the past few days using the Snag Machine to make Snag Balls almost nonstop.

They had made enough to catch every Shadow Pokémon.

When the last Shadow Pokémon fell and the last Shadow Team member begged for mercy through tears, the defensive battle was over. What had begun as a desperate attempt to buy time had ended in a total rout.

Aggron and the other Pokémon collapsed from exhaustion almost at once, and Baimu hurriedly recalled them into their Poké Balls.

"Did they send a distress signal?"

He rushed over to ask Otsuka. Otsuka nodded, then added, "Lord Liu Ge has already announced that the operation is underway."

"It's underway? Good!"

Baimu was delighted. He had been uneasy because wiping out the enemy hadn't been part of the plan, and he feared it might disrupt what came next—especially Steven's reinforcements.

He could hardly tell Steven to retreat too.

And with N bringing in so many Pokémon from who knew where, Baimu had been left with no choice but to cover the wounded as they withdrew while taking down every Shadow Team member.

Now that the operation had begun, he wouldn't have to take the blame.

Baimu turned and walked toward Steven.

"Whew. It's been a long time since I've had such a vigorous workout."

Steven was climbing down from Metagross, which had returned to its usual form. Despite the intensity of the battle, there was only a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.