Bruno's four arms were like pistons carved from granite, each swing carrying heavy wind pressure that tore through the air. His Machamp clashed head-on with Apollo's Houndoom, pure Fighting-type energy colliding violently with wicked dark flames and blasting out a ring of visible shock waves. The force briefly drove both sides' Pokémon back several meters, plowing deep furrows through the canyon's hard, rocky ground.
Then a dragon's roar pierced the clouds from above. Lance's Dragonite circled like a bomber, its enormous wings whipping up air currents that formed an invisible pressure, firmly locking down the battlefield below. Two Elite Four members and two ace Pokémon utterly suppressed Apollo and Lambda, creating a two-on-two standoff.
But their real targets were never these two Team Rocket executives.
Ye Li had no intention of lingering in battle. The moment he saw Lance and Bruno appear, the string in his mind called "Danger Alert" had already stretched to its limit. Fight them head-on? That was a choice only a fool would make.
"Umbreon, go!" he barked quietly.
The pitch-black figure understood at once. Like a bolt of black lightning, it turned without hesitation and plunged through the hidden doorway whose puzzle had just been solved. Ye Li followed close behind, his figure instantly swallowed by the darkness beyond the door.
The heavy stone door slowly descended after they entered, shutting out the clamor and killing intent outside. Beyond it lay a deep cave passage stretching downward, the air thick with the ancient, damp scent of dust. This was the interior of Lightning Island, a vast and complex underground labyrinth woven from countless natural caverns and artificial tunnels.
Ye Li's steps never faltered. His mind raced as the incredibly clear 3D map from the game in his previous life slowly unfolded in his head. He