The Team Rocket leader looked furious. He couldn't understand what was happening. The opponent had thrown something resembling candy, and the two Pokémon on the other side had become significantly stronger.
"Don't panic! We still have the advantage in numbers. Everyone, attack together!"
Despite his frustration, retreat wasn't an option; after all, he still held the numbers advantage.
"Charmeleon, Frogadier, use Smokescreen!"
Eddie, staying calm, opted not to face the opponent head-on. Even with their improved strength, the teams were still fairly balanced. The most dangerous threat was Arbok, the strongest on the opposing side, which could launch a surprise attack.
"Chaaar!"
"Frogad!"
Charmeleon and Frogadier followed Eddie's command, unleashing Smokescreen that enveloped all six Pokémon on the opposing team.
"This guy's using a tactic we often use when retreating. Stay sharp! Attack immediately if you see any Pokémon!"
The Team Rocket captain was caught off guard, assuming Eddie intended to flee. But Eddie showed no signs of retreating, prompting the captain to be more cautious.
"Understood! Everyone, prepare to attack!"
Through the thick Smokescreen, the captain spotted a figure in the haze. Without hesitation, he ordered his team to strike.
"Charmeleon, Fire Blast!"
Eddie's mocking voice came from outside the Smokescreen. The temperature began to rise as Charmeleon prepared to unleash its power.
"Ha! Rookie mistake! Fire Blast is strong but slow! Arbok, use Acid—take it out before it can attack!"
The captain sneered, convinced Eddie was inexperienced. Confident in his assessment, he launched the first strike.
"Now, Arbok!"
Arbok obeyed, inhaling deeply before spewing potent acid toward the figure. The other five Pokémon followed with their attacks. But as the combined onslaught struck, the target stood motionless.
"No! That's a Double Team! Everyone scatter!"
Realizing Eddie's strategy too late, the captain shouted for his team to evade.
"Too late. Charmeleon, let them taste the flames!"
With Eddie's command, a massive, blazing Fire Blast tore through the Smokescreen, hitting the Rocket squad from behind.
"Move!"
Despite scattering, two Pokémon—Zubat and Arbok—and their Trainers were caught in the flames, collapsing unconscious from the scorching heat.
"Aaargh!!"
The captain and a teammate managed to dodge to the left, only to hear another cry of agony.
A high-pressure water stream from Frogadier struck another Zubat and Koffing, sending them—and their Trainers—crashing into a tree. The impact rendered both Pokémon and Trainers unconscious.
"Ding! You defeated four Team Rocket members instantly. You earned 2,000 Pokédollars and 2 Rare Candies!"
"Seriously? That simple trick worked this well? Your search team is embarrassingly weak."
Eddie's mocking voice cut through the battlefield as Charmeleon dispersed the Smokescreen with its flames.
The Team Rocket leader's anger flared, but upon surveying the situation, his heart sank.
As the Smokescreen dispersed, the battlefield became clear in an instant.
Where the Team Rocket members had once stood, two of them and their Pokémon were now collapsed on the ground. Beneath a large tree in the distance, another pair of Rocket members and their Pokémon lay unconscious.
Only the captain's Arbok and a Koffing from the remaining grunt by his side were still able to fight.
On Eddie's side, both Charmeleon and Frogadier stood tall and unscathed, their battle-ready energy still radiating strongly.
"What's this? You were so cocky just moments ago, and now you're trembling. Weren't you going to make me pay?"
Eddie hadn't expected the battle to go so smoothly. But reflecting on the opponent's lackluster strength, it made sense. They clearly lacked an understanding of tactics.
In the situation earlier, being hit by Smokescreen, the best move would have been to act decisively—using defensive moves or clearing the haze quickly. Doing nothing left them as sitting targets.
If Eddie had been in their position, he would have had his Pokémon use protective moves immediately before escaping the Smokescreen's radius. Waiting passively was the worst mistake they could have made.
"I almost forgot. You're just small fry. I regret using a Rare Candy on this."
Eddie shook his head, realizing he had overestimated them. His perception of Team Rocket had been shaped by the formidable members he faced in his previous life, where tactics like this wouldn't have worked against them.
But this group? Just a simple search team. Even their captain was only a intermediate-level Trainer. Eddie had subconsciously treated them as equals, but now it was clear they weren't even close.
"In my past life, I reached the Champion level at the very end. Even with low-level Pokémon now, my experience and battle instincts haven't disappeared. Paired with the synergy I have with my Pokémon, this outcome is just natural."
Eddie smirked, reflecting on the vast gap between him and his opponents. His rebirth had reset his Pokémon's levels, but his skills and understanding of battles remained intact. Coupled with the power of Viridian, his coordination with his Pokémon was almost seamless.
Under normal circumstances, battling opponents of a higher level might be difficult. But against Trainers of this caliber, winning was almost guaranteed—unless they were tacticians or geniuses in their own right.
"Darn it! Stop those two Pokémon now! I'm going to use that."
"But, Captain, that item is still experimental! The side effects are—"
"Are you stupid? Who cares about side effects? If we don't use it, we'll lose everything here!"
Though Eddie had been lost in thought, only a few seconds had passed. The Rocket captain's furious roar snapped him back to the present. Eddie turned his attention toward him.
The Team Rocket captain retrieved two syringes from his pocket, his intent clear—he was about to inject them into Arbok.
The sight of the syringes sent a jolt through Eddie. Recognizing their purpose instantly, his pupils narrowed in alarm.
"Charmeleon, Frogadier, stop them!"