Even from such a great height, it was impossible to take in the entirety of Saffron City. Straining to look toward the city center, all that could be seen were hazy shadows and thick plumes of black smoke rising into the sky.
Even without setting foot in the city, the group felt an eerie silence, as if this massive metropolis were an ancient beast with its maw wide open, ready to devour anyone who approached.
"There are very few pedestrians in the entire city. Almost every street has Team Rocket members patrolling, especially at the transportation hubs connecting Saffron to the other four cities—the number of Rocket members there is downright terrifying."
Green sat sideways on Garchomp's back, holding a high-tech telescope as she surveyed Saffron City. Meanwhile, Ryuuske, Ash, and Gary each held their Pokédexes, with the images from the telescope being transmitted to their screens, allowing them to share in Green's observations.
"Each of the four transportation hubs has a Team Rocket force of over a thousand members. The Rocket Boss must have already received word of the Gym Leaders' attack and deployed troops to block these key points in advance."
Ryuuske studied the images on his Pokédex screen, pausing in thought before speaking. "...The entire city is enveloped in a 'Light Screen.' Breaking in from the air is nearly impossible. I've examined these psychic barriers—they're formed by the combined efforts of countless Psychic-type Pokémon. Don't assume that just because the barrier spans forty kilometers in diameter, you can break through by focusing on a single point. The Pokémon and Trainers maintaining this barrier have already accounted for that."
"...No matter where you attack the barrier, the energy flowing through it will automatically converge at that point. No matter how you strike, you'll be facing the combined resistance of over a thousand Pokémon. Unless you can overpower the joint defense of a thousand Psychic-types in a single blow, this barrier is practically unbreakable!"
"Moreover, Team Rocket has been preparing for this plan for a long time. Those thousand Psychic-types aren't weak—most of them are well-trained. The one leading the barrier is likely Saffron Gym Leader Sabrina's Mr. Mime, a true master of defensive battles. Right now, Saffron City is an impregnable fortress."
Standing on Garchomp's back, Ryuuske gazed coldly at the massive barrier shrouding the sky as he explained the situation to the other three.
"What about entering from underground?"
Ash, clutched in Aerodactyl's claws, quickly thought of an idea and asked.
"Hmph, don't assume everyone else is an idiot. If I'm not mistaken, this barrier is spherical—it covers the underground as well," Gary retorted, riding on Charizard's neck with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
"Gary's right. The barrier is indeed spherical, which is why the psychic energy flowing through it can spiral like a snake without any waste," Ryuuske said with a chuckle. He then glanced at Ash's Aerodactyl. "...Ash, you've got some incredible luck. Finding such a rare, extinct Pokémon is no small feat."
"Ahaha, I dug up a fossil in Mt. Moon and met a Pokémon commentator named Bill in Cerulean City. He introduced me to a researcher in Pewter City who helped revive the fossil. But this Aerodactyl was only recently born—it's nowhere near battle-ready yet."
Ash laughed sheepishly, though his tone was brimming with happiness.
Ryuuske knew the Pewter City researcher he mentioned was likely the same one who, alongside Blaine, developed the "Fossil Revival Machine."
"Enough about that. What do we do now?"
Gary's voice was impatient as he commanded Charizard to blast the barrier with a searing Flamethrower. But just as Ryuuske had said, even the thousand-degree flames concentrated into a single point couldn't so much as ripple the barrier.
A thousand trained Psychic-type Pokémon working together purely for defense—even a Legendary Pokémon wouldn't be able to shatter this barrier in a single strike.
"While this barrier makes sneaking in nearly impossible, it's only *nearly*. For me, getting inside—even with all of you—isn't difficult at all."
Ryuuske glanced at Ash and Gary, then smiled under their puzzled gazes. "...Don't resist. Just go with it."
With that, he suddenly took the Master Ball from around his neck and tossed it into the air above him. With a casual snap of his fingers, the group felt a violent spatial distortion—as if the sky and earth had flipped—and in the blink of an eye, they found themselves on the rooftop of a tall building in Saffron City.
"A 'Light Screen' can block physical entry, but it can't stop another Psychic move—'Teleport.' That said, very few Psychic-types can Teleport alongside their Trainers, so this minor flaw isn't something Team Rocket would bother fixing. Still, it gave us a way in."
Ryuuske caught the Master Ball as it fell, the seamless act of summoning Mewtwo and executing the Teleport so smooth that Ash and Gary hadn't even noticed. He jumped down from Garchomp's back and stood at the edge of the rooftop, letting the high-altitude wind ruffle his hair. With one hand in his pocket and the other pointing toward the tallest building in Saffron City, he declared:
"...That's Team Rocket's headquarters in Saffron. I can't say for sure if all the townspeople of Pallet are there, but Miss Nanami, as a key hostage, will definitely be held in the Silph Co. building."
"Thanks for getting me in. But I'm sure we've already been detected. I suggest we split up—our goal is to find and rescue the hostages, then regroup with the Gym Leaders for the final assault. Any objections to that plan?"
Gary stepped up beside Ryuuske as he spoke.
Before Ryuuske could respond, Ash cut in. "...I think it's a solid plan. Splitting up makes it easier to locate the hostages. If anyone finds them, don't forget to contact the others via Pokédex."
"Fine. If that's what you two want, we'll split up. Green and I will stick together—you two are on your own. Best of luck out there."
Ryuuske shrugged, though he knew their so-called "split" was just approaching Silph Co. from different angles.
Without another word, Gary mounted Charizard and flew off. Ash gave Ryuuske a thumbs-up before letting Aerodactyl carry him away in another direction.
Once they were gone, Ryuuske turned to Green. "...You're fine sticking with me, right?"
"Of course, handsome~ Didn't I say I'd follow you wherever you go~?"
Green blinked, her large, expressive eyes brimming with a coquettish softness, her delicate tone enough to stir any man's desires.
"Hm?"
Just then, Ryuuske's instincts tingled. He glanced down from the rooftop at the nearly deserted streets below—occupied as they were by Team Rocket—and spotted a little girl running forward with a "Hup! Hup!" sound. Though the distance was great, Ryuuske could clearly make out her short, pretty pink hair and the adorable cat ears perched atop her head.
As if sensing his gaze, the little girl turned to look up at the sky. For some reason, even from this far away, Ryuuske could see her bright pink eyes, brimming with curiosity and liveliness.
"What's wrong?"
Green noticed Ryuuske's sudden tension and quickly asked.
"Nothing. Just... something odd."
Ryuuske shook his head at Green, signaling that he was fine. When he looked down again, the spot was empty—the girl was gone.
To be continued…