"Stop! No entry beyond this point!"
Two Team Rocket members said to Ash as he approached.
"What's the problem?"
Ash halted, standing opposite them and raising an eyebrow.
"This place is now under Team Rocket control. You'd better get lost."
The man on the right waved dismissively at Ash with an unpleasant expression.
Seeing how arrogant they were, Ash felt nothing but angry inside. Even a low-level guard acted so boldly, it seemed Team Rocket had become more and more reckless.
Ash raised his right hand. The two Rocket members had no idea what he was planning. When his hand reached chest level, Ash's right arm shot forward like a blade, striking the throat of the arrogant member.
Before the Team Rocket member could react, a sharp, sudden pain shot through his throat, as if something had forced its way inside. By the time he realized what was happening, Ash's hand had already driven deep, crushing his windpipe.
"Aah!"
The wounded Team Rocket member's face twisted in complete disbelief, his throat turning red. His pupils closed, he was already dead.
The other Team Rocket member beside him stared in terror, completely stunned. He couldn't believe a boy who looked barely over 15 years old could attack with such cruel force, killing without a hesitation.
Sweeping his gaze to the dazed Rocket member beside him, Ash let his hand free, kicked the dead body flying, then swept his arm horizontally, slashing his hand toward the other Rocket member's neck. This person reacted faster. Seeing Ash kick his comrade's corpse away, he knew danger was imminent and rolled out of the way, dodging the attack
"Holy shit."
Ash froze, stunned that his attack had missed. But he immediately swung his right leg, delivering a kick to the Team Rocket member's back.
The Team Rocket member had barely dodged Ash's kick when, before he could even feel relieved, he felt a heavy impact on his back. It felt like being struck by a speeding car, sending him flying backward with the force. He felt as though every bone in his body had shattered.
He flew over ten meters before crashing to the ground, trembling like a patient. Seeing his state, Ash tilted his lips in a faint smile and walked toward him. The young Team Rocket member saw Ash approaching and tried to flee, but his body was already shattered by Ash's kick. Escape was impossible; even standing up was painful. As Ash's figure drew nearer, the Team Rocket member was filled by despair.
"Seeing you are suffering so much, let me put you out of your misery," Ash murmured softly into the Team Rocket member's ear as he knelt beside him. The man tried to rise and resist, but it was already too late. The young Rocket member in realisation, closed his eyes to await his execution. Seeing his victim surrender so quickly, Ash felt a surge of relief. Rising to his feet, he raised his foot and stomped down on the Rocket's skull.
'Crunch!' Ash crushed the young Rocket's skull with a single blow.
'Mission Activated: Destroy Team Rocket. Task One: Eliminate the leader of Team Rocket's Saffron City base to take control of the organization. Rewards: 100 Slave Points, one Special Pokémon, +3 to Full Body Enhancement, +10 to All Pokémon Level Up, +2 to Main Pokémon Stats. Title: The Puppet Master. All Team Rocket members will unconditionally obey your commands.'
'Mission 2: Wipe out Team Rocket entirely. Rewards: 200 Slave Points, one Special Pokémon, +5 to Full Body Enhancement, +15 to All Pokémon Level Up, +5 to Main Pokémon Stats. Title: Righteous Hero. Rewards: +3 to Full Body Enhancement. Knock on a lonely woman's door at midnight and she'll think you're here to do good deeds.'
"This mission seems rather interesting."
Upon hearing the mission prompt, Ash realized Team Rocket was about to fall from power in Saffron City and it would be at his hands.
"Mission One is the easier option. While Mission Two offers higher rewards, that 'unconditional obedience' perk in Mission One is also pretty sweet..."
As Ash weighed the merits of both tasks, the figure of White flashed through his mind.
"White is one of Team Rocket's high-ranking officers, right? If I take over Team Rocket, then White would be..."
Ash's thoughts drifted, a sly grin spreading across his lips.
"Well then, White wait for me. Ha ha."
Ash licked his lips and went into Saffron City.