Relying on the psychic coordinates left by Slowking in Goldenrod City, Aoki flew a considerable distance on his Flygon before arriving within the teleportation range of his Slowking. With a swift motion, he recalled Flygon mid-air and vanished into the night sky alongside Slowking, reappearing moments later in a secluded corner of Goldenrod City.
The last time Aoki had visited Goldenrod City, his goal had been minor—disrupting a small outpost of the Void organization to secure funds for purchasing some rare Pokeblock ingredients to boost his Swampert and Politoed's potential. This time, however, his objective was far grander: the complete eradication of the Void.
Few would have anticipated such rapid growth in less than four months. Unlike before, Aoki no longer needed to hide behind the League's authority. Now, he could openly declare the Sky Hunters as the ones dismantling the Void.
At this very moment, the Void's remaining cadres were likely gathered at their headquarters, awaiting "good news" from Gibson.
Even with Aoki's current strength, facing a group of Elite-tier trainers alone would be reckless. Numbers alone made them a formidable threat. Fortunately, the Void was far from a united front.
Aoki headed straight for a previously raided Void outpost—one that had since been partially rebuilt. The Void had lost significant influence in Goldenrod City, and restoring even this minor base had drained the local cadre's resources. As a result, security had been tightened, but sheer numbers meant little against overwhelming power. The last time Aoki had struck here, he'd dismantled the outpost with ease. Now, it was even simpler. Updates are released by novel⦿fire.net
In the base's innermost office, Aoki seized the strongest present—an Elite-tier grunt—by the throat and lifted him effortlessly. With his augmented strength and Slowking's psychic assistance, hoisting a full-grown man was trivial.
"Call your superior," Aoki ordered, his voice muffled by his mask. "Invent any excuse, but get him here."
The outpost's leader, knowing his life hung in the balance, obeyed instantly. After being released, he scrambled for his communicator, fabricating an urgent matter to lure his cadre over. The response was a stream of furious curses—the cadre, already impatiently awaiting Gibson's report, was incensed at the interruption. The grunt could only offer a strained smile before shutting off the device and shrinking into a corner, wisely choosing compliance over defiance.
Aoki didn't mock the man's cowardice. Survival instincts were pragmatic.
Soon, the cadre stormed in, only to be met with a brutal ambush. Had Aoki not needed information, the fight would've ended instantly. Like Gibson, the man stood no chance—his Pokémon were swiftly crushed under Honchkrow's Dark Pulse and Weavile's relentless assaults.
For Honchkrow and Weavile, this was a rare thrill. Battling alongside Aoki at full intensity, with precise telepathic coordination, was a far cry from their usual one-sided skirmishes.
The interrogation was straightforward. Under Slowking's Hypnosis, the cadre revealed everything: eight Void cadres remained, all Elite-tier. Gibson had already been delivered to the Sky Hunters' base, and now this one lay defeated. Six were left, their strength uneven. Among them, Kenan—a name Aoki remembered—was mid-ranked, while Robert was their strongest.
But "strongest" was relative. Against Aoki, their numbers were their sole advantage.
The captured outpost leader proved useful. Under the promise of mercy, he guided Aoki to other Void hideouts, enabling the systematic dismantling of three more cadres. Each defeat yielded spoils—Pokécoins, TMs, and held items looted from their unconscious bodies. Underground operatives carried their wealth on them, and dead men had no use for it.
Honchkrow and Weavile left few survivors. Only the hardiest Pokémon remained, suited for labor or subordinate training—provided they accepted their new roles.
By midnight, three cadres had fallen. The remaining three, however, would not be so easily deceived.
It was time for a direct approach.
With the traitorous grunt in tow, Aoki marched openly toward the Void's headquarters. Though the night's battles had been swift, Goldenrod City's underworld had taken notice. Scouts from rival factions lurked in the shadows, but Aoki ignored them.
Tonight, the Sky Hunters would claim their place as Goldenrod's new power.