Aoki observed Regis' movements but made no move to stop him.
Qingfeng, watching anxiously from the side, knew that if Nidoking recovered, the two of them would stand little chance against it.
"Regis, you've planned so meticulously, only to fail in the end. Doesn't that seem wasteful?" Aoki remarked.
"Wasteful? How so? I nearly succeeded. If I hadn't tried at all, I wouldn't even have had the chance to step through this door. For all I know, this could be the greatest treasure on the island," Regis replied, keeping the conversation going to buy time for Nidoking's recovery.
At this point, any pretense of cooperation had vanished.
"That's true. But more than that, I'm curious about your identity. Logically, as a direct subordinate of Lord Ma Zhishi, you shouldn't have access to this many resources, materials, or even knowledge of ruins on this island," Aoki pressed, voicing his long-held suspicion.
Regis' hand, which had been tending to Nidoking's wounds, paused briefly before he smirked.
"Actually, you're the only one here who doesn't know who I am. I never hid it. Ask anyone else, and they'd tell you," Regis said.
The answer gave Aoki pause.
He had been speculating about Regis' true identity but had never actually asked anyone.
With a self-deprecating chuckle, Aoki dismissed the thought. Whatever Regis' background, it no longer mattered.
"Almost done healing?" Aoki asked.
"Nearly there. Still confident, I see. You must have some trick up your sleeve," Regis replied calmly.
Aoki had allowed him time to treat Nidoking, and Regis had answered a few questions in return—a fair exchange, in his eyes.
After all, once Nidoking recovered, Aoki and his Pokémon would be finished. Even weakened, Regis' team still had fighters left. A small sacrifice would be enough to eliminate Aoki here.
Behind Aoki, Qingfeng's expression shifted uneasily.
She debated whether to join Aoki against Regis. She didn't know if Aoki was aware, but Regis couldn't die here—at most, they could subdue Nidoking.
But under Aoki's allowance, Nidoking's strength was steadily returning.
Could the two of them really take it down? Qingfeng had no idea where Aoki's confidence came from.
After a tense hesitation, she gritted her teeth.
"Sorry, Aoki!"
With that, she turned and fled, her Jynx following reluctantly before disappearing into the passage.
Regis' group had no intention of stopping her—the fewer opponents, the better. Aoki and Qingfeng had only been temporary allies anyway.
If anything, Aoki admired her decisiveness. She knew when to cut her losses.
Qingfeng vanished down the corridor, resolved to scavenge what she could from the island before leaving. Whatever grand treasure lay here, it wasn't worth her life.
"Seems your partner's abandoned you. Still so sure of yourself?" Drake taunted, smug with impending victory.
But Regis' expression darkened.
Aoki hadn't so much as flinched.
His confidence was unshaken.
Even now, with the odds stacked against him, Aoki remained unfazed.
Unless…
Unless he had a hidden weapon capable of matching Nidoking.
Backed by his full-strength team, that would tip the scales in his favor.
Was Aoki bluffing?
Regis couldn't tell.
Their earlier losses had left them vulnerable. Had they still had their full teams, even a quasi-Elite-level Pokémon wouldn't have been insurmountable.
But now, they were at a disadvantage.
"What's wrong? Not attacking? If you won't, then I will," Aoki said, smirking, ignoring Drake entirely.
Aoki had already pegged Drake as a hotheaded fool.
How someone like him had reached this level of strength was a mystery.
The kind of idiot Team Rocket would exploit.
Regis nearly ordered Nidoking to strike, but Han Song stopped him.
The usually cold-faced man, now dust-covered but sharp-eyed, shook his head subtly.
Better to preserve Nidoking's strength. They could still recoup their losses by capturing powerful Pokémon elsewhere on the island.
Regis trusted Han Song far more than Drake.
But while some teammates were strategic, others were liabilities.
Drake, incensed by Aoki's disregard, flushed red.
"Attack, Regis! Now!" he bellowed.
Aoki's smirk only deepened.
To Drake, that smirk was an insult.
Though not a Dragon-type himself, he carried a trace of draconic bloodline—and with it, the pride of one.
He couldn't tolerate Aoki's disdain.
Snatching a Poké Ball, he hurled it forward, releasing his strongest remaining fighter—a Charizard.
Like him, it bore a sliver of Dragon heritage.
"Charizard! Flamethrower!"
"Idiot!"
"Idiot!"
Regis and Han Song spat in unison.
Drake had just forced their hand.
As Regis and Han Song turned to retreat with Nidoking, Aoki acted.
He wouldn't let them escape so easily.
A Luxury Ball flew from his hand, arcing toward the fleeing trio.
"Altaria! Draco Meteor!"