Sachi dashed away, though she wasn't completely unaware of Chakra's capture.
Knowing something is one thing—but going back to rescue Chakra is a whole different matter.
By the time Sachi realized Chakra hadn't escaped, he was already subdued by Nozomi and Lorelei working together.
Sachi understood clearly that the best choice for her now was to keep running.
If she turned back to save Chakra, there might be a chance to rescue him—but the greater likelihood was that she'd end up trapped too, captured by Nozomi and Lorelei.
She weighed the pros and cons in a single second—and made the decision to ignore it entirely.
Forward!
She moved swiftly along the winding corridors, soon emerging onto the deck.
The battle above was intense. Team Rocket was locked in a fierce clash with the League's forces.
The Rocket grunts who first boarded the S.S. Anne had taken cover behind the ship's structures, counterattacking the surrounding League investigators. The entire deck had turned into a war zone. The ship's sailors and trainers trembled in fear at this high-level combat, unable to intervene.
Sachi's appearance immediately drew attention.
Both sides looked toward her.
The League's members paled.
They had been dominating. Team Rocket was steadily retreating under the League's assault—and then Sachi appeared.
As a high-ranking Team Rocket officer, all the investigators recognized her and knew her reputation. Her strength was not something they could contend with! One person, yet in the current situation, her presence could decisively change the tide.
"Damn it… why is Sachi here?"
"Sachi and Chakra were supposed to be fighting Lorelei and Nozomi!"
"Did they fail?"
Some League trainers began to panic and overthink.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket was overjoyed.
"Lady Sachi!"
"This is amazing!"
"We're definitely winning now!"
The grunts cheered as if they were about to cry from happiness. Like the League trainers, they connected Sachi's appearance with the battle below. They had already heard from League trainers that Lorelei, one of the Elite Four, was aboard the S.S. Anne.
If Lady Sachi had appeared, the battle below must be over!
Truly, she was the pride of Team Rocket! Even an Elite Four member had been defeated!
But just as the Rocket grunts were elated, believing their Lady Sachi would lead them to victory, a single command from her dropped them from heaven into hell.
"Team Rocket, retreat!"
The grunts froze in disbelief. Retreat? Weren't they supposed to press the attack and wipe out the League?
Only when Sachi furrowed her brow and repeated the command quickly did a wave of shock ripple through Team Rocket.
"What's happening!?"
"Why are we suddenly retreating!?"
"The speedboats were destroyed—how can we retreat!?"
Some of the more perceptive grunts sensed trouble. Lady Sachi had run out alone, and Chakra hadn't followed—yet she was ordering a retreat. What could have happened below!?
The Team Rocket trainers looked to Sachi, seeking an explanation.
Would she give one?
Of course not.
She had already delayed for over ten seconds. Nozomi and Lorelei were closing in fast. Any further hesitation would render Chakra's sacrifice meaningless.
"I'll say it one last time. Everyone, retreat immediately!"
Without waiting for comprehension, she signaled her Crobat: "Crobat, let's go!"
In a flash, she pierced through the aerial defenses set up by the League trainers and raced toward the horizon.
Whoosh—!
Seeing Sachi truly run, Team Rocket erupted in chaos.
Lady Sachi wasn't joking! She really was retreating!
There was no time to overthink. If Lady Sachi ran, staying behind was equivalent to waiting to die.
Someone shouted, "Run!"
The Rocket grunts surged toward the ship's railings.
Flying-type Pokémon took to the sky, Water-types leapt into the sea, and those without either relied on trainers who had flying or swimming Pokémon.
The League investigators had not expected such a stampede.
For a moment, the once-tight defensive line was breached, and many Rocket grunts streamed out.
"Don't let any of them escape!"
The League commander urgently ordered Pokémon to intercept the fleeing Rocket trainers.
The Rocket trainers' desperation only intensified.
They weren't fools—if the boss had fled, and they couldn't escape now, they would be thrown into League prisons. Giovanni would never post bail for low-ranking grunts.
Better to risk everything than be caught for years.
"Golbat, Supersonic!"
"Magmar, Fire Spin!"
"Sableye, Phantom Force!"
Team Rocket unleashed massive attacks indiscriminately, not caring about harming their own.
Above, on the deck, and below the water, the battle raged with renewed intensity, several times fiercer than before.
Occasionally, Pokémon fell from the sky into the water. Some Rocket trainers escaped the League's encirclement, while investigators were forced out, injured by Pokémon attacks.
At that moment, Nozomi and Lorelei finally reached the deck.
"Did we arrive too late?"
Seeing Sachi's disappearance and the chaotic state of the deck, Nozomi felt a twinge of disappointment. Even at his fastest, Sachi had slipped away.
"It's fine. Let's clean up the Rocket grunts on the deck first," Lorelei said with a faint smile.
Capturing a high-ranking Team Rocket officer was an unprecedented achievement for the League, enough to solidify her newly appointed Elite Four position.
"But it's just a little… still feels like a shame," Nozomi admitted.
Lorelei felt a subtle sting from his words.