"Gary, look! That's the meteorite!"
Ash pointed excitedly while Cyclizar sped uphill. From their position, they could clearly see a helicopter hovering near the summit of the mountain. Thick steel cables extended downward, tightly wrapped around a massive black meteorite, which was slowly being lifted into the open cargo bay beneath the helicopter.
The metallic clanking echoed through the night air.
"Cyc—li—zar!"
Cyclizar seemed to understand the urgency. It lowered its head slightly and roared, its powerful legs pushing off the rocky slope as it accelerated even further. Gravel scattered behind it as its climbing speed increased dramatically.
In less than a minute, Cyclizar reached the final stretch.
With a powerful leap, its body soared forward.
"Who—!"
"Hey—!"
At the mountain summit, two opposing groups were locked in confrontation when a sudden shadow descended from above.
BANG!!
Cyclizar landed heavily on the grass, its hind legs bracing first, followed by its forelimbs and tail. Despite the height, it landed steadily, barely skidding before coming to a complete stop.
The sudden arrival startled everyone present.
Jessie, James, and Meowth—who were in the middle of arguing with another group—froze instantly.
"What the—?!" Jessie shouted.
"Who dropped out of the sky?!" James yelled.
"Meow?! Where did they come from?!" Meowth squeaked.
Ash quickly recognized one side.
"Team Rocket… and those guys…"
He pointed at the figures in dark uniforms emblazoned with a large red "G".
Ash had seen them before, but he didn't know their name or organization.
Gary's gaze, however, hardened.
Team Galactic.
Jessie and James looked utterly miserable. Their uniforms were torn, their hair disheveled, and Meowth was covered in dust. It was obvious they had already clashed with Team Galactic and lost badly.
Gary didn't waste time on words.
"Blastoise, come out."
A Poké Ball flew forward and burst open in a flash of white light.
"Blas—toi!"
Blastoise landed heavily, its armored body radiating power. The twin cannons on its back adjusted slightly, locking onto the battlefield.
Saturn, standing near the helicopter, narrowed his eyes.
"So you're the interference…"
Without hesitation, he raised his hand.
"Toxicroak, Dark Pulse!"
"Croak!"
A sinister black sphere rapidly condensed between Toxicroak's palms. Dark energy surged violently before being unleashed in a straight beam aimed directly at Blastoise.
"Boom!"
Instead of dodging, Blastoise planted its feet firmly and crossed its arms.
The Dark Pulse slammed into its shell and exploded.
Saturn smirked coldly.
"Useless. That won't—"
Before he could finish his sentence—
"Water Pulse."
Gary's voice cut through the smoke.
A compressed sphere of water shot out from the lingering mist like a cannonball.
BANG!!
The Water Pulse struck Toxicroak squarely in the chest.
"Cro—AAK!!"
Toxicroak was sent flying backward, crashing hard into the ground. It twitched once… then went completely still.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
"What?!" Saturn's eyes widened in disbelief.
His Toxicroak was no weak Pokémon.
[LV55 Toxicroak | Elite]
An Elite-level Pokémon—defeated in a single exchange.
Saturn clenched his teeth.
"You… stop them!" he barked to his subordinates. "We'll retreat!"
He quickly recalled Toxicroak and turned to run toward the remaining helicopter without hesitation.
Team Galactic's subordinates hesitated for only a second before obeying.
Poké Balls flew into the air one after another.
"Zubat—no, Golbat, go!"
"Golbat, intercept them!"
"Great!!"
More than twenty Golbat burst into the sky, their wings beating violently as they formed a dense aerial blockade around Gary and Ash.
Ash clenched his fists.
"They're everywhere!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—CHUU!!"
A brilliant bolt of electricity surged upward, striking one Golbat midair and sending it spiraling down.
But it barely made a dent.
There were simply too many.
"These Golbat aren't strong," Ash said, gritting his teeth, "but there are too many of them!"
Gary's eyes flicked toward the helicopter that was still lifting the meteorite.
"That's their real objective," he said calmly. "They're buying time."
Another helicopter hovered nearby—already carrying away a second meteorite fragment.
"We can't let them take it," Ash said urgently.
"Blastoise," Gary said, voice firm, "ignore the Golbat. Target the helicopter."
"Kami!"
Blastoise bent its knees slightly. The cannons on its back rotated upward, water energy roaring inside as pressure rapidly built.
Two Golbat immediately swooped down, trying to block the line of fire.
"Don't stop," Gary ordered. "Fire."
BOOOOM!!
Twin streams of high-pressure water erupted from Blastoise's cannons.
The two Golbat were blown away instantly.
The Hydro Cannon continued forward—
BANG!
The water blast struck the helicopter's side. Metal buckled inward as sparks flew.
At the same time, the other water stream slammed directly into the suspended meteorite.
CRACK—!!
The meteorite shattered apart in midair.
Fragments rained down toward the mountainside, smashing into rocks and dirt below.
Ash stared in shock.
"Gary… the meteorite…"
"I know," Gary said calmly. "Focus on Team Galactic."
The helicopter, damaged and unbalanced, immediately released the broken cargo and veered away, retreating at full speed.
Saturn didn't even glance back.
Team Galactic had successfully escaped with one meteorite fragment.
But the second had been destroyed.
The remaining Grunts froze for a moment.
Then one shouted:
"For Lord Cyrus!"
"Even if we die, we won't let you pass!"
They charged forward again, refusing to retreat.
Gary frowned slightly.
Fanatical loyalty… even among low-ranking Grunts.
Cyrus's ability to control people was far more dangerous than it appeared.
"Ash!" Gary said. "Hold them here."
"Got it!"
"Pikachu, keep attacking!"
Before the Golbat could regroup—
"Mag—ne—zone!"
A deep humming sound echoed as Magnezone finally arrived, carrying Brock and Dawn safely to the summit. Behind them, Maylene and Lucario followed, having encountered them while climbing.
"Gary! Are you okay?" Dawn shouted.
"Are we late?" Brock asked.
"Magnezone," Gary said immediately, "Gravity."
Magnezone's body glowed as powerful electromagnetic waves surged outward.
The air seemed to grow heavier.
"CLANG—!!"
Golbat screamed as their bodies were slammed into the ground, wings pinned uselessly beneath crushing gravitational pressure.
They couldn't even lift their heads.
Ash let out a breath.
"That move again… it's amazing."
However, the helicopters were already out of Gravity's effective range.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted unwillingly.
"Pika—CHUU!!"
Electricity surged toward the sky—but the helicopter was already too far.
The lightning dissipated after traveling only a short distance.
"Tch…" Ash clicked his tongue angrily. "They got away."
They had stopped one meteorite from being taken.
But Team Galactic had still escaped with another.
And worse—
One meteorite had been destroyed.
The roar of an engine suddenly echoed from below.
A police vehicle surged up the mountainside, leaping over rocks before landing firmly on the grass.
"Team Galactic! Don't move!"
Officer Jenny stepped out, flanked by multiple officers.
Seeing law enforcement arrive, the remaining Team Galactic Grunts finally gave up resistance and raised their hands.
Their Golbat were already immobilized.
Their leader had escaped.
Continuing to fight would be meaningless.
One by one, they were arrested.
Gary, Ash, and the others were soon surrounded by officers.
"Thank you for your cooperation," Officer Jenny said. "We'll need you to assist with the investigation."
As per protocol, all witnesses and participants were escorted away.