"A Pokémon attack on Petalburg Woods?!"
All four froze for a heartbeat—then rushed outside.
A middle-aged man sprinted toward them in panic.
Chen Shi recognized him instantly—Uncle Buka, a resident of Petalburg Woods and a long-time friend of the Chen family.
Grandfather strode forward.
"What's going on? What did you mean by a Pokémon attacking the town?"
Buka bent over, gasping.
"It's bad! A whole group of Aggron, Lairon, and Aron burst out of Rusturf Tunnel! They're attacking everything in sight!"
"The mayor and Officer Jenny can't hold them off!"
Then he grabbed Grandfather's arm desperately:
"Chen-shu, please—help us!"
Grandfather's expression hardened.
An Aggron tribe going on a mindless rampage made no sense…
But this wasn't the time to analyze it.
His voice sharpened.
"Gardevoir, bring Salamence, Garchomp, and Dragapult here."
"Sa-nai!"
In violet flashes, three apex dragons materialized.
Grandfather stepped forward—
But Chen Shi grabbed his arm.
"Grandpa, I'll go."
"Let me handle it. You stay here and rest."
Grandfather paused… then, seeing the steady determination in his grandson's eyes, nodded slowly.
"Then go. Quickly."
"Got it!"
Chen Shi vaulted onto Salamence's back.
Just as they were about to take off—
"Wait. I'm coming too."
Steven stepped forward without hesitation.
Chen Shi blinked—then smiled and extended a hand.
"Hop on."
Steven looked at the offered hand—
something warm stirring in his chest—
"Alright."
He clasped it.
And Salamence launched skyward.
The Rampage at Rusturf Tunnel
Near the mouth of Rusturf Tunnel, chaos reigned.
Seven Aggron and more than twenty Lairon ravaged the landscape.
Mayor Nakashima and three Officer Jennys were fighting desperately.
"Arcanine! Sunny Day!"
Sunlight intensified. Flames burned hotter.
"Now—Flamethrower!"
"Fwoooar!"
Mayor Nakashima roared:
"Blaziken! Breloom! Hitmonlee! Let's show these young brats how it's done!"
"Sky Uppercut! Double Kick! Overheat!"
Explosions thundered.
Several Lairon collapsed—
But the Aggron tribe only became more enraged.
Behind them, brilliant blue-white energy gathered in their maws.
Mayor Nakashima paled.
"No—Flash Cannon! Everyone—Protect!!"
Barriers shimmered into place—
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
Flash Cannons tore through the battlefield, vaporizing everything in their path.
When the smoke cleared, only the mayor's Blaziken remained standing.
Every other Pokémon lay unconscious.
Mayor Nakashima laughed bitterly.
"How are these Aggron so strong…?"
No time to despair.
More Flash Cannons charged.
"RUN!!"
Trainers scattered—
When a thunderous voice split the sky:
"Salamence! Garchomp! Flamethrower!"
"Metagross—Flash Cannon!"
Twin pillars of dragon fire and a beam of steel energy slammed into the Aggron barrage—
BOOOOOOM!
The ground cratered five meters deep, ten meters wide.
Six Aggron fell instantly.
Chen Shi shouted:
"Steven! Handle the Lairon—keep them away from the town!"
"On it!"
Steven's Metagross descended like a steel meteor—
bonk—bonk—bonk—
One hit per Lairon.
Efficient. Brutal. Beautiful.
Facing the Last Aggron
The final Aggron—towering at nearly three meters—trembled with fury.
It roared and charged.
Chen Shi narrowed his eyes.
"Garchomp—Brick Break. Calm him down."
Garchomp snorted.
Fine, kid. I'll give you face.
She shot forward—
Fighting energy burning across her claws—
and slammed Aggron dozens of meters away.
Shockingly—
It staggered back up.
Chen Shi blinked.
"…You're four-times weak to Fighting. Why are you still standing?"
"Again!"
Garchomp didn't bother restraining herself.
The second Brick Break hit like a guillotine—
the ground split open beneath Aggron.
This time, it stayed down.
Steven and Metagross finished off the remaining Lairon.
Aftermath
Salamence landed with a graceful sweep of her wings.
Chen Shi and Steven dismounted, surveying the devastation.
Mayor Nakashima hurried over and bowed deeply.
"Xiao Shi, Mr. Steven—thank you!"
"Without you, who knows how many would've been hurt…"
Chen Shi waved a hand.
"Mayor, I grew up in Petalburg Woods."
"If my home is threatened, how could I sit back and watch?"
Steven nodded.
"A true Trainer never ignores those in need."
Chen Shi frowned at the defeated Aggron tribe.
"Mayor—why did they attack in the first place?"
"Aggron aren't naturally violent."
Steven added, "I own an Aggron myself. They don't rampage without reason."
Mayor Nakashima snarled:
"Pokémon hunters."
"They stole the tribe leader's child—and an entire clutch of Aron."
"We're suffering the consequences of their crime."
Chen Shi and Steven exchanged a sharp, grim look.
So that was it.
Cruel. Unjust. Infuriating.
Chen Shi exhaled.
"Then… what do we do with the Aggron and Lairon now?"
The three men stared at the mountain of steel Pokémon lying all around them.
Silence.
Trouble had only just begun.
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
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